Is integrated oil companies a good career path? Yes, working for integrated oil companies is a great career choice. It’s a sizable, well-funded sector with lots of opportunities. You can find a well-paying job in this field whether or not you want to pursue higher education. Keep reading.
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What is An Integrated Oil Company?
Companies that are integrated into the oil and gas industry locate and map potential oil fields as well as produce, refine, and distribute oil and gas.
These companies produce natural gas and crude oil.
They are also referred to as “integrated oil companies” due to the fact that they don’t concentrate on a specific industry sector or the procedures involved in producing and delivering oil and gas.
How Many Jobs Are Available in Integrated Oil Companies?
The answers to the question “is integrated oil companies a good career path” strongly depend on the wages that this industry pays. However, you need not be concerned about the lack of employment opportunities in integrated oil companies. The pay in the oil industry is among the highest in the world. The average annual wage for the best paying jobs in integrated oil companies is as follows:
Petrophysicist
A scientist who focuses on the investigation of how minerals, rocks, and other substances are created is known as a petrologist. They make $98,000 on average a year. They participate in every stage of the oil and gas industry, from exploration to extraction to production. The petrophysicist needs to have a strong background in geology. They look into issues related to rocks, such as how far one can go before coming into contact with water, what kind of rock it is, whether or not it contains valuable minerals, etc. In order to determine how much oil or gas can be extracted from such areas, they then apply what they have learned.
Geoscientist
The term “geoscientist” refers to engineers with a background in the earth sciences. The average salary for one of these employees is $98k. Their research, for which they are responsible for both planning and conducting, is focused on subterranean materials, fluids, and formations. Additionally, geoscientists work on a wide range of projects that require them to develop geological maps, carry out geological surveys, look over geophysical data, and offer guidance on how to manage oil resources. Oil and gas exploration, production, refining, and environmental protection are just a few of the industries in which geologists might work.
Finances/Accountant Specialist
This position is highly sought after in the Integrated Oil Industry. Their average yearly income is $85,000. Accountancy, auditing, and submitting financial reports are among the responsibilities of this position. Candidates must exhibit proficiency with Microsoft Excel and additional accounting software. They must possess strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Drilling Engineer
A drilling engineer is a specialist who works on the planning, design, and execution of oil and gas well drilling operations. They earn $96,000 annually on average. Geologists study the interactions between various rock types and environments. When there is an issue, the drilling engineer figures out how to fix it. Before starting to drill, they double-check that all safety measures are in place as an extra precaution. Drilling engineers are required throughout the entire drilling process for a well, from initial planning to final completion. They must be extremely skilled across the board, but particularly in math, chemistry, physics, and engineering.
Reservoirs Engineer
The upkeep and management of the oilfields will fall under your purview as the reservoir engineer in an integrated oil company. They typically receive an annual median salary of $94,000. You’ll be required to perform engineering tasks such as modeling, design, and surveying. You must also oversee the construction of pumps and other necessary equipment as an oilfield expands.
Production Engineer
The stages of product development, assembly, and maintenance fall under the purview of a production engineer. This group typically makes $93,000 a year in income. They collaborate with other experts in the fields of engineering, design, machining, and quality assurance to ensure that their products are up to par. Production engineers frequently have technical or scientific educational backgrounds. Additionally, they must be able to decipher complicated documents like instructions and blueprints.
Project Manager
To ensure the project’s success, managers of such initiatives must coordinate their tasks. They earn an average of $88,000 annually. They typically collaborate with other teams to complete projects on time and on budget. Project managers require a variety of skills, including the capacity for multitasking and effective communication. Since they are frequently required to make quick decisions, they must be able to work effectively under pressure.
Why Choose a Career in Integrated Oil Companies?
There are many opportunities in the field because petroleum production is a significant, wealthy industry. Although there have been some initiatives to reduce the use of gasoline, other petroleum products will still be used, and many of the knowledge and abilities acquired here can be applied to other fields.
It’s a demanding industry, so consider whether or not you have the following attributes before deciding to pursue a career in integrated oil companies.
Working in this industry appeals to you. Fieldwork is frequently required in this industry, even for the more intellectual jobs like petroleum engineers. Additionally, if you work directly in an oil field, the majority of your duties will involve physical labor.
As long as there is a reward, risks are acceptable. For example, petroleum analysts do not have a hazardous job, so this is not required for every position in the sector. However, a lot of the jobs in the above list require either performing manual labor close to heavy machinery or at the very least being willing to go outside and examine it.
You don’t mind working for a large company. A large organization’s culture will differ greatly from that of a smaller one, even though there is nothing wrong with working there.
Even if you don’t work for one directly, you’re likely to end up working for the government or a university, neither of which are known for being small, so if you work for an integrated oil company, it will be enormous.
The risk of injury is present in this demanding field. Because of this, many jobs—even those that don’t require a college degree—are very well paid. Not everyone is willing or able to work in a dangerous and demanding industry. But If the above qualities describe you, then it’s a career path for you to consider.
Education and Certification Requirements for a Career in Integrated Oil Companies
A high school diploma is typically all that is needed for many of the careers in the field. Here are some degrees to take into consideration, though, if engineering or other intellectual aspects of it appeal to you.
Engineering. Despite being a more general degree, this one can open up many career options. You have the option to specialize if you so choose. For instance:
- petroleum engineering In case you want to work as a petroleum engineer.
- engineering involving machines. If you want to be a mechanical engineer.
Chemistry. You have a wide range of opportunities available to you with this degree. Being an inspector as well as a petroleum engineer or a process engineer may benefit from it.
Chemical Engineering. Similar rules as before apply.
Petroleum Technology. This covers the gamut of what sorts of heavy equipment is used in the process of extracting crude oil to what technology goes into the manufacture and processing of it.
Mathematics. If you want to become an analyst, this is helpful. If you want to study engineering, it might also be a wise choice.
The basis for certifications is going to depend much more on your areas of interest. There are numerous safety certifications to research if you want to work as a safety officer, for instance. For the majority of the other jobs listed here, certifications wouldn’t be necessary, but if you can find one that’s specific to your area of expertise, they certainly won’t hurt your career prospects.
What Do People Working in Integrated Oil Companies Do?
Since integrated oil companies are involved in every step of the petroleum supply chain, including extraction, processing, shipping, and sale, working for one puts you in the middle of any of those operations.
Typically, those performing manual labor on the ground will be those without a college degree. This will entail operating large machinery, performing maintenance on it, and moving and assembling tools and supplies as required.
If you have a college degree, you will probably be involved in the higher-level planning activities, such as designing the machinery, deciding where to place it for the greatest impact, and figuring out the most effective way to process the crude oil.
There are also the aspects of selling and shipping, which involve logistics, retail, and shipping. Truck driver, analyst, or franchisee jobs are all viable options for this. This industry is filled with possibilities, meaning that you can choose a career based on your interests.
Oil companies that are integrated go through a complex and technical process. From top to bottom, it is possible to get involved in the extraction of oil, its processing, or even the search for untapped oil reserves. The breadth of choices leads to an industry with a wide variety of workers with myriad different backgrounds.
Summary: is Integrated Oil Companies a Good Career Path?
The likelihood of doing physical jobs on the ground is higher for those without college degrees.
This will entail operating and maintaining heavy machinery as well as moving and assembling tools and supplies as necessary.
With a college degree, you will most likely be involved in higher-level planning, such as designing machinery and choosing the most effective method for processing crude oil.
