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Petroleum Engineering Scope in India, Private & Government Sectors

Explore the petroleum engineering scope including various government and private sectors. Also, Discover the petroleum engineering scope in India and abroad.
authorImageRiya Sharma11 Dec, 2023
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Petroleum Engineering Scope

Petroleum Engineering Scope- Petroleum engineering is a field with several prospects for advancement. There are plenty of options to work in marketing, R&D, and other sectors, even though the subject can require a certain level of technical ability.

Furthermore, petroleum engineering is a sector that is always growing, which means there are always new difficulties to tackle and new chances to be discovered. There are many career options available to B.Tech Petroleum Engineering graduates. Petroleum engineering students are recruited by top oil refining companies. Oil and gas extraction, educational institutions, company management, coal and petroleum manufacture, engineering services, process engineering, etc. are just a few of the various career possibilities available to B.Tech Petroleum Engineering graduates. Indian Oil Corporation, IBP Co. Limited Lubricants India, Oil Gas India, Petrosil Group, Shiv-Vani Universal, ONGC, and other prominent companies are hiring B.Tech Petroleum Engineers.

Petroleum Engineering Scope

Petroleum refining jobs are available for Petroleum Engineering graduates. At the entry level, the average pay for a B. Tech in Petroleum Engineering is about INR 7 LPA. Graduates in petroleum engineering can earn different salaries depending on the industry. Students can work as petroleum engineers in any industrial, petroleum refining, or related organization after earning a degree in petroleum engineering. After successfully completing a BTech in petroleum engineering, a student may choose to pursue an MTech in petroleum engineering or choose to pursue research-based postgraduate coursework. Additionally, some colleges offer an integrated five-year program that, upon completion of the program, allows students to receive both a bachelor's and a master's degree. Because of the increasing need for hydrocarbons as a fuel source, there is a global need for petroleum engineers in public as well as private sectors. Working for some of the biggest businesses, such as Reliance Industries Ltd., ONGC, Schlumberger, Shell, OIL, Gas Authority of India Ltd., British Gas, Halliburton Services, Essar Oil, etc., is an excellent prospect for petroleum engineers. Petroleum Engineering graduates may earn an average salary of INR 2 LPA to INR 3 LPA.
Job Scope for Fresher Petroleum Engineer Job Scope for Experienced Petroleum Engineer
  • Petroleum Geologist
  • Petroleum/Reservoir Engineer
  • Oil & Gas Plant Engineers
  • Petroleum Engineer
  • Drilling Engineer
  • Petroleum Engineer
  • Reservoir Engineer
  • Senior Petroleum Engineer
  • Petroleum Technicians
  • Diesel Mechanics Engineer
  • Drilling Engineer
  • Production Engineer
  • Chief Petroleum Engineer
  • Offshore Drilling Engineer
  • Reservoir Engineer
Also Suggested: Petroleum Engineering, Know Scopes, Top Colleges, Recruiters, Books here

