Petroleum Extraction and Refining Engineers
Job description
These individuals study the exploration, development, and extraction of oil and gas deposits. They design, develop, and supervise drilling, testing, and reclamation projects. They are employed by:
- Oil companies
- Consulting firms
- Well analysis companies
- The government
- Research institutes
- Educational institutions
Environment
- Controlled ambient temperature
- Climatic conditions
- Hazardous workplaces
Main tasks
- Study the feasibility and development of new oil and gas fields.
- Select drilling sites and specify the equipment and procedures to be used.
- Direct and supervise oil and gas drilling operations and well surveys.
- Design and select artificial lifting machinery, equipment and extraction systems.
- Supervise corrosion, oil and gas treatment, in addition to well modification and stimulation.
- Analyze data to design optimal recovery methods.
- Predict and monitor the performance of the oil and gas reservoir.
- Recommend oil recovery techniques that may extend the economic usefulness of wells.
Advancement and mobility
- There is mobility between petroleum extraction and refining engineering specializations and lower-level positions.
- Experience leads to senior or supervisory positions.
- These individuals may work in related fields (science, engineering, sales, marketing, management, etc.).
- These individuals may specialize in drilling, production, reservoir analysis, or submarine operations.
Hourly wage
Not available.Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects
All of Québec
All of Québec
Total jobs for 2023
All of Québec
All of Québec
Gender distribution
All of Québec
- 0% Female
- 100% Male
- 0% Female
- 100% Male
Job types
All of Québec
- Full time
- Part time
- Full time
- Part time
Yearly wage on 2020
All of Québec
All of Québec
Other characteristics
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
Sectors of activity
All of Québec
-
NAICS 5413, 541438% of jobs
-
NAICS 2225% of jobs
-
NAICS 2319% of jobs
-
NAICS 2119% of jobs
-
NAICS 2119% of jobs
-
Others-1% of jobs
All of Québec
-
NAICS 5413, 541438% of jobs
-
NAICS 2225% of jobs
-
NAICS 2319% of jobs
-
NAICS 2119% of jobs
-
NAICS 2119% of jobs
-
Others-1% of jobs
Training and requirements
Formation
Most training programs are offered in French only.
University
Mechanical engineering
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 80.8%
14.3% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 78.4%
18.2% of graduates pursue further studies
Mining and metallurgical engineering
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 80%
13.3% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 77.8%
22.2% of graduates pursue further studies
Also required
- Membership in the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ [Quebec Order of Engineers]) to practise as an Engineer and carry out activities that are reserved for them.
Sometimes required
- A Doctoral or Master’s degree in a related engineering discipline may be required.
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Data collection
- Reading comprehension
- Active listening
- Oral expression
- Information processing
- Critical thought
- Written expression
- Solving complex problems
- Result evaluation
- System analysis
- Coordination
- Time management
- Judgment and decision-making
- Active learning
- Systems evaluation
- Social perception
- Human resource management
- Science
- Teaching
- Mathematics
- Negotiation
- Monitoring operations
Abilities
- Written comprehension
- Oral comprehension
- Verbal skills
- Awareness of issues
- Written expression
- Inductive reasoning
- Information organization
- Speech clarity
- Deductive reasoning
- Speech recognition
- Classification
- Near vision
- Idea generation
- Selective attention
- Mathematical reasoning
- Originality
- Processing flexibility
- Visualization
- Basic numeracy
- Time sharing
- Distance vision
Knowledge and attributes
- Critical thinking
- Focussed on results
- Sense of responsibility
- Capacity to work in a team
- Respect standards and regulations
- Creativity
- Capacity for synthesis
- Knowledge of engineering and technology
- Knowledge of design
- Knowledge of chemistry
Interests
- Direct, organize, and manage
- Draft, communicate, and inform
- Work with numbers
- Create, design
- Carry out research
- Develop and exploit natural resources
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Investigative
- People with this profile prefer relying on theoretical knowledge before acting. They like observation, analysis and problem solving.
- Realistic
- People with this profile prefer carrying out concrete tasks and being physically involved in what they do.
- Enterprising
- People with this profile prefer having responsibilities, influencing others and responding to challenges.
Official name of the NOC 21332
Petroleum engineers
Job titles
- Petroleum engineer
- Petroleum reservoir engineer
- Offshore drilling engineer
- Oil and gas production engineer
- Drilling and recovery petroleum engineer
- Exploitation engineer - oil and gas
- Natural gas engineer
- Chief petroleum engineer
- Petroleum well completion engineer
- Oil and gas drilling engineer
- Petroleum production engineer
- Mud engineer - petroleum drilling
- Mud engineer
- Offshore drilling rig subsea equipment engineer
- Drilling and recovery chief engineer
- Well logging engineer
- Oil well logging engineer
Skill type
Natural and applied sciences and related occupations
Last update: January 29, 2026