Geoscience Major Questions (Houston, Austin, West: home, employment, schools)

[swopoe]

My focus was on using geophysical parameters to interpret well logs. My master's thesis used that to understand climate change in the Mesozoic.

[USMC0341]

Have any helpful suggestions when it comes time for internships, research for undergrad, etc...

[bamba_boy]

My advice is don't be too worried about the current low oil prices. If you are still years away from a defended dissertation or thesis and at graduation you'll be counter-cyclic and in good position. Remember that when you actually have MS or PhD in hand you may be in a sweet position of low competition (very few students going into programs during the bottom of the cycle) with higher than today oil prices. As an example, I graduated with a Master's just as oil prices were starting to plummet in late 1983. I had a job lined up in 1982 with a major oil co. that was rescinded. I hustled a new job in late 1983 and am still working with that company nearly 33 years later, even though there have been several division closures, office closures, and a corporate merger along the way. Usually these events corresponded with lower-scale price collapses. You also have flexibility as long as you have good university project funding, if companies are hiring in 4 or 5 years, leave with a Master's. If they are still low, stay on for a PhD. I stopped with a MA but I had plenty of funding for a PhD. I regret now not being able to go on to a University professorship upon retirement. When I retire I'll just have to be a middle school earth science teach or restaurant waiter. :-( You just have to roll with the punches!


Re: your age in your 30s. Three of our best technical geophysicists (rock properties from seismic/ log integration with seis, etc) came to the company with their Master's and/or PhD's after a decade or so as skilled construction workers and one as a ballet dancer (!). They had good grades from good schools and that's all that mattered. I think at least my company likes to have beginning workers who have maturity even if they don't have experience in the field, as they will be better team players, more emotional maturity, able to live in foreign countries away from family, etc.


Your background seems sort of half-way between a Petrophysicist (more physical parms from well logs) and a Geophysicist (rock properties from surface seismic and VSP's) . Both are highly coveted, at least in good times. Also, U of Houston has a fine reputation in geophysics for years with Sherrif, Hilterman, Constanya, Thompsen who are industry-recognized pioneers of new methods in geophysical prospecting. I was a fellow Longhorn with Constanya as a student and he's one of the smartest guys in RPFS and log-interpretation (his Dissertation) that I know and worked for years in major oil company research departments and asset groups before becoming a prof. Hilterman and Thompsen likewise ... were used by my company multiple times as consultants. Adry Bissada may be the world's foremost geochemist and hydrocarbon source rock expert - a real key to successful shale exploration and production - and the former head of GC research for my first oil company. Absolutely no need to move up to College Station. UH is the bomb in the geological sciences! Also, you will be in a good position to take summer internships without having to move away from your family and rent another apt. because of all the companies in the Houston area. Now a days, at least most of the majors require proving yourself in one or two summers of project work with a completion by Sept and talk to the earth science community at the end. If you do anything remotely useful to the asset team or research group you are working for you will almost be guaranteed a permanent job upon obtaining your degree.

[ej35401]

My husband has an MS in geophysics. 6 years aggressive experience on the fracking end of things and there are no jobs. He got laid off in October. We are holding onto to hope that things will turn around this year. He's got great experience so if anyone is hiring let me know!! ;-)

[bamba_boy]

Saudi Aramco is hiring unconventional resource (shale, very tight ls common in ME) geos and PE's , ironically, and raiding all the guys being laid off with a lot of experience in N America that they themselves helped put out of work. I think most of the jobs are in Dharan and I don't know if you are down for that, but you might be able to work out of their Houston Inner Loop office. Just remember, in Saudi, despite the lifestyle restrictions, the pay is tax free (apart from the Uncle Sam's small docking for Intl'l wage), housing and car paid, etc.

[ej35401]

We have seen those job postings located in Dharan. I can think of other things I'd much rather do than move that far away. :-).

[USMC0341]

Thanks I appreciate the advice from you and the rest of the people who responded.

