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If you’re looking for an engineering degree that allows you to combine your love of problem-solving with work that has a high impact, you might not immediately consider petroleum engineering.
A less commonly studied engineering discipline, petroleum engineering is nevertheless a dynamic and constantly evolving subject that might lead you to the career of your dreams.
The University of Alberta is one of our highest-ranking universities for the subject and Huazhou Li, professor and co-director of the petroleum engineering programme, shares more about why it’s a subject that you should consider when applying to university.
What is petroleum engineering?
Petroleum engineering is a field of engineering which is primarily concerned with the discovery, extraction and conversion of hydrocarbons such as crude oil or natural gas into products which can be used and sold in a variety of ways.
Professor Li explained the scale of the work that happens in petroleum engineering: “What really sets our field apart is the scale and complexity. We work with reservoirs that can be as big as a city, produce oil and gas from thousands of feet down, manage projects that operate for decades.”
Working on such large projects is very exciting for many students and can be a major attraction for the subject.
Li explained that there is a lot of creativity needed in the study of petroleum engineering as work is done on such a large scale that models and emerging technologies are needed to fully understand and visualise the project and generate the most effective solutions:
“Unlike many engineers who can see and touch what they’re working with, we’re making crucial decisions about resources we can only visualise through indirect measurements and computer models. This requires a unique blend of technical knowledge and decision making under uncertainty that you won’t find in other engineering disciplines.”
Problem-solving is a significant part of petroleum engineering studies. This is a result of the scale of the projects, the methods that are used and the need to incorporate knowledge of other related subjects.
Petroleum engineering students need to think creatively and be able to test and apply theoretical concepts to real world situations effectively.
Li explains “Petroleum engineers solve the puzzle of extracting resources we can’t even see. We combine elements of other disciplines such as geology, physics and environmental science to understand how oil and gas move in those tiny spaces and how to protect groundwater.”
Even though petroleum engineering uses knowledge from other disciplines, it also has a distinctly different focus and application of knowledge than some other forms of engineering:
“The petroleum engineering programme entails fundamental courses that are also covered in other disciplines such as fluid mechanics, heat transfer, physics etc. But petroleum engineering differs from other disciplines in that it focuses on the various aspects of the development of oil and gas resources, while being multidisciplinary in nature.”
Why should you consider petroleum engineering?
Studying petroleum engineering can enhance a student's career prospects because it gives you hands-on experience working with real-world projects and using the relevant technology, as well as providing you with a wealth of information on not only engineering but the natural processes of the earth and environmental changes and considerations.
Professor Li claimed: “Engineering design projects are a cornerstone of petroleum engineering programmes, offering students the chance to tackle real-world challenges and develop innovative solutions.”
This opportunity to contribute to real-world ongoing projects is hugely attractive to many students as it allows them to become comfortable in the working environment and have confidence in their own skills, knowledge and abilities which often leads to them making more positive contributions in a graduate job.
This confidence and experience are not only helpful when applying for a job but also allows them to put forward their suggestions and ideas and advance in their careers.
Li continued: “Through activities like reservoir modelling and field trips to companies, students gain experience with industry standard tools and technologies. Lab work, such as drilling mud and darcy flow experiments, further enhance their technical skills.”
Many new graduates worry that, although university may have prepared them with the knowledge of their subject, there will still be a lot that they must learn about their role when beginning their career. This is not the case for many petroleum engineering students who are prepared for their graduate roles throughout their studies.
Instead, petroleum engineering students learn practically while at university so that, when they enter the workforce, they can expand their knowledge and make meaningful contributions straight away.
Finally, students will benefit from a degree in petroleum engineering because the topics taught as part of the programme cover a range of subjects and disciplines. Li said: “Students will integrate knowledge from various disciplines, including geology, fluid mechanics, and materials science, to address complex problems.” What do petroleum engineering students love the most about their studies?
“The petroleum engineering students are most excited about two aspects of the programme: hands-on training and engineering design projects” Li claimed. “Hands-on training is a highlight for petroleum engineering students because it bridges theory and practice, allowing them to apply classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios.”
This practical work allows students to observe professionals in the industry and get involved with current projects which many feel is more exciting and feels more purposeful than just learning about concepts. They enjoy the hands-on approach to learning as it gives them actual experience and insight into the sector.
