1. The Geoscience Support Professional Career
Presented by Amber Robbins March 27, 2018

2. A little about me… B.S. Geology and B.A. Secondary Education
University of Wyoming
Petroleum Geologist at BLM
Wyoming
2012-Present Senior Geoscience Technician at Castleton Resources, LLC
Colorado, Texas
Professional Development classes each year
Family
Houston GeoTechs

3. Topics... Part 1: Different Career Titles/Paths Typical Work Day
Examples
Data Organization
Operator Activity Maps
Horizontal Wells/Directional Surveys
Part 3:
Pros/Cons of Career
Recommendations for your future
Houston GeoTechs

4. Geoscience Support Professional Different Titles/Career Paths
Geoscience Technician
Geoscience Technologist
Geophysical Technician
Geology Technician
GIS Analyst
GIS Technician
Geoscience Data Analyst
Petrophysical Technician
Geoscience/Engineering Technician
Characterization and Development Technologist
Geoscience Technical Assistant

5. Typical Work Day Problem Solve Software Support Data Organization
Communication with different departments
Multitask
Learn about Geosciences while working
Call software support line

6. Questions? (Part 2 next…)

7. Examples Data Organization Standardize Save data on server
Operator Activity Map
Working with Horizontal Wells

8. Example #1: Data Organization Create Digital Well Library

9. Create Standard Folder Template as a Team (Example in Google Drive)

10. Create Standardized Well Folder Names in Excel
API Number
Standards
(Google Drive)

11. Example Code in Visual Basic to Create Digital Well Library
View Full Code
(Google Drive)
Sub CreateDirs() Dim R As Range Dim RootFolder As String RootFolder = "P:\" '<<< CHANGE 1 --make sure this is a drive on your computer For Each R In Range("A2:A418") '<<< CHANGE 2 --modify in future to use selection If Len(R.Text) > 0 Then On Error Resume Next MkDir RootFolder & "\" & R.Text ' FOLDER NAME MkDir RootFolder & "\" & R.Text & "\Geology" ' SUB FOLDER MkDir RootFolder & "\" & R.Text & "\Geology" & "\Core" '< SUB-SUB FOLDER MkDir RootFolder & "\" & R.Text & "\Geology" & "\Geologic Prognosis" '< SUB-SUB FOLDER MkDir RootFolder & "\" & R.Text & "\Geology" & "\Geochemistry" '< SUB-SUB FOLDER MkDir RootFolder & "\" & R.Text & "\Geology" & "\Geophysics" '< SUB-SUB FOLDER MkDir RootFolder & "\" & R.Text & "\Geology" & "\Logs" '< SUB-SUB FOLDER MkDir RootFolder & "\" & R.Text & "\Geology" & "\Logs" & "\Wireline" '< SUB-SUB-SUB FOLDER MkDir RootFolder & "\" & R.Text & "\Geology" & "\Logs" & "\Mudlog" '< SUB-SUB-SUB FOLDER MkDir RootFolder & "\" & R.Text & "\Geology" & "\Logs" & "\LWD - MWD" '< SUB-SUB-SUB FOLDER MkDir RootFolder & "\" & R.Text & "\Geology" & "\Maps" '< SUB-SUB FOLDER MkDir RootFolder & "\" & R.Text & "\Geology" & "\Petrophysics" '< SUB-SUB FOLDER MkDir RootFolder & "\" & R.Text & "\Geology" & "\Formation Tops" '< SUB-SUB FOLDER On Error GoTo 0 End If Next R End Sub

12. Create a culture to share data
Save data in digital well folders

13. File Organization Made Efficient
Reduces Manual Organization and Human Error
Excel with Command Prompt
Rename files to standard names
Reference digital well folders on server
Move files to correct location automatically
Castleton Commodities International acquired Anadarko East Texas assets January 2017
~57,000 files organized into well folders in days
Standardization made this possible

14. Example #2: Operator Activity Maps (also known as War Maps in some companies)

15. Purpose of Operator Activity Maps
Stay Current with Other Operator Activities
Drilling, Completions, Recompletions, Refracs, Permits
Compare Your Company to Nearby Operators
IP rates, Proppant, Frac Fluid, Drill Pattern, Formations Perfed
Business Advantage
Acquisition and Divestiture Opportunities
Midstream Consolidation and Efficiencies

