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Petroleum engineers (NOC 2145)

High opportunity occupation
Table of contents
About this job Earnings and Outlook Duties Work environment Workforce and employment statistics
Job requirements Work-related skills Related careers Career paths and resources
View full profile

About this job

Petroleum engineers:

  • carry out studies for the exploration, development and extraction of oil and gas deposits
  • plan, design, develop and oversee projects for the drilling, completion, testing and reworking of oil and gas wells
  • work for petroleum producing companies, consulting companies, well logging or testing companies, government, and research and educational institutions
Common job titles
  • engineer, exploitation - oil and gas
  • engineer, logging - oil wells
  • engineer, mud - petroleum drilling
  • engineer, offshore drilling rig
  • engineer, production - oil and gas
  • engineer, subsea equipment
  • engineer, exploitation - oil and gas
  • engineer, logging - oil wells
  • engineer, mud - petroleum drilling
  • engineer, offshore drilling rig
  • engineer, production - oil and gas
  • engineer, subsea equipment

Earnings

Annual provincial median salary

$110,107

Source: Full-time, full-year median employment income, 2016 census

Provincial hourly rate

  • High
  • Median
  • Low

N/A - Data not available

B.C. Labour Market Outlook (2021-2031)

Provincial outlook

Forecasted average employment growth rate

  • 2021 - 2026
  • 2026 - 2031

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job openings

10 year expected job openings: 100

  • 2022
  • 2026
  • 2031

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Composition of job openings

 
New jobs due to economic growth:
40.0%
40 openings
 
Replacement of retiring workers:
60.0%
60 openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Regional outlook

Select a region to view regional outlook
Vancouver Island / Coast Mainland / Southwest Thompson-Okanagan Kootenay Cariboo Northeast North Coast & Nechako
Cariboo
Employment in 2021:
N/A
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
N/A
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
N/A
Kootenay
Employment in 2021:
N/A
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
N/A
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
N/A
Mainland / Southwest
Employment in 2021:
160
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
0.9%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
50
North Coast & Nechako
Employment in 2021:
N/A
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
N/A
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
N/A
Northeast
Employment in 2021:
N/A
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
N/A
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
N/A
Thompson-Okanagan
Employment in 2021:
20
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
2.1%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
10
Vancouver Island / Coast
Employment in 2021:
60
Average annual employment growth(%) 2021-2031:
2.9%
Expected number of job openings 2021-2031:
40

N/A - Data not available

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Duties

Petroleum engineers:

  • carry out feasibility studies for developing new oil and gas fields
  • direct and monitor oil and gas drilling operations
  • develop drilling programs, select sites and specify drilling fluids, bit selection, drill stem testing procedures and equipment
  • direct and oversee the completion and evaluation of wells, well testing and well surveys
  • design and select artificial lift machinery and well and surface production equipment and systems, and specify programs for corrosion control and oil or gas treatment
  • develop specifications for and oversee well modification and stimulation programs to maximize oil and gas recovery
  • analyze reservoir rock and fluid data to design the best recovery methods and to predict reservoir performance and reserves
  • monitor and forecast oil and gas reservoir performance and recommend oil recovery techniques which extend the economic life of wells
  • design, develop and co-ordinate the installation, maintenance and operation of subsea well-head and production equipment

Special duties

Petroleum engineers may specialize in drilling, production, reservoir analysis or subsea operations.

Work environment

Work in this occupation is typically performed in a structured environment, such as an office or school, or an outdoor work environment where the worker is exposed to various weather conditions. Also, work locations in this field are inherently treacherous and are potential sources of injury. Such work locations include construction sites, underground sites, erected support structures and marine environments.

Workforce and employment statistics

Workforce characteristics

200 workers are employed
43% of workers are working mostly full time

Source: 2016 Census

Employment by gender

  Men
  Women

Source: 2016 Census

Employment by age group

  15 - 24 years
  25 - 44 years
  45 - 64 years
  65+ years

Source: 2016 Census

Labour force by industry

Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction:
42%
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services:
31%
Manufacturing:
6%
Public Administration:
6%
Construction:
3%
View more industry data

Source: 2016 Census

Employment by region

Select your region:
Vancouver Island / Coast Mainland / Southwest Thompson-Okanagan Kootenay Cariboo Northeast North Coast & Nechako
  % employment of this occupation
  % employment of all occupations
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland / Southwest
North Coast & Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island / Coast

Source: 2016 Census

Career paths and resources

Career paths

There is mobility between petroleum engineering specializations at the less senior levels. Engineers also often work in a multidisciplinary environment and acquire knowledge and skills through work experience that may allow them to practise in associated areas of science, engineering, sales, marketing or management.

Additional resources

Profile last updated:
May 25, 2022
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