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Women in Petroleum Engineering Australian School of Petroleum

 

Women  in  Petroleum  Engineering    

Bich Thuy Ngo-Hoang - working as a Reservoir Engineer for Santos

"My dream? To enjoy everything I do."

Proud moments? Whenever I have solved a problem or a project is completed. What do you do? I analyse production data (production rates, pressures, temperature) to understand reservoir behaviour and to predict reservoir performance. My day at work involves incorporating new data into reservoir models, running reservoir simulations and liaising with other teams to develop projects.

"My goal? To be a Senior Reservoir Engineer."

Why did you choose to do a degree in Petroleum Engineering? In high school, I enjoyed physics and mathematics, and wanted to be an engineer. I got into Chemical Engineering at Ho Chi Minh University of technology. After 1 year, I got a scholarship to do Petroleum Engineering at the Australian School of Petroleum, University of Adelaide. I didn't know anything about petroleum engineering at the time, so I had a talk with the Head of the Petroleum Department at HCMUT, who inspired me with the science of the subsurface, which employed all the physics and maths that I had always enjoyed playing around with.

"Being an engineer is not as hard as what people say. If it is the career path you

choose to follow, it can be very rewarding."

Greatest professional achievement? Best overall performance by a Petroleum Engineering Honours student at the Australian School of Petroleum. Memories of the ASP? Working late at night with all my classmates in the computer lab! "To me, the best part of being an Engineer is playing the 'what if' and problem solving game. I am constantly inspired by learning

modern technologies."

 

Women  in  Petroleum  Engineering    

Marie-Louise Lees - Senior Staff Reservoir Engineering with Santos Ltd, Adelaide Office (but with plenty of travel)

Why did you choose to do a degree in Petroleum Engineering? When I went to University there was no degree in Petroleum Engineering available in Australia, my degree was Chemical Engineering, however we did a Petroleum Engineering subject which was my first taste of the Petroleum Industry and I loved it, that inspired me to take a graduate job in the industry, although I started on the surface and went downhole a few years later and never looked back!

"I love problem solving and seeing my ideas put into practice."

What do you do? I provide sub-surface engineering support to the Asia Pacific Business unit of Santos which involves operations in Bangladesh, Vietnam and Papua New Guinea. My work is a mixture of Reservoir & Production Engineering. The work I am doing depends on what is happening in each of the areas,

when we are drilling I might be planning testing and sampling programmes. In the field development phase I can be doing Reservoir Modelling, PVT modelling and writing field development plans. I also represent Santos at Joint Venture meetings and provide technical input to the Operators. In the operations phase I analyse field performance data to ensure our estimates of field reserves are accurate and that field performance is as expected.

"Engineers are the key to high living standards and longevity"

What does you day at work involve? My work is varied, when I am in the Adelaide office I work on a computer all day, a lot of the time analysing data in Excel, but I also do quite a bit of travel to attend meetings and well sites for testing operations.

What is the best part of being an Engineer? It is such a long list, here are a few things! I have been an engineer for 26 years and have never stopped learning, every day brings new challenges and I have not worked in the same position for more than 3 years. I love problem solving and seeing my ideas put into practice. I am exceptionally well paid and able to work part-time so I can spend time raising my 3 boys. I have been able to choose my work place (office vs. field location) and career path. I have choice in what I do - that makes me very happy.

Proud moments? Lots, every time I see something I have worked on come to fruition I get a thrill but if I have to pick one it would be the Henry gas field (which is in the Otway basin offshore Victoria) development. I worked on this project right through the process from field development planning, drilling and the field coming onto production.

Greatest Professional achievement? Becoming a Senior Staff Engineer.

 

Women  in  Petroleum  Engineering    

Challenges? Balancing work and family, I could not do what I do without amazing support from my husband, children and Mum and Dad, plus my house cleaner!

What are your dreams and goals? I think I have lived most of my work dreams. I would like to travel to Israel at some time, when I get brave enough. My career goal is to become a senior engineer who is seen as someone who junior engineers can go to for advice and guidance. I hope I can help develop the next generation of engineers.

