INDUSTRY EMPLOYEE PROFILES

While you're here, meet a few people who are in the industry and see what they have to say about their careers.

Q. What is your current position with the Industry?
A. Exploration Geologist, South America Regional Database Group. My work focuses on using geology and geophysics to understand how specific basins in Brazil formed and filled with sediment, and on identifying regions within those basins that are most favorable for the generation and trapping of oil and gas.

Q. Where did you obtain your undergraduate/graduate degree(s) and in what fields?
A. B. S. in Geology from San Francisco State University and M.S. in Geology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Q. What subjects/courses were instrumental in helping you gain your current position?
A. Exploration Geology is inherently multidisciplinary in nature, incorporating geology, engineering, physics, mathematics, biology, and economics/finance. Consequently, there is no single course that prepares you for working as an Exploration Geologist. It’s really a combination of courses and experiences that prepare you for this type of work. Many of the specific skills I use in my current position, I have learned through on-the-job assignments and training. And, I am able to learn these new skills because I have a solid foundation in fundamental scientific principles, critical thinking, and problem solving. So, I would recommend focusing on developing those fundamental skills throughout the course of your education.

Q. How many years of education were needed in order for you to enter the industry?
A. Only 6 years were required (4 years for an undergraduate degree and 2 years for a graduate degree). I know that when I was in high school or early in my college experience, six years of schooling sounded like a long time. But, looking back on it now, my time in school flew by because I was excited and passionate about what I was learning.

Q. Were any summer internships or advanced learning opportunities helpful in entering the industry?
A. Yes, as an undergraduate I interned in the Groundwater Division of a state water quality control board. For my internship, I helped monitor hundreds of groundwater contamination cases by tracking and tabulating the levels of various groundwater contaminants. Because the work was repetitive and fairly uninspiring, the internship was critical for me in defining the type of job I did not want to have. That may sound strange, but sometimes knowing what you don’t like helps to focus in on what you do like. Later on, in graduate school, I attended a week-long ExxonMobil school and learned about Exploration Geology. The school gave me a flavor for the type of work I could do as an Exploration Geologist and I was hooked. From my experience, internships and other learning opportunities (e.g., short courses or company sponsored field-trips) are a great way to take a potential career and employer on a test drive.

Q. Does your current position allow you to travel? If so, what was your favorite location?
A. I travel occasionally for work. For example, when I was working in the Production Company, I was able to go to Utah and Wyoming for a team meeting and field trip. I have also had several opportunities to travel for field schools. The schools have allowed me to go to some of the most beautiful locations in the western U.S. (e.g., Guadalupe Mountains, Texas; Caballo Mountains, New Mexico; Moab, Utah; etc.). But, my favorite trip so far was to the mountains near Monterey, Mexico. The amount of travel you do and the locations you travel to largely depend on the project you are assigned to. I am hoping that this year my job will take me to South America!

Q. What opportunities do you see for yourself in the industry?
A. The great thing about working for a corporation like ExxonMobil is that we are a large, global company, with endless opportunities. There are a wide range of assignments and career paths available to geoscientists in the company (e.g., technical-, research-, management-, and/ or business-focused). And, as the global demand for oil and gas continues to increase, so does the need for talented and creative geoscientists. This means that in addition to there being opportunities for career development and growth, there is also a lot of job security, something not every industry or company is able to offer.

Q. What are some of your favorite aspects of your job?
A. My favorite part of my job is making predictions. In this field, you are frequently asked to make predictions about earth systems and processes, which, unlike other sciences, usually can’t be replicated in a lab. And, your predictions need to be made quickly and with limited data of varying quality. It’s a lot like being a detective- an earth detective. And, the truly fantastic part is that each well drilled is a test of your geologic predictions.

Q. What are some of the most surprising aspects of your job?
A. One of the most surprising aspects of my job is how much variety I have. I have only worked for ExxonMobil for a little over two years and already I have had four different assignments. The assignments have varied in geographic region (e.g., Wyoming, Germany, and Brazil), geologic setting (e.g., tectonic settings and depositional environments), objectives (regional- to prospect-scale), and data type and quality (e.g., poor quality 2D seismic data to high resolution magnetic data). There is also variety in my day to day work (e.g., interpret data, attend meetings, read scientific articles, attend workshops and training, travel). The variety keeps me fresh and excited about my job.

Q. What is the most rewarding part of your job?
A. The most rewarding part of my job is working with people. I am always amazed at how many smart, creative, enthusiastic, fun, and caring people I work with. The people in this company really make going to work something to look forward to each day.

Q. What are some of your interests outside of your position responsibilities?
A. I periodically help our corporate recruiting group by hosting candidates during on-site visits or by assisting with recruiting field-trips. For example, this year I will be assisting with a geologic field-trip to the Big Horn Basin in Wyoming. The field trip exposes graduate students from various universities to the type of geology we do in the oil and gas industry. The recruiting work is great because I have the opportunity to provide students with insight into what it is like to work at ExxonMobil and what they can expect as a new hire in the company, at a critical point in their lives (i.e., when they are making big decisions about their careers). Not all the candidates choose to join the company, but it’s really great when you see someone you helped recruit, pass you in the hallway at work. In addition to recruiting, I have also been involved with a peer networking group in the company called ONLAP (Organized New Hires Learning About Petroleum), which organizes events and activities to promote interactions among geoscientists. We try to help new and recent hires have a smooth transition to ExxonMobil and living in Houston.

Q. What is the most exciting technological tool that you have either used or helped to develop in your job?
A. The most exciting tool I have used is our 3D subsurface mapping and visualization technology. The technology allows us to map the subsurface geology using the same type of technology that is used in the medical industry to image our bodies, but with the graphics capabilities of the video gaming industry. We are able to generate fully integrated 3D earth models, which can be rendered rapidly and viewed from every orientation (you can practically get inside the reservoir). Our focus on imaging, interpretation, and visualization technology has helped make the company very successful at optimizing the development of oil and gas reservoirs. It’s one of our competitive advantages.

Q. Do you speak any foreign languages? If so, were they helpful in your position?
A. I am fluent in Farsi and know enough Spanish to get by. Spanish has been extremely helpful in my current assignment with the South America Regional Group, where much of our data and reports are written in Spanish or Portuguese.