Hello, I have joined a college for petroleum engineering and would love to connect to working professionals and students studying petroleum engineering and share their thoughts on the industry.

Does anybody have any oilfield models they’d be willing to post? Looking to create 3d prints for the office.

I’m finishing up a rig and frac pump and will be able to post it within a week or so.

Substack: "Less than 300 million barrels left: the engineering limits threatening the American Strategic Petroleum Reserve," by Siddharth Misra.

"The oil market is not being stabilized by fresh supply growth but by aggressive depletion of emergency inventories, a strategy that only buys time rather than solving the imbalance." 

As crude inventories in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve [SPR] drain toward their operational limits, America is left supplied with just 300 M barrels. "This dwindling buffer forces the nation into a high-stakes standoff against the uncompromising laws of fluid dynamics, immense geological forces, strict federal statutes, + relentless geopolitical pressure."

The SPR is a subsurface engineering marvel. "Spanning 60 massive underground salt caverns across four storage sites in Texas + Louisiana, the system holds a combined authorized capacity of 714 million barrels."

"These solution-mined cavities are gigantic, often 300 feet wide + 2,000 feet tall, large enough to stack the Empire State Building inside." Because these caverns operate entirely on a liquid displacement system, they can never be left empty, for if the fluids were removed without replacement, the immense geological weight of the overlying earth would cause the salt domes to [irreparably] collapse inward like a crushed shield.

"The crude oil volume currently stands at approximately 293 M barrels." The remainder is entirely heavy salt brine used to push the oil out. "Operating below this 300-million-barrel threshold pushes the aging infrastructure into uncharted and hazardous territory."

"According to the Department of Energy, the absolute physical minimum crude oil inventory is approximately 70 million barrels." This cushion is required at the very top of the caverns to keep the extraction pipes safely submerged in oil rather than the underlying water. "But while 70 M barrels is the structural floor where the salt rock might physically hold together, the practical operational floor is much higher, around 250 M barrels."

My math suggests the SPR is only 43 M barrels from rock bottom. The tanks at Cushing are in the same depleted state. You should be glad I'm driving an EV.

Hi everyone! I’m a 32 year old petroleum engineer from Eastern Europe, and I’m looking to connect with people who work or have worked in the oil & gas industry and hear about their experiences with workplace culture and inclusion.
For some context, I’m gay, and I’m particularly interested in hearing from LGBTQ+ people in the industry, as well as anyone who has experience working alongside LGBTQ+ colleagues.
I’m curious about what the industry is like from different perspectives , whether people feel comfortable being open about their sexuality at work, how workplace culture varies between companies, countries, and roles, and whether you’ve noticed attitudes changing over the years.
I’m not looking to start a political debate or make assumptions about the industry. I’d simply like to connect with people, exchange experiences, and learn from others working in the same field.
If you’re comfortable sharing your experience, I’d genuinely love to hear from you. Feel free to comment or message me privately. 🙂

all geological engineering student here, aiming for grad school focused on resource modeling and geostatistics (block modeling, reserve estimation) rather than traditional exploration geology. I've got some exposure to RockWorks and Leapfrog, and I'm building Python skills to pair with it. I looked into CCG's (University of Alberta) Applied Geostatistics program, but the pricing is clearly aimed at industry professionals, not students. Has anyone here gone through Michael Pyrcz's (GeostatsGuy) material, or found other budget-friendly but credible paths into this niche? Trying to figure out what's actually worth the money vs. what I can self-teach.

