Geoscientists

Geoscientists have a critical role in helping the energy industry develop natural resources, protect the environment, and reach low-carbon goals. There are many opportunities for geoscientists and the fields in which they specialize. In the energy sector these include geologists, geophysicists, geochemists, and environmental geoscientists. They assess the potential impacts of developments on the Earth’s systems. This includes impacts on the Earth’s minerals, soil, water, oceans, forests, and energy resources. Geoscientists apply their knowledge of what could happen on and under the Earth’s surface.

Geoscientists use different techniques to gather information including physical and chemical analysis of rocks, minerals, and fluids. Data may be acquired through on-site field observations. Seismic surveys are used to survey underground structures to help create cross-sectional drawings for Geoscientists to study and interpret.

The work of Geoscientists in energy includes mineral exploration and production, evaluating water resources, environmental assessment and remediation, and monitoring and analyzing natural hazards. Geoscientists help to make decisions such as drilling locations, pipeline routings, development of mineral resources, and identifying opportunities for geological carbon storage and development. The career might be a fit for you if you like to travel and work with ideas, facts, and software tools to figure out problems related to the physical environment. You probably also have an interest in the study of Earth as well as math, science, computing, and geography.

Established Energy Sectors:

Oil and Gas
Offshore Oil and Gas
Oil Sands
Energy Services
Pipelines
Refining

Emerging Energy Sectors:

Biofuels
Hydrogen
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

What Geoscientists Do

Plan, Direct, and Participate in Studies

Geoscientists conduct geological, geochemical, geophysical field and laboratory studies and computational analyses. The analysis is done to support areas such as resource exploration, site selection for projects, waste management, and restoration of contaminated sites.

Compile and Interpret Observations and Models

Geoscientists analyze and interpret geological, geochemical, or geophysical information to develop approaches to using natural resources while limiting risk to the environment. Sources of information include field observations that can be in remote locations, geophysical survey data, well logs, bore holes, public well files, aerial photos, and satellite remote sensing.

Assess and Measure Mineral and Hydrocarbon Deposits

Geoscientists assess the size, orientation, and composition of mineral ore bodies and hydrocarbon reservoir deposits. They use this information to provide advice to operations teams in their companies. This contributes to decisions such as acquiring land, reservoir suitability for carbon storage, drilling programs, and opportunities to repurpose well sites.

Identify and Advise on Potential Natural Risks

Geoscientists help to understand the potential risks of energy development projects that might affect workers, communities, and the environment. Examples include slope erosion, landslides, soil instability, volcanic systems, and earthquakes.

Develop Waste Treatment and Disposal Solutions

Geoscientists work to understand the sources of waste and how it is transported in energy projects. They do this to develop ways to reduce or recycle waste.

Key Skills and Abilities Geoscientists Need

This chart shows the knowledge, skills, certifications, and abilities needed as geoscientists enter and advance their career in the energy industry. Each occupation, job level, and responsibility will require a different mix of these skills and abilities.

Geoscience Careers in the Energy Industry

Entry to a geoscience career in energy can start with relevant education or education combined with related job experience. The chart shows how roles and educational requirements change for each career level. As you advance your career, your education and experience can help you to move across the various sectors in the energy industry.

Education Levels & Areas of Study

After Completion of a 4-year University Degree in Geology, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Environmental Geoscience, or Geoscience

Registration with a provincial or territorial association is usually required for employment and is mandatory to practice in all provinces and territories except Prince Edward Island and the Yukon

Visit https://geoscientistscanada.ca/becoming-a-p-geo.php for more information

Entry-Level Geoscientist

Work in intern or entry-level position to get on-the-job training, take direction, and develop technical skills needed to work autonomously

Junior Geoscientist

Licensing by a provincial or territorial association requires 3 to 4 years of supervised work experience in a geoscience role and, in some provinces, passing an exam

After Completion of a 4-year University Degree in Geology, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Environmental Geoscience, or Geoscience

Registration with a provincial or territorial association is usually required for employment and is mandatory to practice in all provinces and territories except Prince Edward Island and the Yukon

Visit https://geoscientistscanada.ca/becoming-a-p-geo.php for more information

Intermediate Geoscientist

Work experience to develop the technical and personal skills needed to adapt to a variety of situations and work settings

Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.) licence

After Completion of a 4-year University Degree in Geology, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Environmental Geoscience, or Geoscience

Registration with a provincial or territorial association is usually required for employment and is mandatory to practice in all provinces and territories except Prince Edward Island and the Yukon

Visit https://geoscientistscanada.ca/becoming-a-p-geo.php for more information

Senior Geoscientist

Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.) licence

Types of Careers

Entry-Level Geoscientist

Junior Geoscientist

Other common job titles:

Geologist
Geophysicist
Geochemist
Environmental Geoscientist

Career Level

Education Levels & Areas of Study

After Completion of a 4-year University Degree in Geology, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Environmental Geoscience, or Geoscience

Registration with a provincial or territorial association is usually required for employment and is mandatory to practice in all provinces and territories except Prince Edward Island and the Yukon

Visit https://geoscientistscanada.ca/becoming-a-p-geo.php for more information

Entry-Level Geoscientist

Work in intern or entry-level position to get on-the-job training, take direction, and develop technical skills needed to work autonomously

Junior Geoscientist

Licensing by a provincial or territorial association requires 3 to 4 years of supervised work experience in a geoscience role and, in some provinces, passing an exam

