Job description Petroleum Engineer near Edmonton (AB)

Find out what work is like for a petroleum engineer in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Petroleum engineers (NOC 21332).

Petroleum engineers

Description

Petroleum engineers conduct studies for the exploration, development and extraction of oil and gas deposits; and plan, design, develop and supervise projects for the drilling, completion, testing and re-working of oil and gas wells. They are employed by petroleum producing companies, consulting companies, well logging or testing companies, government, and research and educational institutions.

Work week duration

Petroleum engineers usually work more than 40 hours per week.
More than 40 hours

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Petroleum engineers have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • Conduct feasibility assessment studies for developing new oil and gas fields
  • Direct and monitor oil and gas drilling operations
  • Develop drilling programs, select sites and specify drilling fluids, bit selection, drill stem testing procedures and equipment
  • Direct and monitor the completion and evaluation of wells, well testing and well surveys
  • Design and select artificial lift machinery, and well and surface production equipment and systems, and specify programs for corrosion control and oil or gas treatment
  • Develop specifications for and monitor and supervise well modification and stimulation programs to maximize oil and gas recovery
  • Analyze reservoir rock and fluid data to design optimum recovery methods and to predict reservoir performance and reserves
  • Monitor and forecast oil and gas reservoir performance and recommend oil recovery techniques which extend the economic life of wells
  • Design, develop and coordinate the installation, maintenance and operation of subsea well-head and production equipment.

Physical demands Help - Physical Demands

  • Sitting

Physical demands

Physical demands are the physical activities that the job requires the worker to do. Physical demands are selected according to the likeliness that workers will have to perform them for at least half of the time they spend at work.

Workplaces and employers

Here are the typical workplaces where Petroleum engineers are employed and some of their main characteristics:

  • Governments
  • Well logging or testing companies
  • Consulting companies
  • Petroleum producing companies
  • Education institutions
  • Research institutions

Work environment Help - Physical Work Environment

  • Indoors, environmentally controlled
  • Dangerous chemical substances

Physical proximity from others Help - Physical proximity from others

  • Somewhat close (e.g. share office)

Work environment

The work environment refers to the physical setting in which people work. The characteristics and conditions of the work environment are selected according to the likeliness that workers will be exposed to them at least once a week.

Physical proximity from others

Physical proximity from others refers to the physical distance between individuals in the workplace. The likeliness that the job requires to perform tasks while being physically close to other people is rated on a scale with 3 levels: "Somewhat close", "Close" and "Very close".

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 21332), and a list of similar occupations:

  • oil and gas drilling engineer
  • oil and gas production engineer
  • petroleum engineer
  • petroleum reservoir engineer
  • petroleum well completion engineer
  • subsea engineer

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Petroleum engineers in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). These occupations involve similar core qualifications but involve different responsibilities. To see more similar occupations, use the Job Transition Tool.

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

Labour Market Information Survey
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