What is Petroleum Engineering?: Fees 2025, Subjects, Top Colleges, Admissions

Petroleum Engineering is an interdisciplinary field of study that deals with the application of knowledge of Chemical Engineering,  Geology, and Structural Engineering in the exploration and production of hydrocarbons from inside the earth's surface. In this field, you get to learn the nuances of heat transfer and petroleum exploration in off-shore and on-shore locations. You will also have the chance to develop fresh techniques for drawing gas and oil from old wells, which seems quite exciting.

Various courses such as undergraduate (BTech), postgraduate (MTech), and Diploma courses are offered in the field of Petroleum Engineering. After pursuing a major degree course in this field, you get exposed to a variety of career options and earn extremely well. Petroleum engineering jobs usually offer a good pay-scale and you may earn much more than an average engineer earns in any other field of Engineering.

Hope this answers your question. Have a good day.

Some of the key benefits of pursuing BTech Petroleum Engineering course are given below:

Increasing Demand: The demand for oil and gas resources is continuously increasing because of the growing population of the country, and in order to cater to this demand, skilled petroleum engineers are highly sought after by the oil and gas, mining, refining, and petrochemical industries.
Good Earning Opportunities: There are a lot of earning opportunities available for Petroleum Engineering graduates. You can actively contribute to the oilfield operations by participating in the drilling and extraction processes. Plus, you can work with petrochemical companies, refineries, research and development organizations, and government agencies.
Sustainable Trends: The petroleum industry is evolving, with a growing focus on new techniques for extracting oil and gas from shale formations and tight reservoirs. Also, working on methods for cleaner production practices and reducing the environmental impact.

As per NIRF overall category ranking 2024, IIT Madras emerged to be on the no. 1 position followed by IIT Bombay and IIT Kharagpur. Listed blow are some of the Petroleum Engineering colleges in India along with their NIRF ranking for the past three years: 

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from the official website of the ranking body listed and may vary.

Joining the best Petroleum Engineering colleges in India can be worthwhile for you. For that, you need to check its ROI. Listed below are some colleges along with their tuition fees and average placement package:

Disclaimer: The above Statistics are based on the latest data available.

The average Petroleum Engineering course fees is around INR 2 Lacs to INR 15 lakh. The course fees differ on the basis of the course level, course type, and the college offering the course. College rankings, placements, and location largely influence the Petroleum Engineering course fee figures.

The Petroleum Engineering course fees include various components like the tuition fee, college application fee, semester exam registration fee, hostel fee, lab work fee, project or field work fee, student welfare fund, caution money, and various other charges. So to have better clarity on the fee structure, you must check the Petroleum Engineering college websites.

The BTech Petroleum Engineering course can lead to a plethora of earning opportunities for fresh graduates as the oil and gas industry has high earning potential because of the ever-growing demand for these resources. You can expect a decent pay after completing your graduation in Petroleum/Oil Engineering.

Some of the popular job profiles for you to explore include:

• Petroleum Engineer
• Petroleum Reservoir Engineer
• Drilling Engineer
• Production Technologist
• Well Testing Engineer
• Petrochemical Engineer
• Oil Exploration Engineer

The Petroleum Engineering salary in India differs based on various parameters like educational qualifications, experience, skill set, job role, recruiter, work location and the market scenario. When it comes to experience, freshers earn around INR 4 LPA to INR 7 LPA, while experienced petroleum engineers take home promising salary packages.

Several high-paying cities may lead to hefty compensation packages along with offshore location projects that pay extra. The specific job role and recruiter are also the driving factors behind salary packages. And of course, you should focus on skill building and project work to add value to your work profile and leave an impression on top recruiters.

Petroleum Engineering courses are offered at the diploma, undergraduate, postgraduate and doctorate levels. It can be also pursued as executive programs offered by various other colleges. If you have completed your Class 12 in Science background and have studied Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as compulsory subjects with at least 50 to 60% marks, you are eligible to pursue this course at the UG level. 

Further, for taking up the course at the postgraduate level, you should have completed BTech degree or BE in Chemical Engineering/Petroleum Engineering,  or any other allied discipline and must also possess a valid GATE score. Entrance tests are an important part of the admission process for which you need to work hard and get good marks to secure admission at prestigious Engineering institutions in the country.

