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Who is a Petroleum Engineer?
Oil is like time, once gone will never come back...and it's going at a fast rate ~ Anonymous
People who opt for a career as petroleum engineer design the machinery that is used to extract oil from reservoirs, which are large geological formations that hold oil and gas resources. A career as a petroleum engineer works involves the processes of extracting oil and gas from deposits under the Earth's surface and is developed and improved. Supercomputers are used by those pursuing careers in petroleum engineering not only for the analysis of exploration data and reservoir behaviour simulation but also for the automation of oilfield production and drilling operations.
Petroleum engineer jobs are crucial for the effective operation of numerous industries as well as for satisfying the needs of the average person on a daily basis. Students can pursue various petroleum engineering courses, such as B.Tech in Petroleum Engineering, B.Tech in Gas and Applied Petroleum Engineering to opt for a career as a petroleum engineer. Here, in this article, we will discuss how to become a Petroleum Engineer, the petroleum engineering salary in India, petroleum engineer job description, petroleum engineer career path, and petroleum engineering scope in the future.
Petroleum Engineer in a Nutshell
A career as a Petroleum engineer is concerned with activities related to producing petroleum. These products can be in the form of either crude oil or natural gas. Petroleum engineering also requires the exploration and refinement of petroleum resources. Therefore, a career as a petroleum engineer comes up with oil and gas onshore jobs. There are also desk jobs in the petroleum industry. In layman’s terms, a petroleum engineer is a person who finds the best way to drill and extract oil from oil wells. Individuals who opt for a career as petroleum engineer also tries to find new ways to extract oil in an efficient manner.
Quick Facts for Petroleum Engineer
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Industry
Energy
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Average Salary in India
₹83000
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Suitable for
Male, Female, Others
A career as petroleum engineer is suitable for both genders (male and female). However, the oil field remains one of those few careers which still has a significantly fewer number of women than men when compared to other professions. This is mostly due to the nature of the petroleum engineer jobs, where top-level management is not comfortable with hiring women in harsh working conditions.
This does not mean that there is an absence of women in the oil field, it is just that the number of women working is quite low. And can be stated that the petroleum engineering career is still largely a male-dominated profession.
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Any special needs
Yes
A career as petroleum engineer is suitable for candidates with special needs only if the job role includes office work (Desk Job). However, fieldwork is not suitable for people with special needs as being active physically and mentally is very demanding for the job profile.
Table of Contents for Petroleum Engineer
What is the role of Petroleum Engineer?
An Individual in the petroleum engineer career path has to explore remote places for oil. He or she conducts various research activities for inventing new technologies and methods that will help in increasing efficiency and reducing the mining cost. In some cases, a career as a petroleum engineer needs to also design the equipment and mining processes to achieve the maximum profitable extraction of oil and gas. Petroleum engineering careers come with varying roles and responsibilities. A Petroleum engineer participates in finding oil and gas for the country's energy requirements. Additionally, he or she develops innovative techniques for extracting gas and oil from the wells.
Now you know what is Petroleum Engineer, is Petroleum Engineer a good career and thinking about how to become petroleum engineer after 10th or how to become petroleum engineer after 12th then read the entire article to know how to become a Petroleum Engingeer.
Decision making
In a given situation, decision-making is the process of selecting the right solution available. This also needs you to make rational decisions, and acknowledge several different decisions. As there is a lot of money involved and even the tiniest of judgment errors can cost millions of dollars. The same goes for decision-making as well. A delay in making a decision can cost a lot in terms of opportunity lost. Hence a petroleum engineer needs to have sound judgment and decision-making ability.
Production Development
Product development refers specifically to all phases of bringing a product from a single idea, to market launch and even beyond. Basically, product development involves the complete process of finding a business need. Petroleum Engineers analyse the detailed information with the perspective of recommending the installation of wells and additional development to achieve production and manufacturing.
Monitoring
Petroleum engineers spend a lot of time on the field, analysing and monitoring system equipment such as keeping an eye on the gauges, dials, and other indicators, to ensure that the machine is performing at an optimal level. Employee monitoring involves the use of different workplace surveillance techniques to collect data about staff members actions and locations. Companies track them and their performance to boost efficiency and different departments of the organisation's resources.
