PhD in Petroleum Engineering is a doctoral-level course of three to five years which is centered around laboratory and field studies with theoretical and computational skills aimed at addressing issues related to Petroleum and its different aspects.
It is a field of engineering concerned with the activities related to the production of hydrocarbons, which can be either crude oil or natural gas. The subject helps in studying the areas of drilling, production, and reservoir engineering.
PhD in Petroleum Engineering is related to the innovation and exploration of the process of oil and gas extraction. This course provides knowledge in advanced from Mining Engineering and Geology, and is linked to Geoscience.
Activities involved in activities in Petroleum Engineering are the development of equipment to extract oil and gas, making plans to drill in oil and gas fields; developing ways to inject water, chemicals, gases, or steam into an oil reserve; keep an eye at oilfield equipment installation, operation, and maintenance.
Checkout: Top Colleges for PhD in India
The eligibility criteria for PhD is a 55% minimum aggregate in Masters Degree (MSc, M.Tech). Mostly the admission process for the colleges or universities is Personal Interview and Entrance Test for some universities.
Checkout: Top Colleges offering PhD Petroleum Engineering in India.
The department facilitating Ph.D. in Petroleum Engineering is funded by multiple government organizations such as the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, CSIR, DBT, DST. The fee of this course can start from INR 5000 to INR 1lac while the placement package is 8LPA.
The position that is offered to PhD students like that of Head Plant Engineer, Consultant, Petroleum Geologist, Process Engineer, Associate Professor, Senior Research Associate, Restoration Ecologist, Staff Scientist, Laboratory Head.
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 |
| Full-Form | Doctor of Philosophy in Petroleum Engineering |
| Duration | Three to Five 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 |
| Course Fee | INR 2000 – 1,00,000 |
| Average Salary | 5 Lac -15lac |
| Employment Areas | Educational Institutions, Petroleum Manufacturing Companies, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government Ministry of New& Renewable Energy, Solar Energy Power Plant, Refineries. |
| Job Profile | Assistant Professor, Department In Charge, Project Coordinator, Researcher, Operation Manager, Laboratory Assistant. |
| Recruiting Companies | IOCL, ONGC, OIL, HUL, Red Solar, Department of New & Renewable Energy, Forest Institute of India, Climate Change Department. |
What is PhD in Petroleum Engineering all about?
PhD in Petroleum Engineering aims on making the student a professional ecologist and researcher.
- PhD in Petroleum Engineering highlights developing new technologies that would create a long term solution and also open business avenues.
- The topics that the candidates can cover Drilling Engineering, Reservoir Engineering, Horizontal and Vertical Well Technology, Simulation lab Techniques, Enhanced Oil Recovery Techniques, Field Development, Sensory Ecology, Ecophysiology, and Climate Change Research.
- PhD in Petroleum Engineering encourages researchers to grow more consciousness and awareness about Ecological aspects like Biodiversity, Climate Change, Sewage Treatment, Soil Erosion because drilling, boring during the on-site projects causes a huge amount of damage to the ecosystem.
- The course is designed to cover, learn, and research every topic that comes under the bar of petroleum and natural gas and prepares students for practical implications.
- An advanced level of study of Natural and Artificial ecosystems including the flora, fauna can be expected, especially which helps further in reservoir designing studies, horizontal and vertical well technology, well intervention, drilling engineering.
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. An 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 particularly 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.
What is the 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 centres 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.
Check Out: List of all PhD Courses
What is the required 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.
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Are there any entrance examinations for PhD in Petroleum Engineering?
Most Universities take direct admission on experience or Bachelor’s or Master's degree marks, entrance examination is conducted only by few universities which is followed by merit screening.
| Entrance Exam | Registration Date | Exam Dates |
|---|---|---|
| CSIR UGC NET (June Session) | 2nd week of March – 2nd week of April 2023 | 3rd week of June 2023 |
| UGC NET (July Session) | December 29, 2022 – January 23, 2023 | February 21, 2023 – March 10, 2023 |
| ICAR AICE JRF/SRF | To be Announced | To be Announced |
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 the knowledge of the Bachelor and Masters degree and come up with a genuine new research proposal.
- Clearing up basic concepts regarding Petroleum Engineering will be beneficial even for the Interview Round.
How to get admission to a Reputed University for PhD in Petroleum Engineering?
In order to get admission and study in the best colleges PhD in Renewable Energy, these are some of the following points
- A research of the top colleges and the curriculum of PhD in the following subject.
- The research projects, faculty, career options should be the guiding step to filter out colleges according to the candidate’s ease of access.
- Constant checking of the updates and notifications is important.
- Having a talk with the Seniors about the prospect can help in choosing the best college .