Types of Careers

Entry-Level Geoscientist

Junior Geoscientist

Other common job titles:

Geologist
Geophysicist
Geochemist
Environmental Geoscientist

Education Levels & Areas of Study

After Completion of a 4-year University Degree in Geology, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Environmental Geoscience, or Geoscience

Registration with a provincial or territorial association is usually required for employment and is mandatory to practice in all provinces and territories except Prince Edward Island and the Yukon

Visit https://geoscientistscanada.ca/becoming-a-p-geo.php for more information

Intermediate Geoscientist

Work experience to develop the technical and personal skills needed to adapt to a variety of situations and work settings

Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.) licence

Education Levels & Areas of Study

After Completion of a 4-year University Degree in Geology, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Environmental Geoscience, or Geoscience

Registration with a provincial or territorial association is usually required for employment and is mandatory to practice in all provinces and territories except Prince Edward Island and the Yukon

Visit https://geoscientistscanada.ca/becoming-a-p-geo.php for more information

Senior Geoscientist

Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.) licence

Transferring Geoscience Skills from One Energy Sector to Another

There are core skills and knowledge that all geoscientists need for their careers. no matter what sector they start in. These building blocks are needed for oil and gas, offshore oil and gas, oil sands, energy services, hydrogen and carbon capture and storage (CCS). Other sectors have little to no requirement for geoscientists including pipelines, liquefied natural gas (LNG), refineries and biofuels.

The building blocks are:

Knowledge of company business models, technologies, products, and operational processes
Conduct field testing and remote sensing studies to assess the physical properties of the Earth including mineral, natural resource deposits, natural hazards, and groundwater resources
Evaluate geological, geochemical, and geophysical data to improve production, reduce environmental impacts, and identify risk
Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to support and quantify subsurface resource opportunities and risk-management decisions
Safety programs and certifications for industrial operations

The following interactive tool presents the core skills and knowledge as building blocks. Each energy sector uses the building blocks in different ways.

As new entrants to training for a geoscience career, use the tool to understand the building block skills needed to work in sectors across the energy industry. As an experienced geoscientist, use the tool to explore how each building block is applied across the energy sectors.

How to Use the Tool

Click on a building block
Click on a sector
Read about how that skill can be used in a specific sector

Knowledge of company business models, technologies, products, and operational processes
Conduct field testing and remote sensing studies to assess the physical properties of the Earth including mineral, natural resource deposits, natural hazards, and groundwater resources
Evaluate geological, geochemical, and geophysical data to improve production, reduce environmental impact, and identify risk
Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to support and quantify subsurface resource opportunities and risk-management decisions
Safety programs and certifications for industrial operations

Knowledge of company business models, technologies, products, and operational processes

Exploration, production, and field operations

Geophysical and geological mapping to determine reservoir characteristics

Well design, completion planning, and logging analysis

Exploration, production, and field operations

Geophysical mapping to determine reservoir characteristics

Well design, completion planning, and logging analysis

Studying and mapping the ocean floor

Geophysical mapping to determine reservoir characteristics

Well design, completion planning, and logging analysis

Project development and planning

Bitumen mining and in situ projects

Remediation and reclamation

Planning well decommissioning, remediation, and repurposing

Geophysical mapping to determine feasibility of reusing well sites

Safe disposal of waste fluids into underground formations

Little to no requirement but may be required in the development and construction phases

Properties, behaviour, and handling of hydrogen

Assessment of potential underground storage of hydrogen

Properties and behaviour of carbon/CO2

Drilling and completion of CO2 injection wells

Assessment of potential for storage of CO2

Evaluation and monitoring of CO2 storage sites

Knowledge of company business models, technologies, products, and operational processes

Select to learn how these skills can be applied across energy sectors

Exploration, production, and field operations

Geophysical and geological mapping to determine reservoir characteristics

Well design, completion planning, and logging analysis

Exploration, production, and field operations

Geophysical mapping to determine reservoir characteristics

Well design, completion planning, and logging analysis

Studying and mapping the ocean floor

Geophysical mapping to determine reservoir characteristics

Well design, completion planning, and logging analysis

Project development and planning

Bitumen mining and in situ projects

Remediation and reclamation

Planning well decommissioning, remediation, and repurposing

Geophysical mapping to determine feasibility of reusing well sites

Safe disposal of waste fluids into underground formations

Little to no requirement but may be required in the development and construction phases

Properties, behaviour, and handling of hydrogen

Assessment of potential underground storage of hydrogen

Properties and behaviour of carbon/CO2

Drilling and completion of CO2 injection wells

Assessment of potential for storage of CO2

Evaluation and monitoring of CO2 storage sites

Conduct field testing and remote sensing studies to assess the physical properties of the Earth including mineral, natural resource deposits, natural hazards, and groundwater resources

Competence with different types of seismic data, interpretation techniques, and software

Data and tools used for mapping, modelling, evaluating, visualizing, and contextualizing subsurface opportunities

Collect and interpret well and seismic data and subsurface core samples using remote sensing devices

Competence with different types of seismic data and interpretation techniques and software

Data and tools used for mapping, modelling, evaluating, visualizing, and contextualizing subsurface opportunities

Collect and interpret well and seismic data and subsurface core samples aboard ships or using autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) or remote human-occupied vehicles (HOVs)