Oil&Gas Career Advice?

Elixir

Elixir

Elixir

Associate
Joined
17 Jul 2011
Posts
2,079
Hey all,

I know we have a few people from the oil&gas industry on OcUK so figured this would be a decent place to ask. I graduated in July with a Masters in Chemistry but really wanted to get into engineering roles, preferably in the O&G sector. I applied to a couple but as a backup plan applied to a Masters in Petroleum Engineering.

Fast forward a few months, I'm now 3 weeks into the Petroleum Engineering course, but had an assessment centre 2 weeks ago for a Field Engineer graduate position in Aberdeen and just got a phonecall offering me the job, starting mid December. So now I have a decision to make, do I:

  1. Drop out of the Pet Eng course and take the job
  2. Ask them to defer the start date until next September so I can complete my Masters/apply to PetEng jobs in the meantime (note that this involves a £9000 tuition fee cost + all the living expenses concerned with being a student)

I'm really keen to stop being a student (this is my 8th year, long story) and start making some money. The role is a very good one, would be well rewarded and potentially have good career progression, however, I'm concerned that in 20 years I might regret not having completed the PetEng Msc in terms of where I could end up with my career. Essentially I'm worried my career progression within the engineering sector of oil&gas might be limited with 'just' a Chemistry degree rather than an engineering degree despite being guaranteed at least 3 years experience by this role.

If those of you with experience in the industry want more specific details so you can give a more educated opinion then let me know and I'll drop you a trust message, otherwise just general advice and opinions are welcomed!

Cheers
 
I have a Geology degree and took a Mud logging Job then moved into well site geology.

It is not the same field but real world experience is everything.

I'm not sure what "Field engineer" would entail what service does your company provide? Sub-sea? Production?

I'm far from the best person on here to talk about it.

Taking a year out to do a masters when you have a few grand in the bank will make it a hell of a lot easier..

Id take the job see if you can hack it.. I had to get out of the Industry in the end and not really looked back. If you are working off shore or abroad constantly it can grind you down.
 
Take the job and further down the line do the masters if you really feel it's worth it. If I was in your position I definitely wouldn't turn it down. Experience almost always > masters.
 
Efour said:
I have a Geology degree and took a Mud logging Job then moved into well site geology.

It is not the same field but real world experience is everything.

I'm not sure what "Field engineer" would entail what service does your company provide? Sub-sea? Production?
Click to expand...

I'd be in wireline services, so well/reservoir analysis basically.

I guess my dilemma is that I would be going down a different route once I had this masters, so it's whether I'd get further/more rewarded with the PetEng masters or the job I have been offered.

Taking the job also feels like a bit of a cop-out as I'm quite keen to avoid the hard work this year will involve with exams, project work and job applications!

EDIT: As people are saying the masters might always be an option later on... but I'm enjoying it quite a lot so far and part of me would definitely be disappointed about stopping it now.
 
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I've been a structural engineer working for a company that provides consultancy to oil and gas operators for about a year.

It does seem to be a close call, but I would say it might be a good idea to have a conversation with your potential employer about it. They may be willing to sponsor you in a few years time to do your Master's part time while still working which would be a win-win.

On the contrary, if you are employable now (it doesn't sound as if you've been hell for leather applying for jobs, though maybe you have) then it will be no problem at all with a Master's under your belt and you will almost definitely be able to command a better starting position/salary.

How are you enjoying the Pet Eng course so far? I know it's early days but if it has really twigged your interest and as you said you really want to get into engineering roles then it can't be a bad option.

Can you talk to career advisors to senior lecturers at your uni regarding how much more useful the Master's would be in the long term?
 
hmm you wont be analyzing a thing. You will be cleaning tools with a brush, changing batteries and being reemed by the company man for your tools failing. Then when back at home in Aberdeen you will be fixing them. stripping them, more cleaning.

Do it for 2 years. See if you enjoy it ? As long as its not Schlumberger you should survive... That company runs its employees ragged. At least it used to.

It is a very much bottom of the ladder job like mud logging.
 