The selection criteria for BTech Petroleum/Oil Engineering course is based on both Class 12 merit and entrance exam marks. Some colleges give admission solely on the basis of the entrance exam score for which you have to get excellent marks in the exam as the competition is high.
Meanwhile, a lot of colleges also give admission on the basis of the marks in the Class 12 board exams. These colleges also take extra rounds like the PI or GD.
Also, there may be a few colleges that give 50-50 weightage to both the parameters. So, you should check the college websites for best information.

The Petroleum Engineering requirements for Diploma courses require you to complete Class 10 from a recognised board with at least 50% marks. A strong hold over Math and Science is mandatory. If you've completed Class 12 in the PCM stream, you can also get lateral entry admission to the Diploma course and complete the Petroleum Engineering Diploma in 2 years instead of 3 years.

You can surf the college websites for their specific requirements, if any. Some colleges also conduct entrance exams for admission and others offer admission based on Class 10 or 12 merit.

For getting admission to Petroleum Engg. courses, you should begin by checking the eligibility criteria for the course at your desired colleges. The basic eligibility for UG courses is usually to have at least 50 to 60% marks in the PCM subjects. For PG courses, you should have completed your graduation in Oil Engineering or a related field with at least 55% marks.

Then, you should give relevant entrance tests and get very good marks in the exam to get a seat at some decent college. The next step for you is to fill out the college application form before the last date.

After the exam results are out and you've got your marks, you should apply for the counselling session via the online college portal. The counselling is meant for seat allotment purposes. After seat allotment, you should go to the college and pay the Petroleum/Oil Engineering course fees and start attending classes.

The time involved in the Petroleum/Oil Engineering admission process varies from one college to another. In general, it may take up to a few months from the release of application forms to the final seat allotment. Every college follows their own admission guideline set by the committee and hence, the time involved can be different for various Petroleum Engg. colleges.

Almost all of the colleges offering the BTech Petroleum Engineering course release the admission application forms in the online mode at their college portal, with enough time for students to fill out the forms from the comfort of their homes. You just need to fill in all the details correctly, upload the scanned copies of the documents, and submit the application fee to complete and confirm your application status.

Having said that, a few colleges may still follow the old pattern of offline form filling; it is very less likely to happen, though. So, it is always better to check the college websites for accurate information.

School studies are very important for qualifying the entrance exam as well as it acts as a foundation for studies in the first year of an undergraduate engineering programme. Senior Secondary education prepares candidates to appear for engineering entrance examinations which requires knowledge on Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry. For taking admissions into BTech courses in Petroleum Engineering, candidates can appear for the following entrance exams:

• JEE Main
• TNEA Counselling after 12th
• AP EAMCET
• TS EAMCET
• CUET
• MHT CET
• UPESEAT

The preparation time for the BTech Petroleum Engineering entrance exams cannot be said with certainty. To get excellent marks and rank in the entrance test, you should start preparing at least 6 to 8 months before the final exam date so that you have a good amount of time for revision and studying the entire exam syllabus section-wise.
The competition is quite high, especially at top colleges like the IITs, for which you must work extra hard and get excellent marks in the entrance test by preparing well in advance.

To get very good marks in the BTech Petroleum Engg. entrance test, you can check some basic tips given below that may help you plan your exam prep journey in a better manner:

• Start your exam preparation as early as possible so that you have a good amount of time on hand to cover the maximum portion of the syllabus and attempt maximum questions confidently in the exam.
• Make a weekly or daily timetable to make sure you cover at least 2-3 topics every day, which would help you move ahead in a planned and organized manner.
• To assess your preparation status, consider practicing last year's question papers and mock tests available on the official exam websites.
• Create a revision schedule to brush up on a few important sections at the last minute.

All of these basic tips can help you score well and grab a seat at a good college for the course. Best wishes.

The level of competitiveness and difficulty of the entrance exams for BTech Petroleum Engineering depends on the specific exam, whether it is conducted at the national/state/college levels, the number of student applications in general, and the estimated number of seats available for the course at top colleges. But, in general the national-level entrances are considered to be highly competitive and require extra effort from your end.

Yes, of course. You can definitely get admission to the BTech in Petroleum Engineering course without giving the entrance exam. There are more than 30 colleges that give admission to the course on the basis of Class 12 board exam marks and may take extra rounds like the GD or PI in such cases.

Interestingly, there are around 12 colleges in Tamil Nadu where students can into top institutions via the TNEA Counselling after Class 12.

You have a lot of options when it comes to studying Petroleum Engineering or Oil Engineering courses at the undergraduate level in India. Some popular options are given below:

• B Tech Petroleum Engineering
• B.E in Petroleum Engineering
• BTech in Applied Petroleum Engineering

The duration of these courses in 4 years in India. You will get to learn a lot about the petroleum industry and its working. The syllabus for these course is quite interesting and insightful.

