Nowadays, as the world continues to embark in the transitioning from the industrial era to the information era, more and more fields of practice and study have emerged to address the different needs of the society. One of the fields that has definitely established its importance in society, is the field of Engineering. Upon hearing the word “Engineering”, it cannot be denied that one of the most common ideas and perceptions that come to mind, is that they are responsible for building things. However, it is important for people to recognize that Engineering is one unique field for it encompasses many different areas of specialization. An example could be Chemical and Petroleum Engineering.
These two specializations in Engineering are often mistaken for one another, or are often perceived as a subunit of the other. There are many notable differences between Chemical and Petroleum Engineering. Chemical Engineering focuses on utilizing technology to process chemicals and materials, into more useful forms. Though practitioners of this profession are often related to the oil industry, Chemical engineers can also take part in creating products related to biotechnology, medicines, and other basic necessities (Sanford University, n.d). Though it may share some common aspects, Petroleum Engineering, on the other hand, is mainly focused on treating and working with the world’s petroleum resources. Petroleum engineers are responsible for analyzing potential risks and potential opportunities related to the world’s oil and gas supply. Apart from this, they are also responsible for ensuring that there are no other natural resources that are irresponsibly utilized in the pursuit of obtaining the main source of energy in the world (Cockrell School of Engineering, n.d).
References
Cockrell School of Engineering. (n.d.). What is petroleum engineering? Retrieved January 22, 2017, from https://www.pge.utexas.edu/about/petroleum
Sanford University. (n.d.). What is Chemical Engineering? Retrieved January 22, 2017, from https://cheme.stanford.edu/admissions/undergraduate/what-chemical-engineering