Quality control
Petroleum engineers regularly conduct quality control analysis to prevent any mishaps or diagnoses of an anomaly. Quality control helps in maintaining the optimal level of performance. Quality control allows the company to create a culture in which workers and managers develop and improve. This is accomplished by educating workers, establishing manufacturing quality standards, and reviewing products to test for statistically meaningful variations.
Documentation
A Career as a Petroleum engineer prepares scientific documents for research and management employees. Individuals analyse developments for the production, design, or maintenance of equipment or systems. One of the aspects of some official work that gives importance is the processes and work connected to all of it. Documentation can contribute to enhancing potential share price by promoting an appreciation of business performance and assessing its worth.
Types of a Petroleum Engineer
There are various types of a Petroleum Engineer. We have mentioned below the major types of a Petroleum Engineer or Petroleum Engineer jobs or Petroleum Engineer career options as alternative options to petroleum engineering careers.
Natural Gas Engineer: A natural gas engineer is one of the sub-disciplines of petroleum engineering. Natural gas engineers are the ones who have the know-how to develop a natural gas resource. A crude oil engineer has the responsibility of producing as most of the earth's resources as possible. Based on factors such as geological formations and the amount of gas available at the site, they decide the best approach. They also establish guidelines to efficiently extract materials, utilising drilling, chemicals, as well as other gases in the atmosphere and equipment.
Drilling Engineer: There is a usual understanding that a drilling engineer looks after the drilling of the oil well. A drilling engineer is also responsible for developing, planning, and supervising a majority of the operations related to drilling. Drilling engineers plan and execute well-drilling techniques in the safest and most economical way possible. They worked very closely with the drilling operator, service providers, and enforcement staff, as also geologists and other professional experts.
Production Engineer: A production engineer is in charge of all the equipment used for drilling the oil well. It is the duty of the production engineer to coordinate and maintain the drilling equipment. They also select surface equipment that separates the produced fluids (oil, natural gas, and water). Production Engineers are accountable for overseeing and optimising production at manufacturing plants. They help development teams, implement safety procedures, report problems to the manager, and implement performance and income enhancement strategies.
Reservoir Engineer: A reservoir engineer is responsible for the evaluation of oil and gas pockets. It is the responsibility of the reservoir engineer to determine the amount of oil and gas that is available and whether the site is suitable for drilling a well. Reservoir engineers employ their geological and fluid skills and knowledge to assess the position and volume of fuel in underground sources. In certain cases, engineers are involved with specialised technology to find oil and natural gas reserves, like computational modelling and imaging programmes.
Also, read: Career as a geothermal engineer
What is the workplace/work environment of Petroleum Engineer like?
Individuals in the petroleum engineer career path require work in offices or at drilling and job sites, depending on whether they are in the planning or operational phase. Petroleum engineering careers provide varying workplaces such as office buildings, laboratories, or industrial plants. Several petroleum engineers may spend time outdoors at construction sites. While other petroleum engineers get jobs in oil and gas exploration and production sites, where they monitor or direct operations or solve onsite problems.
Some petroleum engineer jobs require travel extensively to plants or worksites here and abroad. Individuals in petroleum engineering careers may work in the offices of petroleum mining companies, or they may work on petroleum mining rigs. Weather conditions on the rig may be harsh.
Does Petroleum Engineer require travelling?
Likely
Due to the remote locations of oil fields, travel is frequently required by petrochemical engineers to visit these sites as well as to meet with other engineers, team members, and customers. Further, your travel may even span across the globe depending on the scale of operations of the companies.
Employment Shifts
Full Time
Individuals in the petroleum engineer career path typically work full time, overtime and compensatory leaves are more prevalent due to extended work in remote locations. A petroleum career only provides full-time work opportunities. There is no option for working from home as the complete work depends on the gadgets or machines which are only present in offices and labs. A petroleum engineering job requires a site visit on a regular basis so a person needs to be physically present for the assessment of the smooth functioning of the work at different sites.
There are no fixed shifts as they need to work in both offices and have to visit sites. A career as a petroleum engineer requires being flexible with timings as the work requires a 24x7 presence of an engineer on a site. So rotational shifts and overtime shifts are a regular phase in this career.
