Petroleum Technology
Overview
Petroleum technology programs prepare people to help engineers and others who extract and refine gas and oil.Petroleum technology programs prepare people to analyze sites to help engineers. Students learn to map and test samples. They also learn to use tools and monitor safety and environmental concerns.
Petroleum technology programs include topics such as:
- Principles of petroleum extraction and related geology
- Field mapping and site analysis
- Testing and sampling methods
- Instrument calibration
- Laboratory analysis
- Test equipment operation and maintenance
- Environment and safety monitoring procedures
- Report writing
Schools
Several community colleges and technical schools offer certificate and associate degree programs in petroleum technology. A certificate program usually takes a year of full-time study. An associate degree program at a community college usually takes two years of full-time study to complete.
Very few colleges and universities offer bachelor’s degrees in petroleum technology. A bachelor's degree usually takes about four years of full-time study.
See schools that offer this program.
Related Educational Programs
- Chemical Technology
- Chemistry
- Engineering Technology, General
- Environmental Engineering Technology
- Geological and Geophysical Engineering
- Geotechnical Engineering
- Mining and Mineral Engineering
- Mining Technology
- Petroleum Engineering
- Statistics
Related Careers
Careers Directly Related to this Program of Study
Other Careers Related to this Program of Study
- Gas and Oil Drillers
- Gas and Oil Plant Operators
- Petroleum Engineers
- Roustabouts
- Science Technicians
- Surveying and Mapping Technicians
- Surveyors
Program Admission
You can prepare for this program by taking courses in high school that prepare you for college. This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.
Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science and Programming
- English Composition
- Physics
- Trigonometry
Typical Course Work
Program Courses
The associate degree program typically includes courses in the following subjects:
- College Algebra
- Corrosion Basics
- Drilling
- English Composition
- Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response
- Introduction to Computer Science
- Petroleum Distillation
- Petroleum Instrumentation
- Petroleum Science
- Production Methods
- Surface Oil Field Equipment
Things to Know
Many jobs in this field require a lot of writing and clear communication. Taking writing and speaking courses will develop your communication skills.
Petroleum technology programs tend to focus on extraction. If you are interested in refinement, you may want to study process plant technology instead.
Schools
West Side Area
Bellingham Technical College
- Process Technology