Geological and Petroleum Technicians

Career Description: Assist scientists in the use of electrical, sonic, or nuclear measuring instruments in both laboratory and production activities to obtain data indicating potential sources of metallic ore, gas, or petroleum. Analyze mud and drill cuttings. Chart pressure, temperature, and other characteristics of wells or bore holes. Investigate and collect information leading to the possible discovery of new oil fields.

Industry: Life, Physical, and Social Science

Other Job Titles for Geological and Petroleum Technicians:

• Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• Create and modify maps, graphs, or diagrams, using geographical information software and related equipment, and principles of cartography such as coordinate systems, longitude, latitude, elevation, topography, and map scales.
• Write and present reports of research findings.
• Develop, operate, and maintain geographical information (GIS) computer systems, including hardware, software, plotters, digitizers, printers, and video cameras.
• Locate and obtain existing geographic information databases.
• Analyze geographic distributions of physical and cultural phenomena on local, regional, continental, or global scales.
• Teach geography.
• Gather and compile geographic data from sources including censuses, field observations, satellite imagery, aerial photographs, and existing maps.
• Conduct fieldwork at outdoor sites.
• Study the economic, political, and cultural characteristics of a specific region's population.
• Provide consulting services in fields including resource development and management, business location and market area analysis, environmental hazards, regional cultural history, and urban social planning.
• Collect data on physical characteristics of specified areas, such as geological formations, climates, and vegetation, using surveying or meteorological equipment.
• Provide geographical information systems support to the private and public sectors.
• Perform inspections of forests or forest nurseries.
• Map forest area soils and vegetation to estimate the amount of standing timber and future value and growth.
• Conduct public educational programs on forest care and conservation.
• Procure timber from private landowners.
• Subcontract with loggers or pulpwood cutters for tree removal and to aid in road layout.
• Plan cutting programs and manage timber sales from harvested areas, assisting companies to achieve production goals.
• Monitor wildlife populations and assess the impacts of forest operations on population and habitats.
• Plan and direct construction and maintenance of recreation facilities, fire towers, trails, roads and bridges, ensuring that they comply with guidelines and regulations set for forested public lands.
• Contact local forest owners and gain permission to take inventory of the type, amount, and location of all standing timber on the property.
• Provide advice and recommendations, as a consultant on forestry issues, to private woodlot owners, firefighters, government agencies or to companies.
• Study different tree species' classification, life history, light and soil requirements, adaptation to new environmental conditions and resistance to disease and insects.
• Develop new techniques for wood or residue use.
• Develop techniques for measuring and identifying trees.
• Build geographic information systems (GIS) to record, analyze, and cartographically represent the distribution of languages, cultural and natural resources, land use, and settlement patterns of specific populations.
• Observe and measure bodily variations and physical attributes of different human groups.

Emerging Tasks

• Examine and analyze blood stain patterns at crime scenes.
• Keep records, including taking photographs of evidence, and prepare reports detailing findings, investigative methods, and laboratory techniques.
• Train new technicians and other personnel on forensic science techniques.
• Use chemicals and other substances to examine latent fingerprint evidence and compare developed prints to those of known persons in databases.
• Supervise the work of others including interns, clinicians in training, and other counselors.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• advise clients or customers
• advise governmental or industrial personnel
• analyze ecosystem data
• analyze geological research data
• analyze scientific research data or investigative findings
• analyze social or economic data
• analyze spatial data
• classify plants, animals, or other natural phenomena
• collect geographic or physical data
• collect scientific or technical data
• collect social or personal information
• collect statistical data
• communicate technical information
• compile data on economic, social, or physical factors affecting land use
• compile information through interviews
• compile numerical or statistical data
• conduct field research or investigative studies
• conduct geological surveys
• confer with research personnel
• confer with scientists
• develop or maintain databases
• develop policies, procedures, methods, or standards
• develop scientific or mathematical hypotheses, theories, or laws
• develop tables depicting data
• direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
• direct and coordinate scientific research or investigative studies
• draw maps or charts
• draw prototypes, plans, or maps to scale
• explain complex mathematical information
• identify properties of rocks or minerals
• interpret aerial photographs
• interpret charts or tables for social or economic research
• maintain awareness of social trends
• maintain records, reports, or files
• make decisions
• make presentations
• monitor meteorological conditions
• observe weather conditions
• obtain land survey data using surveying instruments
• operate land or site surveying instruments
• perform statistical analysis in physical science or geological research
• plan scientific research or investigative studies
• plan surveys of specified group or area
• prepare environmental impact or related environmental reports
• prepare reports
• prepare technical reports or related documentation
• present research papers or dissertations on physical science issues
• read maps
• recognize interrelationships among individuals or social groups
• recommend further study or action based on research data
• use computer aided drafting or design software for design, drafting, modeling, or other engineering tasks
• use computer graphics design software
• use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
• use current social research
• use drafting or mechanical drawing techniques
• use field notes in technical drawings
• use geographic positioning system (GPS)
• use geographical information system (GIS) software
• use interviewing procedures
• use knowledge of investigation techniques
• use knowledge of regulations in surveying or construction activities
• use land surveying techniques
• use library or online Internet research techniques
• use mathematical or statistical methods to identify or analyze problems
• use measuring instruments to collect geological data
• use meteorological equipment or instruments
• use physical science research techniques
• use project management techniques
• use quantitative research methods
• use relational database software
• use scientific research methodology
• use spreadsheet software
• use word processing or desktop publishing software
• write research or project grant proposals
• write scholarly or technical research papers
• use knowledge of relevant laws
• use knowledge of sales contracts
• use library or online Internet research techniques
• use long term forest or range land planning techniques
• use mathematical or statistical methods to identify or analyze problems
• use negotiation techniques
• use plant disease control techniques
• use pollution control techniques
• use project management techniques
• use public speaking techniques
• use quantitative research methods
• use relational database software
• use scientific research methodology
• use spreadsheet software
• use timber grading standards
• use timber scaling procedures
• use word processing or desktop publishing software
• write business project or bid proposals
• write scholarly or technical research papers
• use timber scaling procedures
• use two-way radio or mobile phone
• use word processing or desktop publishing software
• work as a team member
• write research or project grant proposals
• write scholarly or technical research papers
• write technical health or medical documents

• n/a

• Average hourly wage (2007) -$24.50
• Average annual wage (2007) - $50,950.00

• Projected growth (2006-2016): 8.64%
• Projected need (2006-2016): 1,020
• Employment (2006): 11,818

• Atmospheric and Space Scientists
• Cartographers and Photogrammetrists
• City and Regional Planning Aides
• Fish and Game Wardens
• Foresters
• Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
• Hydrologists
• Police, Fire, and Ambulance Dispatchers
• Surveyors
• Urban and Regional Planners