Job Description

Reservoir Engineer:

Learn about the education and preparation needed to become a reservoir engineer. Get a quick view of the requirements as well as details about job outlook and salary to find out if this is the career for you.

Reservoir engineers utilize their knowledge of geology and fluid mechanics to locate fuel in underground reservoirs. Those in this field will typically have a bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering, but may also need a professional engineer license if they intend to work in the public sector. This is a continuously growing job market with a 2015 median salary of $129,990.

Essential Information

Reservoir engineers commonly use technology and expertise to pinpoint and efficiently allocate usable fossil fuel reservoirs underground for oil and gas companies. Employers generally require a bachelor's degree in engineering from a program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).

Job Description

Reservoir engineers use their knowledge of geology and fluid mechanics to determine the location and amount of fuel in underground reservoirs. Often, engineers work with advanced equipment, such as computer modeling and imaging programs, to locate reserves of oil and natural gas. As companies drill and tap these reserves, changes occur in the physical structure of the reservoir. In response to this, engineers need to make adjustments throughout the entire drilling process.

Another major duty of engineers involves the analysis of the amount of fuel in reserve and the duration of reserve viability for investment purposes. This information frequently involves combining several mitigating factors, such as extraction costs and profit comparisons, into these forecasts. Oil and gas companies often use this type of analysis in making decisions about whether or not to go ahead with drilling ventures. In some instances, engineers may have to adjust their analysis for outside factors, such as machine efficiency or fluctuations in the price of oil.

Educational Requirements

The petroleum engineering industry often has high monetary risks associated with drilling projects. As a consequence, employers tend to desire candidates with an accredited educational background in engineering and professional licensing. While advanced degrees are available, most entry-level positions in reservoir engineering only require a bachelor's degree.

A bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering typically consists of courses in drilling engineering, geology and fluid mechanics. Specialized industry coursework can include petroleum economics, reservoir rock properties, drilling mechanics, reservoir flooding and reservoir rock characteristics. Programs usually offer various simulations in a variety of areas, such as well drilling, petroleum reserves and well completion, where students can solve potential problems using computer programs.

Licensing

A state license is required for all engineers who work in the public sector, including petroleum companies. Professional organizations, such as the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES), also offer licensing for engineers working in the petroleum industry. The requirements for taking the professional engineer (PE) exam involve completing the fundamentals of engineering (FE) exam, passing of a state licensing exam and four years of work-related experience. The petroleum engineering exam consists of general topics ranging from drilling, reservoir and production engineering problems.

Employment Outlook and Salary Information

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicted that employment opportunities for petroleum engineers would grow from 2014 until 2024 by 10%. In 2015, the median salary for petroleum engineers was $129,990, according to the BLS.

Reservoir engineers use their knowledge of geology and petroleum engineering to allocate fossil fuels for oil and gas companies. Through petroleum engineering degree programs, individuals will learn the necessary skills for this career such as drilling engineering and fluid mechanics. This job market is still growing as well, at an expected rate of 10 percent over the next decade.

Other details

Department: Site Engineering / Project Management Maintenance Industry: Oil & Gas / Petroleum Other Skills: reservoir engineer

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