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What does a completion engineer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read

Completion Engineers are engineering professionals who are responsible for designing and monitoring well completions and ensuring the safety of drilling completion operations. These engineers must communicate instructions to the drilling contractors for all operations while emphasizing safety, well control, and LEAN. They are required to conduct meetings on multiple onsite safety and analysis of hazardous materials to improve workplace safety. Completion Engineers must also work closely with the senior management to establish standard operating procedures that follow the industry and government regulations.

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Completion engineer responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real completion engineer resumes:

  • Lead a group of 9 engineers responsible for technology development for handling electronic packages (computer CPU) during HVM.
  • Complete CO2, N2 and C1 base gas injection study by thermal simulation during wind-down phase SAGD process.
  • Perform detailed analysis of compression project install in area of responsibility; identify incremental volumes and subsequently recommend for reserves booking
  • Re-Define prior system network synchronization and timing distribution architecture, and work with hardware & software design engineers to implement.
  • Coordinate between reservoir exploitation units and technology group within PDVSA in the selection workover prospects through basic and conceptual engineering.
  • Evaluate potential improvements or precautions necessary to implement or work with wells completion / workover / intervention in different manners.
  • Perform reviews of DOD contractor prepare documentation for compliance, technical accuracy and completeness of disclose design.

Completion engineer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 14% of Completion Engineers are proficient in Rig, AFE, and Cost Estimates. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Interpersonal skills, and Creativity.

We break down the percentage of Completion Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Rig, 14%

    Reduced rig operating time by changing completion equipment and procedures in highly deviated wells, the North Sea, Scotland.

  • AFE, 12%

    Originated and managed $71mm and $62mm AFE's for equipment and services for these two wells.

  • Cost Estimates, 8%

    Developed cost estimates and performed benchmarking exercises.

  • Completion Operations, 5%

    Prepared and developed completion procedures that were used as the standard across completion operations.

  • Engineering Support, 5%

    Provide completion engineering support on several projects under bid/negotiations.

  • Completion Procedures, 5%

    Generated completion procedures, mobilization, reentry and fluid displacement.

Most completion engineers use their skills in "rig," "afe," and "cost estimates" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential completion engineer responsibilities here:

Analytical skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a completion engineer to have is analytical skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "petroleum engineers must be able to compile and make sense of large amounts of technical information and data in order to ensure that facilities operate safely and effectively." Completion engineers often use analytical skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "conducted multiple onsite safety meetings and hazards analysis's daily to further improve workplace safety and implement new safety procedures. "

Interpersonal skills. Another essential skill to perform completion engineer duties is interpersonal skills. Completion engineers responsibilities require that "petroleum engineers must work with others on projects that require highly complex machinery, equipment, and infrastructure." Completion engineers also use interpersonal skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "recognized for excellent interpersonal and communication skills as recipient of multiple presidents club awards. "

Creativity. This is an important skill for completion engineers to perform their duties. For an example of how completion engineer responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "because each new drill site is unique and therefore presents new challenges, petroleum engineers must be able to come up with creative designs to extract oil and gas." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a completion engineer: "field development material inventory auditing. ".

Math skills. completion engineer responsibilities often require "math skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "petroleum engineers use the principles of calculus and other advanced topics in math for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work." This resume example shows what completion engineers do with math skills on a typical day: "used a mix of spice and maxima math simulations for various analog designs: rf transmitters, smps, etc. "

Problem-solving skills. A commonly-found skill in completion engineer job descriptions, "problem-solving skills" is essential to what completion engineers do. Completion engineer responsibilities rely on this skill because "identifying problems in drilling plans is critical for petroleum engineers because these problems can be costly." You can also see how completion engineer duties rely on problem-solving skills in this resume example: "identified and calculated maximum expected loads, selected materials based on engineering design, determined possible failure mechanisms and solutions. "

Most common completion engineer skills

The three companies that hire the most completion engineers are:

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Compare different completion engineers

Completion engineer vs. Mechanical engineering internship

One of the primary responsibilities in a mechanical engineering internship is to follow directives from engineers and managers while gaining practical experience. There are instances when an intern must take part in crafting various materials under the supervision of a more experienced colleague, produce reports and paperwork, operate tools and devices, and provide assistance should anyone need. Furthermore, it is essential to report to managers and supervisors if any issues arise.