Li also said many students are also excited about the design elements of petroleum engineering: “In our University of Alberta petroleum engineering programme, we have recently revamped the design projects in advanced PET E courses by making them open-ended and problem-solving focused.
“By working on such projects, students hone their problem-solving, teamwork and technical skills, while also building a portfolio of work that showcases their abilities to potential employers.”
Despite the fact that many students enjoy studying petroleum engineering and are excited by the subject and their career prospects after graduation, it tends to be a less common choice than some other STEM subjects such as mathematics and other fields of engineering such as mechanical or aeronautical. When asked why this might be the case, Li said: “Firstly, industry volatility. The oil and gas industry is highly susceptible to economic cycles, with frequent booms and busts.” This volatility therefore deters some students who have concerns about job stability.
However, Li argued that many previous graduates have had very successful careers in a variety of roles demonstrating that personal success is possible despite wider economic conditions.
Concerns about the environment may also be putting some students off, although Li thinks this is unnecessary. He said: “Many students are now more inclined to pursue careers in renewable energy and sustainability rather than traditional oil and gas sectors. But in fact, petroleum engineers can use the knowledge they acquire to significantly contribute to sustainable energy production while protecting our environment.
“They can do this by implementing cleaner practices and technologies, focusing on emissions reduction, and improving environmental monitoring while supporting the integration of sustainable renewable energy sources.”
There are also emerging sustainability considerations within petroleum engineering, like other engineering subjects, so students do not have to sacrifice their interests and values surrounding sustainability in order to embrace petroleum engineering as a subject choice.
What does the future of petroleum engineering look like?
When asked about future developments, Professor Li said: “ There are several exciting innovations and discoveries unfolding in the industry at the moment: integration of cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics into reservoir simulation (using computer modelling to predict the flow of underground fluids through the porous soil) and reservoir management as well as growing interest and innovation in carbon capture, utilisation and storage.”
Petroleum engineering is a subject which, like other types of engineering and STEM subjects generally, is experiencing constant growth and development.
Although it is not as commonly considered as some other STEM subjects, it offers students a wide range of knowledge, the chance to do practical work and get involved with real-world projects and the chance to gain experience and build a portfolio which will benefit their career prospects in the long term.
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Petroleum engineering: the STEM degree you might not have considered before
Holly Hemmings
Updated May 01, 2025Save
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If you’re looking for an engineering degree that allows you to combine your love of problem-solving with work that has a high impact, you might not immediately consider petroleum engineering.
A less commonly studied engineering discipline, petroleum engineering is nevertheless a dynamic and constantly evolving subject that might lead you to the career of your dreams.
The University of Alberta is one of our highest-ranking universities for the subject and Huazhou Li, professor and co-director of the petroleum engineering programme, shares more about why it’s a subject that you should consider when applying to university.
What is petroleum engineering?
Petroleum engineering is a field of engineering which is primarily concerned with the discovery, extraction and conversion of hydrocarbons such as crude oil or natural gas into products which can be used and sold in a variety of ways.
Professor Li explained the scale of the work that happens in petroleum engineering: “What really sets our field apart is the scale and complexity. We work with reservoirs that can be as big as a city, produce oil and gas from thousands of feet down, manage projects that operate for decades.”
Working on such large projects is very exciting for many students and can be a major attraction for the subject.
Li explained that there is a lot of creativity needed in the study of petroleum engineering as work is done on such a large scale that models and emerging technologies are needed to fully understand and visualise the project and generate the most effective solutions:
“Unlike many engineers who can see and touch what they’re working with, we’re making crucial decisions about resources we can only visualise through indirect measurements and computer models. This requires a unique blend of technical knowledge and decision making under uncertainty that you won’t find in other engineering disciplines.”
Problem-solving is a significant part of petroleum engineering studies. This is a result of the scale of the projects, the methods that are used and the need to incorporate knowledge of other related subjects.
Petroleum engineering students need to think creatively and be able to test and apply theoretical concepts to real world situations effectively.
Li explains “Petroleum engineers solve the puzzle of extracting resources we can’t even see. We combine elements of other disciplines such as geology, physics and environmental science to understand how oil and gas move in those tiny spaces and how to protect groundwater.”
Even though petroleum engineering uses knowledge from other disciplines, it also has a distinctly different focus and application of knowledge than some other forms of engineering:
“The petroleum engineering programme entails fundamental courses that are also covered in other disciplines such as fluid mechanics, heat transfer, physics etc. But petroleum engineering differs from other disciplines in that it focuses on the various aspects of the development of oil and gas resources, while being multidisciplinary in nature.”
