Career Mirror -- By NextSteps Staff

Oil is one of the "Big Three" industries in Alberta, so for this month's career mirror we interviewed Ian Shook of Pan Canadian Petroleum Ltd.

To begin, could you tell our readers what you do for Pan Canadian?

I'm a Geophysicist. Very simply put, my job is to interpret seismic data in order to evaluate the hydrocarbon potential trapped in the rocks below the earth's surface.

Click here to view seismic

You are currently working in the Oil & Gas industry, can you tell us of any other fields where a Geophysicist might be employed?

Other industries that employ geophysicists include; mining, geotechnical-environmental, government and research.

How did you decide on this career?

While in university I read some literature published about the profession and it intrigued me enough to try for the B.SC. in Geophysics. I found studying the earth a fascinating subject and was able to handle the math and physics required for the profession.

How did you get started in this line of work?

After a few years of university I got a summer job at an oil company which showed me what the industry was like. I found the job fascinating and decided I was in the right discipline. It really gave me extra incentive to finish my degree and try to obtain full time employment in the oilpatch. I was fortunate to be hired at the same oil company I spent my summer with and I'm still here.

What education and training were necessary?

Absolute minimum is a B.SC. in Geophysics or a related disicpline such as Geological Engineering or Geology with extra math, physics and computer classes. There are many people working with M.Sc. and/or Ph.D. degrees but those are not absolutely necessary to obtain employment. In fact, it is debatable whether added degrees help your chances of employment in the oil industry.

What do you like most about this type of work?

I really like the challenge of trying to figure out what mother nature has created and testing out ideas by drilling. It's very exciting to try to figure out what is going on a mile underground and then drilling a well and seeing if you were right. Testing your (or your team's) ideas against what the earth is hiding is a really intriguing and exciting process. There is a lot of high science and technology involved in this game and it is fun playing with that aspect as well.

Are there any major drawbacks to your job?

In my specific job there are very few drawbacks that I see. The hours can be long sometimes if you have deadlines that have to be met. Sometimes there can be quite a bit of travel involved which can take you away from your family. The geophysical profession is very computer intensive and it can be difficult keeping up with quickly changing hardware and software products.

Would you say that there are certain skills, interests, abilities or temperaments necessary for this type of work?

You must be proficient in math, physics and computers but at the same time you have to be creative. Just as important, you must be capable of working within a team setting. Additionally, you have to see your job as an investment advisor for the company's shareholders. By that, I mean you have to decide what to do with the company's money in order to make more whether it is by drilling a well, shooting seismic, bidding on land or any other of the myriad activities that go on in the oil and gas business.

Are there any dress codes or particular details specific to this job?

Professional attire with casual Fridays is standard.

Please describe a typical day.

Projects can vary greatly from one day to the next. Which is part of the appeal of this type of work. A typical day could involve discussing the particular geology of a certain area with a geologist and then interpreting seismic data to learn more about the geology. Later, I might be participating in a presentation to a vice-president deciding whether to bid on some land. Or, I could be meeting with a reservoir engineer about drilling development wells. I might be in the field overseeing a seismic acquisition program. Sometimes I meet with geophysicists and geologists from another oil company that we are working together with on a joint venture. Or, I could be waiting for the results of the current well that the team is drilling. This is undoubtedly the most exciting part of the work.

What is a typical work schedule? i.e. hours, days?

A typical work schedule is 7.5 - 8 hours a day although the oil patch is improving in regards to shortened work weeks and telecommuting, etc. Three to four weeks holidays is pretty much standard and with flex days you could increase that by another week or so.

Is there an average wage associated with this type of position?

The money is generally very good since there is a lot of responsibility involved with the job. Starting salary is probably around $40,000 per year. The average wage could be around $80,000 but would vary a lot from company to company. Benefits are also usually excellent and can include a savings plan and/or stock options.

Do you see yourself doing this kind of work for some time?

I want to keep doing what I'm doing for awhile because I enjoy it. I would like to work in the international arena in a few years since that is really the major leagues of seismic exploration. Large-scale, high cost, high risk ventures are really where the most excitement is in this field.

Do you have any words of wisdom for someone considering this career path?

Before you decide to enter this field, you have to ask yourself some questions. Do I find geology and studying the earth interesting? Do I have an aptitude for math and physics? Am I business minded? Do I like problem solving? Do I like having a lot of responsibility? It is a difficult degree to accomplish but if you find the work interesting the job can be very rewarding.