Chemical engineering is concerned with processes in which matter and energy undergo change. The range of concerns is so broad that the chemical engineering graduate is prepared for a variety of interesting and challenging employment opportunities.
Chemical engineers with strong background in sciences are found in management, design, operations, and research. Chemical engineers are employed in almost all industries, including food, polymers, chemicals, pharmaceutical, petroleum, medical, materials, and electronics. Since solutions to energy, environmental, and food problems must surely involve chemical changes, there will be continued demands for chemical engineers in the future.
Career Opportunities in Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
- Drilling engineers
Drilling engineers determine the best way to drill an oil or gas well, taking into account a number of factors, including cost. They also ensure that the drilling process is safe, efficient, and minimally disruptive to the environment.
- Production engineers
Production engineers take over after a well is drilled. They typically monitor the well’s oil and gas production. If a well is not producing as much as it was expected to, production engineers figure out ways to increase the amount being extracted.
- Completions engineers
Completion engineers decides the optimal way to finish building a well so that the oil or gas will flow up from underground. They oversee well-completions work, which might involve the use of tubing, hydraulic fracturing, or pressure-control techniques.
- Reservoir engineers
Reservoir engineers estimate how much oil or gas can be recovered from underground deposits, known as reservoirs. They study a reservoir’s characteristic and determine which methods will get the most oil or gas out of the reservoir. They also monitor operations to ensure that the optimal levels of these resources are being recovered.
- Manufacturing Goods
Chemical Engineers help in manufacturing consumer goods like plastics, clothing, paper, toothpaste etc. They develop new products and aim to improve their existing quality. They even find work in pharmaceutical manufacturing divisions.
How to Pursue a Career in Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
| Stream | Graduation | After Graduation | After Post Graduation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Path 1 | Clear Class XII with Science Stream with Maths | Pursue B.Tech in Chemical Engg./ Petroleum Engg. for 4 years | Pursue M.Tech for 2-3 years | Pursue Ph.D for 2-3 years |
| Path 2 | Clear Class XII with Science Stream with Maths | Pursue B.Tech + M.Tech (Dual Degree)in Chemical Engineering for 5 years | – | Pursue Ph.D for 2-3 years |
Important Facts
- Most colleges have eligibility criteria of minimum 50% aggregate marks in Class XII / and some of minimum 60%.
- Must have passed class 12thor senior secondary examination with at least 50% marks including English.
- Some exams require JEE score as minimum eligibility.
- Some colleges/ universities also have an age limit.
Chemical Engineering Syllabus
The undergraduate level Chemical Engineering syllabus includes rigorous training in engineering, mathematics and basic Chemical principles. The Chemical Engineering syllabus of BE/BTech courses is divided into eight semesters spread over a span of four years. Take a look at the detailed Chemical Engineering syllabus below:
| Semester-I | Semester-II |
|---|---|
| Technical English | Engineering Materials |
| Engineering Mathematics– I | Chemical Process calculations |
| Engineering Physics | Introduction to Chemical Engineering |
| Engineering Chemistry | Engineering Physics-2 |
| Semester-III | Semester-IV |
| Energy Balance and Thermodynamics | Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics |
| Fluid Mechanics | Mathematics-4 |
| Mechanical Operations | Heat Transfer |
| Instrumental Methods of Analysis | Chemical Technology |
| Mathematics-3 | Membrane Separation Technology |
| Semester-V | Semester-VI |
| Chemical Reaction Engineering I | Chemical Reaction Engineering II |
| Optimization Techniques | Process Dynamics and Control |
| Diffusional Mass Transfer Operations | Materials Technology |
| Statics and Strength of Materials | Equilibrium Staged Operations |
| Semester-VII | Semester-VIII |
| Process Equipment Design and Drawing | Elective |
| Elective | Elective |
| Modelling, Computer simulation & Optimization | Final Project |
| Polymer Technology | Comprehensive Viva Voce |
Petroleum Engineering Syllabus
The core topics, which are included under Petroleum Engineering syllabus are
| Syllabus of Petroleum Engineering | |
|---|---|
| Linear Algebra | Reservoir Engineering |
| Calculus | Petroleum Production Operations |
| Differential equations | Offshore Drilling and Production Practices |
| Complex variables | Petroleum Formation Evaluation |
| Probability and Statistics | Oil and Gas Well Testing |
| Numerical Methods | Health Safety and Environment in Petroleum Industry |
| Petroleum Exploration | Enhanced Oil Recovery Techniques |
| Oil and Gas Well Drilling Technology | Latest trends in Petroleum Engineering |
Leading Institutes
Top Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Institutes in India
| College | Location | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Institute of Technology | Multiple Locations | www.iitkgp.ac.in/petroleum-engineering |
| Birla Institute of Technology | Pilani, Mesra | www.bits-pilani.ac.in |
| National Institute of Technology, Calicut | Calicut | www.nitc.ac.in |
| National Institute of Technology, Silchar | Silchar | www.nits.ac.in |
| National Institute of Technology, Surathkal | Surathkal | www.nitk.ac.in |
| National Institute of Technology, Bhopal | Bhopal | www.manit.ac.in |
| Vellore Institute of Technology | Chennai | www.vit.ac.in |
| Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad | Dhanbad | www.ismdhanbad.ac.in |