The duration of BTech Petroleum Engineering is generally 4 years in India. Almost all of the BTech degree courses are 4 years long. The B Tech Petroleum Engg. course syllabus is designed in such a manner as to give detailed knowledge to students about the oil and gas industry and field operations. You can also opt for lateral entry admission directly to the 2^nd year of BTech Petroleum Engineering if you have a 3-year Diploma in Petroleum/Oil Engineering or a related field.

After successfully completing your BTech Petroleum Engineering degree, you can either hunt for a job or look for some higher study options like an MTech in Petroleum Engineering/Petrochemical Engineering for specialised expertise and knowledge or pursue an advanced-level Diploma in Petroleum/Oil and Gas Engineering. Short-term certificate courses in Petroleum Engineering and Technology can also be a good pick for fast-track advanced training and high earning potential.

When it comes to studying Petroleum Engg./Oil Engineering courses in India at the postgraduate level, you can consider any of these options as given below:

• MTech in Petroleum Engineering
• M.E Petroleum Engineering
• MTech in Petrochemical Engineering

The PG Petroleum Engg. course duration is 2 years in India. You can do deep research in a particular subject area within the vast field of Oil Engineering while studying the M.Tech courses in this field.

Well, the answer to this question would differ from person to person. The people who have the fire in the belly to dig deep and dive into the ocean of research knowledge about oil and gas resources would love going for a PhD degree in Petroleum Engineering. The duration of the doctorate degree course is between 3 and 6 years. On the other hand, some people might prefer looking for a stable job after a bachelor's or master's degree depending on their interests and future plans.

So, it completely depends on your interests, the amount of time you can devote to this discipline, and career goals. If you wish to enter into the professional academic environment and go into the research and innovation field, you can consider this option. You will get to know about advanced drilling, extraction, and production technology that could be further used in the oil and gas industry.

The BTech Petroleum Engineering syllabus includes both core and elective subjects for you to study. The core subjects are meant to give a foundation understanding of the field and hence are compulsory to study in every semester. Talking about the elective subjects, you can choose the ones you find interesting and easy to grasp.

Some important subjects in the BTech Petroleum Engineering course are given below:

• Chemical Process Calculations
• Petroleum Geology
• Surveying and Offshore Structures
• Process Heat Transfer
• Petroleum Exploration Methods
• Drilling Technology
• Well Logging & Drilling Evaluation
• Petroleum Reservoir Engineering
• Petroleum Refinery Engineering
• Well Completion Testing & Servicing

The syllabus for the B Tech Petroleum Engineering course offers a lot of interesting elective subject choices to students who can pick subjects as per their interests and understanding, something they find easy-going and fun to study and explore.

 Some of the popular BTech Petroleum Engg. elective subjects are as follows:

• Surface Production Operations
• Horizontal Well Technology
• Offshore Engineering
• Shale Gas Reservoir Engineering
• Petroleum Reservoir Modelling & Simulation
• Pipeline Maintenance Engineering
• Petrochemical Engineering
• Advanced Oil Recovery Techniques

The syllabus for the BTech in Petroleum Engg. course tries to strike the right balance between theoretical learning in the classroom and practical training through field visits and industrial projects. The classroom lectures incorporate the core subject modules and specialised elective courses, along with the practical component of workshops, fieldwork, and research projects.

The BTech Petroleum Engineering subjects are a combination of core foundational subjects, specialised programme electives, projects and field visits. The core subjects are compulsory for you to study in each semester because they give you a fundamental understanding of the field, which gives you no scope for customization.

Having said that, the programme electives offered at top colleges have a unique approach and focus and you can choose the same based on your interests and understanding—the ones that may be fun to explore, easy to understand, and help you score well. This gives you some room for customizing your BTech Petroleum Engineering syllabus.

No. The BTech Petroleum Engineering coursework is not the same for all colleges but rather varies on the basis of individual university guidelines and unique coursework approaches. You can find similarity in some of the core subjects taught across colleges but the elective subjects, capstone projects, and field visit work differ greatly. You can find the semester wise syllabus for BTech Petroleum Engineering on the respective college websites where you are interested in pursuing the course.

The BTech Petroleum Engineering syllabus surely includes project work and field visits to refineries, oilfields and other project sites to provide you with the necessary practical exposure and training to handle complex situations in the real world. The theory bit covers the important fundamentals and field visits and project work in the final year are important for hands-on learning and better earning potential.

