Production engineer OR drilling engineer
Production engineer OR drilling engineer
(OP)
Hi all,
I was hired by an independent oil and gas company 3 years ago as a facilities engineer, the company does not seem to be designed to favor facilities engineers. Most of the value and development paths favor reservoir, production, drilling, and operations engineers. I have recently developed strong affinity for production and drilling engineer. I like both, but:
1. Production engineer because it seems like the engineering function that will outlast the others mentioned about and has more variety in its jub function
2. Drilling engineer because it seems or have more of a sense of specialization to it, and that sounds like what I like, to be know for one thing and be really good at it.
If all things are equal, and both jobs are available, can you advice a 30 yr old engineer who had 30 years ahead of him on which of the two ways to go. Just from your opinion and understanding of the two engineering function.
Thank you.
I was hired by an independent oil and gas company 3 years ago as a facilities engineer, the company does not seem to be designed to favor facilities engineers. Most of the value and development paths favor reservoir, production, drilling, and operations engineers. I have recently developed strong affinity for production and drilling engineer. I like both, but:
1. Production engineer because it seems like the engineering function that will outlast the others mentioned about and has more variety in its jub function
2. Drilling engineer because it seems or have more of a sense of specialization to it, and that sounds like what I like, to be know for one thing and be really good at it.
If all things are equal, and both jobs are available, can you advice a 30 yr old engineer who had 30 years ahead of him on which of the two ways to go. Just from your opinion and understanding of the two engineering function.
Thank you.
As much as possible, do it right the first time...





RE: Production engineer OR drilling engineer
RE: Production engineer OR drilling engineer
RE: Production engineer OR drilling engineer
Production Engineering is all about maximizing revenue from what you have so it is much more stable.
I found that Facilities Engineering is what yo make it. Historically Facilities Engineers do projects that were identified by others and will be operated by others as the Engineer moves on to the next project. I didn't do it that way. I integrated myself into a production team and stayed there for 13 years. It was a great job because I found my own projects, executed them myself, then operated the result. I made a great career and good money doing that. You might look into changing your job scope instead of changing jobs.
David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering
"Belief" is the acceptance of an hypotheses in the absence of data.
"Prejudice" is having an opinion not supported by the preponderance of the data.
"Knowledge" is only found through the accumulation and analysis of data.
RE: Production engineer OR drilling engineer
Thank you.
As much as possible, do it right the first time...