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dl8860 said:
How are you enjoying the Pet Eng course so far? I know it's early days but if it has really twigged your interest and as you said you really want to get into engineering roles then it can't be a bad option.

Can you talk to career advisors to senior lecturers at your uni regarding how much more useful the Master's would be in the long term?
Click to expand...

I'm hopefully going to speak to a careers advisor at my uni tomorrow.

I'm finding certain parts of the course very interesting and others not so much, but I'd probably be able to choose a role specific to my interests after the masters. This is the first assessment centre I've been to so hopefully that means I'm relatively employable, the Pet Eng grad schemes would be far more competitive though.

Efour said:
hmm you wont be analyzing a thing. You will be cleaning tools with a brush, changing batteries and being reemed by the company man for your tools failing. Then when back at home in Aberdeen you will be fixing them. stripping them, more cleaning.

Do it for 2 years. See if you enjoy it ? As long as its not Schlumberger you should survive... That company runs its employees ragged. At least it used to.

It is a very much bottom of the ladder job like mud logging.
Click to expand...

I had heard the same about Schlumberger, it isn't them. Interesting to hear that view on the job though, obviously that wasn't the impression they gave us at the assessment centre!
 
Are you willing to say who it's with? 'Field Engineer' roles sometimes/often sound better then they actually are, but it depends who it is with.

I'd finish your masters as an engineering degree in the oil and gas industry is very valuable at the moment and opens a lot of doors. Personally I'd ask the company if they'd you finish your masters first before starting.

I know it sounds appealing to start a job now but you may regret it later on.
 
PM me and we can discuss tomorrow.

After 3 yrs on London Underground starting as a Grad I moved up to Aberdeen 2 5yrs ago for a job with a small service company providing downhole video tools, originally as a Project Engineer, but things changed and I became the Snr Field Eng. I've worked across the UKCS, land jobs here, Europe and worked offshore abroad, all of these on platforms, semis, jackups and well intervention vessels. It really loses the attraction after a short while :p

Worked with many wireline and slickline crews across all the service companies.

Just about to move into an onshore role with one of the big 4 in a few weeks, so its all change for me too.

If you're up here, arnt a weirdo and like to socialise then we could take you out for ruining :D

Edit: lolz, you beat me whilst I was typing the above, Lord swine of swinington!!!!#
 
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Personally I think your 3 years experience will make up for only having a chemistry degree. 3 years experience will open up doors and if you're unhappy studying then consider taking the job. £9000 is a lot of money to lose though, but I assume you haven't paid it all?
 
Haven't paid it all, would probably still be a fairly hefty penalty though. I'm certainly not unhappy studying, I'm just a bit daunted by the prospect of another masters year after just finishing my last one, however I had a similar feeling this time last year and did very well.

At the moment I'm edging toward the option of continuing my PetEng course, as it's very highly regarded in the industry and would undoubtedly get me a better grad job and better prospects in the future, I think it's just the coward in me that wants to opt for the job.
 
Finish the course IMHO.

It's always tempting to jump at an opportunity, but it won't be your only offer, and you will be even more attractive in the future, lots of jobs to go round so I really wouldn't worry about it.
 
Yeah on reflection.. you can get that job or a similar entry level job whenever you want the way the industry is at the moment. Another year doing "homework" wont hurt.
 
Stay on at education the industry is a mess at the moment :/

If i could go off to university which i hope to do shortly i will study as high as i can possibly do and go back into General Electric again as a T.A or higher. I can't see the harm of study right now when the industry is like it is
 
If you don't mind moving abroad (Denmark/Norway) then you won't have any problems getting a job. I'd finish the degree if I were you :)
 
Im an Earth Science Grad, 10 yrs work experience in utility field.

Take the job, experience trumps masters, especially in this climate. Do a masters in future years and get work to pay down the line.

or this

pitchfork said:
For most careers this would be true, but if the OP wants to get into research he won't get too far in his career without a PhD.
Or at least a highly relevant masters.
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Op only you know where you want to go, if you don't want to be a doctor and/or research, my advice would be to take the job.

That is why your doing a masters is it? To get a job? Wel you just been offered one :)
 
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