| Sri Ramaswamy Memorial University (SRM) | Multiple Locations | www.srmuniv.ac.in |
| Pandit Deen Dayal Petroleum University | Gandhinagar | www.pdpu.ac.in |
| St. Andrews Institute of Technology & Management | Gurugram | www.saitmgurgaon.com |
| International Institute of Information Technology | Hyderabad | www.iiit.ac.in |
| PSG College of Technology | Coimbatore | www.psgtech.edu |
| Maharashtra Institute of Technology | Pune | www.mitpune.com |
| Anna University | Chennai | www.annauniv.edu |
| Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology | Uttar Pradesh | www.rgipt.ac.in |
| Madras Institute of Technology | Chennai | www.mitindia.edu |
| Motilal Nehru Institute of Technology | Uttar Pradesh | www.mnnit.ac.in |
| PEC University of Technology | Punjab | www.pec.ac.in |
| University of Petroleum & Energy Studies | Uttarakhand | www.upes.ac.in |
Top Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Institutes in the World
| Institution | Location | Website |
|---|---|---|
| University of Manchester | Manchester, United Kingdom | www.manchester.ac.uk |
| The University of New South Wales | Australia | www.unsw.edu.au |
| University of California, Berkeley | United States | www.berkeley.edu |
| University College London | London, United Kingdom | www.ucl.ac.uk |
| Imperial College London | London, United Kingdom | www.imperial.ac.uk |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | United States | www.web.mit.edu |
| Delft University of Technology | Netherlanads | www.tudelft.nl/en |
| Harvard University | United States | www.harvard.edu |
| National University of Singapore | Singapore | www.nus.edu.sg |
| Carlifornia Institute of Technology | United States | www.caltech.edu |
| University of Michigan | United States | www.umich.edu |
| University of Toronto | Canada | www.utoronto.ca |
| Purdue University | United States | www.purdue.edu |
Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Entrance Exams
Undergraduate
| College | Tentative Date | Important Elements | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joint Entrance Examination Main (JEE Main) | April | Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, | www.jeemain.nic.in |
| Joint Entrance Examination Advanced (JEE Advanced) | May/June | Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, | www.jeeadv.ac.in |
| Birla Institute of Technology and Science Admission (BITSAT) | May | Mathematics/Biology Physics, Chemistry, Logical Reasoning English | www.bitsadmission.com/bitsatmain.aspx |
| Education Promotion Society of India National Admission Test (ENAT) | April/May | Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, English | www.epsfi.org |
| Vellore Institute of Technology Engineering Entrance Exam (VITEEE) | April | Mathematics/Biology Physics, Chemistry, English | www.vit.ac.in |
| University of Delhi Combined Entrance Exam (DU-CET) | June | Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, | www.dtu.ac.in |
| Consortium Medical, Engineering & Dental Colleges of Karnataka (COMEDK) | May | Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, | www.comedk.org |
| Admission Test for ICFAI Science & Technology (ATIT) | May | Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, English | www.icfaiuniversity.in/atit/btech_program.html |
| Indian Institute of Space & Technology Admission Test (ISAT) | June | Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, | www.iist.ac.in/admissions/undergraduate |
| Combined Written Admission Test (CWAT) | May/June | Botany Zoology Physics, Chemistry, | www.acds.co.in |
| SRM University Engineering Exam (SRMUEE) | April | Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology | www.srmuniv.ac.in |
| Manipal University Online Entrance Exam (MU-OEE) | March/April | Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology | www.manipal.edu |
| Indraprastha University Common EntranceTest (IPUCET) | May | Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, | www.ipu.ac.in |
Postgraduate
| Institution | Tentative Date | Important Elements | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate Aptitute Test in Engineering (GATE) (Postgraduate) | Jan/Feb | All Branches of engineering | www.gate.iisc.ernet.in |
Chemical Engineering: Top Recruiters
Chemical Engineering professionals are required by a number of industries across the globe. Some of them are as follows:
- Chemicals manufacturing industries
- Petroleum industry
- Food industry
- Rubber industry
- Textiles industry
- Paper & Pulp industry
- Aerospace industry
- Plastic industry
- Cement industry
- Public sector units
- Fertilizer industry
The top organisations from different sectors hire Chemical Engineers as per the requirement. Few of the renowned sector-wise Chemical Engineering recruiters are as follows:
Government/Public Sector:
The list of some renowned government/public sector Chemical Engineering recruiters are provided in the below table:
| Company Name | Average Monthly Salary Offered (in Rs) |
|---|---|
| Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) | 25,000 – 50,000 |
| Coal India Limited (CIL) | 20,000 – 46,000 |
| Gas Authority of India Ltd. (GAIL) | 25,000 – 50,000 |
| Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) | 25,000 – 50,000 |
| Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) | 20,000 – 46,000 |
| National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) | 25,000 – 50,000 |
Private Sector:
The list of some renowned private sector Chemical Engineering recruiters are provided in the below table:
| Company Name | Average Annual Salary Offered (In Rs) |
|---|---|
| Piramal Healthcare Limited | 5 to 6 lakh |
| Pfizer Inc. | 12 to 15 lakh |
| Schlumberger Limited | 15 to 20 lakh |
| GlaxoSmithKline | 7 to 9 lakh |
Work Description
- Evaluate chemical equipments and processes to identify ways to optimize performance or to ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations.