I’m a Kuwaiti fresh Chemical Engineering graduate, and I wanted to share my experience trying to get into Kuwait’s oil and gas sector.
I started by applying through the normal channels whenever suitable opportunities were available. I didn’t limit myself to one company or one position. I applied to pretty much everything relevant to my degree and background, including graduate opportunities, engineering roles, field-related positions, and private-sector oil and gas companies.
I also tried approaching companies directly instead of relying only on online applications. I visited companies, tried to get my CV in front of HR, spoke to people when I had the chance, and followed up.
At one point, I actually managed to speak directly with someone in HR. They were helpful and genuinely tried to assist me, which I appreciate. But even after doing all of this, I kept getting the feeling that simply being qualified and applying through the normal process was not enough.
What frustrated me the most is that I kept hearing the same thing from different people: **you need wasta to actually get your foot in the door.**
I know people will say “apply online,” “improve your CV,” “get experience,” or “network.” I understand all of that, and I have done it.
I’ve also massively expanded my search. I’m not saying I only want to work in Kuwait or only want to work in the oil sector. I’ve applied outside Kuwait as well, including opportunities across the GCC and elsewhere. I’m completely willing to relocate and start my career abroad if that’s what it takes.
But interestingly, I’ve encountered a similar problem outside Kuwait too: many entry-level opportunities either require experience or are extremely difficult to access without having the right connections.
I’m not saying every single person who gets hired in the oil sector has wasta, and I’m not claiming that every recruitment process is corrupt. I’m talking about my personal experience and what I’ve repeatedly been told while trying to enter the industry.
What makes it frustrating is that as a fresh graduate, you’re constantly told to “get experience,” but getting that first job is the hardest part. You can have the degree, apply everywhere, attend career events, contact HR, hand out your CV, expand your geographical search and still feel like you’re going nowhere.
So I genuinely want to ask Kuwaiti graduates and people working in the oil and gas sector:
**Is wasta really as important as people make it out to be when trying to get your first job in Kuwait’s oil sector?**
If you managed to get into the sector purely through applications, assessments and interviews without any connections, I’d genuinely like to hear how you did it.
And if you’re a fresh graduate going through the same thing, I’d also like to hear your experience.

So in a recent HAZOP it was decided to add a second layer of pressure protection on the wellbores connecting the salt caverns to the wellheads. On the first (and only thus far) well we ran plugs removed the wellhead, added a hangar and new production string inside the wellbore casing which was already cemented in place (for roughly 40 years now). A cement job was done to cement the new tubing/production string.

When the wellhead was finally in place we found that the 2500m of annulus cement was not holding pressure. Seemed like a bad cement job. The curious thing is that we were seeing higher pressure buildup in the new tubing hangar (communicating with th ecemented annullus) than was in the cavern. we were seeing slow buildups to 5000psi with only 4000 psi in the production string.

My personal opinion was a hydraulic multiplier effect inside the cement - but no way to prove it obviously. Bond logs do not show anything out of the ordinary (but I'm a surface guy so I wouldn't know what to look at.

Anybody here ever see a similiar phenomena? Anyone have any ideas how the hanger could buildup more pressure than what is in the cavern? Thanks in advance. Note: I am not the responsible engineer in this case, just a casual observer doing work on the surface facilities.

Hello Folks,

I am doing some research on a Oklahama oil well project for EB-5 investment. I got a lot of documents from them. I have used ChatGPT and seaech to dig a bit but nothing can be compared with actual personal experience.

So, I am seeking for someone in the industry who knows financial aspects as well as geological risks related to those, to help me with it.

I can compensate for your time.

Let me know if it's not the right group.

Thanks.

Built a PVT & Volumetrics calculator in Excel as a side project — calculates STOIIP, free gas in place, and solution gas, with an optional built-in PVT correlation engine (Standing's correlations) so you don't need lab data to get Bo/Rs/Bg, plus a sensitivity/tornado chart tab.

Genuinely asking — would something like this actually help with coursework or fieldwork? What's missing, what would you want added, or is there anything that looks off? Not selling anything right now, just want to know if this is actually useful before I put more time into it.