Petroleum Engineering Scope in India

The production and extraction of hydrocarbons, such as natural gas and crude oil, is the main emphasis of petroleum engineering, a sub-branch of mining engineering. India is the third-largest global user of gas and oil, and in the upcoming years, there will only be more demand for these resources. Petroleum engineers are in high demand in India to assist fulfill this growing need. Furthermore, the Indian government has announced plans to increase domestic production of gas and oil, which is expected to increase the country's need for petroleum engineers. Furthermore, petroleum engineering training and research opportunities are provided by a number of research institutes and universities in India. The petroleum engineering industry in India offers a wide range of job opportunities. Petroleum engineers are employed in various renowned occupations and sectors, including the following:
Petroleum Engineering Scope in India
Sectors Description
Exploration and Production (E&P) Exploration includes years of exploring and locating an area in terms of its geological history, for potential extractions, and to estimate the volume of hydrocarbons. India offers enormous potential for petroleum production and exploration, with both onshore and offshore areas offering the chance to find hydrocarbons. Major oil and gas companies including Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Oil India Limited (OIL), and Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) employ petroleum engineers. Drilling operations, reservoir modeling, production optimization, and field development planning are the activities of these organizations. These companies offer numerous job opportunities to petroleum engineers in India. The positions of reservoir engineer, drilling engineer, production engineer, facilities engineer, petroleum economist, well testing engineer, health and safety (HSE) engineer, and environment engineer are among the crucial ones. In addition, this industry meets other job requirements including technical knowledge, project management skills, and a focus on maximizing hydrocarbon output while upholding security and long-term environmental sustainability.
Refining and Petrochemical Refining and petrochemical services are critical components of the oil and gas industry's downstream sector. It refines crude oil into various products and produces petrochemicals. They can help with plant operations, product quality control, and the design and optimization of refinery processes. Reliance Industries Limited, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL), and Haldia Petrochemicals Limited are some of the refineries and petrochemical companies that play a vital role in meeting the country's needs for chemicals, petroleum-based consumer goods, and transportation fuels. Petroleum engineers can work as process engineers, operations engineers, process safety engineers, project engineers, environmental engineers, research and development engineers, technical sales engineers, and quality control engineers in the petrochemical and refining industries. Additionally, these positions require a combination of technical expertise, project management skills, technical sales assistance for the manufactured goods, and a commitment to process minimization, safety, and product quality standards preservation.Petroleum engineers work in this field to develop and manage high-quality fuels, petrochemicals, and other valuable items while guaranteeing environmental sustainability and minimizing the use of energy resources. In petroleum engineering, the field of petrochemicals and refining is highly broad and offers opportunities to work on many downstream industry sectors.
Oilfield Services When we discuss oilfield services, we are referring to a range of specialized services and equipment that are provided to the oil and gas industry to support activities like production, exploration, drilling, and reservoir management. These services are usually provided by companies that specialize in different areas of the upstream industry. Halliburton, Baker Hughes, and Schlumberger are some of the leading providers of oilfield services in this industry. They are equipped with a wide range of expertise, equipment, and technology to support global oil and gas activities. These businesses collaborate with exploration and production corporations to offer cost-effective solutions, ultimately helping to bring oil and gas projects to completion. Drilling services, wells services, drilling services, reservoir evaluation and management, production services, and engineering consulting services are some examples of common services. As a result, they hire petroleum engineers for positions in production improvement, reservoir appraisal, well testing, well logging, and drilling engineering. Petroleum engineers can also select from various positions within oilfield services, including those related to drilling, well completion, production enhancement, reservoir evaluation, well testing, production logging, well intervention, and production chemistry. Furthermore, numerous types of technical solutions and expertise are available to support oil and gas operations through additional career categories in this industry. They are essential to guarantee the efficiency as well as performance of these services, which these oilfield services companies offer.
Consulting Firms Many Indian consulting firms, including Schlumberger, Halliburton, Baker Hughes, Accenture, Deloitte, and KBR, offer services to the petroleum engineering and related sectors. They work with oil and gas companies, government agencies, and other industries to provide technical expertise and advise to their clients. Petroleum engineers can work as consultants for asset management, financial analysts, environmental and regulatory consultants, risk managers, facilities engineers, reservoir engineers, drilling and completion engineers, and production optimization engineers, among other positions. They provide specialized expertise and support in several kinds of petroleum engineering domains, such as environmental management, production, exploration, and refining. Their respective duties can additionally extend to projects involving reservoir management, field development planning, economic analysis, and risk assessment.
Academics Petroleum engineers may choose to serve as instructors and researchers at universities and colleges. They can do specialized research, instruct aspiring engineers, as well as contribute for academic publications. With the growth of technology, scenarios in the petroleum industry are also changing. This presents obstacles as well as several opportunities for engineers in this profession to change, adapt, and build a diverse set of abilities. Petroleum engineers have a lot to offer India's energy sector if they embrace change and adjust to their specific circumstances.
Research and Development The goals of petroleum engineering research and development centers and institutes include improving operational effectiveness, lower expenses, raising recovery rates, and addressing sustainability and environmental issues. The findings of the study contribute to India's aims for energy security and the development of the country's petroleum industry. Petroleum engineers have the opportunity to be involved in research and development projects through research organizations, government agencies, and academic institutions such as the Institute of Oil and Gas Production Technology (IOGPT), Technology Development Centers, the Indian School of Mines (ISM), Dhanbad, the Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), Oil India Limited (OIL), and Collaborative Research Projects. Research engineers, data scientists, petroleum analysts, computational modeling engineers, technology development engineers, and product development engineers are a few of the positions in this industry. They focus on creating new technologies, improving extraction methods, studying reservoir behavior, and looking for answers to problems the industry challenges.
Regulatory and Government Agencies Governmental and regulatory agencies like the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH), the Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC), the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), and the Oil Industry Safety Directorate (OISD) are responsible for ensuring the growth, sustainability, and safety of the oil and gas sector in India. Petroleum engineers might be involved in the development of regulations, resource assessment, environmental compliance, and safety specifications in this particular domain. Technical specialists, environmental engineers or specialists, reservoir engineers or analysts, drilling and well engineering specialists, safety engineers or specialists, compliance officers, and policy analysts are among the various employment types that come under this sector of petroleum engineering. Furthermore, they have a choice to provide monitoring services and license issuance to encourage moral and productive business practices.