"...make sure you do all the maths at school that you can..."

Inspiration? The positive impact of engineering and the petroleum industry on human society. Engineers are the key to high living standards and longevity - it is sewers and not doctors that save lives. Access to energy is a key to good human life and the petroleum industry provides that in the most effective way. I read a book recently that said the petroleum industry saved the whales and the forests by providing an alternative to burning whale oil and wood for fuel - it is great to be a part of an industry that does that.

Hobbies? Umpiring netball, serving on committees, delivering meals on wheels, reading ( I have a Kindle and it is the best thing I have ever owned), growing trees for life, looking after my chickens and gardening.

School days? As Dad was a teacher we moved around every few years, I went to high school in Peterborough (Year 8) and Renmark (Year 9-12).

Advice for young women who want to become an engineer: Go for it, you will be rewarded with an amazing career. On a more boring note, make sure you do all the maths at school that you can - that's the tough part!

 

Women  in  Petroleum  Engineering    

Mary Gonzalez - Petroleum Engineer working as a lecturer at the Australian School of Petroleum Where it all began: "I always liked maths and chemistry in school, and I used to be the teaching tutor for my classmates and my little sister", recalled Mary. "Also, I was fortunate to have a chemistry teacher who influenced me into the petrochemical industry". When the time to decide arrived, Mary was pretty sure about her vocations; economics, teaching, politics and engineering. Quite a few to choose from! However, she had a very good general picture of what her future could be. "Well, I said to myself, the oil industry is a profitable business... I can work as an engineer, I can teach, and it also involves the economy, and politics. Great!" Mary didn't have any problem getting a placement at University as she was the second top student in high school. However, University was far away from home, and Mary was just 17 years old. "I am deeply thankful with my parents who trusted me and gave me all the support to be able to study my bachelor degree", says Mary.

Times at university were not easy, far away from home, no family, tough courses, horrible weather, and economic limitations, but when things are difficult, this is when you most appreciate it in the end. After some time she ended up loving that city, and was even fortunate to get a scholarship from the oil industry to support her studies, and contribute with the living expenses. Aspirations "My aspirations started to be fulfilled when in my final year I was offered two great jobs, including my dream job" recalled Mary, "and that was to work for Intevep, the Venezuelan Institute for Petroleum Technology". Mary got a Bachelor Degree in Petroleum Engineering from Zulia University, Venezuela in 2000 and later on, her Post Graduate Degree in Petroleum Engineering from Central de Venezuela University in 2004.

Professional challenges and achievements Today, Mary Gonzalez is a Lecturer of Petroleum Engineering at the University of Adelaide. She joined the Australian School of Petroleum in 2009 after several years of experience in the oil and gas industry, most recently as Head of the Adelaide office for Advanced Well Technologies, where she provided practical Petroleum Engineering Consultancy Services and Solutions in the areas of Subsurface and Production Engineering. Previous to that, Mary worked for PDVSA E&P, and PDVSA Intevep (Technological Division of National Venezuelan Oil Co) in several production, facilities, and reservoir engineering roles. Mary believes that engineering is an enriching experience for women too. While the petroleum industry is still a male-dominated area, women engineers and geologists are becoming increasingly common. "You may be a part of a minority group", says Mary; "but already with a number of women in the industry, it never seemed an issue or a novelty, even in the field". "My parents raised me to believe that I could do anything I wanted and always try my best to achieve my dreams, even the personal ones", says Mary. Professional challenges and achievements

"With a new young family, balancing a career and family life is not an easy task", says Mary, "but it is possible. I love my family, they are the number one priority in my life, and I really look forward to enjoying time with them".

Mary's new passion is lecturing. "I feel proud of this great opportunity; I want to be a great role model for all my students, especially the female ones".

 

Women  in  Petroleum  Engineering    

Tegan Digby - a Drilling Engineer with Santos in Adelaide Why did you choose to do a degree in Petroleum Engineering? I initially did a degree in chemical engineering at the University of Queensland. Since starting work in the oil and gas industry I have chosen to return to university and have recently completed a Masters of Petroleum Engineering which I did part time through the Australian School of Petroleum. I chose to do this to gain a broader base understanding of the petroleum industry and because I was interested in learning more about my new field.