Employment Nature
Permanent
A petrochemical engineering company hires petroleum engineers on a permanent basis. A job in the oil and gas sector on a contractual basis is least likely to happen in this career. The nature of the work of individuals in petroleum engineering careers demands an employee to take responsibility in all different stages to complete work at a site or in offices or labs.
Work Place
Office, Laboratory, On-Field
Individuals in petroleum engineering careers work in office buildings, laboratories, or industrial plants which are mostly situated in cities(urban areas). Also, they spend time outdoors at construction sites and oil and gas exploration and production sites which are mostly in the countryside (rural areas).
Presence in Geographical Area
Rural, Urban
Most of the offices are in urban areas however the individuals who opt for a career as a petroleum engineer spend time outdoors at construction sites and oil and gas exploration and production sites which are mostly in the countryside (rural areas).
Time Pressure
Likely
Time pressure is considered moderate for petroleum engineers. Petroleum engineers typically work full-time, overtime and compensatory leaves are more prevalent due to extended work in remote locations. Being employed in full-time jobs, a petroleum engineer requires a site visit regularly so a person needs to be physically present for the assessment of the smooth functioning of the work at different sites.
Overtime Details
Individuals who opt for a career as a petroleum engineer working in offices usually work regular hours but may be expected to work longer hours when necessary. Those employed in jobs in oil and gas rigs usually stay on the rig for extended periods. There are no fixed shifts, they need to work in both offices and on-site. Many engineers work a standard 40-hour week. At times, deadlines or design standards may bring extra pressure to a job in the oil and gas industry, requiring engineers to work longer hours. In most cases, petroleum engineers are paid for overtime.
Weekly Hours of Work
Min 40 Hours
Individuals in petroleum engineer work hours are regular hours but may be expected to work longer hours when necessary. Those assigned jobs in oil and gas rigs usually stay on the rig for extended periods. There are no fixed shifts as they need to work in both offices and have to visit sites. Many engineers work a standard 40-hour week. At times, deadlines or design standards may bring extra pressure to a job, requiring engineers to work longer hours. In most cases, petroleum engineers are paid overtime.
How to become a Petroleum Engineer?
Steps to become a Petroleum Engineer
Have you ever wondered where oil and gas are produced or extracted? It is the job of a Petroleum Engineer to design the machinery for extracting oil from reservoirs. If you are also interested in extracting oil and gas from deposits under the Earth's surface then a career as Petroleum Engineer will let you do that. If you are someone willing to opt for a career as Petroleum Engineer are required to follow certain steps. We have mentioned below the steps for how to become a Petroleum Engineer.
What are the skills and qualities required to become a/an Petroleum Engineer?
There are various skill sets required in petroleum engineering jobs. We have mentioned below how to become a petroleum engineer.
Analytical Skills: Petroleum Engineers are required to collect and make logical sense of significant amounts of technical knowledge and data to ensure the secure and efficient operation of the facilities. Analytical skills involve the ability to gather and evaluate knowledge, resolve problems or make judgments. Workers who have these unique qualities can assist fix complex issues facing a company and boost overall performance and effectiveness.
Creativity: Creativity motivates workers to operate cooperatively. The creative strategy enables collaborative work by design, this is the most important aspect of providing a working environment in which creativity can actually happen. Since each new drill site is special and therefore poses new challenges, petroleum engineers need to be smart enough to come up with innovative designs for oil and gas extraction.
Interpersonal Management: Individuals in the petroleum engineer career path must work with others on projects that require highly complex machinery, equipment, and infrastructure. Communicating and functioning with other technicians and oil and gas staff is important in ensuring that projects meet customer requirements and are operating safely and effectively. Interpersonal skills are the qualities and strategies that an individual uses to effectively communicate with each other. In the commercial world, intelligence involves the ability of an employee to function well with each other.
Mathematics and Computing Skills: Petroleum Engineers use principles of calculus and other advanced topics in math for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work. Mathematics and Computing skills are particularly important to several occupations and therefore can increase an individual's work efficiency and performance. Enhancing them could help you improve productivity, reduce dependency on key employees, minimize expensive losses and recognize new growth opportunities.
