If you choose to work as a drilling engineer, you will be employed in the petroleum industry and will be responsible for a variety of tasks. Planning and managing drilling operations, as well as ensuring that any oil extractions are completed safely and efficiently, are among these responsibilities. You must meet certain post-secondary educational requirements, gain on-the-job training and experience, and possess certain skills in order to work in this industry. Furthermore, most employers will demand that you obtain drilling engineer certification.
A bachelor’s degree in engineering is the standard educational requirement for becoming a drilling engineer, as mandated by employers. You have a better chance of getting a good drilling engineer job if your engineering degree has a concentration in mineral, chemical, or structural engineering, or other areas. If you want to work as a drilling engineer who doesn’t provide services to the public, you won’t need an engineering license in most cases.
Advanced mathematics, sciences, and well testing, as well as geo-statistics, are all included in engineering degrees. These courses will teach you how to apply what you’ve learned in class to real-world problems in the petroleum industry. In most engineering degree programs, students must also complete labs and internships. Being computer literate and having good communication skills, as well as being good with numbers and having analytical skills, are all required skills for becoming a drilling engineer. You will benefit from learning other languages if you plan to work as a drilling engineer in areas other than your home country.
Internships are extremely beneficial because they provide on-the-job training and experience. Working as a research assistant for an onshore drilling operation is one of the best types of internships to get. Many employers will require you to have five years of experience in order to obtain a drilling engineer job position, so starting internships and gaining experience as soon as possible is very beneficial. In addition to experience, some employers will require you to have a master’s degree in engineering.
After you’ve worked as a drilling engineer for at least four years, you should think about getting certified. Drilling engineer certification is available through the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), but you must have a good track record of ethical job performance in addition to a bachelor’s degree and experience. If you meet these requirements, you can join the organization and earn certification by passing an exam.