David Rickert, Geological Engineer by Anonymous

There's no such job or position as geological engineer. You graduate with a degree in geological engineering and then branch into a working field. I happened to branch into geophysics, but there were plenty of other fields I could have chosen."

David Rickert is project leader of a seismic data processing team with Gulf Oil Canada Limited in Calgary, where he's worked for three years.

Seismology, the study of earthquakes, may seem far removed from the interests of an oil company. In fact seismic methods are one of the more important ways of locating new oil and natural gas deposits trapped hundreds of feet below the ground.

David explains that shock waves from seismic blasts set off by a field crew of engineers, scientists and technicians travel through the earth's underlying layers. The waves are bounced back from each layer or strata of rock, and by studying the seismic responses of rock it's possible to draw a picture of the contortions of rock layers. These underground 'maps' show rock formations that are likely to contain trapped deposits.

"In recent years there's been an effort made to identify the presence of hydrocarbons, the basic components of oil and gas, not just the rock structures they may lie in. There's research going on continuously in that field," David says.

David, who is 27, enjoys the challenge of this interesting career but cheerfully admits that he "sort of fell into it.,' As often happens, he accepted the first job he was offered after graduation and he stresses that the field he's working in is a very small branch of geological engineering.

"I enrolled in engineering because I was good at sciences. In my second year at the University of Manitoba I decided to go into geological engineering because I thought it was a field with a broad scope that would give me a solid technical background without restricting me to working in one particular field.

"If you graduate from a geological engineering program you could work on civil engineering projects such as bridge or road construction, move into geophysics as I did, or go into hydrology or geology. There are many possibilities."

Although university gives you a very solid and broad basis of knowledge, David says he still had a lot to learn after he graduated from a four-year program.

Since he started as a junior in the interpretation division he has worked his way up to supervisor of a team of five geophysicists and three technicians working on the processing and interpretation of seismic data.

"There's no set training program here, but Gulf Oil periodically sends employees on courses. You have to upgrade your skills constantly, which of course you're doing all the time just by working and learning on the job, solving problems.

"Summer employment while you're at university is very good preparation. I worked one summer with a city survey team, then for two summers with Sherritt Gordon Mines in northern Manitoba as a geologist's assistant and doing some geophysical survey work, which was basically collecting data under the direction of a senior geophysicist."

With today's energy situation, David is in an important and exciting position helping to decide possible future drilling sites for oil and gas.

As well as the technical challenge of his job, there is the "people" side, supervising the team of eight and taking part in discussions with management.

"I feel my job gives me a chance to use my technical training and I think we're making a significant contribution to the energy search. At the same time, I have the chance to meet with geophysicists, geologists and engineers in a management capacity to discuss ideas."

David is a member of the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta. Graduate engineers are not recognized as professional engineers until they have met the requirements of the engineering association in their province, which usually means working for two years under supervision with an approved firm. At that point they are registered with the association and can use 'P. Eng.' for 'professional engineer' after their names.

David is a good example of a career path that many engineers take. He insists that he is not a typical geological engineer, but in fact he's typical of many engineers, whether they are geological, chemical, civil, mechanical or any other type of engineer, who use their technical knowledge as a base on which to build a career usually leading to management levels.

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