Petroleum Engineers
SOC: 17-2171.00 · Job Zone 4 (Considerable preparation)
Devise methods to improve oil and gas extraction and production and determine the need for new or modified tool designs. Oversee drilling and offer technical advice.
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$141,280
per year
Mean Wage
$153,560
per year
Employment
19K
workers
Wage Range
$78,840 - $228,790
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
Task Breakdown
23 tasks analyzed
Assess costs and estimate the production capabilities and economic value of oil and gas wells, to evaluate the economic viability of potential drilling sites.
Develop plans for oil and gas field drilling, and for product recovery and treatment.
Analyze data to recommend placement of wells and supplementary processes to enhance production.
Direct and monitor the completion and evaluation of wells, well testing, or well surveys.
Monitor production rates, and plan rework processes to improve production.
Interpret drilling and testing information for personnel.
Specify and supervise well modification and stimulation programs to maximize oil and gas recovery.
Assist engineering and other personnel to solve operating problems.
Confer with scientific, engineering, and technical personnel to resolve design, research, and testing problems.
Coordinate the installation, maintenance, and operation of mining and oil field equipment.
Maintain records of drilling and production operations.
Write technical reports for engineering and management personnel.
Simulate reservoir performance for different recovery techniques, using computer models.
Design and implement environmental controls on oil and gas operations.
Coordinate activities of workers engaged in research, planning, and development.
Assign work to staff to obtain maximum utilization of personnel.
Take samples to assess the amount and quality of oil, the depth at which resources lie, and the equipment needed to properly extract them.
Evaluate findings to develop, design, or test equipment or processes.
Supervise the removal of drilling equipment, the removal of any waste, and the safe return of land to structural stability when wells or pockets are exhausted.
Inspect oil and gas wells to determine that installations are completed.
Conduct engineering research experiments to improve or modify mining and oil machinery and operations.
Design or modify mining and oil field machinery and tools, applying engineering principles.
Test machinery and equipment to ensure that it is safe and conforms to performance specifications.
| Task | Category | AI Capability | Risk Score | Time % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assess costs and estimate the production capabilities and economic value of oil and gas wells, to evaluate the economic viability of potential drilling sites. | Non-Routine Analytical | - | - | 7% |
| Develop plans for oil and gas field drilling, and for product recovery and treatment. | Non-Routine Analytical | - | - | 7% |
| Analyze data to recommend placement of wells and supplementary processes to enhance production. | Non-Routine Analytical | - | - | 7% |
| Direct and monitor the completion and evaluation of wells, well testing, or well surveys. | Non-Routine Analytical | - | - | 6% |
| Monitor production rates, and plan rework processes to improve production. | Non-Routine Analytical | - | - | 6% |
| Interpret drilling and testing information for personnel. | Non-Routine Interpersonal | - | - | 5% |
| Specify and supervise well modification and stimulation programs to maximize oil and gas recovery. | Non-Routine Interpersonal | - | - | 5% |
| Assist engineering and other personnel to solve operating problems. | Non-Routine Interpersonal | - | - | 5% |
| Confer with scientific, engineering, and technical personnel to resolve design, research, and testing problems. | Non-Routine Interpersonal | - | - | 5% |
| Coordinate the installation, maintenance, and operation of mining and oil field equipment. | Non-Routine Interpersonal | - | - | 4% |
| Maintain records of drilling and production operations. | Routine Cognitive | - | - | 4% |
| Write technical reports for engineering and management personnel. | Routine Cognitive | - | - | 4% |
| Simulate reservoir performance for different recovery techniques, using computer models. | Non-Routine Analytical | - | - | 5% |
| Design and implement environmental controls on oil and gas operations. | Non-Routine Analytical | - | - | 4% |
| Coordinate activities of workers engaged in research, planning, and development. | Non-Routine Interpersonal | - | - | 3% |
| Assign work to staff to obtain maximum utilization of personnel. | Non-Routine Interpersonal | - | - | 3% |
| Take samples to assess the amount and quality of oil, the depth at which resources lie, and the equipment needed to properly extract them. | Routine Manual | - | - | 3% |
| Evaluate findings to develop, design, or test equipment or processes. | Non-Routine Analytical | - | - | 4% |
| Supervise the removal of drilling equipment, the removal of any waste, and the safe return of land to structural stability when wells or pockets are exhausted. | Non-Routine Interpersonal | - | - | 3% |
| Inspect oil and gas wells to determine that installations are completed. | Routine Cognitive | - | - | 3% |
| Conduct engineering research experiments to improve or modify mining and oil machinery and operations. | Non-Routine Analytical | - | - | 3% |
| Design or modify mining and oil field machinery and tools, applying engineering principles. | Non-Routine Analytical | - | - | 2% |
| Test machinery and equipment to ensure that it is safe and conforms to performance specifications. | Routine Cognitive | - | - | 2% |
Related Jobs
Explore other career paths
Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.
Risk scoring has not been run for this occupation yet. Scores will appear after the scoring pipeline runs.