The Malaysian petroleum industry initially boomed following the discovery of additional oil fields and improvement in production technology. By tapping into these newfound resources, the industry has cemented itself as a central Malaysian industry. As recent as 2020, it has contributed 22.4% of the total government revenue.
The petroleum sector continues to show promise as the Malaysian government commits to investing more in it. In 2021, the government launched its
National OGSE Industry Blueprint: an overview of initiatives intended to rocket Malaysia’s oil and gas industry into global competitiveness.
For this reason, skilled and capable personnel are in demand more than ever to continue the development of the industry. Development of the local upstream segment and exploration activities will undoubtedly create many job opportunities for newly minted petroleum engineers.
What is petroleum engineering?
Petroleum engineering is an engineering discipline that is concerned with the control of a system made up of the fluid-containing rocks of the earth, the flow of fluids within these rocks, the wells through which the fluids are conducted to and from the surface of the earth, and the surface processes coupled thereto.
Petroleum engineers are an essential part of the industry, playing a key role in the search for, exploration, production, and processing of oil and gas. They design and develop methods of extracting oil and gas from deposits under the earth’s surface, and they are also involved in the refining and transporting of produced hydrocarbons, the management of existing and new reservoirs, as well as project evaluation and finance. In addition, there are also opportunities in research management and environmental control.
Petroleum engineering can be broadly classified into three fields: reservoir engineering, drilling engineering, and production engineering. Those enrolled in Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP)’s
Bachelor of Petroleum Engineering with Honours are introduced to these different fields and can later in their degree select one of the three as a specialisation.
These specialisations expose students to sectors of the petroleum industry and train them to become competent graduates who can find fulfilling work in relevant fields.
Reservoir Engineering
Performing an oil extraction is usually a several-month process and requires sizable capital and labour investment. For this reason, reservoir engineers are employed to carefully evaluate the economic viability of an oil reserve before committing to a full-fledged extraction.
Reservoir engineers are usually well-versed in chemistry and physics principles such as fluid dynamics to project the behaviour of natural gases and crude oils. They also optimise the extraction process to obtain the most recoverable hydrocarbon possible using applied mathematics and other principles.
UTP’s curriculum offers units in Advanced Reservoir Simulation and Enhanced Oil Recovery that acquaint students with oil reserve estimation techniques that are invaluable tools to those looking to pursue a career in reservoir engineering.
Drilling Engineering
Drilling engineers recommend drilling equipment and tools for developing oil and gas wells, ensuring that all the drilling operations are efficient while maintaining the safety of everyone involved.
To protect Malaysia’s valuable oil reserves, drilling engineers are also responsible for analysing potential well sites and mitigating damages to avoid compromising its structure and stability.
The aforementioned National OGSE Industry Blueprint highlights several emerging drilling technologies that show potential for growth in the local industry. Units such as Principles of Well Design and Advances in Drilling Technology empower UTP graduates with the expertise necessary to help progress Malaysia’s drilling industry into the modern age.
Production Engineering
One of the core programme outcomes of UTP’s Bachelor of Petroleum Engineering is acknowledging sustainability concerns within a societal and environmental context. As the ones in charge of the safe disposal of wastes, production engineers are at the forefront of pursuing sustainability in the petroleum industry.
Production engineers also play an essential role in optimising the cost-effectiveness of oil and gas production through an in-depth understanding of petroleum production systems.
With units such as Production System Optimization, Well Stimulation Techniques, and Flow Assurance available at UTP, production engineering specialists are taught to excel with strong expertise in petroleum production methodology and a keen awareness of environmental concerns.
Study petroleum engineering with Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS
With a strong emphasis on mathematics, science, and engineering principles, UTP is dedicated to ensuring its students have a firm grasp of petroleum engineering principles through the guidance of highly qualified engineering professionals.
If you have an interest in mathematics and engineering, UTP offers quality facilities and experienced faculty members to professionally nurture and adequately prepare you for the industry as a competent petroleum engineer while also equipping you with the skills to become a leader.
For more information on UTP’s courses, visit UTP Website.
