US versus UK MS in Petroleum Engineering 2

[C5000]

Hi, I am new to this site and was hoping to get some career advice. I'm a Civil Eng in the UK (originally from Ireland) but I want to move into the petroleum industry, specifically drilling. My wife is from the US and we are hoping to move over there in 2013 or 2014 at the latest. Since we come and go from the states quiet a bit I have gotten to know a few american civil engineers working mainly in utilities (like me). What I have learned from these colleagues is that the overarching attitude of US engineering companies when it comes to foreign educated civil engineers seems to be quiet negative. I understand that the economy is pretty tight right now but I did some work (for a dutch company) with the US Army Core in New Orleans back when things were good economy wise and the general attitude seemed to be the same

My question is basically: Is there a similar attitude to foreign educated Petroleum Engineers, i.e. should I wait until we move to the US to do an MS in Petroleum Engineering? Does having a UK MS put you at a disadvantage with large US companies?

Thanks for reading, any assistance would be welcomed.

 

[BigInch]

If you want to be a registered professional engineer in the US it would be much easier to have a local degree. Beginning a degree in the exterior and transferring credits to a US university is possible, but not always the easiest thing to do, so be carefull with the amount of time and money you might waste with lost credits should you persue that route.

Other than that, my honest opinion is that the US attitude is much the same as many developed countries, in that locally grown products are typically perceived as superior. In country "X", which shall go unnamed, I know they would rather hire a local high school graduate than a PHD from a country only 200 km away. I say country X, with the idea that, again in my experience, the name of almost any European country could be freely substituted, so its not too important which particular country I had in mind. In fact, you may find less predispositon towards foreigners in the US than what I (you) find in the general EU. Between some employer attitudes and work visa restrictions its not very easy to get past licking a postage stamp. One thing about the US is, if they have work and they think they can make a buck with you there, you've pretty much got at least a miniscule job opportunity. Its not true so often here where locals ALWAYS have and manage to get preference in everything except being issued traffic tickets.


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"Pumping accounts for 20% of the world’s energy used by electric motors and 25-50% of the total electrical energy usage in certain industrial facilities."-DOE statistic (Note: Make that 99% for pipeline companies)

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.live.com/

 

[TEXWS6]

It really depends on the types of assets you plan to work once you move to the US. IMO, the UK Petroleum departments are highly focused on North Sea type properties (platforms, HPHT wells, off-shore, etc). Majority of the engineers in the US are working some sort on-shore tight gas or oil play or secondary/tertiary oil play.

I would think a US PE degree would prepare you better for the assets you would work in the US and vice a versa for the UK degree.

 

[C5000]

Folks,
Thanks for the advice. I do conceed that a US PE degree would prepare me better for the PE industry in the states. I was looking at possibly Colorado School of Mines or Penn State, any advice bearing in mind I want to focus on Drilling? I understand that competition is high at these schools, do you know if there is anythign in particular graduate admissions look for?

Also, is there particular schools that the major oil and gas companies like to hire from.

Thanks again

 

[BigInch]

There are other universities with well respected petroleum engineering departments too. Look around in TX, OK, LA and I "gar-ron/b]-tee" it won't take long to find more than 2 in the excellent ratings. I could name 5 w/o even trying, including a masters program you could start now[/]

http://distance.tamu.edu/futureaggi...-of-engineering-in-petroleum-engineering.html

You can't go wrong with that one!

**********************
"Pumping accounts for 20% of the world’s energy used by electric motors and 25-50% of the total electrical energy usage in certain industrial facilities."-DOE statistic (Note: Make that 99% for pipeline companies)

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.live.com/

 

[jte]

Well, I guess I agree that a US degree is slightly easier to accept. But, working for an international major, I really don't think we'd be too picky about a UK degree. If a candidate had an MS from a respected UK school I would consider that equally valid to a local MS in my hiring decision making. One consideration would be to get a job with a major in for example Aberdeen and see if you can work on the MS while gaining experience. Then transfer to that major's US offices or another company in the US.

 

[DrillerNic]

one aspect to consider is that a UK MSc is 1 calendar year, a US MS degree may be longer. Imperial College has (or at least had) full funding for every UK MSc Pet Eng student. But the Heriott Watt MSc is more drilling focussed than the Imperial one. AS TEXWS6, says, all the UK universiites do concentrate on the offshore side of things. The only real problem this could have is when you start a job in the lower 48 and have to sort out a rod pump!