The question on many minds is whether pursuing a degree in petroleum engineering is still a smart move. The answer is yes.
Employment cycles are not unique to the oil and gas industry, but it’s hard not to notice the current market downturn sparked by unexpected and far-reaching events. However, hydrocarbons currently provide the vast majority of our global energy demand and will remain a significant source of energy throughout a long transition to more renewable sources. These energy demands will be met through the exploration, development and production of increasingly difficult reserves requiring the next generation of smart petroleum engineers.
Future petroleum engineers will face difficult but rewarding challenges in continuing to meet this global demand. Whether for mature reservoirs in decline or newly found reservoirs in complex, environmentally sensitive regions, we need engineers who will excel at innovation and creative thinking, embrace cutting-edge technology and methods, and initiate cooperative efforts in research and development.
My mission is to ensure that the Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering at Texas A&M University continues to produce these highly qualified, sought-after engineers at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. We will do this by attracting the world’s best students, recruiting and retaining the largest and most accomplished faculty, and continuously improving our facilities. And we will continue to increase our close ties to the local and global petroleum industry to develop our resources, define our research efforts and provide jobs to our graduates.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jeff Spath
Department Head
Director, Crisman Institute for Petroleum Research