Petroleum Engineers
Devise methods to improve oil and gas extraction and production and determine the need for new or modified tool designs. Oversee drilling and offer technical advice.
AI Impact Summary
Petroleum Engineers faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 28/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 31% of all analyzed occupations. Of 23 analyzed tasks, 2 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Petroleum Engineers skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.
Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Creative Writing Specialization
by Wesleyan University
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Leading People and Teams Specialization
by University of Michigan
Estimated Impact
We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
23 tasks analyzed
Assess costs and estimate the production capabilities and economic value of oil and gas wells, to evaluate the economic viability of potential drilling sites.
Develop plans for oil and gas field drilling, and for product recovery and treatment.
Analyze data to recommend placement of wells and supplementary processes to enhance production.
Direct and monitor the completion and evaluation of wells, well testing, or well surveys.
Monitor production rates, and plan rework processes to improve production.
Interpret drilling and testing information for personnel.
Specify and supervise well modification and stimulation programs to maximize oil and gas recovery.
Assist engineering and other personnel to solve operating problems.
Confer with scientific, engineering, and technical personnel to resolve design, research, and testing problems.
Coordinate the installation, maintenance, and operation of mining and oil field equipment.
Maintain records of drilling and production operations.
Write technical reports for engineering and management personnel.
Simulate reservoir performance for different recovery techniques, using computer models.
Design and implement environmental controls on oil and gas operations.
Assign work to staff to obtain maximum utilization of personnel.
Coordinate activities of workers engaged in research, planning, and development.
Take samples to assess the amount and quality of oil, the depth at which resources lie, and the equipment needed to properly extract them.
Evaluate findings to develop, design, or test equipment or processes.
Supervise the removal of drilling equipment, the removal of any waste, and the safe return of land to structural stability when wells or pockets are exhausted.
Inspect oil and gas wells to determine that installations are completed.
Conduct engineering research experiments to improve or modify mining and oil machinery and operations.
Design or modify mining and oil field machinery and tools, applying engineering principles.
Test machinery and equipment to ensure that it is safe and conforms to performance specifications.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assess costs and estimate the production capabilities and economic value of oil and gas wells, to evaluate the economic viability of potential drilling sites. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 6% | |
| Develop plans for oil and gas field drilling, and for product recovery and treatment. | 45Estimated | 45.0% | 7% | |
| Analyze data to recommend placement of wells and supplementary processes to enhance production. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 7% | |
| Direct and monitor the completion and evaluation of wells, well testing, or well surveys. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 6% | |
| Monitor production rates, and plan rework processes to improve production. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 6% | |
| Interpret drilling and testing information for personnel. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 4% | |
| Specify and supervise well modification and stimulation programs to maximize oil and gas recovery. | 40Estimated | 43.0% | 5% | |
| Assist engineering and other personnel to solve operating problems. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 5% | |
| Confer with scientific, engineering, and technical personnel to resolve design, research, and testing problems. | 25Estimated | 25.0% | 5% | |
| Coordinate the installation, maintenance, and operation of mining and oil field equipment. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 4% | |
| Maintain records of drilling and production operations. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 3% | |
| Write technical reports for engineering and management personnel. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 4% | |
| Simulate reservoir performance for different recovery techniques, using computer models. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 6% | |
| Design and implement environmental controls on oil and gas operations. | 40Estimated | 43.0% | 4% | |
| Assign work to staff to obtain maximum utilization of personnel. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 3% | |
| Coordinate activities of workers engaged in research, planning, and development. | 25Estimated | 25.0% | 3% | |
| Take samples to assess the amount and quality of oil, the depth at which resources lie, and the equipment needed to properly extract them. | 10Estimated | 13.0% | 3% | |
| Evaluate findings to develop, design, or test equipment or processes. | 45Estimated | 45.0% | 4% | |
| Supervise the removal of drilling equipment, the removal of any waste, and the safe return of land to structural stability when wells or pockets are exhausted. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 3% | |
| Inspect oil and gas wells to determine that installations are completed. | 20Estimated | 17.0% | 3% | |
| Conduct engineering research experiments to improve or modify mining and oil machinery and operations. | 40Estimated | 43.0% | 3% | |
| Design or modify mining and oil field machinery and tools, applying engineering principles. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 3% | |
| Test machinery and equipment to ensure that it is safe and conforms to performance specifications. | 45Estimated | 51.0% | 3% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 30.5%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$141,280
per year
Mean Wage
$153,560
per year
Employment
19K
workers
Wage Range
$78,840 - $228,790
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
Explore other career paths
Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.
Alternate Career Paths
See all transitionsCivil Engineers
28%Median salary: $99,590
Higher risk than 29% of other occupations
Fire-Prevention and Protection Engineers
28%Median salary: $109,660
Higher risk than 31% of other occupations
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
29%Median salary: $99,240
Higher risk than 33% of other occupations
Energy Engineers
30%Median salary: $117,750
Higher risk than 36% of other occupations
Logistics Engineers
31%Median salary: $80,880
Higher risk than 47% of other occupations
Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers
33%Median salary: $101,020
Higher risk than 57% of other occupations
Electrical Engineers
34%Median salary: $111,910
Higher risk than 63% of other occupations
Industrial Engineers
36%Median salary: $101,140
Higher risk than 68% of other occupations
Validation Engineers
38%Median salary: $117,750
Higher risk than 74% of other occupations
Logistics Analysts
40%Median salary: $80,880
Higher risk than 82% of other occupations
Sales Managers
25%Higher risk than 20% of other occupations
Chief Executives
26%Higher risk than 23% of other occupations
General and Operations Managers
28%Higher risk than 29% of other occupations
Marketing Managers
30%Higher risk than 38% of other occupations
Computer and Information Systems Managers
31%Higher risk than 45% of other occupations
Financial Managers
Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Petroleum Engineers professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Mathematics
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Reading Comprehension
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Complex Problem Solving
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Coordination
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Social Perceptiveness
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Systems Analysis
Systems Analysis will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change
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