Petroleum Engineerings

The recent groundbreaking discoveries of hydrocarbon reserves across India have made employees and prospective candidates euphoric about this industry and its future

Fossil fuel dependant economy

India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. A number of factors are making a positive contribution to the ongoing development of our country. Petrol plays a significant role in this context. However, the role played by this important ingredient of success is somewhat paradoxical in nature. Our country needs petrol and other fossil fuels to gear the vehicle of progress. The nation has to cough up billions of hard earned foreign exchange from its reserves to import crude oil and its derivates. And what’s more, India is not self sufficient in fulfilling its ever growing demand. The situation becomes all the more alarming when even a small increase in the price of crude oil has severe repercussions on the fiscal condition of the country.

Exploring petroleum reserves

With the price of crude oil going higher and higher the country is constantly threatened by the spectre of social and economic upheaval. There is also a persistent danger of the economy getting caught up in an unending inflationary spiral. The best option it seems is to lessen our dependency on imported fossil fuel purchased. Rather emphasis must be laid to increase the production of crude oil in the country. This is possible if we explore and utilise the potential hydrocarbon deposits across the length and breadth of the country.

Time to rejoice

The petroleum sector is on a high these days with the discovery of numerous crude oil and natural gas yielding sites across the country. On the top of this list are the giant reserves of hydrocarbons in the basin of the Krishna and Godavari rivers. Engineers responsible for scanning the terrain of the country have also identified oil reserves in the state of Rajasthan. Apart from these major discoveries, numerous other river basins on our seaboard hold the promise of unveiling hitherto hidden deposits of oil and natural gas. What’s more heartening is the fact that approximately four-fifths of the country’s total area is yet to be explored in this regard.

Demand for professionals

Discovery of potential oil and fields naturally brings cheer to students interested in pursuing a career in the petroleum sector. The aforementioned discoveries have already upped the demand for experts in various processes associated with the petroleum industry. According to an estimate, India is already facing a shortage in the supply of skilled manpower in the oil and gas domain.

Not many young job seekers have entered this sector in the past decades. A major cause could be the lacklustre performance of the hydrocarbon industry in the past years. This too adds on to the existing scarcity of experienced personnel.  As a result, a sizeable portion of the current workforce would retire from this domain in the near future without being replaced by fresh recruits. Furthermore, the same trend is expected to continue for another 5-7 more years.

With the job market in favour of employees, it is believed that professionals who are currently employed in oil and gas industry are all set to rake in huge increments. Even newcomers and trainees setting foot into this domain for the first time are expected to bag good pay packets.

How to get onto the gravy train?

To get into this domain a candidate must either have a degree in petroleum engineering or petrochemical engineering. Petroleum engineers are concerned about activities such as exploration of hydrocarbon reserves. They also manage development of installations associated with the extraction of oil and natural gas. On the other hand, petrochemical engineers have to deal with different tasks pertaining to the refining and processing of hydrocarbons such that commercially viable items are derived from them.

Many universities across the country offer specialisation in subjects relating to petroleum and petrochemical engineering. Students interested in taking up this particular career path can also opt for integrated courses that offer an engineering degree besides a program in management. 

With a big shortage in resources, the industry also takes in candidates with a background in other branches of engineering such as chemical, mechanical, geotechnical, and biochemical engineering. Other eligibility parameters include a Master’s degree in geology, geophysics, geo-informatics, and oceanography.

The future for prospective candidates to take up a career in petroleum industry is brighter than ever. Opportunities for petroleum and petrochemical engineers are aplenty in government and private owned oil companies in India as well as in giant multinationals abroad.