Samme Brough

Job title: Exploration Geologist

What are your qualifications? 

BSc Environmental Earth Sciences with a Year in North America 

What exactly does an Exploration Geophysicist do?

Working in the Oil and Gas industry, it is my job to integrate data about the subsurface to try and understand where oil and gas accumulations might be present. I use my results, models and thoughts to generate new drilling locations in our core areas. Data ranges from geophysical information (seismic reflection data), geological (depositional settings, rock type, burial history and tectonics) and geochemical information (chemistry of fluids, mineralogy).

What sort of organisation do you work for?

A medium sized oil company with offices in Europe and SE Asia 

Do you travel within the UK or overseas very much? 

Yes. I am based in Norway, and travel between the "energy" centres of Aberdeen and London regularly. I also travel to our offices in other parts of the world once or twice a year. 

Apart from formal qualifications, what other skills or characteristics do you need? 

Mostly you just need enthusiasm for your science discipline and a desire to find solutions to scientific problems. It is valuable to be able to integrate and understand many different areas of science (physics, maths, geology, chemistry), and to always keep an open mind and respect for other colleagues expertise. 

What do you enjoy about your job?

 The "science" part is fun and often it is possible to work with very new technology and "cutting edge" ideas. There are many opportunities to travel and learn, and fellow Geoscientists are generally interesting and positive people. 

What advice or information do you wish you’d had before starting this career? 

To keep up with my Maths skills. Although I did maths at AS level and at university, I never really "cracked it". Since starting work, I’ve had to teach myself physics and maths along the way to fill in my knowledge gaps, and really understand many geological concepts.