Petroleum Engineer
Petroleum engineers design and oversee the extraction of crude oil and natural gas from reservoirs beneath the earth. In India, they work with organisations like ONGC, Oil India, and multinational E&P companies on onshore and offshore projects. The field combines geology, thermodynamics, and drilling technology to optimise production while managing environmental and safety risks.
Actions for your grade
- Score well in board exams, prioritising PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Maths).
- Research IIT (ISM) Dhanbad and RGIPT Rae Bareli to understand the best Indian programmes.
- Start following ONGC and Oil India news to understand the industry landscape.
Your complete path from Grade 10 to Petroleum Engineer
Every step you need — from now to your first job.
IIT (ISM) Dhanbad has India's most established Petroleum Engineering department.
- NowScience Stream
- ExamsJEE Main or JEE Advanced
- DegreeB.Tech in Petroleum Engineering (4 years)
- CollegesIIT Dhanbad Ism · IIT Madras · IIT Bombay
- CareerPetroleum Engineer
No dedicated Petroleum programme; Chemical Engineering with relevant electives is the closest route.
- NowScience Stream
- ExamsBITSAT
- DegreeB.E. in Chemical Engineering + minor in Petroleum (4 years)
- CollegesBITS Pilani · BITS Goa · BITS Hyderabad
- CareerPetroleum Engineer
RGIPT Rae Bareli is a premier central government institute specialising in petroleum studies.
- NowScience Stream
- ExamsMHT CET or CUET UG
- DegreeB.Tech in Petroleum / Chemical Engineering (4 years)
- CollegesUpes Dehradun · Mumbai University · Rajiv Gandhi Institute Petroleum Technology Rae Bareli
- CareerPetroleum Engineer
GATE Petroleum Engineering (PE) paper gives direct admission to M.Tech programmes with MHRD stipend.
- NowScience Stream
- Exams—
- DegreeM.Tech in Petroleum Engineering (2 years) after any engineering UG
- CollegesIIT Dhanbad Ism · IIT Madras · Rgipt Rae Bareli
- CareerPetroleum Engineer
Entrance exams
| Exam | Eligibility | Difficulty | Window |
|---|---|---|---|
JEE Main NTA | Class 12 PCM | Very Hard | Jan & Apr |
JEE Advanced IIT (rotating) | JEE Main top 2.5L | Very Hard | May |
BITSAT BITS Pilani | Class 12 PCM, 75%+ | Hard | May-Jun |
MHT CET Maharashtra State CET Cell | Class 12 PCM (Maharashtra domicile preferred) | Medium | Apr-May |
CUET UG NTA | Class 12 (any stream) | Medium | May-Jun |
Where to Study
Institutes known to offer this career pathway in India.