Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)
Petroleum Engineer
Oil and gas extraction — Nigeria, Ghana, Angola
What this life looks like
You find and extract one of Africa's most valuable resources. Petroleum Engineers design and optimize the systems that locate, drill, and produce oil and natural gas. In oil-producing African nations, petroleum engineering is among the highest-paid and most prestigious engineering careers available.
What she actually does
You analyse reservoir data to estimate oil and gas volumes, design drilling programmes and well completion strategies, optimise production rates while managing reservoir pressure, oversee offshore and onshore drilling operations, evaluate new field developments, work on enhanced oil recovery techniques, and manage the technical aspects of oil field operations throughout the production life of a field.
Where you can work
| Sector | Places in Africa |
|---|---|
| International Oil Companies | Shell Nigeria, TotalEnergies (Nigeria, Angola, Mozambique), ExxonMobil Nigeria, Chevron Nigeria |
| National Oil Companies | NNPC Nigeria, Sonangol Angola, GNPC Ghana, ENH Mozambique, TPDC Tanzania |
| Oilfield Services | SLB (Schlumberger) Africa, Halliburton Africa, Baker Hughes Africa, Petrofac |
| Independent E&P | Seplat Energy, Eroton, Shoreline Energy — Nigerian independent producers |
Why it matters in Africa
Nigeria is Africa's largest oil producer, Angola is second, and significant new discoveries continue in Mozambique, Kenya, and East Africa. African petroleum engineers who understand African reservoirs, regulations, and operating environments are essential to the industry — and command premium salaries in recognition.
Your pathway in
- Study Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry at school
- Pursue a degree in Petroleum Engineering or Chemical Engineering with petroleum specialisation
- Join the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) student chapter at your university
- Complete internships at oil companies or oilfield services firms
- Develop proficiency in reservoir simulation software such as Eclipse or CMG
Skills you will need
- Reservoir engineering and simulation
- Drilling engineering
- Production optimisation
- Petroleum geoscience basics
- Project management
- Safety and environmental management
A woman in this field
Elohor Aiboni
Nigeria
Elohor is a trailblazing engineer and the first female Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo). With over 20 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, she has transitioned from a field engineer to leading one of the most significant deep-water operations in Africa. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Benin and a Master's degree in Environmental Management from the University of Bath.
Take your first step
- Study Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry at school
- Research petroleum engineering degree programmes at the University of Lagos, University of Port Harcourt, or University of Benin
- Join the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) student programme at spe.org
- Learn about the Nigerian oil industry through the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission at nuprc.gov.ng