The annual salary of mechanical engineering interns is $113,479 lower than the average salary of completion engineers.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between completion engineers and mechanical engineering interns are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like cost estimates, design changes, and dfmea.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a completion engineer are more likely to require skills like "rig," "afe," "completion operations," and "engineering support." On the other hand, a job as a mechanical engineering internship requires skills like "solidworks," "powerpoint," "mechanical design," and "mechanical systems." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Mechanical engineering interns really shine in the hospitality industry with an average salary of $44,983. Comparatively, completion engineers tend to make the most money in the utilities industry with an average salary of $157,017.The education levels that mechanical engineering interns earn slightly differ from completion engineers. In particular, mechanical engineering interns are 1.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a completion engineer. Additionally, they're 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Completion engineer vs. Engineering associate

An engineering associate is an individual whose job duties include analysis of project plans, development of product designs, and maintenance of equipment. The engineering fields where an engineering associate can find a job include civil, mechanical, and environmental. The requirements to qualify for the position include obtaining a bachelor's degree in engineering, familiarity with a specific industry, prior work experience related to the field, and possessing strong technical skills.

A career as a engineering associate brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a completion engineer. In fact, engineering associates salary is $85,571 lower than the salary of completion engineers per year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both completion engineers and engineering associates have skills such as "cost estimates," "engineering support," and "technical support. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, completion engineer responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "rig," "afe," "completion operations," and "completion procedures." Meanwhile, an engineering associate has duties that require skills in areas such as "python," "java," "cad," and "c++." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Engineering associates may earn a lower salary than completion engineers, but engineering associates earn the most pay in the energy industry with an average salary of $88,950. On the other hand, completion engineers receive higher pay in the utilities industry, where they earn an average salary of $157,017.In general, engineering associates achieve similar levels of education than completion engineers. They're 1.4% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Completion engineer vs. Engineering trainee

An engineering trainee is responsible for shadowing engineers in their duties and performing administrative tasks as needed. Engineering trainees assist the engineers in inspecting construction sites and conducting field research. They also identify cost-efficient materials and resources that meet quality standards and client specifications. An engineering trainee must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in writing reports, attending meetings, and ensuring that all reports are submitted for management's reviews, such as contracts from suppliers and vendors.

On average scale, engineering trainees bring in lower salaries than completion engineers. In fact, they earn a $95,993 lower salary per year.By looking over several completion engineers and engineering trainees resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "technical support," "well control," and "technical specifications." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a completion engineer is likely to be skilled in "rig," "afe," "cost estimates," and "completion operations," while a typical engineering trainee is skilled in "excellent interpersonal," "fire protection," "r," and "boilers."

Engineering trainees earn the highest salary when working in the energy industry, where they receive an average salary of $63,253. Comparatively, completion engineers have the highest earning potential in the utilities industry, with an average salary of $157,017.Most engineering trainees achieve a similar degree level compared to completion engineers. For example, they're 5.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Completion engineer vs. Process engineer internship

A process engineering intern performs various tasks for an organization. These include collaborating with the technical team on cost savings, process efficiency improvements, and technology advancement, attending meetings with leadership teams, and participating in customer trials. Additionally, they may assist with the leadership or management teams in creating standard operating procedures. They are responsible for coordinating with engineers and work on projects assigned by the leadership. Ideal candidates for this role must have a degree in mechanical or industrial engineering, excellent communication skills, and knowledge and experience in process observation.

Process engineer interns typically earn lower pay than completion engineers. On average, process engineer interns earn a $116,733 lower salary per year.While both completion engineers and process engineer interns complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like cost savings, cost analysis, and field testing, the two careers vary in some skills.

Even though a few skill sets overlap between completion engineers and process engineer interns, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a completion engineer might have more use for skills like "rig," "afe," "cost estimates," and "completion operations." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of process engineer interns require skills like "process engineering," "process improvement," "data analysis," and "continuous improvement. "

In general, process engineer interns hold similar degree levels compared to completion engineers. Process engineer interns are 1.4% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of completion engineer

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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