Throwaway-ish vent, but I’d take real advice too.
Background: BSc in Petroleum & Natural Gas Engineering (Istanbul Technical University, 2024), MSc in Industrial Engineering & Innovation Management (Vilnius, 2026). Field exposure is a Sperry Drilling MWD/LWD internship, plus a supply chain internship at a refinery and customer ops work in Lithuania. Azerbaijani, based in Baku, five languages, decent MSc record.
The problem: no full-time drilling job on the CV. I graduated into a market where nobody was hiring greenfield MWD trainees, applied across Norway, UK and Poland, and mostly got silence. Now I’m inside the conscription window at home, so military service is coming regardless of how my applications land. That’s 12 to 18 months completely out of the industry, at exactly the age when everyone else is stacking rig days.
So by the time I’m out I’ll be pushing 27 with a PetE degree that’s three years stale, an MSc that points at supply chain and innovation rather than reservoir or drilling, and a gap that recruiters will read as “he couldn’t get hired.”
Questions for people who’ve been through something like this:
1. Does a service gap actually kill you in oilfield services hiring, or do they mostly care that you can pass the aptitude tests and go offshore?
2. Is it worth trying to re-enter as an MWD/LWD trainee at 27, or should I lean into the industrial engineering side and go operations/supply chain in energy instead?
3. Anyone rebuilt into the industry after a forced multi-year break? What actually worked?
Feeling pretty cooked. Tell me if I’m overreacting.

Hey everyone,
I’m looking to build a deep, end-to-end understanding of Energy Trading & Risk Management (ETRM)—from deal capture and risk management (market/credit) to scheduling and financial settlement.
Looking for recommendations on high-quality resources, preferably free (open to paid if worth it):
Books: Recommended texts covering energy commodity mechanics (power, gas, crude) and hedging strategies.
Visuals & Diagrams: Trade lifecycle flowcharts (front-to-back office) or architecture diagrams showing how ETRM systems integrate with ISOs, market feeds, and ERPs.
Videos & Courses: YouTube playlists, webinars, or solid online courses (Udemy, Coursera, etc.) explaining physical asset optimization, forward curves, or ETRM workflows.

Are you an oil & gas professional, industry leader, researcher, or advanced scholar? Your expertise can help shape the future of offshore drilling operations.
As part of an advanced research study on Organizational Strategy in Offshore Oilfield Drilling Operations, I am inviting qualified participants to complete a short survey designed to gather valuable industry insights. The findings will contribute to developing strategic frameworks that can help refine operational effectiveness, decision-making, and performance across the sector.
• STUDY: Organizational Strategy of Real-Time Monitoring in Drilling Operation
 • TARGET AUDIENCE: Employees & scholars of offshore drilling operations, real-time monitoring, & operational strategy
 • DURATION: 10 - 13 min.
 • SURVEYCIRCLE LINK: [https://www.surveycircle.com/en/4RH964/\](https://www.surveycircle.com/en/4RH964/)
 • ORIGINAL LINK: [https://tally.so/r/obNZxx\](https://tally.so/r/obNZxx)
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👉Thank you for supporting research that can drive meaningful advances in offshore oilfield operations. Please feel free to like, share, and encourage others in your network to participate.
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My dad retired working as a Senior Geo scientist for the largest oil and natural gas company in India. He worked there for over 30 years and absolutely loved his job.

I don’t know but since I’ve never seen him “idle” in the house before, I keep encouraging him to find a freelance job or teach because it’ll be a shame if his talent just sits inactive. But I don’t pressure him to do that at the same time because I know he deserves all the time in the world to relax and do whatever he wants. However recently he’s been very expressive and interested about finding a new opportunity.

Not sure if this is the right platform but is there anyone in the oil and petroleum industry who may have a job for him? I can share his resume. He’s well travelled around the world and wouldn’t mind traveling for work if needed.

Just want to see if I can connect my dad to someone from the industry.

Thank you

My brother graduated recently and searching for a job, unfortunately he wasn't able to land on campus placement although very few companies appeared in core. He got 2 offers in software but I don't want him to be a part of this stupid IT industry. Any suggestions or referral for him will be appreciated.

I am really passionate about drilling. I have experiences in local and off-campus petroleum-related competitions and currently grinding for my safety officer training (SO2 BOSH).

