Energy transition is urging the oil and gas industry to transform and contribute to meet the challenges of carbon neutrality. To achieve that goal, the techniques and competencies, used by engineers involved in the characterization of deep geological systems, need some adaptation to better serve the new targets. Closely coupled with the energy transition is a focus on the technical and personal qualifications required of graduate engineers to meet the industry’s needs and how academia can prepare students to meet those qualifications. Underground gas or hydrogen storage, CCUS or geothermal activities call for an understanding of the particularities, drivers and requirements of these operations compared with hydrocarbon production and for a repurposing and extension of practices in use today. Yet the oil and gas industry certainly has a lot to offer to achieve a safe and effective use of the subsurface thanks to its unique knowledge, experience and methods developed over decades.