- Preparing for the entrance as per the syllabus given.
- Practice, brushing up on knowledge, and then clearing the cut off will only fetch the candidate their ideal institute.
Top Colleges/Universities for PhD in Petroleum Engineering
These are some of the top universities for PhD in Petroleum Engineering in India with the geographical location, fees ,and annual expected salary mentioned as follows
| NIRF Ranking | College Name | Average Annual Fees | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IIT Madras | INR 1,10,000 | INR 8 Lac |
| 5 | IIT Kharagpur | INR 15,000 | INR 4 Lac |
| 51 | Chandigarh University | INR 50,000 | INR 5 Lac |
| 66 | University of Petroleum and Energy Studies | INR 5,57,250 | INR 8 Lac |
| 101 | Dibrugarh University | INR 70,000 | INR 6.4Lac |
| 129 | Dehradun Institute of Technology | INR 1,80,000 | INR 3.8Lac |
| 134 | Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology | INR 13000 | INR 3.5 lac |
| 138 | MIT World Peace University | INR 50,000 | INR 4.6Lac |
| - | Karnataka University | INR 3,000 | INR 3.5 Lac |
| - | University of Rajasthan | INR 6,000 | INR 3 Lac |
College Comparison for PhD in Petroleum Engineering
Comparsion between the top three institutes for PhD in Petroleum Engineering on the basis of few parameters are given
| PARAMETERS | UPES DEHRADUN | IIT MADRAS | IIT KHARAGPUR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun is one of the leading private colleges promising to generate creative and leading Petroleum engineers. | IITM is one of the best engineering colleges in India with the best of faculties through the admission cut off is quite stringent. | IIT Kharagpur is one of the Oldest IITs with the best quality design education, high impact dedicated Research. |
| Location | Dehradun | Chennai | Kharagpur |
| Eligibility | M.Tech with 55% in Petroleum Engineering | M.Tech with minimum 55% aggregate | M.Tech with minimum 55% |
| Admission process | Entrance based | Entrance based | Entrance based |
| Average Fee | INR 15000 | INR 2000 | INR 3000 |
| Average Salary | 5-7lac | 4-8Lac | 4-8Lac |
| Top Recruiting Companies | Jacobs Engineering, Evonik, Intel, Godavari Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd. | Chevron, Henkel, Shell,Rio Tento, Reliance Industries Limited. | Larson and Toubro Ltd, Hindustan Unilever, Oil and Natural Gas Co, Bharat Petroleum Co. Ltd. |
What is the PhD in Petroleum Engineering Syllabus?
PhD in Petroleum Engineering is a dynamic stream with various region of specialization. The table below includes all the subjects that a Junior Research Fellow can specialize in
| Petroleum Geology and Methods for Petroleum Exploration | Reservoir GeoMechanics |
| Production Engineering and Well Testing Analysis | Oil/Gas Field Development |
| Enhanced Oil Recovery System | Formation Evaluation |
| Petroleum Reservoir Modelling | Pipeline Engineering |
| Economics and Risk Management | Petroleum Law and Contract |
| Data Analysis | Artificial Lift Technology |
| Bio Climatography | Thesis + Presentation |
What are the Important Books for PhD in Petroleum Engineering?
These are some of the essential books during research in Petroleum Engineering are
| Books | Author |
|---|---|
| Objective Petroleum Engineering | Petrodice Academy |
| Petroleum Refining Technology | Ram Prasad |
| Elements of Petroleum Refinery Engineering | O.P. Gupta |
| Modern Control Engineering | Ogata |
| Engineering Mechanics Statics and Dynamics | Shames / Rao |
| Environmental Challenges Confronting the Oil Industry | Javier Estrada |
| Risk Management:With Applications from the Offshore Petroleum Industry | Terje Aven , Jan Erik Vinnie |
PhD in Petroleum Engineering Course Comparison
PhD in Chemical Engineering Vs PhD in Petroleum Engineering
PhD in Chemical Engineering and PhD in Petroleum Engineering are two of the demanding courses due to their similarity in purpose i.e. of sustainability, renewability, and conservation. Both the PhD courses have differences in their areas of research specialization which is hereby given in the tabulated form.