There are 31 Petroleum Engineering government colleges in India. Some of the most sought-after colleges along with their Oil Engineering course fee are given below:

Note: This information is taken from the official website and may vary.

There are 91 Petroleum Engineering private colleges in India. Some of the most sought-after colleges along with their Oil Engineering course fee are given below:

Note: This information is taken from the official website and may vary.

There are around 81 B Tech Petroleum Engineering colleges in India, out of which 54 are private colleges, 21 fall under the jurisdiction of the government, and 1 is public-private. Some popular private B Tech Petroleum Engg. colleges include Graphic Era University, Manipal University (Jaipur), MIT-WPU (Pune), DIT University, and Vignan's Foundation for Science, Technology and Research.

Coming to the popular govt. colleges for BTech Petroleum Engg., you can go for IIT Kharagpur, IIT Dhanbad, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology, Calcutta University, etc.

The B Tech Petroleum Engineering fees at popular Indian colleges vary depending on the college where one is studying the course, whether it is a government college or private college, the college location, All-Indian ranking, placement records, etc.

The average BTech Petroleum Engineering course fee is between INR 2 lakh and INR 10 lakh. The course fee is generally higher at private colleges because of their infrastructure, industry connections, and other facilities.

The college ranking plays an important role when selecting the BTech Petroleum Engineering course because the college experience of 4 years can be a game changer for you in the future when you enter the job market and look for decent earning opportunities and salary packages. Recruiters give importance to graduates from top colleges owing to the skill development and academic knowledge provided by the institute.

Having said that, it should not be the only parameter; you should also check for the course fee, teaching faculty, infrastructure, placements, and industry connections to make the final decision.

IIT Bombay offered the highest placement package of INR 18 LPA and the prominent recruiters participated include Google, Microsoft, Samsung, Infosys, Twitter, etc.

The table below shows the average placement package offered by top recruiters who participated in the best Petroleum Engineering colleges in India:

Disclaimer: The above Statistics are based on the latest data available.

The salary for BTech Petroleum Engineering freshers in India depends on a lot of factors like academic record, skill set, internship experience, company location, etc. Initially, you can get approximately INR 4 LPA to INR 6 LPA after completing the BTech Petroleum Engg. course.
As you earn a few years of experience in the field, you can easily earn between INR 6 LPA and INR 10 LPA at the mid-senior level. For senior-level positions, the salary can go up to INR 15 LPA. Recruiters pay more to people who have the right set of skills and experience and help in their business growth.

Some of the top recruiters hiring Petroleum Engineering graduates consists of top oil exploration companies or petrochemical industries or government agencies such as:

Petroleum Engineers can expect to get an average salary of INR 4.1 LPA. A Project Engineer earns between INR 4-8 LPA whereas a Production Engineer can earn between INR 3-6 LPA. Candidates can also expect to grab better opportunities through on-campus placement. Based on the placement reports of Pandit Deendayal Energy University, the highest salary offered in placement 2022 was INR 38 LPA whereas the average package offered was INR 6.5 LPA.

Internships provide a great experience for all the budding engineers as they help you to learn the necessary skills and get hands-on experience in the Petroleum Engg. field. Candidates are required to undergo industrial training, especially in their third year and final year of BTech degree course. Along with that, they are also required to work on a final research project which will give them exposure to the nuances of this field.

Of course, yes. Top colleges do give placements after the completion of the BTech Petroleum Engineering course to students who have the right attitude, passion, and skills to excel in the field and drive productivity and profits for the recruiter. There are placement drives in the final year of college and placement fairs where top recruiters visit the college campuses in large numbers to hire a pool of students.
You need to work on your skill development through internships and project work and prepare well for the interview round to get hired with a healthy salary package in hand.

Well, yes. There is a marks relaxation policy in place for certain categories of students, like the SC/ST/OBC/PwD categories, wherein the colleges usually give them a relaxation of 5% in marks in the eligibility criteria and the entrance exam merit at the time of admission. For example, if a general category student has to score 60% marks in Class 12 to be eligible for admission to the course, a reserved category student has to get 55% marks.
The marks relaxation criteria might differ from one college to another, for which you should check the official college websites for better clarity.

Yes. Almost every college demands a college application fee to be submitted along with the duly filled admission form, after which your application form status is confirmed. The application fee for Petroleum Engineering admission usually varies on the basis of the course level and the college but the general figure is approx. INR 500 to INR 3,000.

