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CAREER DEVELOPMENT – A CHECKLIST OF TRAINING FOR GEOLOGISTS

Training is a critical part of your development as a Professional Geologist. It is your responsibility to ensure that you get the right training at the right time. Geologists should discuss their training needs and expectations with their manager on a regular basis.

NEW*** Training for new geologists. Copy this checklist and check your own progress.

Every Geologist will have different training needs, this list is intended as a guide. Courses are generically defined - there may be any number of different courses that meet a particular need. Geologists should see Geo-Help’s "List of Training Courses for Geologists" - available by subscription - to find up-to-date information on specific courses.

• Technical Training has been split into three levels: Basic, Intermediate and Advanced

• Geologists working in the Oil Industry should also consider training in Business and Personal Development - to make themselves more valued contributors to this Industry.

APEGGA - The Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta,has legislated minimum competency requirements for all practicing members.

• The law actually requires any person representing him or herself as a Geologist in Alberta to be a member of APEGGA and to abide by their regulations.

• The regulations require tracking of Professional Development activities on an annual basis. All Geologists should ensure they understand these requirements which include a need for continued up-grading of skills.

• Part of this up-grading can be achieved through formal training.

• A summary of APEGGA's expectations for upgrading skills and a tool for tracking your annual progress is available here.

TECHNICAL TRAINING

BASIC - All Geologists should have this basic training either at School or in the early stages of their Oil Industry career. Training may be in the form of formal courses or through 'hands on' work experience.

• Overview of the Oil and Gas Industry

• Basic Log Analysis

• Drill Stem testing

• Interpretation of Drill Cuttings

• Basic Core Analysis

• Geological Mapping

• Wellsite - Visit/Training/Sitting wells

  • Exposure to basic operations

  • Describing cuttings and cores

  • Making wellsite decisions - Calling core point, Td, Picking test intervals

  • Observing testing and logging operations

• Exploration Software Courses

• Data and Mapping Packages

  • Requirements will vary with Corporate Software and proficiency of individual.

• Overview of the Regional Geology in your area of responsibility

  • Local Field Trips

• Local Conventions

INTERMEDIATE- Within the first five years.

• Formation specific overviews of the Alberta Basin
• Field Trips to view Modern and Ancient Analogs in adjacent Provinces and Northern States.
• Geophysics for Geologists
• Reservoir Fundamentals / Reservoir Engineering for Geologists
• Special Core Analysis
• Statistical Analysis of Petrographic Data
• Visit to Oil and gas Facilities
• Horizontal Drilling operations
• Basic oil and gas economics
• Continuous learning through attending luncheon meetings, reading publications etc

ADVANCED – On an ‘as needed’ basis, list is not all encompassing

• Advanced Log Analysis
• Advanced Reservoir Analysis (recommended with Team members from other disciplines)
• Modern Clastic Sedimentation
• Modern Carbonate Sedimentation
• Field Seminars related to current assignment
• Structural Geology
• Geochemistry
• Sequence Stratigraphy
• Seismic Interpretation
• Basin Analysis
• Trace fossils and sedimentary environments
• Geo-Statistics, risk analysis
• Advanced Exploration Software Courses
• 3-D Modeling
• GIS Systems
• Unconventional Resources - CBM, Shale Gas, Hydrates etc
• Out of Town Conventions
• Mentoring of younger geologists

• Continuous learning through attending luncheon meetings, reading publications etc

 BUSINESS – Many of these skills will be developed on the job rather than through formal training, but Geologists should consider taking these for their personal development particularly if they have aspirations for management.

• Economics
• Risk Management
• Project Planning
• Teamwork and Team Roles
• Problem Solving
• Decision Making
• How to Run Meetings etc etc

 PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT - Different personnal experiences may make some of these types of courses appropriate particular for individuals who have come to Canada from other countries

• Presentation Skills
• Communication Skills
• Effective Listening
• Time management
• Basic Computer Skills - Word processing, spreadsheets etc

• Use of the Internet

  Creative Thinking
  Technical Writing
  Speed reading
  Managing Change
  Involvement in Professional Societies (eg CSPG, AAPG etc)

 Compiled for Geo-Help Inc by Dave Russum

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