Originally Posted by bamba_boy

My advice is don't be too worried about the current low oil prices. If you are still years away from a defended dissertation or thesis and at graduation you'll be counter-cyclic and in good position. Remember that when you actually have MS or PhD in hand you may be in a sweet position of low competition (very few students going into programs during the bottom of the cycle) with higher than today oil prices. As an example, I graduated with a Master's just as oil prices were starting to plummet in late 1983. I had a job lined up in 1982 with a major oil co. that was rescinded. I hustled a new job in late 1983 and am still working with that company nearly 33 years later, even though there have been several division closures, office closures, and a corporate merger along the way. Usually these events corresponded with lower-scale price collapses. You also have flexibility as long as you have good university project funding, if companies are hiring in 4 or 5 years, leave with a Master's. If they are still low, stay on for a PhD. I stopped with a MA but I had plenty of funding for a PhD. I regret now not being able to go on to a University professorship upon retirement. When I retire I'll just have to be a middle school earth science teach or restaurant waiter. :-( You just have to roll with the punches!


Re: your age in your 30s. Three of our best technical geophysicists (rock properties from seismic/ log integration with seis, etc) came to the company with their Master's and/or PhD's after a decade or so as skilled construction workers and one as a ballet dancer (!). They had good grades from good schools and that's all that mattered. I think at least my company likes to have beginning workers who have maturity even if they don't have experience in the field, as they will be better team players, more emotional maturity, able to live in foreign countries away from family, etc.


Your background seems sort of half-way between a Petrophysicist (more physical parms from well logs) and a Geophysicist (rock properties from surface seismic and VSP's) . Both are highly coveted, at least in good times. Also, U of Houston has a fine reputation in geophysics for years with Sherrif, Hilterman, Constanya, Thompsen who are industry-recognized pioneers of new methods in geophysical prospecting. I was a fellow Longhorn with Constanya as a student and he's one of the smartest guys in RPFS and log-interpretation (his Dissertation) that I know and worked for years in major oil company research departments and asset groups before becoming a prof. Hilterman and Thompsen likewise ... were used by my company multiple times as consultants. Adry Bissada may be the world's foremost geochemist and hydrocarbon source rock expert - a real key to successful shale exploration and production - and the former head of GC research for my first oil company. Absolutely no need to move up to College Station. UH is the bomb in the geological sciences! Also, you will be in a good position to take summer internships without having to move away from your family and rent another apt. because of all the companies in the Houston area. Now a days, at least most of the majors require proving yourself in one or two summers of project work with a completion by Sept and talk to the earth science community at the end. If you do anything remotely useful to the asset team or research group you are working for you will almost be guaranteed a permanent job upon obtaining your degree.

[testmo]

I am not a geo but agree school choice means very little. Ive worked laterally with Stanford graduates and A&M corpus grads. I got my masters in ME field at UT and our boss was a texas tech alum. My company has a hard one for Lamar graduates. Someone in HR has got to be an alum or something

In this industry military service I could see as being a benefit.

Also agree age doesn't matter especially aince your time has been in school and military.

Get to UH as soon as you can. Get good grades, network, join an association, and hussle for internships every summer. Dont think graduating early is the better benefit the internship is

[USMC0341]

Im looking to transfer this fall. My grades so far are mostly A's, and one B in a history class. I think I will be able to keep my 3.8 GPA. Thanks for the advice. What are the best ways of getting internships?

Originally Posted by testmo

I am not a geo but agree school choice means very little. Ive worked laterally with Stanford graduates and A&M corpus grads. I got my masters in ME field at UT and our boss was a texas tech alum. My company has a hard one for Lamar graduates. Someone in HR has got to be an alum or something

In this industry military service I could see as being a benefit.

Also agree age doesn't matter especially aince your time has been in school and military.

Get to UH as soon as you can. Get good grades, network, join an association, and hussle for internships every summer. Dont think graduating early is the better benefit the internship is

[ej35401]

Look for job fairs held at School. My husband received his Master's from Tennessee and a handful of large Houston O&G companies traveled to Knoxville for the job fair week. They took time to sit and meet with each graduate student individually. Though internships were next to none, due to being out of state, several students were still offered jobs upon graduation. Age his a nonissue.