You can refer to the official Petroleum Engineering college websites for more accurate information.

Well, yes. Apart from the BTech Petroleum Engineering tuition fee, you also have to pay extra charges for the hostel facilities if you're staying in the college hostel, college applications, semester exam registration, lab work fee, caution money, mess charges, student welfare fund and other miscellaneous charges. The average BTech Petroleum Engineering course fee is around INR 2 Lacs to INR 15 lakh, and for the detailed breakdown of the fee structure, you can refer to the official college websites.

Yes, Candidates who have studied Science in Secondary-level education can pursue diploma-level courses under Petroleum Engineering. Various government Polytechnic institutes and private colleges offer Diploma in Petroleum or Petrochemical Engineering. Some of the top colleges are as follows:

• Parul University
• NIMS University
• Guru Kashi University
• Singhania University
• Ganpat University

Along with a good hold on Science and Mathematics, good writing, problem-solving and presentation skills are required for being a good petroleum engineer. The ability to work with others on teams is also an important trait required among the engineers. Petroleum Engineers work in difficult terrains ranging from deserts, coastal areas etc. Therefore, they must be hardworking and patient enough to work for extended hours. 

Yes,  Candidates who have pursued Petroleum Engineering course can work in other allied fields such as coal mining, natural gas extraction and petrochemicals manufacturing industries. This can be done by staying informed on developments in the industry in which one works and pursue advanced Diploma courses or trainings. Candidates can also try for global opportunities since the energy market is well-established in the Middle East and African nations.

Hi,

Definitely yes, It is possible and beneficial to switch from Petroleum Engineering to Chemical Engineering, as this will give broad range of skills and more opportunities in the industry. However, the decision relating to their career depends on each one’s objective an aspect of the job market.

Industry Trends: Determine the market demand for qualified individuals of both Petroleum and Chemical Engineering in the present and in the coming years. Look at the expansion opportunity, employment opportunities and opportunities that are arising in the two fields.

Professional Development: The pros and cons of career opportunities and personal development area should be considered within the framework of Chemical Engineering. You should therefore analyze whether you want to be aligned with the shift in the long term perspective of your career.

Educational Requirements: Find out if one needs to further his/her education or get certified in order to make the transition. Certain positions may prefer or may necessitate at least a degree in Chemical Engineering.

I hope the above answer cleared your question well !

The main job opportunity is as an engineer in a petroleum refinery. There are number of private as well as government refineries. One may apply for the post of an engineer after graduation. Some big petroleum refineries in India are- Reliance Refinery (Jamnagar), Essar (Jamnagar), Cochin Refinery, etc.

One may also become an engineer in government enterprises such as ONGC and OIL. Crude oil exploration and extraction business sector is also one such field where BTech Petroleum Engg. graduates may find jobs. One may also get work in consultation business, which deals with oil and natural gas as well as petroleum resources.

Some chemical industries (especially fertilizer and plastics industries) also deal with oil and petroleum to a large extent. One may also find job in such chemical factories. Also, to a small extent, pharmaceutical sector provides job opportunities to fresh graduates. This is due to the fact that some medicines make use of petroleum and is related by products to an extent.

Hi,

Candidates can further their studies by taking up master’s degree in the same field as MTech or PhD or other subfields of  Chemical Engineering. They can also be engaged as Production Engineers or Refining Engineers or Team Leader in any of the petroleum or the petrochemical industries.

Furthermore, Petroleum engineers involve themselves in technologies and techniques of the energy business by developing methods of increased recovery of hydrocarbon resources. They take an active part in the drilling operations, formation modeling and, at the same time, the elaboration of the best ways and methods of achieving production.

Oil and Gas Exploration: Seismic surveys and drilling prospects, and evaluating the probable prospect reserves.

Drilling Operations: Planning and overseeing operations for drilling more oil and natural gas.

Reservoir Engineering: Analyzing reservoir characteristics to optimize hydrocarbon recovery.

Production Engineering: Maximizing the efficiency of oil and gas production methods.

Well Testing and Evaluation: The supervision and assessment of the well performance.

Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR): Applying measures that improve the procedures of getting more reservior hydrocarbons.

Hope this answer goes well with your query !

Hi,

Below given are some of the specialisation within Petroleum Engineering field:

• Offshore petroleum engineering
• Unconventional oil and gas (e.g., shale gas, tight oil)
• Petroleum exploration and development
• Petroleum refining and processing
• Environmental aspects of petroleum engineering