Drilling is broad though. I have no idea the specific jobs it entails and the skills I need to master for such job. Any niche work and skill suggestion?

With EPA extending several OOOOb compliance deadlines to January 2027, I'm trying to understand how facility engineers are actually approaching the closed vent system design and capacity assessment work under §60.5411b.

Questions for anyone who's touched this:

1. Is the capacity/design work done in-house (Excel, ProMax, Aspen, etc.) or handed to an outside engineering firm?

2. Where does most of the time go — pulling facility/equipment data, running the actual capacity calcs, or the certification/review step?

3. Ballpark, how long does one facility take start to finish?

4. For anyone who already did this under OOOOa — what's different this time around under OOOOb?

No product or company to mention here, genuinely just trying to understand the current workflow before I form any opinions on it. Will post a summary if people are interested.

Hey everyone, 2nd year Petroleum Engineering student here. Trying to start a personal project on the side, something that actually builds real skills and looks good on my CV, not just another class assignment.

Most drawn to drilling and production, but open to coding/modeling or something more hands-on, whatever’s realistic without industry access yet.

For those who’ve done this: what did you actually build? Simulation/data stuff like Python, decline curve analysis, that kind of thing, or something more practical? And was it actually worth it for internships/jobs, or did it not really move the needle?

Also down for any public datasets or open-source tools worth using since I obviously don’t have company data. Appreciate any direction 🙏

the title said it all.

Hey everyone,

​I'm living in Canada and aiming for the University of Alberta. Their Petroleum Engineering program is ranked #3 (by QS rank) in the world but I'm torn between that and Chemical Engineering. ​My goal is to work for an oil company, and eventually, once I get some experience, I want to move to the US to work. ​I’d love some advice on a few things:

​Career & Money: Which major is better for long-term career growth and salary (both in Canada and the US)?

​Flexibility vs. Ranking: Is U of A's #3 PetE ranking too good to pass up, or is ChemE still the safer bet because it's more versatile?

​Oil Majors: Do oil companies prefer PetE grads, or do ChemE grads have the same shot at getting hired?

Thank you.

+ I’ve always loved physics, and my family actually works in physics-related fields (like professors). Naturally, I originally planned to major in physics too, but I realized I wanted to do something different. While most people these days are flocking to tech or semiconductors, I found myself really drawn to the oil and gas industry—and honestly, I want to make good money.

Anyone worked in O&G industry for IGA?

What are the typical app integrations and compliance mandates like healthcare got HIPAA and hitech

Hey everyone,

With the EU AI Act rolling out, there’s a massive gap in the market that isn’t getting enough attention: AI Governance for Oil & Gas and Heavy Industry.

Under the Act, AI used in the operation of critical infrastructure is classified as High-Risk. This means strict risk management, rigorous data governance, and fail-safe human oversight are no longer optional—they're legal requirements.

Generic SaaS governance tools built for chatbots or fintech won't cut it for industrial operations, OT environments, and physical safety hazards. The industry desperately needs domain-specific compliance platforms, and with enforcement deadlines looming, the time to build is now.

Looking to connect with a few folks:

• Builders/Founders: Are you currently creating a governance tool tailored for heavy industry?
• O&G Operators/Data Scientists: How is your team preparing for the "Critical Infrastructure" label? Building in-house or looking for vendor solutions?
• Compliance Experts: What are the biggest operational bottlenecks you're anticipating?

Drop a comment or send a DM. Let’s swap notes and figure out how the industry navigates the shift to regulated AI.

Thanks

I was wondering if anyone knows of any publicly available reservoir modelling datasets or field data that I could use for a personal project. I’m looking to build a complete reservoir modelling workflow to showcase on my LinkedIn profile, but I’ve found that most field data is confidential.
If possible, I’d prefer datasets that are not from the Gullfaks region, as I’ve already worked with those. Any recommendations for open datasets, case studies, or repositories would be greatly appreciated.