Problem-Solving Ability: Identifying problems in drilling plans is critical for a petroleum career because these problems can be costly. Individuals who opt for a career as a petroleum engineer must be cautious not to neglect any possible issues and must fix those that arise quickly. Problem-solving is beneficial for both customers and companies because it helps us to exercise control of the setting. Problem-solving provides us with a framework to recognize these things, try to figure out why they are damaged and describe a plan of action to resolve them.
Decision-Making Skills: In a career as a petroleum engineer, individuals need to be good at making decisions based on their studies and analysis. Major decisions regarding exploration, continuing extraction, or abandonment are made on the basis of surveys and studies done by petroleum engineers, who on the basis of their findings often need to take or recommend an informed decision.
Communication Skills: The profession requires working closely with top leadership as well as different departments and teams. They are, therefore, involved in maintaining a high level of communication and coordination. Communication in the workplace is very essential especially for businesses as it helps organizations to be efficient and run properly. Workers will experience a rise in productivity, efficiency, and engagement if they can interact within an agency.
Knowledge of Science: Individuals who opt for a career as a petroleum engineer must adapt to the practical application of science, technology, and engineering knowledge. Apart from an educational background, the job of a petroleum engineer requires regular use of these subjects and is therefore highly relevant for the day to day operations. Science is regarded by the community as helping to meet certain basic human needs and enhancing working conditions by applying scientific understanding.
Mechanical Knowledge: Mechanical skills are something that contributes to the ability or the use of machines and equipment. Simple mechanical awareness is the willingness to grasp basic concepts of physics and implement them in diverse circumstances. Petroleum engineers should be comfortable with machinery and equipment. All aspects of petroleum production involve machinery and the petroleum engineer plays a key role in their requirement estimation, designing, and efficient usage.
Patience: A career in the oil and gas industry demands the ability to work under pressure. As a Petroleum Engineer, it is very important to keep calm despite all the chaos happening around you. Patience is a basic component of success in the workplace. You have to experience those scenarios several times which really takes patience. That is because when you need to work such additional hours.
Teamwork: Petroleum Engineering positions may vary depending on the experience and job role. But each position demands a spirit of working in a team. In a career as a petroleum engineer, individuals have to work closely with other technical departments and coordinate with teams. On the ground, it is important that petroleum engineers have a strong collaboration with other professionals. Since they are practically part of all levels of industrial extraction of oil and gas, including research, evaluation, development, and production, team-working skills have a crucial role to play in determining the impact of their work.
Popular Online Engineering Courses and Certifications
Which certifications and internships can be helpful in becoming Petroleum Engineer?
We have mentioned below certifications that individuals may opt for who want to establish a petroleum engineering career path.
Global Resource Politics: the Past, Present and Future of Oil, Gas and Shale
Subject : Geology: Paper - Metamorphic Petrology & Thermodynamics
Internship Availability
There are various internship opportunities one can grab in the field of petroleum engineering. It not only helps in getting knowledge about the field practically but also improves the skills of an individual in the petroleum engineering career path. An internship is an option that an organization or any individual provides to aspiring workers who are designated as interns, to function for a specific duration at a company. Practitioners are generally students of colleges, and schools offering petroleum engineering courses. Most of the internships vary from a month to three or maybe up to six months.
An internship may be either paid or on a voluntary basis. Institutions might need a detailed application, resume, transcripts, or sometimes maybe recommendation letters, and also a dissertation where it is mentioned how the applicants are willing to take part in working as an intern for the organization. The very same requirements may not appear in all internship opportunities. One will explore internship opportunities through online recruiting portals. The students get hands-on experience mostly through internships. If you want to become Petroleum Engineer, you have to start internships soon to get progress to acquire senior roles in the petroleum industry.
Career Path Progression for Petroleum Engineer
Junior Petroleum Engineer: A Junior Petroleum Engineer is a professional who is responsible for designing the machinery that is used to extract oil from reservoirs and improving and developing it. He or she conducts research to invent new technologies and methods to improve production in a cost-effective way.
Senior Petroleum Engineer: A Senior Petroleum Engineer is an experienced professional who has previously worked as a Petroleum Engineer and leads a team of juniors and trains them. He or she is responsible for designing the equipment and mining processes to achieve the maximum profitable extraction of oil and gas.
