I want to be a Drilling Engineer

[TexanCharles85]

I got a degree in Mechanical Engineering in May 2010 from TTU. I worked for 1.5 as a design engineer designing Valve actuators and realized I wanted to get into Oil and Gas. I took a job as a MWD field engineer for drilling company thinking that field experience would be good for me but now after working for almost a yr now as an MWD field Engineer I dont believe that experience as an MWD would allow me to move over to a Drilling engineer position. Now I am trying to figure out what my next move will be, I have looked in getting a Masters degree in Petroleum Eng from TAMU and I know they offer a distance learning program. I also saw that they have a certificate for Petroleum engineering principles and practices which includes courses like drilling engineering, production engineering, and other courses associated with PE principles & practices. So now I have 2 questions:
1. Where can I go from here with MWD experience and M. Eng degree?
2. Would I be better served in getting a Masters in PE or would I still be able to become a drilling engineer with a certificate for PE principles and practices?

 

[DubMac]

Use any contact you have from MWD experience to approach any on of the Major or Independent Oil Cos.; they are in need in various areas of drilling engineers as we speak. Go to every one of them, small and large. ANy way you can get past the HR Dept. will help, try to get resume to one of the Engineering Mgr., or to young engineer that can pass it along to his boss.
Your ME degree is acceptable to them; you have all the engineering tools you need already. MS in Petroleum (esp. at TAMU) is not going to go into drilling much, will mostly be concerned with Reservoir Engineering; not needed for drilling.