Petroleum Geologist Overview
Required Education and Training To Become a Petroleum Geologist
Best Schools to become a Petroleum Geologist in U.S. 2024
Texas A & M University-College Station
In-State Tuition:$8,815
Out-of-State Tuition:$36,239
Admission Rate:63%
Graduation Rate:84%
Total Enrollment:74,014
Mississippi State University
In-State Tuition:$9,248
Out-of-State Tuition:$25,294
Admission Rate:75%
Graduation Rate:63%
Total Enrollment:22,649
The University of Texas at Austin
In-State Tuition:$11,698
Out-of-State Tuition:$41,070
Admission Rate:31%
Graduation Rate:88%
Total Enrollment:52,384
Colorado School of Mines
In-State Tuition:$17,520
Out-of-State Tuition:$39,600
Admission Rate:58%
Graduation Rate:82%
Total Enrollment:7,403
Washington State University
In-State Tuition:$10,708
Out-of-State Tuition:$26,392
Admission Rate:83%
Graduation Rate:62%
Total Enrollment:27,539
Southern New Hampshire University
In-State Tuition:$15,000
Out-of-State Tuition:$15,000
Admission Rate:96%
Graduation Rate:41%
Total Enrollment:164,091
Petroleum Geologist Job Description:
- Study the composition, structure, and other physical aspects of the Earth.
- May use geological, physics, and mathematics knowledge in exploration for oil, gas, minerals, or underground water; or in waste disposal, land reclamation, or other environmental problems.
- May study the Earth's internal composition, atmospheres, and oceans, and its magnetic, electrical, and gravitational forces.
- Includes mineralogists, paleontologists, stratigraphers, geodesists, and seismologists.
Required Skills and Competencies To Become a Petroleum Geologist
Job Duties for Petroleum Geologists
Analyze and interpret geological data, using computer software.
Investigate the composition, structure, or history of the Earth's crust through the collection, examination, measurement, or classification of soils, minerals, rocks, or fossil remains.
Plan or conduct geological, geochemical, or geophysical field studies or surveys, sample collection, or drilling and testing programs used to collect data for research or application.
Technologies and Skills Used by Petroleum Geologists
Analytical or scientific software
- Gemcom Surpac
- The MathWorks MATLAB
Map creation software
- Mapping software
- SACLANTCEN
Presentation software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
Basic Skills
- Reading work related information
- Talking to others
People and Technology Systems
- Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
- Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
Problem Solving
- Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it