Can you imagine a world without automobiles, aeroplanes, factories and the huge amounts of burning energy used in homes? The petroleum industry plays a significant role in shaping the modern world by providing advanced oil technology. It is a technically challenging field that leads to financially rewarding and exciting careers in the oil and gas industry.
Petroleum Engineering: An Interdisciplinary Subject
Petroleum engineering is one of the primary disciplines in the exploration and production of oil and gas. Students can focus on a wide variety of specialities, including reservoir, production, and drilling, to keep the industry running, but an understanding of fundamental geosciences, chemical, mechanical, and materials engineering, and mathematics is needed to become fully qualified.
Petroleum Engineering entry requirements
- Academic Requirements: UK Universities will look for a mathematics grade, alongside one of the sciences. A minimum 2:2 undergraduate degree in one of chemical, civil, mechanical, petroleum engineering or earth science is also required.
- Typical IELTS requirements: 6.5 overall, with no lower than 6.0 across all four categories - reading, writing, speaking and listening
What do Petroleum Engineers do?
Petroleum Engineering is intellectually and physically challenging. Students should possess excellent analytical and creative ability, as well as be exceptional at maths and problem-solving. On a basic level, Petroleum Engineers are responsible for:
- Locating, recovering and maintaining the world’s oil and gas supplies
- Designing and developing methods for extracting oil & gas from below the earth’s surface
- Managing an oil or gas-producing property once it is operational
- Maximizing the performance and profitability of a well
Careers in Petroleum Engineering
Petroleum Engineers are required in all stages of good production, from locating a potential well site to drilling, production, processing, and transportation. Some job titles include reservoir engineer, drilling engineer, and production engineer.
Best UK Universities to Study Petroleum Engineering
- University of Aberdeen
- University of Leeds
- University of Birmingham
- University of Bath
- Imperial College London
- University of Manchester
- Newcastle University
- Heriot-Watt University
- University of Surrey
- University of Cambridge
Study in the UK
If you want to learn more about studying petroleum engineering in the UK, arrange a free consultation today with SI-UK.