16. Example of Operator Activity Maps
Key Elements of Map
(Live Example in DrillingInfo at end if time allows)

17. Data Sources Available to Create Operator Activity Maps
State Oil and Gas Websites
Texas Railroad Commission (
Louisiana Department of Natural Resources
SONRIS (Strategic Online Natural Resources Information System) (
Geological Survey of Alabama State Oil and Gas Board (
Colorado Oil and Gas Commission (
Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining (
Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (
California Division of Oil, Gas, & Geothermal Resources (
IHS Markit
DrillingInfo
PLS Scout
Rocky Mountain Oil Journal

18. Deliverables Operator Activity Map - East Texas/North Louisiana
Leasehold
New completions and recompletions
Target Formations: Pettit through Haynesville
Excel Spreadsheet of new completions and recompletions
Comprehensive spreadsheet of all completions and recompletions

19. Example #3: Horizontal Wells Important Details associated with Directional Surveys

20. Directional Surveys Measured Depth
Inclination: The deviation from vertical, irrespective of compass direction, expressed in degrees (angle).
Azimuth: The compass direction (angle) of the wellbore as planned or measured by a directional survey
typically measured clockwise from north
onto a horizontal surface (map view)

21. Example 1
Example 2

22. Directional Survey Example

23. *Minimum Curvature Method is widely used to get NS and EW Offsets
Source:
*Minimum Curvature Method is widely used to get NS and EW Offsets
Use 3 decimal places in NS/EW Offets for accuracy.
(Example in Google Drive)

24. *Different working projects in different projections2 3 1
*Different working projects in different projections

25. True North vs. Grid North Differences
300ft.
300ft.
Bottom Hole Location
300ft.
Grid North Directional Survey (wrong projection)
True North Directional Survey
Surface Hole Location
GeoGraphix example N
Directional survey references Grid North--US State Plane Texas North Central NAD27
but GeoGraphix Map is in US State Plane Louisiana North NAD27
Difference is approximately 300 feet. Projections Matter!
North Reference Matters! Azimuth is affected.

26. Setback Rule Example Bottom Hole Horizontal Well Path Hypothetical
Lease
Setback Rules:
330’ from West Line 200’ from N/S Line
Perforations along wellbore need to follow setback rules
Can cost $$$ to pay fines or to pay offsetting mineral owners
Surface Hole
ArcGIS example

27. Why does 200 feet matter? Development program Spacing
Drainage/Depletion
Lease line/hard lines or setback rules
Perforations and fracing
$$$ Fines/Offsetting Mineral Owners

28. Questions? (Part 3 next…)

29. Pros/Cons of Career PROS CONS Help people
Do not interpret/analyze data very often
Software experts
Not as much influence as Geologist
Know where the data is stored
Career advancement can be limited
Great Salary for level of education
($60,000 - $120,000+)
Do not get credit or recognized for work very often compared to a Geologist
Generally great working hours
GeoTech discrimination
Geology B.S. degree not required but is a bonus
May not be “in the know” of what’s happening in the company
Family friendly
Less Meetings/Less Responsibility

30. Recommendations… Earn a degree Learn software Network Stay Curious!
Geology, GIS, Petroleum Data Technology, Geophysics
Learn software
Kingdom, Petra, ArcGIS, Spotfire, GeoGraphix, MS Excel
Network
Join LinkedIn
Make Connections
Stay Curious!
“Reach out! The industry doesn’t know you and will not necessarily come looking for you. You need to go out there, network and make sure people see you and remember you for the next time they want to hire someone.” Sean Kimiagar

31. Please join!
to be added to the mailing list and/or signup on the paper handed out
Connect on LinkedIn:

32. Recap… Part 1: Different Career Titles/Paths Typical Work Day Part 2:
Examples
Data Organization
Operator Activity Maps
Horizontal Wells/Directional Surveys
Part 3:
Pros/Cons of Career
Recommendations for your future
Houston GeoTechs

33. Questions? Amber Robbins HoustonGeotechs@gmail.com
Thank You!
Questions? Amber Robbins