Petroleum Engineering Masters Program ?

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by traderneil, Oct 8, 2011.

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  1. traderneil

    traderneil New Member

    Hi Folks how is everybody? I was interested in knowing if anyone out there has any experience in Petroleum Engineering studies? Are there any d/l schools that teach this? Any information is welcome! Thank you traderneil
     
  2. Cyber

    Cyber New Member

    Petroleum Engineering is a highly technical field that requires significant hands-on laboratory, practicals, etc. Besides oil companies running away from graduates of an online petroleum engineering program, you would do yourself a dis-service by training to become a petroluem engineer only by reading books and writing papers, which sums majority of online course delivery method. That said, Texas Tech University would allow you to pursue a petroleum engineering certificate as a continuation of an engineering undergrad or "add-on" to an engineering training/experience.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 8, 2011
  3. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef


    It was in today's AOL news page as the top earning degree. <wink>
     
  4. Cyber

    Cyber New Member

    Yep, it's a very nice degree to have. One of my childhood friends work for Exxon Mobil in Nigeria as a field service engineer. He commands top salary, which blows me off when he tells me about it and how he does not even have time to enjoy it. Petroleum Engineering (PE) programs are common offering in oil countries (or countries that actively drill for crude oil). In the U.S., PE is not offered by many schools. Infact, because oil companies employ over 90% of petroleum engineers, this explains why schools in Texas and other "oil states" seem to be the only ones offering PE, especially, at the doctoral/research level.

    If you visit the employment web pages of oil companies, you'll realize that they always have openings for holders of engineering degrees and other "hard" sciences. Even for management positions, oil drilling companies (Shell, Exxon Mobil, etc.) as well as oil services company (Schlumberger, Halliburton, etc.) always prefer engineers and other "hard scientists. Why? It is easy to teach an engineer or other technical folks management. Attempt to teach someone with a management or business administration background calculus/math-based engineering, and see their heads explode.

    Ever wondered why online schools love to offer business administration or management doctorates? Because it is easy to teach; besides, you may not even need a book to study business administration or management because all pertinent materials are floating freely on the web. Trident University uses freely available information to teach their "management-oriented" programs; oops, i'm off point! Anyway, PE field is really worth the investment, especially, if calculus-based math and hardcore engineering courses is your forte.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 8, 2011
  5. ChiSquare

    ChiSquare New Member

    Heriot-Watt University (UK)
    Institute of Petroleum Engineering - Heriot-Watt University: Distance Learning - Introduction

    Texas A&M University
    Texas A&M Petroleum Distance Learning
     
  6. CalDog

    CalDog New Member

    Note that petroleum engineering is subject to severe "boom and bust" cycles. When the price of oil is high (as it generally is now), then demand for PetEs surges and top salaries are available (although you may find yourself living in a remote area, on an offshore rig, or in a Third World country, or all three).

    But if the price of oil collapses, then the job market goes to the other extreme: it can be virtually impossible for PetEs to find work. Part of the reason for the high salaries today is that thousands of petroleum engineers left the field after mass layoffs in the mid 1980s and late 1990s.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 10, 2011

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