Oil Exploration Jobs and Career Training

Those who specialize in environmental management in oil and gas exploration and production study hydrocarbon exploration also known as oil and gas exploration. This field requires petroleum geologists and geophysicists to search for hydrocarbon deposits beneath the Earth's surface, such as oil and natural gas.

Petroleum engineers design methods for extracting oil and gas from deposits below the earth. Once these resources have been discovered, petroleum engineers work to understand the geologic formation and properties of the rock containing the reservoir, to determine the drilling methods to be used, and to monitor drilling and production operations.

Educational Requirements:

Bachelor's degree programs in engineering are designed to last 4 years, but some have said that it could take between 4 and 5 years to complete the degree. You will want to enroll in a science of petroleum geology at a undergraduate engineering school. Those with a background in mathematics such as algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus along with science in biology, chemistry, and physics will find the courses easier to complete. Other courses include English, Social Studies, and Humanities.

It is important to attend a college or university program in engineering and engineering technology that has been accredited by The Accreditation Board for Engineering andTechnology (ABET).

A wide range of career possibilities in oil exploration exists, with many oil exploration jobs such as: Geophysicists, Palynologists, Oil Land Agents, Oil Drilling Engineers, Production Engineers, Oil Reservoir Engineers, Oil Facility Engineers, and Energy Economists require degrees in geology or petroleum engineering. Those working in the petroleum industry can expect the highest starting salaries.

Exploration Technology

Most exploration depends on highly sophisticated technology to detect and determine the extent of these deposits using exploration geophysics. Areas thought to contain hydrocarbons are initially subjected to a gravity survey, magnetic survey, passive seismic or regional seismic reflection surveys to detect large scale features of the sub-surface geology.

As you are probably aware oil exploration is an expensive, high-risk operation. Offshore and remote area exploration is generally only undertaken by very large corporations or national governments.

The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)