Doing a MSc in Petroleum/Reservoir Engineering - is it worth it ?

Question

Doing a MSc in Petroleum/Reservoir Engineering - is it worth it ?

NMR4Crow (Student)

(OP)

11 Apr 23 19:16

To add some context, I've recently graduated (last year May) with a BSc in Chemistry, Management and Analytical Chemistry and have been working the past few months in a pesticides inspectorate. However I've always been interested in Engineering and there is an opportunity for me to do my Masters as inidicated in the title of this post. I'm a bit confused as a person (recently turned 23) and would appreciate some input from engineers in the field.

1) How likely is it for companies to hire me post Masters given by first degree is not in engineering and are there many engineers who initially didn't do a BSc in engineering?

2) If I do a Masters full time then I won't get any job experience. How difficult would that make it to then get a job? Even if I do a Masters part time and decide to work, would Oil and Gas companies hire students like me (first degree not in Eng, but currently doing Masters) ?

3) Is doing a PEng Masters even worth it given my situation? Where would the industry be in the next 30 to 40 years? (Many people I've asked gave completely different views on this). Or should I just calm myself, ignore the Masters and focus on a career in my undergraduate field.

Will definitely appreciate some feedback and views from you all.

IRstuff (Aerospace) · Answer 1 · 2023-04-11 21:50:12

You seem to have drilled down to a very specific subdiscipline, which seems to be a long ways off from where you started

> Why did you not do engineering in the first place?

> In general, an MS denotes and connotes decent mastery of some subject matter; what came before (BS) is interesting, but not necessarily relevant.

> Why reservoir engineering vs. general petroleum engineering?

> It doesn't sound to me that "pesticides inspectorate" is a place where one grows experience and knowledge; why did you pick that as a job?

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NMR4Crow (Student) · Answer 2 · 2023-04-11 22:58:47

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Firstly I had no choice nor input in my place of employment (due to legal obligations.I got a scholarship for undergrad which requires me to now work where ever the government decides which turned out to be a pesticide/toxic chemical inspectorate).

I also may not have been clear(my apologies there) but I'm inquiring about a Petroleum engineering or Reservoir Eng master hence the slash in Petroleum/Reservoir in the title. Is one better/more advantageous than the other etc. ?

And I didn't initially do a BSc in Eng because at the time I really enjoyed Chemistry (I did enjoy my undergraduate experience a lot) and Chem is still a deeply fascinating subject to me but post graduation, I really can't see myself working in academia or doing a PhD in it. In retrospect now , I should have done the BS in engineering. Is it too late now?

IRstuff (Aerospace) · Answer 3 · 2023-04-11 23:16:26

Quote:
I should have done the BS in engineering. Is it too late now?

This is amusing, only because there's an engineer on this site in their mid 40's looking to transition to cosmetic surgery, with a concomitant 7-8 yrs of medical school and residency ahead. You would have enough time to get an actual BS Eng and the previous two years would barely be a blip.

TTFN (ta ta for now)
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NMR4Crow (Student) · Answer 4 · 2023-04-11 23:30:17

I'm assuming that engineer already has a career and is of sound financial footing to deal with that transition. But in my particular solution , would you recommend doing a BS in Eng or doing the Masters? And in your experience and professional judgement , which field I've mentioned would be more advantageous general petro eng or reservoir? Or am I crazy for even considering something in the Oil and Gas sector in today's world.

IRstuff (Aerospace) · Answer 5 · 2023-04-11 23:38:33

Can't read any crystal balls, but it's unlikely that fossil fuels are disappearing anything soon. Nevertheless, I would suggest a less pinpoint discipline, just to ensure that you aren't boxed into another niche you have to escape from. A more germane question is why petroleum, as opposed to mechanical, electrical, etc.?

I know why I went the way I did, given that I was enamored with electronics since I was in middle school, although I did pivot in my late 20s into systems engineering. I would be leery that you seem to be willing to be swayed by rando, anonymous voices on the internet to decide your fate for the next few years. Likewise, I would question why you haven't done your own research into the viability of your supposed desirable occupation.

TTFN (ta ta for now)
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SWComposites (Aerospace) · Answer 6 · 2023-04-11 23:50:23

A lot depends on what country you are in, and where you want to work in the future.
Does the University offering the MSc Petroleum Eng consider your undergraduate degree sufficient for the MSc program? or will you need to take some engineering courses?
I've run across a number of engineers with Physics or Chemistry BS degrees that subsequently got a MSc in an engineering field; they may have had to take a number of undergrad engineering courses prior to the MSc.
You should reach out to Petroleum companies in your country to see what the engineering job requirements are for them. Also reach out to engineers working in those companies to get info on jobs, etc. (use LinkedIn).

NMR4Crow (Student) · Answer 7 · 2023-04-12 02:13:05

Well that's exactly why I'm positing these questions here. From the readings I've done online, some of the questions I have elicit very mixed responses so ideally I wanted to get the view of a petroleum engineer or someone who is closely related to the Oil and Gas sector. I don't know anyone who is directly a petroleum engineer hence the postings on this forum though I'm currently running through my friend's and family's contact list to see if anyone knows anyone.

Why I'm considering a Masters in petroleum or reservoir engineering in particular is because there is a program I've found within my country that does not require a first degree in Eng for one to be admitted unlike other Masters courses. Plus I'm not too keen of going back to do a Bachelors. My home country is primarily built on the oil and gas sector and there are quite a bit of new opportunities given that one of our neighbouring countries recently discovered a lot of oil. I've spoken with the Dean of Engineering too and he indicated that currently there are a shortage of Petro/Reservoir. engineers within the sector but again I'm really trying to get as much opinions on the matter before I dedicate 2 or so years to a Masters in a completely new field.

Gr8blu (Electrical) · Answer 8 · 2023-04-12 14:37:06

A petroleum engineering degree is a program that prepares students for careers relating to the exploration, extraction and production of oil and natural gas. Programs often combine principles of mechanical and chemical engineering and discuss techniques relating to drilling and extraction. Petroleum engineers typically need a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering or a related field, such as mechanical, civil, or chemical engineering. Cooperative-education programs, in which students gain practical experience while earning academic credit, may be beneficial.

A reservoir engineering degree is a program that prepares students for careers related to the development of processes to improve production from oil and gas reservoirs. Reservoir engineers use sophisticated mathematical techniques and computer technology to obtain optimum production. A bachelor's degree in petroleum, civil, chemical, mechanical, or a related engineering field is required. Excellent analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills and the ability to handle stressful work environments is necessary.

Just looking at these descriptions, I would think that a chemistry background would be a better fit for the first one - unless there was also a LOT of advanced math courses buried in the original science degree program. But take what I write with a healthy dose of salt - my own background is electrical engineering, although I do a lot of work in several industrial fields (mining, pulp and paper, metals, petrochemical, power generation, and transportation).

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Doing a MSc in Petroleum/Reservoir Engineering - is it worth it ?