Help with life decision for college major: Petroleum Engineering

<p>Frugal, if you like Petrol for the love of Petrol you are setting yourself up for success. I see a lot of people on here going for petrol because of salary.</p>

<p>You should do well if you hit the books and get into the right program. One of the first questions I was asked for the job I just obtained as a drilling manager was why I wanted to be in this field. Realize that companies want people who not only have the petroleum degree but they want to know why you studied it in the first place.</p>

<p>I told them my interests were tied to geology and to the industry in general. Most of my family worked for big oil and I wanted to follow in their foot steps. My father did drilling and my uncle did production. I was constantly amazed by the sense of discovery and technological development utilized by oil companies to find new reserves. I told them I wanted to be at this forefront of technology. They realized I didn’t go into it for money, I did it because I enjoy it.</p>

<p>As far as the future of the industry. Oil is global and anyone thinking that oil is going away is foolish. North Dakota is a drop in the bucket in terms of the global market.</p>

<p>The only thing that could hamper oil development would be a large global economic collapse or if someone invents the “miracle” fuel. First, there are too many developing countries that are coming online for demand not to be there. Secondly, even if someone was to develop the cure it would take decades for the infrastructure and technology to be put in place to facilitate it. Even then we are still grasping at the air.</p>

<p>In case anyone doesn’t know. Oil companies don’t do 1 or 2 year plans. They project and plan for decades. If you ever get to interview or get hired by a major oil company you will see what I am talking about. In fact, most of them do 50 year outlooks and adjust their focus to prepare in advance.</p>

<p>When they hire, you don’t get hired to fill a hole that someone left open. Your hired to be a generational employee. They want you for 30-35 years and they will take care of you. You are in for the long haul. I can honestly say that petroleum engineers are valued.</p>

<p>You will have dips, you will have rough patches but that is every industry. What people fail to realize is that energy is the life blood of an economy. It is the fuel of society. Energy falls, the world goes with it.</p>

<p>It is a great industry to be in and it offers a unique lifestyle and perspective. I will get to travel all around the US in my first 5 years. I will also have overseas opportunities. Not only do I get to travel for work but I get to supervise drilling operations to increase my companies overall bottom line. One drill bit at a time.</p>

<p>I love it. Not to mention I get half the year off. Name another profession that brings in the kind of salary that I received and has that kind of lifestyle?</p>

<p>Outs</p>