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. I currently work as an Exploration Geoscientist for Chevron Energy Technology Company on a project in Deepwater Nigeria. I am responsible for evaluating reservoir potential across the Niger Delta Basin as part of a regional geology team. The work will be used to determine future basin potential.

Q. Where did you obtain your undergraduate/graduate degree(s) and in what fields?
A. I obtained a B.S. in Geology and M.S. in Geology with an emphasis on Geophysics from the University of Texas at El Paso.

Q. What subjects/courses were instrumental in helping you gain your current position?
A. For me, it had to have been my Introductory Geology Course. If it wasn’t for that course I wouldn’t have changed majors to Geology and would most likely have gone into another industry. Aside from this I would encourage students that are interested in the industry to have a strong foundation in Math, Physics and Geology and to take elective courses in Economics, Finance and Languages.

Q. How many years of education were needed in order for you to enter the industry?
A. To be hired by most energy companies you are required to obtain a Master’s Degree (~6 years).

Q. Were any summer internships or advanced learning opportunities helpful in entering the industry?
A. Yes, I had 2 previous internships prior to having an internship with Chevron. I had an internship with the South Carolina State Government and Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory. Both internships allowed me to expand my professional network and grow my technical skills in different environments as well as understand what interest I had in obtaining a full time position as a research scientist. My industry internship with Chevron sold me on the company and the industry. I enjoyed seeing the diversity of work opportunities for a geoscientist that could be had throughout my career. The summer with Chevron afforded me the chance to see that the industry was one that was evolving and could offer me learning opportunities and challenges for my entire career. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of internships. They are valuable to understand if you fit in with the company and most importantly if the company fits in with your values and work style.

Q. Does your current position allow you to travel? If so, what was your favorite location?
A. In my current position, I have had the opportunity to travel a couple of times to Nigeria. Other travel opportunities I have had are geologic field courses in Spain, Canada and various locations in the Western US. I am definitely grateful for the opportunities to travel and experience other cultures and look forward to the time when I might be in a position where more travel is required or for an opportunity to live outside of the US.

Q. What opportunities do you see for yourself in the industry?
A. This is a great time to be entering in the industry and there are many opportunities. I think that most everyone in the industry has heard of the “Big Crew Change”. There are quite a few opportunities that will be available because the 5-15 year employee is almost non-existent in the industry. I feel I am only limited by myself and what I want to pursue.

Q. What are some of your favorite aspects of your job?
A. I enjoy the challenge of learning new things and interacting with colleagues from around the world. I also very much enjoy the problem solving aspect. I have various types of data and it is my job to interpret and develop a plausible explanation for what the data is showing and also describe the uncertainty that is associated with my interpretation.

Q. What are some of the most surprising aspects of your job?
A. At this point in my career, I am not sure that I can say that I am surprised by aspects of my job.

Q. What is the most rewarding part of your job?
A. The most exciting part of my job is to be able to integrate data from different disciplines to solve problems that have real business impact. I am most passionate about my work when I can see how I am adding value to a specific business need rather than just thinking about something from a purely theoretical position.

Q. What are some of your interests outside of your position responsibilities?
A. I have been involved through leadership in a younger employee network within Chevron. Through this organization I have learned about other parts of the company that I may have never had contact with if it were not for my involvement. I also serve as a recruiter for my company and enjoy interacting with students and providing them with information so that they can make an informed decision about where they will start their career.

Q. What is the most exciting technological tool that you have either used or helped to develop in your job?
A. Being a part of Chevron’s Energy Technology Company allows me access to new interpretation tools, high end Linux workstations and visualization technology to better model the subsurface geology. The 3-D volume interpretation tools and modeling software packages allow me to more accurately model the subsurface which aids in better decision making and uncertainty management. During my 1st six months with Chevron I was assigned a project where I was geosteering horizontal wells, I was able to have a high-end workstation in the field with the 3-D reservoir models. This was the first time within the company in North America that someone was using the 3-D modeling program in the field to assist with realtime decision making. We were able to make decisions quickly because we had access to the data and I could communicate more efficiently with the drilling personnel when trying to explain the geology and why we should make a certain decision.

Q. Do you speak any foreign languages? If so, were they helpful in your position?
A. Not fluently. I am in the process of increasing my fluency in Spanish and am learning French. For myself, I think that there is value in expanding my knowledge of other languages. It helps you understand the capacity of others to leave their home country to live in an area separated from what they are accustomed to.