Petroleum EngineeringAs a petroleum engineer, one would be expected to apply their “technical skills and knowledge” to solve different challenges. They connect an area just below the surface and on top to deliver oil and gas from a reservoir to where they need it. Their goal is always to work economically and safely. The various topics covered by petroleum engineering are closely related to earth sciences. Petroleum engineering topics include economics, geology, geochemistry, geomechanics, geophysics, oil drilling, geopolitics, knowledge management, seismology, team building, teamwork, tectonics, thermodynamics, well logging, well completion, oil and gas production, reservoir development and pipeline. A petroleum engineer must gain knowledge in areas such as petrophysics, drilling and product exploitation, reservoir engineering, production geology, production technology, field development economics and of course lots of math with emphasis on “a lot”. Entrance requirements include: aeronautical engineering, astrophysics, chemical engineering, civil engineering, earth sciences and mechanical engineering. Working in this field also means learning to manage material resources and practicing contractor relations to supervise drilling personnel. They work in multidisciplinary teams alongside other engineers, scientists, drilling crews and contractors. Schools that offer such studies and programs include Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, The University of Texas at Austin, Stanford University, and the University of Oklahoma with their “Departments of Petroleum Engineering.” Potential candidates must demonstrate technical capabilities, strong commercial awareness, analytical and creative skills, management potential, ability to motivate staff at all levels, ability to work internationally and in offshore environments, teamwork skills, dynamism and enthusiasm, the ability to solve problems. complex problems, meeting challenges, flexibility and ability to work on a range of projects, and computer literacy. Typical work activities and what you can expect as a petroleum engineer would be liaising with geoscientists, production and reservoir engineers, and other similar individuals to predict production potential. They also develop development plans using mathematical models, select the precise size of tubes and appropriate equipment for their plans, then move on to designing "completions," which are the part of the well that communicates with the rock and reservoir fluids. Then they design systems that will facilitate flow. For example, I can find information that they use submersible pumps to facilitate flow. Of course, it is always important to closely monitor fluid behavior and production and manage how a set of different wells may interact with each other...