Scope of Petroleum Engineering

Petroleum Engineering specialists investigate what a company needs to function and work to improve the existing technology. The task may involve enhancing procedures and bringing in new features for automobile production facilities. For petroleum engineers, a lucrative career path is a B.Tech in Petroleum Engineering. The following industries offer job prospects to them:
  • Oil and Gas Industry
  • Petroleum Industry
In India, the scope of B.Tech Petroleum Engineering is broad, and professionals can work in several disciplines. Some positions to search for include:
  • Petroleum Plants
  • Service Stations of Petroleum Companies
  • Petroleum Manufacturing Industries
  • Motor Vehicle Departments of Control
  • Transport Companies
  • Insurance Company
  • State Transport Corporations

Petroleum Engineering Scope and Salary in India

In India, the average pay for Petroleum Engineering is between INR 5 and 15 LPA. The sector of work is another aspect that influences salary packages. A crucial part of a petroleum engineer's compensation package is experience, knowledge, and abilities. There are job opportunities for petroleum engineers in various petroleum-related fields. The average salary for petroleum engineers is given below:
Petroleum Engineering Scope & Scope
Designation Salary
Petroleum Engineer INR 8 LPA
Refinery Manager INR 15 LPA
Storage Refining Specialist INR 12 LPA
Also Suggested: Petroleum Engineer Salary Structure 2023, Job Profile, Career Growth, Promotion

Petroleum Engineering Scope in Government Sector

In the government sector, petroleum engineers can hold additional designations, they include:
  • Petroleum Engineer
  • Product Testing Engineer
  • Exploration Engineer
  • Marketing Head
  • Refinery Manager
  • Production Manager
  • Transport Specialist
  • Storage Specialist
The average salary for employees in government petroleum engineering companies is listed below:
Petroleum Engineering Scope in Government Sector
Top Government Companies Job Profiles Salary
Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) Production Operator INR 5.24 LPA
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) Petroleum Engineer INR 8.47 LPA
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) Refinery Manager INR 18.44 LPA
Oil & Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) Drilling Engineer INR 9.08 LPA
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Graduate Engineer Trainee INR 2.98 LPA
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) Grade ‘B’ Engineers INR 3.48 LPA
Oil India Limited Executive Trainee INR 3 LPA
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) Research Engineer position INR 2.16 LPA
Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) Junior Engineer position INR 2.64 LPA
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) Research Associate INR 5.10 LPA
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Class –I Executive INR 4.44 LPA
Reliance Industries Ltd Petroleum Engineer INR 4.98 LPA

Petroleum Engineering Scope in Private Sector

The scope of Petroleum Engineering is very broad. Here are a few additional designations for petroleum engineers:
  • Petroleum Sales Engineer
  • Dealer Account Manager
  • Driver Instrumentation Engineer
  • Process Engineer
  • Petroleum Engineer
Petroleum Engineering Scope in Private Sector
Private Companies Job Profiles Salary
Tata Petrodyne Geologist INR 17 LPA
Oil India Ltd Petroleum Engineer INR 14 LPA
Gas Authority of India Senior Engineer INR 13.97 LPA
Reliance Petroleum Limited Quality Controller INR 6.60 LPA
Essar Oil Limited Deputy Engineer INR 8.87 LPA
Also, Check: Petroleum Engineering Subjects, Semester Wise Subject List

