Jennifer Zinn
B.S. Geology, 2006,
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Saint Louis University

LWD (Logging While Drilling) Field Engineer
working for Schlumberger
What's your job like? "I spend a typical day offshore in the Gulf  of Mexico monitoring logs on rigs which can cost 1 million dollars a day to operate. We run tools down hole which take measurements of the formations we drill through (frequently at depths of up to 30,000 f). We create logs with depth, resistivity, gamma ray, sonic, and Neutron-porosity/density data. This data is used to estimate hydrocarbon presence in a specific well."

What's one of your exciting tasks?  "After we drill through a zone of interest (aka hydrocarbon deposit), I take the logs to the Company Man (who directly reports to Shell, BP, BHP, Exxon-Mobile) and I interpret the geology for them. Chances are, by the time you get to this point you have already been up 30 hours."

Any advice for current undergraduates? "Major in what you love. Passion and performance--they are worth more than you can imagine after you graduate."