- Environment Primarily outdoor work
- Education Post-secondary degree
- Average salary $61,000 to $161,000
Career profile
Wellsite geologists use data to guide drillers through hundreds of metres of earth and rock to access the highest production levels of resources possible, such as oil, natural gas, or other minerals, water, and heat from a reservoir.
Wellsite geologists supervise every stage of the drilling process to extract critical resources from deep underground. They study and analyze rocks from oil, natural gas, and other wells in order to direct the drilling and identify the rock formation into which they are drilling. They use specialized tests such as petrographic analysis, rock-cutting data, wireline data, core samples and other measures to accomplish this work. Wellsite geologists document results from drilling activities, analyze and evaluate this information to inform the development/reservoir geologist about the status of drilling activities. The wellsite geologist is responsible for executing a drilling plan, provided by the development/reservoir geologist, and making real-time decisions on how to best access the resources.
In this occupation, activities may include:
- Informing and advising on measurements, program requirements and revisions while drilling and mud logging
- Selecting the casing point based on data such as isopachs, changes in drilling parameters and samples
- Communicating with the rig supervisor on geological risks and casing point tallies
- Advising the logging company of program revisions and timing
Education
- A post-secondary degree in geology is typically required. However, a post-secondary diploma from a technical institute or a graduate degree in chemistry, geochemistry, physics or geophysics may be another route into this occupation.
Certification
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
- Standard and emergency first aid
- H2S Alive®
Licensing
- Having a Professional Geologist designation, while not strictly required in every jurisdiction, is preferred and/or required by many organizations. Licenses are issued by provincial jurisdictions and may provide interprovincial mobility.
- Unlicensed Geologists may be required to work under the supervision of a licensed Geologist.
- Travel likely required
- Shiftwork/variable work hours
- Primarily outdoor work
- Physical work
- Safety-sensitive environment
- Work away from home/in camps
Your problem solving and analytical skills are rock solid. You perform well under pressure and communicate complex information clearly.
- Attention to detail
- Critical thinking
- Active listening
- Chemistry
- Geography
- Planning and organizing
- Complex problem solving
- Judgment and decision making
- Public safety and security
- Quality control analysis
