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I worked for 2 different oil companies - Burlington Resources and Continental. For payroll, I worked as an employee of a contractor called Tooke Rockies, out of Dickinson, ND, but the oil companies always specified who they wanted onsite so I stayed busy, thankfully.
Where did you get your black wheel from? Mine has a well worn rubber with a hideous cover and would love a change.
Good deal. I want to say I did some jobs for Continental when I was in OK. But, I may be wrong.
I got mine off ebay. Depending on where you live, I'd check local yards first.
Yup. First job out of college with my geology degree was mudlogging, but that only lasted for a few months before I was doing the wellsite geologist role. I also started writing software in my spare time on the rig to automate data capture such as ROP, total gas, chromatograph from the analog instruments, and added in the inclination/azimuth at the bit. It allowed us to plot them all alongside each other and play with the scale to make it infinitely faster and easier to make decisions about steering the bit. Prior to that, it was all manual data capture and pen-and-ink plotting for the geologic data, and for a computer nerd just out of college that was unacceptable to me.
Ended up showing the program to a friend of mine over dinner one night who worked for a software company, and they hired me 2 weeks later.
Small world. I learned the bare rudiments of well log data analysis from my college girlfriend, a petroleum engineer. I was even a member of SPE for a few years after graduation, but my career took me in a different direction.Yup. First job out of college with my geology degree was mudlogging, but that only lasted for a few months before I was doing the wellsite geologist role. I also started writing software in my spare time on the rig to automate data capture such as ROP, total gas, chromatograph from the analog instruments, and added in the inclination/azimuth at the bit. It allowed us to plot them all alongside each other and play with the scale to make it infinitely faster and easier to make decisions about steering the bit. Prior to that, it was all manual data capture and pen-and-ink plotting for the geologic data, and for a computer nerd just out of college that was unacceptable to me.
I miss the work and the people, but not the life.
How did you find your way out?
nope, took the severance and that was my last job been self employed since.That is cool that you were able to move quickly. I've met countless guys that have those degrees, catch samples and they basically do that for years or until they quit. Every now and then you'll meet one that has a clear goal in mind of how they will move up.Yup. First job out of college with my geology degree was mudlogging, but that only lasted for a few months before I was doing the wellsite geologist role. I also started writing software in my spare time on the rig to automate data capture such as ROP, total gas, chromatograph from the analog instruments, and added in the inclination/azimuth at the bit. It allowed us to plot them all alongside each other and play with the scale to make it infinitely faster and easier to make decisions about steering the bit. Prior to that, it was all manual data capture and pen-and-ink plotting for the geologic data, and for a computer nerd just out of college that was unacceptable to me.
I miss the work and the people, but not the life.
How did you find your way out?
For me it was all relationships. I was out there from '94-'99 when the rig counts were at historic lows and the money was awful ($300/day for a lead geologist and $75/day for a mudlogger). So much so that almost everyone got out to work for their brother-in-law, went back to ranching, driving truck, whatever. But I find that times like that are the best times to double-down and show people that you're gonna show up every day and work like hell, keep a smile on your face no matter what, and help other people out. People see it and they start helping you out - usually without you even knowing it. I knew a lot of guys who just hung around doing the minimum every day and they got stuck.
A person with strong well log analysis skills and a degree in rocks could make a fine living as a wildcatter or even a consultant back in the day. I have a buddy I worked with back then who stayed with it and started a small geologic consulting firm in Casper just before oil prices jumped and the money came back into the industry. He's a multi-millionaire now.
I design mechanical and electrical systems in commercial buildings, some bigger than others.
It really is about relationships and building your name / reputation. Once you have that set and you have a good rep, good things happen. It's about doing things the right way, not taking shortcuts and doing things the right way when people aren't watching you. Sounds like you understood that from the get-go, which is key. I also saw a lot of guys half-assing it and it rarely worked out well for those types in the long run.
ya this was a consideration before I had a family, now I am hesitant to even leave this crappy state. I have lots of good resources here but hate the "atmosphere" I guess you could say.
It went like this: Geologist --> software implementation engineer --> sales engineer --> product manager --> director of product management --> VP marketing --> industry analyst --> dad --> still industry analyst
Is your location info correct, you are in CA?
Got it. That's some great work / development you did there.It went like this: Geologist --> software implementation engineer --> sales engineer --> product manager --> director of product management --> VP marketing --> industry analyst --> dad --> still industry analyst
Thank you kindly. On both points!
