>> My name is Rick [inaudible].
I am a petroleum geologist but currently serving as a team lead guiding a cross functional team
in developing the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania.
Geology is the study of rocks to understand Earth's history.
In petroleum geology, we look at source rocks, which generate hydrocarbons.
We look at different reservoirs where hydrocarbons accumulate.
We look at the ceiling elements of how the hydrocarbons are contained those reservoirs,
and we look at the structures where the hydrocarbons accumulate.
So as an entry-level petroleum geologist, you would be studying development geology,
exploration geology, or in performing research.
In development geology, you're taking existing fields and figuring out how
to most efficiently extract the hydrocarbons.
You characterize the geology using the many well bores
that have been drilled there and looking at seismic data.
Then in exploration geology you're trying to search for hydrocarbons and accumulations
that have not been yet discovered.
So there you would characterize the risk and uncertainty to the volume of hydrocarbons
and the risk of success and propose an exploration well.
And there it would be the first well to get drilled into a particular structure
to see whether it contains oil or gas.
As a research geologist, you would be studying scientific principles and different technologies
in order to help exploration and development geologists learn how to better
and more efficiently extract hydrocarbons out of the ground.