| PARAMETERS | PhD in Chemical Engineering | PhD in Petroleum Engineering |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | PhD in Chemical Engineering is a 3-5 year program with all the subjects that is offered in Fluid Mechanics, Chemical Process Designing, Advanced Chemical Engineering. | PhD in Petroleum Engineering comprises of flexible course work with more detailed work in the laboratory, Natural Resource Management, Ecology of Global Changes, Risk Management related to Petroleum Restoration Techniques. |
| Admission procedure | The admission is mainly done by the score in the entrance examination like self-conducted exams by the universities or NET /GATE score. | The admission is carried out by following the entrance examination like NET, GATE, CSIR. |
| Course Fee | INR 15,000 to 1 Lac | INR 2,000 to 1 Lac |
| Eligibility | Minimum aggregate of 60% in MSc or MTech and 70% in BSc or BTech with more than five years of experience. | 60-70% marks in both Bachelors’s and Masters’s degrees. |
| Syllabus | Advanced Process Control, Chemical Reactor Analysis, and Design, Fluidization Engineering, Advanced Reaction Engineering. | Advanced Mathematics in Petroleum Engineering, Petroleum Geology, Drilling Engineering, Reservoir Engineering, Reservoir Simulation Techniques, Well Technologies. |
| Top Institutes | NIT Kurukshetra, Chandigarh University, Amity University | IIT Kharagpur, Dibrugarh University, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies |
| Job Profile | Energy Analyst, Solar Project Manager, Professor, Researcher, Process Engineer, Project Manager, Head Plant Manager, Quality Control Manager, Plant Designer, Head Chemical Engineer. | Petroleum Engineer, Process Engineer, Biotechnologist, Research Biologist, Biotechnical Research Manager, Petroleum Geologist, Assistant Professor. |
| Average Annual salary | INR 4,00,000 – 800000 | INR 5,00,000-7,00,000 |
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 a faculty or a researcher (Doctoral Research Committee)or they may choose to work in independently.
The career option is diverse as mentioned in the beginning –
| Job Role | Job Description | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Seismic Data Acquisition Scientist | They are mainly responsible for alerting any adverse circumstance to better conduct complex research on Well Technology, Drilling and Reservoir Engineering, Stimulation Techniques etc. | INR 8 Lac |
| Energy Manager | Responsible for the management of Energy-related operations which should be in similar page with the company vision. | INR 4.5 |
| Assistant Professor | Responsible for teaching, guiding, and mentoring students the current advancement in research in Oil Recovery Techniques and Reservoir Mechanics. | INR 6Lac |
| Production Engineer | Work on how the product will be manufactured and assembled on production line like right quantity of components and product packaging. | INR 4.8 Lac |
| Process Engineer | Responsible for developing new industrial processes and designing new process plants and equipment. | INR 6 Lac |
| Quality Control Manager | Ensure the quality of the initial start-up of new or modified product manufacturing. | INR 5 Lac |
| Petroleum Geologist | To study earth science for increasing the efficacy in the use of renewable energy by using by-products or alternatives of petroleum. | INR 5.2 Lac |
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 the 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.
PhD Petroleum Engineering FAQs
Ques: What is the fee structure in public and private colleges?
Ans: The fee in Public College can be between 2000 INR to 1 Lac while in Private Colleges the fee may vary from 10000 INR to 1.7 Lac approximately.
Ques: What is the average annual salary of Petroleum Engineer after completion of PhD ?
Ans: The salary can be from 5,00,000 to 7,00,000 Lac according to the project or assignment provided.
Ques: Is PhD in Petroleum Engineer a worthy option to take up or the candidate should directly join a company ?
Ans: If the candidate is eager to gather knowledge to polish their choice of skill and specialise in it one must opt for it so the PhD solely depends on the nature and wish of the candidate.
Ques: What is the duration of the course ?
Ans: The duration of the course can be from three years to five year depending on the institute and project undertaken.
Ques: What makes Petroleum Engineering the desired course ?
Ans: Petroleum Geology and Earth sciences encourage and fosters an environment of learning and innovation while questioning the future of our existence and trying to come up with solutions to developing advanced oil and petroleum restoration technologies with renewability and sustainability in mind.
Ques: Name some entrance examination which is accepted by reputed institutes.
Ans: DBT JRF,CSIR UGC NET, GATE, CU, DU, JNU entrance are the popular entrance examination which is accepted nationally.
Ques: What is the most sought after job profile ?
Ans: Process Engineer,Geologist,Consultant,Senior Research Associate,Assistant Professor are some of the jobs profile.
Ques: What is the amount of fellowship granted in India ?
Ans: The minimum amount of fellowship granted in India are INR 30,000 per month.
Ques: What are the some of the areas of specialisation in this course ?
Ans: Drilling Engineering, Reservoir Engineering, Horizontal and Vertical Well Technology, Simulation lab Techniques, Enhanced Oil Recovery Techniques, Field Development, Sensory Ecology, Ecophysiology and Climate Change Research and Bioclimatography are some of the areas of specialization over a period of three to five years.
Ques: What is the admission process in this course ?
Ans: Entrance test on research methodology and area of specialization followed by personal interview.
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