Why should you consider petroleum engineering?
Studying petroleum engineering can enhance a student's career prospects because it gives you hands-on experience working with real-world projects and using the relevant technology, as well as providing you with a wealth of information on not only engineering but the natural processes of the earth and environmental changes and considerations.
Professor Li claimed: “Engineering design projects are a cornerstone of petroleum engineering programmes, offering students the chance to tackle real-world challenges and develop innovative solutions.”
This opportunity to contribute to real-world ongoing projects is hugely attractive to many students as it allows them to become comfortable in the working environment and have confidence in their own skills, knowledge and abilities which often leads to them making more positive contributions in a graduate job.
This confidence and experience are not only helpful when applying for a job but also allows them to put forward their suggestions and ideas and advance in their careers.
Li continued: “Through activities like reservoir modelling and field trips to companies, students gain experience with industry standard tools and technologies. Lab work, such as drilling mud and darcy flow experiments, further enhance their technical skills.”
Many new graduates worry that, although university may have prepared them with the knowledge of their subject, there will still be a lot that they must learn about their role when beginning their career. This is not the case for many petroleum engineering students who are prepared for their graduate roles throughout their studies.
Instead, petroleum engineering students learn practically while at university so that, when they enter the workforce, they can expand their knowledge and make meaningful contributions straight away.
Finally, students will benefit from a degree in petroleum engineering because the topics taught as part of the programme cover a range of subjects and disciplines. Li said: “Students will integrate knowledge from various disciplines, including geology, fluid mechanics, and materials science, to address complex problems.” What do petroleum engineering students love the most about their studies?
“The petroleum engineering students are most excited about two aspects of the programme: hands-on training and engineering design projects” Li claimed. “Hands-on training is a highlight for petroleum engineering students because it bridges theory and practice, allowing them to apply classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios.”
This practical work allows students to observe professionals in the industry and get involved with current projects which many feel is more exciting and feels more purposeful than just learning about concepts. They enjoy the hands-on approach to learning as it gives them actual experience and insight into the sector.
Li also said many students are also excited about the design elements of petroleum engineering: “In our University of Alberta petroleum engineering programme, we have recently revamped the design projects in advanced PET E courses by making them open-ended and problem-solving focused.
“By working on such projects, students hone their problem-solving, teamwork and technical skills, while also building a portfolio of work that showcases their abilities to potential employers.”
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What are some of the misconceptions people have?
Despite the fact that many students enjoy studying petroleum engineering and are excited by the subject and their career prospects after graduation, it tends to be a less common choice than some other STEM subjects such as mathematics and other fields of engineering such as mechanical or aeronautical. When asked why this might be the case, Li said: “Firstly, industry volatility. The oil and gas industry is highly susceptible to economic cycles, with frequent booms and busts.” This volatility therefore deters some students who have concerns about job stability.
However, Li argued that many previous graduates have had very successful careers in a variety of roles demonstrating that personal success is possible despite wider economic conditions.
Concerns about the environment may also be putting some students off, although Li thinks this is unnecessary. He said: “Many students are now more inclined to pursue careers in renewable energy and sustainability rather than traditional oil and gas sectors. But in fact, petroleum engineers can use the knowledge they acquire to significantly contribute to sustainable energy production while protecting our environment.
“They can do this by implementing cleaner practices and technologies, focusing on emissions reduction, and improving environmental monitoring while supporting the integration of sustainable renewable energy sources.”
There are also emerging sustainability considerations within petroleum engineering, like other engineering subjects, so students do not have to sacrifice their interests and values surrounding sustainability in order to embrace petroleum engineering as a subject choice.
What does the future of petroleum engineering look like?
When asked about future developments, Professor Li said: “ There are several exciting innovations and discoveries unfolding in the industry at the moment: integration of cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics into reservoir simulation (using computer modelling to predict the flow of underground fluids through the porous soil) and reservoir management as well as growing interest and innovation in carbon capture, utilisation and storage.”
Petroleum engineering is a subject which, like other types of engineering and STEM subjects generally, is experiencing constant growth and development.
Although it is not as commonly considered as some other STEM subjects, it offers students a wide range of knowledge, the chance to do practical work and get involved with real-world projects and the chance to gain experience and build a portfolio which will benefit their career prospects in the long term.
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