Once the oil is located they work with others to design apppropriate extraction techniques, monitor drilling processes and develop improved technology and methods for increasing well production. Most petroleum engineers will also find themselves working in overseas oil-producing companies. Drilling engineers design oil and gas wells.
Production engineers operate producing oil and gas wells.
Resevoir engineers locate and evaluate oil and gas wells. They may also design extraction methods, forecast resevoir performance and provide economic evaluations of oil and gas fields. Graduations of Penn State's petroleum and natural gas engineering program are top executives in all branches of this field. Employers include Exxon, Mobile, Marathon OIl Company, Schell, Texaco, Amoco, etc. As a petroleum and natural gas engineer you can expect to earn a high salary.