Petroleum Engineering

Overview

Not quite what Jed Clampett or J.R. Ewing did to make their millions, but if you major in Petroleum Engineering you might get to know some oil barons. Petroleum engineers are, after all, responsible for helping to find and drill new oil reserves so that we can continue driving our cars and heating our homes.

Petroleum engineers are the scientists behind the oil industry. They’re the ones who help determine where those big oil rigs should go, and where we should and should not drill for more of that black gold, Texas tea. Using some of the most sophisticated technology and complicated math, petroleum engineers also learn how to determine the cost efficiency of any drilling project.

Though increasing pollution and global warming has worried lawmakers and environmentalists looking for cleaner sources of energy, the oil industry isn’t going away anytime soon. Jobs will be awaiting Petroleum Engineering graduates for the foreseeable future.

Selected Schools

FEATURED

The University of Tulsa

Tulsa, OK

$48,340 Tuition
1320 Avg SAT
2,485 Enrolled

FEATURED

West Virginia University

Morgantown, WV

$25,320 Tuition
1140 Avg SAT
21,155 Enrolled

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Pomona, CA

$17,622 Tuition
24,453 Enrolled

Colorado School of Mines

Golden, CO

$41,580 Tuition
1400 Avg SAT
5,852 Enrolled

Marietta College

Marietta, OH

$30,090 Tuition
1100 Avg SAT
1,487 Enrolled

Montana Technological University

Butte, MT

$24,163 Tuition
1160 Avg SAT
2,134 Enrolled

View All Petroleum Engineering Schools

SAMPLE CURRICULUM

Advanced Drilling Technology
Drilling Practices and Well Completions
Environmental Petroleum Applications
Fundamental Digital Applications in Petroleum Engineering
Natural Gas Engineering
Offshore Petroleum Technology
Petroleum Engineering Design
Petroleum Production Laboratory
Petroleum Reservoir Engineering
Petroleum Valuation and Economics
Properties of Hydrocarbon Fluids
Well Logging
Well Test Analysis

HIGH SCHOOl PREPARATION

Short of beginning your own drilling company, a strong background in mathematics is great preparation for any career in engineering. The higher-level math you can take the better, particularly calculus and beyond. You’ll be happy you took those AP level physics and chemistry courses, perhaps two of high school’s most difficult classes, when you really start digging into the major curriculum.

GRADUATE PROGRAMS & CAREERS

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