About PhD in Petroleum Engineering Admission

A Ph.D. in petroleum engineering is the most advanced graduate degree in the field. This program is offered at a number of universities and requires a minimum of 48 credits. The requirements include completion of 12 hours of post-Master of Science coursework and 36 to 48 credit hours of dissertation work. Students will take courses in Enhanced Oil Recovery, Natural Gas Finance, Seismic Reservoir Modeling, and Geothermal Energy. They must also publish a paper or present a seminar at a professional society meeting or department seminar.

To qualify for the degree, applicants must have an M.S. or B.S. degree in a relevant engineering or scientific discipline. They must also have a Grade Point Average of at least 3.5/4.0. Upon completion of the prerequisite courses, students must complete a comprehensive oral exam, which must be passed to qualify for the Ph.D. The GPA must be maintained throughout the program, and students must complete a dissertation.

In order to qualify for a Ph.D. program in petroleum engineering, applicants must have a Master of Science degree in petroleum engineering. If they do not have a degree in petroleum engineering, they can apply with another related engineering degree. They will have to take prerequisite courses. The Ph.D. program is typically three to four years long, and students must maintain a GPA of at least 3.0. While there are no requirements for undergraduate or graduate study in petroleum engineering, students should expect to spend between three and four years working on their dissertation.

Course Highlights PhD in Petroleum Engineering

Highlights of the PhD in Petroleum Engineering is given in the tabulated form below with basic information related to

Course Level

Doctoral Level

Duration

5 years

Examination type

Thesis Submission

Eligibility

60% in the last qualifying examination in some relevant stream.

Admission Process

Entrance Test /Research Proposal and Personal Interview

Why pursue PhD in Petroleum Engineering?

PhD in Petroleum Engineering provides a platform to build the innovative minds of thousands of talented students to solve the problem of the imbalance in the Ecosystem.

It is a practical work-based subject so it needs improvement in their performance during the course by analyzing the subject.

Immediate first-hand application is a highlight of this course. Students get to learn and perform that is how the curriculum is set up.

The continuous adaptive learning by expanding the skill set in response to the new developments and changing environment.

They are offered jobs for the role of Petroleum Geologist, Conservationist, Process Engineer, Senior Research Associate, and Assistant Professor.

PhD in Petroleum Engineering graduates’ average annual salary can be from 6.5 to 10 LPA.

Which candidates are a perfect fit for PhD in Petroleum Engineering?

Students who already have a skill set in Innovating and Analyzing are a good fit. Experience makes the candidate more desired to earn better jobs and good placement.

Analyzing the problem related to the technical aspect of energy is one of the areas to work for the students.

Candidates with good analytical skill is a bonus for this course.

Students have to cater to different roles here on Petroleum Engineer, Project Lead, Professor, Seismic Data Acquisition Scientist so a multitasker with a calm and good observation skill is preferred.

Creation,Design and Problem Solving are the most vital skill for students who want to pursue PhD in Petroleum Engineering.

If the candidate wants to specialize, this degree will be equipped with skills.

One needs sheer dedication and resilience during and after the course to face the challenges.

Eligibility Criteria for PhD in Petroleum Engineering?

The eligibility criteria for PhD in Petroleum Engineering is almost similar across all universities in India. The candidates must have one of the following degrees as mentioned below.

Master Degree in Life Science/ Biotechnology/ Biochemistry/ Chemistry/ Microbiology.

Bachelor’s Degree (BTech/BSc) in the relevant field from a recognized college.

Candidates must have secured at least 60% in the last qualifying exam.

The Benefits of a PhD in Petroleum Engineering

For an undergraduate degree in petroleum engineering, an additional master's degree is usually required. Some programs will allow a student to go directly into the Ph.D. program without taking any prerequisite courses. However, most Ph.D. programs require a Master of Science degree in petroleum engineering. Students with other engineering degrees can also apply for the program, but they must complete the required coursework in order to get a doctorate. The Ph.D. program generally takes three to four years to complete, and the process is usually quite challenging.

The Ph.D. in petroleum engineering is a demanding program. It requires significant original research and dissertation examination. There are several options for earning your doctorate, including traditional classroom study or hybrid online study. It is important to find a program that meets your goals and budget. The degree is highly valuable for a professional's future, as it can open doors for higher-level engineering positions and more academic research opportunities.

