Expert: Lee Petersen - 5/11/2003

Question
I am a high school student currently enrolled in a career explorations class.  I am very interested in a career in geology, and would like to interview you on your geologic career. I realize that you are probably very busy, so I would much appreciate it if you would be willing to answer the following questions.  Thank you for your time.

1.  How did you get interested in geology?

2.  Please describe your job.  What is a typical day like?

3.  What kind of education did you recieve in order to follow a career in geology?

4.  What do you like best about your job?

5.  What qualities will make a person successful in this career?

6.  On a typical day, do you spend more time working alone, working with coworkers, or working with the public?

7.  What kinds of academic skills do you need in this career?

8.  Can you tell me about the work ethics that are expected on the job?

9.  Does your job require continuous education to keep up with advances in this field?

10.  In what type of work setting do you spend most of your on-the-job time?

11.  Are there different job options in this career field?

12.  What course of actions would you suggest for someone interested in a career in geology?

13.  What do you feel the benefits of your job are?

14.  Is there anything you dislike, or would like to see changed about your job?

15.  On average, how much time do you spend in the field annually?

Answer
Hi Rachel,

I would be happy to answer your questions, and will reference the same numbers.

1. My best friend (who's father was a geologist) was a geology major at college, and I took two geology classes just to spend some time together but I liked the classes so well that I changed my major. I really liked the field trips at the time, and also the fact that I could get a good job with a geology degree.

2. My days are quite varied, one thing I really like about my job - it is never boring because there is a lot of variety. Lots of days I analyse data and make cross-sections and maps of the subsurface of the earth; some days I use my maps to recommend drilling locations for oil and gas wells, and write up the paperwork that goes with that. Some days I might go to a data library to look for well logs I need; some days I spend out in the field on a drilling rig evaluating drill cuttings and etc. for oil and gas shows. Sometimes I have to go to meetings, and sometimes I research new ideas and data, including surfing the internet for them. Most of my work these days is done on a workstation, but there is still a lot of thought and creativity required on my part which I like because it keeps me sharp and again keeps me from being bored.

3. I have a bachelor of science degree in geology. Most people starting out will need at least a masters degree, but I was lucky to graduate in a time when geologists were really in demand. If you want the best and most job offers, you should plan on getting a masters degree.

4. The variety of work, the creativity, the satisfaction of seeing your work used for something useful - like drilling oil and gas wells that cost millions of dollars but find oil, the independence (I usually work by myself), the money (if you can find oil and gas you can make a lot of money).

5. Curiousity, creativity, the ability to mentally visualize in three dimensions things that you can't actually see, the ability to work hard and be a self-starter, attention to detail, and the ability to see complex projects through to their completion. The ability to work under pressure, like a deadline.

6. Much of my day is spent working by myself, as finding oil and gas is a creative endeavor. I do spend time with co-workers in other disciplines such as engineering, geophysics, land, or finance, but the majority of time I work by myself in my office. I work with the public occaisionally.

7. You need a broad background in all the physical sciences, but more specifically you need to be able to locate, synthesize, and analyse lots of different kinds of data. You really need to be able to think for yourself. It would help to be a good memorizer and to have a good memory.

8. You need very high ethical standards. The oil business is a very competitive industry, and millions and millions of dollars are spent on your recommendations and work. You have an obligation to keep work done for an employer or client confidential, and to be honest in your work at all times. As your career progresses, your reputation will be your greatest asset and you must protect it by being scrupulously honest and fair.

9. It doesn't require formal CE credits, but as a practical matter you must educate yourself by staying abreast of the latest developments and research. You can do this by being active in professional societies and reading their literature, and by attending industry schools and field trips that your employer will usually pay for. Geology is not as fixed a science as say chemistry or physics; new theories and advances are more common and creative thought is required constantly.

10. Nowadays, I spend most of my time in my own (private) office, using a computer workstation to gather, analyse, and manipulate data and to use it to make maps and cross sections, but as I explained above I do a variety of tasks in many different settings over the course of a week or a month.

11. Yes, but the oil and gas business is the biggest employer of geologists and pays the most money. Other career options include the mining industry, the environmental industry, the government, and teaching.

12. Take all the math, physics, chemistry, and writing classes you can in high school. Plan to attend college and get a bachelors and then a masters degree in geology. Join the local geological society (if there is one near where you live; most larger cities have one) and attend the meetings and meet some working geologists. Make friends with some and ask them a lot of questions. If you can, get summer jobs in the business while you are in college.

13. Good money, high level of job satisfaction, the ability to work independently, the variety of work, a creative endeavor.

14. The oil and gas business can be very cyclic, that is one year it is very good and everyone wants your work and the next year it might be slow and there might be layoffs. Successful oil and gas finders are always in demand, but getting the experience to achieve that can be frustrating. Also, the bigger the oil company you work for, the worse the red tape and bureaucracy, which is at odds with the independent spirit.

15. These days, I only spend maybe 10 days a year in the field, but that can vary. My time now is too expensive for lots of people to pay me to travel and be out in the field, but when I was younger I spent much more time out on well sites, maybe as much as 50 days per year or more.

Hope these have helped you Rachel. Good luck with your career choices and school.

Lee Petersen