Chemical And Petroleum Engineering

Summary

Chemical Engineers play a pivotal role in designing processes that transform substances for commercial applications, from enhancing food processing to developing fertilizers and innovative technologies such as nanotechnology. Petroleum engineering, a specialization within chemical engineering, focuses on optimizing the extraction of oil and gas with minimal environmental impact.

Roles & Responsibilities

Carrying out research and development for improving manufacturing processes, such as developing processes to use safer chemicals in cosmetics.

Designing and planning the layouts and structures of different equipment, working on various equipment and machinery.

Using different chemical methods for different processes, including generating electrical currents and separating components of liquids and gases.

Working in different sectors like energy, food, electronics, paper, clothing, etc., understanding different production processes and their effects on the organization and its consumers.

Developing safety procedures for people handling hazardous chemicals, a crucial aspect of a chemical engineer’s responsibility.

Testing and monitoring the performances of materials and machinery, ensuring they meet safety regulations and rectifying errors.

Troubleshooting problems with all processes to check compliance and address other issues, constantly thinking of solutions.

Estimating production and other costs, helping management understand the actual costs and efforts at the production level.

Specializing in particular processes like oxidation or polymerization, involving reactions and the creation of artificial materials.

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Career Opportunities in Chemical And Petroleum Engineering

Area	Opportunities
Design	Production
Analysis and testing	Installation
Maintenance	Maintenance of Aircraft or Missiles
Structural engineering	Aesthetic Compatibility

How To Pursue Career in Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

Path	Stream	Graduation	After Graduation	After Post Graduation
1	Clear Class XII with Science Stream with Maths	Pursue B.Tech in Mechanical/Automobile Engineering for 4 years	Pursue M.Tech for 2-3 years	Pursue Ph.D for 2-3 years
2	Clear Class XII with Science Stream with Maths	Pursue B.Tech + M.Tech (Dual Degree) in Mechanical/Automobile Engineering for 5 years	–	Pursue Ph.D for 2-3 years

Important Facts

Most colleges require a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in Class XII, with some institutions having a 60% minimum.
Class 12th or senior secondary examination must be passed with at least 50% marks, including English.
Some exams may require a JEE score as a minimum eligibility criterion.
Certain colleges/universities may have an age limit.

Leading Institutes

Top Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Institutes in India

College	Location	Website
Indian Institute of Technology	Multiple Locations	www.iitd.ac.in
Birla Institute of Technology	Pilani, Mesra	www.bits-pilani.ac.in
National Institute of Technology, Calicut	Calicut	www.nitc.ac.in
National Institute of Technology, Silchar	Silchar	www.nits.ac.in
National Institute of Technology, Surathkal	Surathkal	www.nitk.ac.in
Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal	Bhopal	MANIT Bhopal
Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai	Chennai	VIT Chennai
Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad	Dhanbad	ISM Dhanbad
Sri Ramaswamy Memorial University (SRM)	Multiple Locations	SRM University
Pandit Deen Dayal Petroleum University, Gandhinagar	Gandhinagar	PDPU Gandhinagar
St. Andrews Institute of Technology & Management, Gurugram	Gurugram	SAITM Gurugram
International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad	Hyderabad	IIT Hyderabad
PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore	Coimbatore	PSG Coimbatore
Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Pune	Pune	MIT Pune
Anna University, Chennai	Chennai	Anna University
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology, Uttar Pradesh	Uttar Pradesh	RGIPT
Madras Institute of Technology, Chennai	Chennai	MIT Chennai
Motilal Nehru Institute of Technology, Uttar Pradesh	Uttar Pradesh	MNNIT Allahabad
PEC University of Technology, Punjab	Punjab	PEC Chandigarh
University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Uttarakhand	Uttarakhand	UPES Dehradun

Top Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Institutes in the World

College	Location	Website
University of Manchester	Manchester, United Kingdom	Manchester
The University of New South Wales	Australia	UNSW Australia
University of California, Berkeley	United States	UC Berkeley
University College London	London, United Kingdom	UCL London
Imperial College London	London, United Kingdom	Imperial College
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	United States	MIT
Delft University of Technology	Netherlands	TU Delft
Harvard University	United States	Harvard
National University of Singapore	Singapore	NUS Singapore
California Institute of Technology	United States	Caltech
University of Michigan	United States	UMich
University of Toronto	Canada	Toronto
Purdue University	United States	Purdue

Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Entrance Exams

Undergraduate

College	Tentative Date	Important Elements	Website
Joint Entrance Examination Main (JEE Main)	April	Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry	jeemain.nic.in
Joint Entrance Examination Advanced (JEE Advanced)	May/June	Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry	www.jeeadv.ac.in
Birla Institute of Technology and Science Admission (BITSAT)	May	Mathematics/Biology Physics, Chemistry, Logical Reasoning, English	bitsadmission.com
Vellore Institute of Technology Engineering Entrance Exam (VITEEE)	April	Mathematics/Biology Physics, Chemistry, English	www.vit.ac.in
Education Promotion Society of India National Admission Test (ENAT)	April/May	Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, English	www.epsfi.org/
University of Delhi Combined Entrance Exam (DU-CET)	June	Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry	www.dtu.ac.in/
Consortium Medical, Engineering & Dental Colleges of Karnataka (COMEDK)	May	Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry	https://www.comedk.org/
Admission Test for ICFAI Science & Technology (ATIT)	May	Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, English	www.icfaiuniversity.in/atit/btech_program.html
Indian Institute of Space & Technology Admission Test (ISAT)	June	Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry	https://www.iist.ac.in/admissions/undergraduate
Combined Written Admission Test (CWAT)	May/June	Botany Zoology Physics, Chemistry	acds.co.in
SRM University Engineering Exam (SRMUEE)	April	Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology	https://www.srmist.edu.in/
Manipal University Online Entrance Exam (MU-OEE)	March/April	Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology	manipal.edu
Indraprastha University Common Entrance Test (IPUCET)	May	Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry	www.ipu.ac.in

Postgraduate

College	Tentative Date	Important Elements	Website
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) (Postgraduate)	Jan/Feb	All Branches of engineering	www.gate.iisc.ernet.in

Work Description

Evaluate chemical equipment and processes to identify ways to optimize performance or ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations.
Conduct research to develop new and improved chemical manufacturing processes.
Determine the most effective arrangement of operations such as mixing, crushing, heat transfer, distillation, and drying.
Perform tests and monitor processes in various stages of production.
Develop processes to separate components of liquids or gases or generate electrical currents using controlled chemical processes.
Perform laboratory studies of various steps in the manufacture of new products and test proposed processes in small-scale operations such as a pilot plant.
Work closely with chemists and control engineers to ensure that the process plant is set up to provide maximum output levels for the efficient running of the production facility.

What Skills Will I Need To Have To Do This Job Well?

As exciting as this sounds, there are some things you’ll need to learn to do the job right:

Technical Skills

Apart from the required qualifications, you also need some technical skills to be a chemical engineer. You will need a strong base in subjects like chemistry, physics, mathematics, and biology. Expertise in handling different chemicals and equipment is crucial. You have to be good at making the best of technology to assist you in your work. You need to have a passion for what you do. If you do, you will love this job.

Analytical Skills:

As a chemical engineer, you need great analytical skills. You have to conduct research and analyze the data in detail to arrive at results. You also need to analyze problems and errors in the processes or machinery before you can solve them.

Creativity:

Chemical engineers essentially keep looking for newer ways to apply long-standing engineering principles. They have to create new materials and design new structures. You need to have a creative approach if you want to be good at what you do. As a chemical engineer, you have learned a broad range of engineering concepts and skills. However, to use specific concepts to solve certain problems is up to you. You need to be able to be smart enough to figure it out.

Logic and Problem-Solving Skills:

These are at the core of what you do. You need to have problem-solving tendencies to be able to constantly think of solutions. These, of course, need to be logical. Logic will take you a long way in deriving solutions to all sorts of problems and hold-ups.

Communication:

You have to constantly coordinate with colleagues, scientists, workers, and others. You must also never be afraid to ask questions as the more clarity you have, the better your work will be. Like most other careers, communication skills are vital to your success.

What Will My Workplace Look Like?

Your work life will vary depending on where you work, your role, and the scale of your job. In fact, it also depends on the specific industry you actually work in.

As a chemical engineer, you may be exposed to some safety or health hazards. However, usually, companies follow strict procedures and protocol to avoid such situations.

Your work hours are usually fixed. You might have to work overtime sometimes to meet certain deadlines. These deadlines may be production, design, troubleshooting, or manufacturing-related.

Chemical engineers usually work in labs or offices. They may also have to spend time on-site where they monitor operations or solve issues. This may be in industrial plants, refineries, and other places. You might even work with technicians or mechanics who will work on creating equipment based on your designs.

You might even have to travel extensively if your job profile is site-based. You may visit factories and plants both on a domestic and international level.

Pros & Cons Of A Career In Chemical And Petroleum Engineering

Pros

The career is highly rewarding in terms of monetary benefits.
Chemical engineers can work in a variety of settings – manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, research, product testing, etc.
Petroleum engineers are high in demand and are expected to stay so in the future.

Cons

Much of the time may be spent in the lab for chemical engineers.
Petroleum engineers may find office hours unstructured; work may find them in remote locations.
Working conditions may be hazardous sometimes, in both branches.

How Much Will I Get Paid?

The exact number will depend on where you’re working, your education, skill set, and internship experience. We can give you a general idea.

A chemical engineer may earn around ₹ 1,80,000 to ₹ 13,50,000 annually on average in India. This may then increase with a rise in seniority and experience.