Petroleum engineering is the study and practice of extracting oil and gas resources from underground reservoirs. Synonyms for petroleum engineering include oil and gas engineering, reservoir engineering, drilling and production engineering, and fossil fuel engineering. These terms all relate to the exploration, extraction, and production of oil and gas resources. Petroleum engineers use their knowledge of geology, physics, and chemistry to design and operate technologies that extract resources from reservoirs. The goal of petroleum engineering is to produce oil and gas efficiently, safely, and economically. As the world's demand for energy continues to grow, petroleum engineering will remain a critical field for meeting our energy needs.