Also read: Career as a wind energy engineer
Petroleum Engineer Jobs and Salaries
Junior Petroleum Engineer
- Average Salary 35000
Job Description
The Junior Petroleum Engineer job description includes preparing scientific documents for research and analysing the developments for the production, design, or maintenance of equipment or systems. He or she requires to design and develop innovative technology.
Salary Description
An entry-level Petroleum Engineer salary in India ranges between Rs 0.2 Lakhs to Rs 22.0 Lakhs with an average annual salary of Rs 4.2 Lakhs per annum. Junior Petroleum Engineer salary in India may vary depending on the various job factors like skills and experience of the candidates, job location, and others.
Salary Source: AmbitionBox
Senior Petroleum Engineer
- Average Salary 131000
Job Description
The Petroleum Engineer job description includes monitoring and analysing the system equipment and ensuring their functioning is at an optimal level. He or she is responsible for controlling and maintaining the quality of the equipment and the technology.
Salary Description
The estimated Petroleum Engineer salary in India ranges from Rs 9.0 Lakhs to Rs 35.0 Lakhs with an average annual salary of Rs 21.0 Lakhs. Petroleum Engineer salary may vary depending on the various job factors.
Salary Source: AmbitionBox
What is the job outlook for Petroleum Engineer?
In this section, we will discuss the petroleum engineering scope in the future. If you are planning to enrol in the schools offering petroleum engineering courses, then you must get aware of the job market in this sector.
Opportunities for jobs in the oil and gas sector are ample in the Middle East with very high annual income packages. Higher education opportunities are good all over America and Europe too. In countries with fast-growing energy needs, the appeal of energy engineering jobs also tends to be higher. Petroleum engineering jobs in India would rise at a slower rate compared to other engineering careers but it is the course amongst all other engineers which is highly paid in India and across the globe.
India is an emerging or still developing country in the field of the energy sector which adds a plus point to candidates who are looking to build a career in this field. Jobs opportunities are not only in the private sector you are also offered jobs in the government sector for a career as a Petroleum Engineer.
There is a lot of petroleum engineering scope in the future. Even with people switching to alternative fuels and energy, there is still a huge demand for petroleum engineers. Companies are trying to find more efficient ways to use petroleum products, without harming the environment.
The employment of petroleum engineers is projected to grow three percent from 2018 to 2028, slower than the average for all occupations. Oil prices will be a major determinant of employment growth. Higher prices can cause oil and gas companies to increase capital investment in new facilities and expand existing production operations, along with exploration.
The Petrochemical Engineering company in which the graduates are absorbed are Reliance Industries Ltd., ONGC, Schlumberger, Shell, OIL, Gas Authority of India Ltd., British Gas, Halliburton Services, Essar Oil, GSPC, Cairn Energy, IOCL, Essar Oil Ltd., Baker Hughes, Reliance Energy, NIKO Resources, GEOENPRO, MECOM Ltd. and many more.
Oil and gas have always increased in demand due to the rising population. The rate of growth has been slowing down due to various factors, though. Petroleum engineers will be busy meeting the growing demand from developing countries, particularly in Asia, where rising standards of living will drive more consumption. Oil production will remain high but could peak in 2030, and gas demand will rise over the next 20 years, according to recent research and surveys. Read further to know about how to become petroleum engineers or how to get into petroleum engineering
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Frequently Asked Questions for Petroleum Engineer
Que. petroleum engineer best college in tamilnadu
Ans.Hello aspirant,
Here below I am providing you with the name of some of the best colleges for petroleum engineering in Tamilnadu:
- AMET University Kanathur - Academy of Maritime Education and Training, Kanathur
- IIT Madras - Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- Vels University Chennai - Vel's Institute of Science Technology and Advanced Studies, Chennai
- Alagappa College of Technology, Chennai
For more information you can visit our website by clicking on the link given below.
https://engineering.careers360.com/colleges/list-of-petroleum-engineering-colleges-in-tamil-nadu
Thank you
Hope this information helps you.
Que. What do petroleum engineers do?
Ans.Once oil and gas are discovered, petroleum engineers work with geoscientists and other specialists to understand the geologic formation of the rock containing the reservoir. They then determine the drilling methods, design the drilling equipment, implement the drilling plan, and monitor operations.
Que. Do petroleum engineers travel a lot?