Those who earn research in petroleum engineering are on the cutting-edge of science. They will work with colleagues to create new strategies for drilling, production, and reservoirs. As an added bonus, they will be able to prove their interest in the engineering field. The job market for petroleum engineers is booming, and graduates are sought after to fill positions in the industry. It's never too late to start a career in petroleum engineering

PhD in Petroleum Engineering Syllabus

1. Petroleum Geology and Methods for Petroleum Exploration
2. Production Engineering and Well Testing Analysis
3. Enhanced Oil Recovery System
4. Petroleum Reservoir Modelling
5. Economics and Risk Management
6. Data Analysis
7. Bio Climatography
8. Reservoir GeoMechanics
9. Oil/Gas Field Development
10. Formation Evaluation
11. Pipeline Engineering
12. Petroleum Law and Contract
13. Artificial Lift Technology
14. Thesis + Presentation

Admission Process for a PhD in Petroleum Engineering?

Universities in India take into consideration the last qualifying examination i.e. Post Graduation Degree as well as their own entrance examination for admission in PhD Petroleum Engineering. The top universities especially IISc, JNU, CU conduct entrance examinations while the private institutions conduct their own admission test and interview sessions.

While some universities have the direct admission system on the basis of the weightage of marks in the PG Course and UG degree and the research proposal presentation.

Entrance-based admission are done through the following steps :

Candidates have to register and then wait for the notification of the availability of the online application.

After filling up the application with the correct details i.e. degree, marks obtained, experience, current profile where one month is given for completing, and finally submitting the application.

Uploading the required documents and paying the application fee is a crucial step otherwise the application will not be accepted.

The application will be considered only after the successful payment of fees.

The Entrance exam gives the option to choose from the exam centers according to the convenience of the candidate.

Candidates need to sit for the exam on the given date as mentioned on the website and admit card.

After the declaration of results, only those candidates who have to manage to clear they will be called for an interview hence securing a seat in the university for PhD.

Entrance Examinations for PhD in Petroleum Engineering

Most Universities take direct admission on experience or Bachelor’s or Master's degree marks, the entrance examination is conducted only by a few universities and is followed by merit screening.

CSIR UGC NET

UGC NET

ICAR AICE JRF/SRF   

How to prepare for these entrance exams for PhD in Petroleum Engineering?

The entrance exam syllabus can vary a little from exam to exam like DBT JRF, ICMR,CSIR UGC NET. In order to secure a JRF position here are some tips to follow:

Firstly candidates need to know about the exam pattern and syllabus.

DBT JRF, JEST or private entrance examination has a similar pattern consisting of General Science, Mathematics, Chemistry, General Aptitude,  Data Interpretation, Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, General Biotechnology, and Petroleum Engineering

The second phase after qualifying the entrance, which is solely done on a merit basis, is the personal interview conducted by the respective universities.

The candidates need to brush up on the knowledge of the Bachelor's and Masters degrees and come up with a genuine new research proposal.

Clearing up basic concepts regarding Petroleum Engineering will be beneficial even for the Interview Round.

PhD in Petroleum Engineering Job Prospects

The generation of employment opportunities will be rising as the world is suffering from the energy crisis and Renewable Energy for Natural Gas and Petroleum is a long term sustainable solution to the problem. The top three nations will create more jobs in this field which are China, India, US.

The employment areas are the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Godrej, IOCL, OIL, ONGC, Forest Institute of India as a Environment Consultant, Geologist, Conservationist, Climatologist, Petroleum Engineer, Lecturer, Assistant Professor, Staff Scientist.

Big companies like ONGC, BPCL, IOCL, OIL, HUL offer a position known as Sustainability Science Regional Lead with a very competitive base salary, annual bonus, stock and good benefits exchange.

The students may join Institutes as faculty or a researcher (Doctoral Research Committee)or they may choose to work in independently.

Seismic Data Acquisition Scientist

• Energy Manager
• Assistant Professor
• Production Engineer
• Process Engineer
• Quality Control Manager
• Petroleum Geologist

What is the Future Scope for PhD in Petroleum Engineering :

On completion of the PhD Petroleum Engineering program, candidates can opt for a wide range of professions. 

With the help of a PhD Petroleum degree, students will be able to make their career in the research field and work as a Research Scientist in the related field. 

PhD Petroleum graduates can work as a professor and teach students by sharing their knowledge and experience, they can opt for a teaching job as a professor of Petroleum Engineering in universities across India or Abroad. 

If they want to contribute towards the betterment of the world, they can indulge themself in research work and work as a researcher. 

They can also work under ONGC Petro Addition Limited, UOP Honeywell, UPL Limited, Galaxy Surfactants, SRF Limited, Godrej Industries Limited, Gas Authority of India Ltd. (GAIL), Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Coal India Limited (CIL), etc.