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AI exposure report

Will AI replace Petroleum Engineers?

Some of your tasks will be automated. People who use AI will have the edge.

Task exposure to today's AI

48/100

Moderate exposure

This is the occupation's typical task mix. Your own score can be up to 30 points higher or lower depending on how you work: routine share, people contact, judgment and how much you already use AI.

Get your personal score

Will AI replace Petroleum Engineers?

Not entirely. Today's AI tools can take on about 48% of the typical work in this occupation, mostly: assess costs and estimate the production capabilities and economic value of oil and gas wells, to evaluate the economic viability of potential drilling sites. The parts that stay human include: Direct and monitor the completion and evaluation of wells, well testing, or well surveys.; Assist engineering and other personnel to solve operating problems.; Develop plans for oil and gas field drilling, and for product recovery and treatment..

People who learn to use AI for the automatable parts keep the edge. The 3-phase plan below shows where to start.

Which tasks AI can take on

The largest tasks in this occupation, their share of the working week, and how much of each today's AI tools can do.

TaskAutomatable
Assess costs and estimate the production capabilities and economic value of oil and gas wells, to evaluate the economic viability of potential drilling sites. 57%
Monitor production rates, and plan rework processes to improve production. 55%
Analyze data to recommend placement of wells and supplementary processes to enhance production. 53%
Develop plans for oil and gas field drilling, and for product recovery and treatment. 50%
Assist engineering and other personnel to solve operating problems. 42%
Direct and monitor the completion and evaluation of wells, well testing, or well surveys. 40%

+ 17 more tasks (52% of the week) in the full test.

Your human edge

  • Direct and monitor the completion and evaluation of wells, well testing, or well surveys.
  • Assist engineering and other personnel to solve operating problems.
  • Develop plans for oil and gas field drilling, and for product recovery and treatment.

AI tools to try

ChatGPT / Claude for calculations, specs and reportsAI features in CAD/BIM toolsCopilot for scripts (Python, MATLAB, Dynamo)

Related roles

A 3-phase AI learning plan

Phase 1

AI for documentation

  • Specifications, reports and change notes drafted with AI.
  • Standards and regulations searched with AI, checked in the source.
  • Meeting notes and RFIs summarised.

Project

Use AI to draft a full drilling program report and well test summary for one past well, plus an AI-searched list of applicable state spacing and casing rules verified against the source regulation text.

Phase 2

AI in design work

  • Scripts and parametric design written with AI help.
  • Option studies and quick estimates with AI as a sparring partner.
  • Check AI outputs against calculations and codes.

Project

Build an AI-written Python script that runs decline-curve and NPV estimates for 3 workover options on one well, then validate its EUR and payout against your own spreadsheet calculations.

Phase 3

Engineering + AI

  • Data from sensors, tests or simulations analysed with AI.
  • Define where AI is not allowed (safety-critical sign-off).
  • Share methods and templates with your team.

Project

Analyse 12 months of production and pressure sensor data with AI to rank 10 rework candidates, write a one-page rule stating AI cannot sign off safety-critical work, and share the template with your team.
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