Oil Field Engineering: What It Is and What Engineers Do

Oil field engineering is the discipline that deals with the design, drilling, operation, and management of oil and gas wells. It's a broad field that brings together geology, physics, chemistry, mechanical engineering, and a lot of practical know-how. Oil field engineers are the people who make sure that oil and gas gets out of the ground safely, efficiently, and economically. Let's look at what oil field engineering is all about, and what the different kinds of engineers do.

The Main Branches of Oil Field Engineering

Oil field engineering has several main branches, each with its own focus:

Reservoir Engineering. Reservoir engineers study the oil and gas reservoir — the underground rock formation that holds the oil. They figure out how much oil and gas is in the reservoir, how it's going to flow, and how to get as much of it out as possible. They use reservoir simulation models to predict how the reservoir will behave over time, and they design production strategies to maximize recovery. They're the ones who answer the question: "How much oil is down there, and how do we get it out?"

Drilling Engineering. Drilling engineers design and supervise the drilling of oil and gas wells. They decide how to drill the well — what drill bits to use, what drilling mud to use, how fast to drill, how to case the well, and more. They make sure the well is drilled safely, on time, and on budget. They're the ones who answer the question: "How do we drill this hole down to the reservoir?"

Production Engineering. Production engineers take over once the well is drilled. They design and supervise the production system — the well completion, the artificial lift, the surface facilities, and more. They make sure the well produces as much as it can, as efficiently as possible. They troubleshoot problems when the well starts underperforming, and they design workovers to fix it. They're the ones who answer the question: "Once we've drilled the well, how do we get the oil out?"

Petroleum Geology. Geologists study the underground rock formations, to find where the oil and gas is. They map the subsurface, they interpret seismic data, and they pick the locations for new wells. They work closely with reservoir engineers, to help them understand the reservoir.

What Kind of Work Do Oil Field Engineers Do?

Oil field engineers work in all kinds of settings:

- Oil companies: Big oil companies like ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, and others employ thousands of oil field engineers. They work in offices, in labs, and out in the field.
- Service companies: Companies like Schlumberger, Halliburton, Baker Hughes, and others also employ thousands of oil field engineers. They provide services to oil companies.
- Drilling contractors: Drilling companies employ drilling engineers, to design and supervise their drilling operations.
- Consulting firms: There are also consulting firms that specialize in oil field engineering, providing expertise to smaller oil companies that don't have their own engineering staff.

How Big Is the Oil Field Engineering Industry?

Oil field engineering is a huge industry. There are hundreds of thousands of oil field engineers working worldwide, and the industry is worth hundreds of billions of dollars a year. It's a global industry — engineers work everywhere there's oil and gas, from Texas to Saudi Arabia to the North Sea.

FAQ

Q: How much do oil field engineers make?
A: It depends on the level of experience, the company, and the location. Entry-level oil field engineers make $70,000 to $100,000 a year. Experienced engineers with 10-20 years of experience make $120,000 to $200,000 a year. Senior engineers and managers can make $200,000 or more.