Profession petroleum engineer

Petroleum engineers evaluate gas and oil fields. They design and develop methods for extracting oil and gas from underneath the earth's surface. They maximise the recovery of hydrocarbon at a minimum cost, pursuing minimal impact on the environment.

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Personality Type

Knowledge

  • Geology

    Solid earth, rock types, structures and the processes by which they are altered.

  • Well testing operations

    Testing procedures, such as volumetric flow testing and pressure testing, which describe the ability of the well to produce oil.

  • Mathematics

    Mathematics is the study of topics such as quantity, structure, space, and change. It involves the identification of patterns and formulating new conjectures based on them. Mathematicians strive to prove the truth or falsity of these conjectures. There are many fields of mathematics, some of which are widely used for practical applications.

  • Chemistry

    The composition, structure, and properties of substances and the processes and transformations that they undergo; the uses of different chemicals and their interactions, production techniques, risk factors, and disposal methods.

Skills

  • Monitor extraction logging operations

    Monitor logging operations and oversee formation testing and sampling operations; analyse and interpret results.

  • Provide petroleum engineering support

    Provide assistance during exploration sessions; plan well operations and gather relevant data; oversight and post-well analyses.

  • Liaise with mine professionals

    Establish relationships with commercial managers, geoscientists, and production/reservoir engineers; work together to analyse well-logging results and to assess production potential.

  • Manage production fluid in oil production

    Manage issues and anticipate potential problems arising from fluids involved in the production of oil.

  • Prepare extraction proposals

    Prepare detailed extraction proposals by putting together subsurface information about extraction site and agreement of partners involved.

  • Determine flow rate enhancement

    Recommend and evaluate flow rate enhancement; understand and safely carry out acid treatment or hydraulic fracturing.

  • Troubleshoot

    Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.

  • Manage well interaction

    Understand and manage the process of different wells interacting with one another.

  • Design well flow systems

    Design/develop systems that help the well to flow; operate submersible pumps.

  • Use reservoir surveillance

    Understand and operate well and reservoir surveillance system and remote sensing technology; monitor the reservoir level and decide on engineering interventions if necessary.

  • Compile reservoir performance plans

    Make up detailed development plans of the performance of the reservoir. Apply mathematical models for maximum economic recovery.

  • Address problems critically

    Identify the strengths and weaknesses of various abstract, rational concepts, such as issues, opinions, and approaches related to a specific problematic situation in order to formulate solutions and alternative methods of tackling the situation.

  • Prepare well formation evaluation programmes

    Prepare well formation evaluation programmes; communicate and collaborate with exploration teams.

  • Supervise staff

    Oversee the selection, training, performance and motivation of staff.

  • Manage fluid production in gas

    Manage issues and anticipate potential problems arising from fluids involved in the production of oil and gas.

  • Prepare technical reports

    Prepare technical reports that describe results and processes of scientific or technical research, or assess its progress. These reports help researchers to keep up to date with recent findings.

  • Report well results

    Document and share well results in a transparent way; communicate results to business partners, auditors, collaborating teams and internal management.

  • Select well equipment

    Select and purchase the appropriate equipment for different functions within the well.

  • Liaise with well test engineers

    Establish relationships with well testing engineers in order to optimise procedures; make real-time decisions on data acquisition issues.

  • Interpret extraction data

    Process and interpret extraction data and send feedback to the development teams; apply learnings to concrete operational activities.

  • Use a computer

    Utilise computer equipment or digital devices to facilitate quality control, data management, and communication. Follow instructions given by a computer programme, create computer files or documents.

Optional knowledge and skills

design the completion for a well in petroleum production supervise well operations

Source: Sisyphus ODB