Ans.Petroleum engineers generally work in offices or at drilling and well sites. Travel is frequently required to visit these sites or to meet with other engineers, oilfield workers, and customers.
Que. How many years does it take to be a petroleum engineer?
Ans.A bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering typically takes four years and includes classwork, labs, and fieldwork. The program normally requires basic sciences such as chemistry, calculus, differential equations, and physics.
Que. What qualifications do you need to become a petroleum engineer?
Ans.Petroleum engineers must have a bachelor's degree in engineering, preferably in petroleum engineering. Petroleum engineers must have a bachelor's degree in engineering, preferably petroleum engineering. However, a bachelor's degree in mechanical, civil, or chemical engineering may meet employer requirements.
Que. What is the average starting salary for petroleum engineers?
Ans.The salary varies depending on skills and experience. The average starting salary for petroleum engineers is Rs. 760,000 per annum, according to payscale.
Que. What are the top petroleum engineering colleges?
Ans.There are numerous schools offering petroleum engineering in India. We have mentioned below top petroleum engineering colleges.
Top Petroleum Engineering Colleges
Presidency University, Bangalore |
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Questions related to Petroleum Engineer
petroleum engineer best college in tamilnadu
Hello,
Best colleges for Petroleum Engineering are:
1) Academy of Maritime Education and Training University, Chennai
2) Vels University (VU), Chennai
3) SVS College of Engineering, Coimbatore
4) JCT College of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore
5) IIT Madras
For further information, you can check out the link below:
https://engineering.careers360.com/colleges/list-of-petroleum-engineering-colleges-in-tamil-nadu
Hope this helps you,
Thank you
Hello sir,Here my some questions please give me answer.How many marks need in GATE for get job in ONGC as petroleum engineer? How many vacancies every year from ONGC in petroleum engineer?Currently ONGC goes for campus placement or take through GATE?
hi,
see ongc generally hires from IITS and top nits. ongc has past years comparatively less vacancy through gate. so if you are currently studying in b.tech petroleum engineering, you should opts for gate exam, if the psus can not be secured, I suggest you to go for m.tech course from top institute like IITS where you would get decent placement as per your branch.
generally vacancy for any psu for any year can not be predicted, it depends on the organization work opportunity, projects availability, seat matrix available for new employee.
nevertheless, if you have attempted gate exam, you may give a shot to careers360 college predictor tool to know about psu chances and probable name of m.tech colleges:
https://engineering.careers360.com/gate-college-predictor?icn=QnA&ici=qna_answer
please tell me that, what will opportunities petroleum engineer have in 2023?
It has ever-growing scope not only in 2023 but many to come. With this Specialization course you have good benefits not only in India but worldwide.
The following are the job titles for Petroleum Engineer.
Drilling Engineer
Offshore Drilling Engineer
Reservoir Engineer
Production Engineer
Chief Petroleum Engineer
Drilling and recovery Chief Engineer
Drilling and recovery petroleum engineer
Engineer, petroleum production
Exploitation engineer - oil and gas
Exploitation engineer - petroleum
Mud engineer
Mud engineer - petroleum drilling
Field Operator
Testing Manager
For more details regarding Petroleum Engineering you can click below link. You may find information regarding colleges which offer this course, eligibility criteria, scope, job details, etc.
https://www.careers360.com/courses/petroleum-engineering-course
Hope this helps you.
All The Best.
In todays situation electric vehicle influence is increasing and petroleum products decreasing. so what is opportunity of petroleum engineer in todays situation?
Petroleum engineering is one of the most highly compensated engineering fields. A petroleum engineer's average annual pay in India is Rs 6,99,027. Your income will rise as you gain experience.
Saudi Arabia pays an average of SAR 237,206 per year for petroleum engineering employment, which is equivalent to $63,248.61 per year.
which private college is best for study of petroleum ??
Hi Bhardwaj!
Below are some of the Private Colleges where Petroleum Engineering is approached in good standards:
- Lovely Professional University, Phagwara.
- School of Engineering, Dehradun.
- Chandigarh University, Chandigarh.
- MIT College of Engineering, Pune.
- Presidency University, Bangalore.
- Aditya Engineering College, Surampalem.
- OPJS Univeristy, Rajgarh.
Hope this is helpful!
All the best!
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