Petroleum Engineering Scope in Abroad

In abroad, Petroleum Engineers offer a diverse variety of opportunities. The industries include drilling for oil, gas wells, reservoirs, and exploration and production (E&P) companies. Petroleum Engineering graduates can work as petroleum engineers in different sectors and organizations both in India and abroad. The B.Tech Petroleum Engineering degree offers the chance to specialize in specific areas of the oil and gas manufacturing industry. Students who specialize in a subfield of petroleum engineering will have more options to work abroad. The top countries providing job opportunities for Petroleum Engineers are Canada, Cyprus, Malaysia, Russia, UK and USA. Executive Trainee, Grade ‘B’ Engineers, Graduate Engineer Trainee, Petroleum Engineer, Research Associate, Junior Engineer Position and Research Engineer Position are some job opportunities for B.Tech Petroleum Engineering graduates abroad. The top international companies of Petroleum Engineering graduates can be found on the list below:
  • Lukoil
  • Chevron
  • Total
  • ExxonMobil
  • BP Plc
  • China National Petroleum Corp
  • Royal Dutch Shell
  • China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation
Petroleum Engineering is a popular professional path both in India and abroad. Petroleum engineers find and analyze natural oil sources. A petroleum engineer's tasks include creating the latest techniques and equipment for use in the extraction and processing of oil. A summary of the job prospects in abroad is provided below:
Petroleum Engineering Career Prospects
Job Profile Average Salary
Drilling Engineer $90k- 153K (INR 1.12 Crore)
Production Engineer $56k-$78k (INR 57 Lakh)
Reservoir Engineer $56k-$78k (INR 57 Lakh)
Offshore Drilling Engineer $90k-$153k (INR 1.12 Crore)
Chief Petroleum Engineer $84k-$142k (INR 1.04 Crore)
Completions Engineer $58k-$95k (INR 70 Lakh)
Mining and Geological Engineer $43k-$70k (INR 51 Lakh)
Petroleum Geologists $74-$150k (INR 1.10 Crore)

Petroleum Engineering Scope in Future

The importance of the Petroleum Engineering course has increased recently due to India's growing use of non-renewable energy sources. After completing this degree, one can advance into management or other areas of Petroleum Engineering. With a degree in petroleum engineering, you can pursue a wide range of careers and industries. In fact, experts can enter companies that deal with chemicals or Fertiliser industry or Natural Gas exploration. There are numerous prospects for career advancement in petroleum engineering. In this blog part, we will look at some of the opportunities available in the field of petroleum engineering. Initially, there is a fantastic chance to work in a range of sectors with petroleum engineering. Petroleum engineers might engage in pipeline building and maintenance, fuel research and development, oil and gas production, and refining. Petroleum engineers are able to pick a profession that suits their interests and skill set because of the abundance of opportunities available. Second, the field of petroleum engineering is growing. Petroleum engineers are projected to be in high demand in the upcoming years as the world's dependence on oil and gas resources grows. This indicates that there are numerous career options for gifted petroleum engineers. Lastly, petroleum engineering provides high compensation and benefits. The majority of jobs in this sector come with competitive pay and extensive benefits packages that include vacation days, retirement plans, and health insurance. All things considered, there are plenty of great opportunities for a prosperous career as a petroleum engineer. A career in petroleum engineering offers many fascinating opportunities because of the field's continuing growth and the expanding demand for petroleum engineers' expertise across many sectors.

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Petroleum Engineering Scope FAQs

What is the Petroleum Engineering scope?

Graduates in Petroleum Engineering have two choices for further education: they can specialize in Petroleum Engineering or pursue MTech or PhD programs in the same discipline. They can also be employed by different petroleum or petrochemical companies as team leaders, production engineers, or refining engineers.

Is there any future of Petroleum Engineering?

The future is promising for petroleum engineers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment for petroleum engineers will grow by 13% between 2020 and 2030, which is faster than the average for all occupations.

Does petroleum engineering have a good salary?

Petroleum engineers with five to ten years of experience can command much higher salaries, up to INR 10-20 lakhs per year. People with specialized knowledge and abilities can potentially make more money—up to INR 30 lakhs annually.

Is petroleum engineering a lucrative career?

For those who value financially rewarding career options, a position as a petroleum engineer may be appealing. According to Indeed, the average yearly salary for petroleum engineers is $87,197. Petroleum engineers are highly compensated.
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