- Conduct research to develop new and improved chemical manufacturing processes.
- Determine most effective arrangement of operations such as mixing, crushing, heat transfer, distillation, and drying.
- Perform tests and monitor processes in various stages of production.
- Develop processes to separate components of liquids or gases or generate electrical currents using controlled chemical processes.
- Perform laboratory studies of various steps in manufacture of new product and test proposed process in small scale operation such as a pilot plant.
- Work closely with chemists and control engineers to ensure that the process plant is set-up to provide maximum output levels to ensure efficient running of the production facility.
Pros & Cons of a Career in Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
Pros
- The career is highly rewarding in terms of monetary benefits.
- Chemical engineers can work in a variety of settings- manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, research, product testing etc.
- Petroleum engineers are high in demand and are expected to stay so in the future.
Cons
- Much of the time may be spent in lab, for chemical engineers.
- Petroleum engineers may find office hours unstructured, work may find them in remote locations.
- Working conditions may be hazardous sometimes, in both the branches.
FAQs Regarding Chemical Engineering
Q. Who is the founding father of the Chemical Engineering discipline?
A. George Edward Davis is the founding father of the Chemical Engineering discipline.
Q. What is the duration of BE/BTech Chemical Engineering?
A. The duration of BE/BTech in Chemical Engineering is of four years in total and includes eight semesters, each of a span of six months.
Q. What is the eligibility criteria for pursuing BE Chemical Engineering?
A. Candidates need to have at least 50% aggregate marks in Class 12 from a recognized board. For detailed course-wise eligibility, candidates can check the details in the article above.
Q. What is the average fee for admission to the BE Chemical Engineering course?
A. The average fees for admission to the BE Chemical Engineering is around Rs 2.5 lakh. It depends upon the respective institute in which a student is enrolled.
Q. What is the expected growth in demand of chemical engineers in the coming years?
A. Chemical Engineering is considered the evergreen field. It is likely that the demand for chemical engineers in the coming years may grow by 6%.
Q. What are some of the top companies to pursue an internship after completion of BE Chemical Engineering Course?
A. The top companies for pursuing an internship after completion of the BE Chemical Engineering are Reliance, Shell, ONGC, GAIL, etc.
Q. What are some of the common sectors for Chemical Engineers?
A. Fertiliser Companies, Coal Companies, Oil & Gas Exploration Companies, etc. are some of the common employment sectors for Chemical Engineers.
Q. What are some of the top colleges for BE in Chemical Engineering course?
A. Some of the top colleges or Universities for BE in Chemical Engineering are IIT Delhi, IIT Kharagpur, BITS Pilani, NIT Delhi, NIT Warangal, etc.
Q. What all certificates are required for the admission to BE Chemical Engineering course?
A. The documents required are Class 10 marks sheet, Class 12 marks sheet, Migration Certificate, Aadhaar Cetc.
Q. How to apply for PSU jobs after BTech Electrical Engineering?
A. Chemical Engineer will be required to q ualify GATE. After qualifying for the exam with good marks, students may get a job in PSUs.
Q. What is the starting salary offered by PSUs to Chemical Engineers?
A. PSUs offer Rs 25,000 to 50,000 approximately (monthly) to the candidates selected as Chemical Engineers.
Petroleum Engineering FAQs
Q. How well did high school studies help a candidate to prepare well for pursuing the Petroleum Engineering course?
A. 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.
Q. What are the skills a person needs to develop for being successful in this field?
A. 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.
Q. How important are internships for a good career in Petroleum Engineering?
A. The internship is a great experience for all the budding engineers as it helps you to learn the necessary skills and get hands-on experience in the field.
Q. Do companies train their employees before assigning them any work?
A. An experienced workforce does not require much training in the field of Petroleum Engineering. As far as fresher are concerned, they are trained by the company to understand the nature of work and modalities.
Q. Does being a petroleum engineer require any ongoing professional training/enrichment?
A. Yes, absolutely. It’s important to keep up-to-date on developments in the industry in which you work so you’ll know what topics to get ongoing training.
Q. What are the opportunities for advancement?
A. You can move into management, or you can move laterally into other areas of Petroleum Engineering. The petroleum engineering degree is very versatile to get you into different types of positions and fields.
Tags:
petroleum engineering,petroleum engineering degree,petroleum engineers,petroleum engineering jobs,how to find a job in petroleum engineering,petroleum engineering degree worth,schulich school of engineering,schulich engineering,petroleum drilling,petroleum degree,engineering,engineering degree,oil and gas industry,college degrees,oilfield careers,shane hummus,college majors,technology,shane,salary,degrees,robinhood,majors,schulich,education,hummus
