Rye, J. G. (1961, January). Petroleum Engineering Education: Oil Industry Viewpoint. In SPE California Regional Meeting . Society of Petroleum Engineers.
There is a continual need for petroleum engineers in the oil industry. In this regard, this article explores the hiring practices and training methods employed by larger oil companies to employ graduate petroleum engineers. In addition, the article explores what colleges and universities can do to prepare their graduates to work in the petroleum industry. But first, the article outlines the career possibilities for a graduate petroleum engineer. According to Rye (1961), graduate petroleum engineers can work in the following categories: (I) general operational and staff engineering, (II) supervisors and managers, and (II) fundamental work and research engineers. Large companies employ graduate petroleum engineers to fill these career possibilities.
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With regard to hiring practices employed by large oil companies, Rye (1961) highlights the use of personal interviews to recruit prospective petroleum engineering graduates. The graduates are often interviewed at their institutions by representatives of these large oil companies. The graduates are interviewed on the prospect of summer work to determine if the prospective graduate is technically competent, practically experienced, and has the desired personal characteristics. Large oil companies hire the highest rated graduates with quality standards.
Once a graduate is hired, he or she is expected to undergo some training. Large oil companies often offer formal training programs for one to one and a half years. However, this period varies from one company to another and depends on the graduate’s previous work experience. During the training, the graduate engineers are expected to work with the roustabout crew, the well pulling crew, the drilling rig crew, and the field production men to gain practical experience. Lastly, the article outline what universities and colleges can do to prepare their graduates to work in the petroleum industry. This includes encouraging qualified and personable young students to take up Petroleum Engineering, giving the fundamental education in engineering principles, and prepare their graduates to change from academic life to work in the petroleum industry.