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Job
overview
With solid positions in the North Sea, Africa,
the Middle East, Asia and the Americas,
the Group's Exploration & Production
sector sustains the growth of production
and reserves at a rate that makes Total
an outstanding achiever in the industry.
Geophysicists along with Geologists play
a particularly important role in exploration,
where success is a first requisite for future
production and reserve replacement. One
of the aims of the Group's Exploration Division
is to offer opportunities for these professions
to grow high-level specialization with the
dimensions required to become excellent
"explorers".
First steps
For junior Geophysicists at Total, the first
steps may be in research. In that case,
as part of a small team, they conceive,
design and develop new techniques for optimized
measurement and processing of geophysical
data. They may also start out in applied
geophysics, in which case they participate
in geophysical surveys, working in a team
of geophysicists and becoming familiar with
basin geology.
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Testimonial
Patrick IDOKO
Nigerian citizen
Geosciences/Geophysical Operations, Exploration
& Production, Nigeria. Operation Geophysicist.
1993: Bachelor of Science in Geosciences,
University of Jos, Nigeria.
2006: Master’s Degree at the Institut
Français du Pétrole (IFP),
France (as an employee undergoing long-term
training).
Seniority in the Group: 8 years. Currently
studying for a Master’s Degree in
Geophysics for further career development.
A steady career
path.
In 1993, I obtained my Bachelor of Science
Degree in Geosciences from the University
of Jos in Nigeria. I then did my military
service from 1995 through 1996, working
as a seismologist with Geophysical Servicing
Company in Nigeria. Shortly after, Total
had a job opening. Because of the Company’s
good reputation, I felt it would be an interesting
opportunity to work for a multinational
oil company.
I joined Total (formerly Elf) on January
5, 1998 as Operation Geophysicist and have
remained in the Geosciences Division in
Nigeria since then. The seismic knowledge
I acquired from the servicing company has
contributed a great deal to my success in
the Company. In addition, over the years
I have established my proficiencies and
have been able to enhance my practical knowledge
through in-house training. For instance,
I am gradually moving from data acquisition
to data interpretation responsibilities.
I am now studying for a Master’s Degree
in Geophysics at one of the most highly
rated oil institutes in the world (IFP,
France). After my studies, I will be able
to continue my career development within
Total.
Before coming to France, I went through
several in-house training programs that
where stepping-stones to my present program.
The most important of these was a one-on-one,
long-distance, computer-based course called
“blended learning”. Carried
out in 2004, this was a pilot program with
computer-based coursework. I have also been
involved in several field assignments in
bore hole seismic and conventional seismic
data acquisition both onshore and offshore
as part of my training. This innovative
way of learning helped me to acquire practical
training and was a platform to increase
my knowledge in seismic acquisition and
processing and data interpretation. It opened
up the door to new opportunities, such as
my Master’s program today.
A tenacious field
worker.
In my field of work, we study the geophysical
properties of the earth in a delimited territory.
Using transmitters connected to the ground,
we send information to the earth in a waveform.
Based on the responses of the earth that
we receive in acquisition, we can deduce
the underground organization, in order to
determine the feasibility of an oil exploration/exploitation.
The exploration for hydrocarbons is carried
out both on land and offshore. In the first
case, we work with data recording devices
known as geophones; in the second, we use
hydrophones. In both cases, the seismic
data is collected and entered into a computer
system by the means of these sophisticated
recorders. The crew (laborers, technicians,
engineers) is important both in water and
land exploration. In the water, we usually
work with a team of about 50 people. On
land, it usually goes up to about 200 crewmembers.
The process of data collection and interpretation
lasts from 2 to 3 months, or more, depending
on the size of the area to be surveyed.
Mobility within
the company.
Ever since I joined Total, I have been able
to advance my career in a very positive
way through all the training programs that
have been offered to me. I joined the company
as Operation Geophysicist in the Geosciences
Division. I have been involved in seismic
data acquisition on land, in conventional
offshore and deep offshore; seismic data
processing on board the vessel; bore hole
seismic supervision in the deepwater; and
land operations and geophysical database
management. I’ve been able to change
my career path by acquiring the necessary
expertise to be able to take on more responsibilities
within my department. In this way, my career
has been and still is extremely exciting.
I would recommend that new graduates look
into a career with Total, and specifically,
in my home country, where Total is encouraging
career development in a pluralistic manner.
Base: summer 2006.
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