Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Like most people who study geology, I had a very limited understanding of what I was signing up for in first year.

Four years later I graduated with a double major in chemistry and geology and first class Honours in geology. Although my Honours project was focused on gold mineralisation, the prospect of living on a mine site or in a mining town did not appeal to me. So when, midway through my Honours year, I was offered a graduate position at Woodside petroleum I didn’t hesitate in signing the contract.

I have now been working in the industry for a year and a half. As a petroleum geologist my daily work includes seismic interpretation, geophysical interpretation, structural analysis, petroleum analysis and basin analysis in the search for hydrocarbons.

Although I am based in Perth, I have travelled overseas several times for training to countries including Malaysia and New Zealand. My current position does not require me to go “on site”. However, when the opportunity arises I will be more than happy to go to a drilling rig for a couple of weeks to learn about that aspect of the exploration process.

A degree in geology need not always lead to a position on a mine site in the bush. Generally most petroleum companies are based in capital cities with the employees working 9 am to 5 pm (or in my case 8 am to 4 pm), so you can still have a very healthy life outside of work. Financially, a career in petroleum geology can be very rewarding.