What does your day at work involve? As a Drilling Engineer in the International Drilling & Completions Team, I am involved in the planning and execution of drilling oil and gas wells as part of Santos' projects internationally. The work includes preparing cost estimates and tracking costs, contractor management, project management, logistics, calculations and computer modelling associated with well design and the drilling operation, identifying risks and implementing appropriate controls in an effort to ensure EHS targets are met and to optimise costs.

"Drilling engineering is great...high cost projects, large equipment, big personalities,

huge responsibility and always scope for improvements which keeps the job very

interesting."

What is the best part of being an engineer? The best part of being an engineer is the opportunities that come up. There are excellent job prospects, plenty of opportunity to travel and great pay. Engineers are generally in demand and are highly valued.

What are your dreams and goals? I hope to look back on my career and have plenty of great memories of travelling and working all over the world and meeting lots of interesting people. As an engineer working in the oil and gas industry this is highly achievable.

Advice for young women who want to be an engineer: Don't think being a female will make you any different to anyone else in the engineering field, and nor should it. Although engineering may have been traditionally a male dominated field, this is now not the case. Engineering is a fantastic career choice for both males and females.

Engineers are generally in high demand, do very interesting, diverse and rewarding work, get paid extremely well and can be found in all sorts of roles...you'd be surprised all the places you find engineers working!

 

Women  in  Petroleum  Engineering    

Making a difference...

Gladys Chang - Petroleum Engineer with Arrow Energy in Brisbane Why did you choose to do a degree in Petroleum Engineering? It is something different and full of innovative ideas that I wish to explore! What do you do? I am a Petroleum Engineer with Arrow Energy in Brisbane.

What does your day mainly involve? I have recently become more heavily involved with coal seam gas reservoirs. I run lots of simulation models. The results will then feed in to the field development plan. I also manage the production database to ensure data is being effectively captured and can be utilized by other engineers for their analyses. I also sometimes provide software/technical support and training to others. What is the best part of being an Engineer? I enjoy the satisfaction of solving challenging problems and identifying a way to help others resolve the same problem more efficiently in the future. Proud moments? The ability to tackle some very tough problems at work and the satisfaction you gain from it. Greatest professional achievement? To have the opportunity to collaborate with the Australian School of Petroleum in writing a Society of Petroleum Engineers Paper and earning a couple Operational Excellence awards when I was with Schlumberger.

What are your dreams and goals? I tell my wishing stars that one day I would like to own and develop my very own oil or gas field! More realistically in the short term, I would like to develop my reservoir engineering skills and climb up the technical ladder as quickly as possible. Challenges? As an engineer you tend to get faced with problems every day be it small or big. Part of the challenge is to come up with an effective solution, but the battle will only be fully won if you are also able to communicate and convince others about the employing the solution. The main challenge is to be able to conquer both.

”I enjoy the satisfaction of solving challenging problems"

Inspiration? I like to be able to make a difference in this world. I want to be able to contribute innovative ideas that can continuously improving the way the oilfield world operates. I truly believe in M. Ghandi’s quote “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” Hobbies? Playing the piano, photography, travelling. School days? Originally I was born in Malaysia but I grew up in different parts of the world as my Dad was also working in the petroleum industry. I have been to school in the Netherlands, Malaysia and Australia. I graduated from the Bachelor of Petroleum Engineering Honours program at the Australian School of Petroleum. Memories of the ASP? The BBQs, the pub-crawls, fun classmates and funny lecturers … one would think I never did any studying, but you always tend to remember the fun stuff… Advice for young women who want to be an engineer? There aren’t enough women in the industry. The fact that you want to be an engineer already shows that you are not afraid of challenges! Continue to maintain that perspective and don’t be afraid of challenges!

 

Women  in  Petroleum  Engineering    

 

Further Information Ph: (08) 8313 8000 Fax: (08) 8313 4345 Email: admin@asp.adelaide.edu.au Web: www.asp.adelaide.edu.au/