Case studies: Drilling engineer: Tom

Tom received his degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Strathclyde. He is now working as a drilling engineer for BP.

I was first attracted to the oil and gas industry whilst studying at university. Through various company presentations and careers events, I became more aware of the opportunities available to me as an engineer. As my interest grew, I began researching oil and gas companies to understand how my skills were applicable across many different roles in the industry.

Towards the latter part of my academic career, I started to build networks amongst the oil and gas industry by getting involved in events organised by the SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers), such as scribing at workshops and volunteering my time at major events (e.g. Offshore Europe).

For me, the key to finding the right job in the oil and gas industry was getting firsthand experience. By applying to several companies, I was able to get plenty of experience at assessment centres, and ultimately secured a job as an intern with BP Exploration. Not only does an internship give the company a chance to learn more about you, but it also gives you the opportunity to find out more about the company. Furthermore, an internship can help bridge the gap between academia and the working world. This particularly helped when deciding which skills I needed to focus on during my final year of university.

Having successfully completed an internship, I was fortunate enough to be offered a position on BP’s graduate programme. Although graduate programmes vary from company to company, each one is typically geared towards developing your technical and competency skill base over the course of three to four years. In my case, I spent the first year of my job working on an offshore rig learning about drilling wells in the North Sea. Following this, I have spent the last two years planning and executing wells from an onshore position.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the role is the level of responsibility entrusted in your abilities at a very early stage. As a drilling engineer, you often find yourself as the focal point for the numerous disciplines involved during the planning process. Although this presents it own challenges, it can often be one of the most rewarding aspects of the job.