Petroleum Engineers

However, many engineering tasks remain human-led. Designing or changing a well requires judgement about geology, safety, and cost that AI cannot handle alone. New products (for example, Schlumberger’s “Tela” AI) can read well logs and flag drilling issues ^[2], but engineers still review and act on those reports.

As one industry observer notes, AI “lacks physical intuition” about rock properties and flow, so human experts make the final decisions ^[1]. In short, computers crunch data and suggest options, but petroleum engineers still confer with geologists and technicians and oversee the job. Creative problem-solving and communication are still very much human jobs.

At the same time, adoption is cautious. Deploying AI tools can require expensive sensors, software, and staff training, so companies roll them out in phases. The oil industry is also safety-focused and regulated, so engineers double-check AI’s suggestions.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that petroleum engineering jobs are expected to grow slowly (about 1% through 2034) ^[4], reflecting how firms may rely more on technology for efficiency than on hiring many new workers. Many existing engineers are learning data skills so they can work with AI. In the end, experts say AI will augment rather than replace petroleum engineers – making their work faster and safer, as long as trained people guide and verify the AI’s work.