Charlie Hamilton, a 23-year-old associate
geoscientist with Maersk Oil North Sea UK
Limited in Aberdeen was inspired to take up a
career in oil and gas from an unlikely source.
"My decision to study geology came from
the film Jurassic Park and a love of fossil
hunting on beaches. My desire to become
a palaeontologist resulted in a GCSE and
A-level in geology, then onto a BSc at
Edinburgh University which provided me
with a strong foundation in all aspects of
geoscience," said Charlie.
"It was in third year of my BSc that I
completed a hydrocarbon course and realised
that this stuff was actually pretty interesting
so I began to contemplate working in the oil
industry. I would be able to travel all over the
world, experience working offshore, go on
fieldtrips to weird and wonderful places, be at
the forefront of technological advance - not to
mention the impressive salary."
After deciding this was the career for her,
Charlie applied to the Integrated Petroleum
Geology MSc at Aberdeen University; an
essential vocational link into the energy
industry.
"During my MSc I was given the opportunity
to compete in the AAPG Barrel Award - a
competition that aims to give students the
chance to work an exploration project from
start to finish. Our team had six weeks to
change a few wells and some rather challenging
seismic into a seamless presentation detailing
prospects and risk analysis. This presentation
was given to a panel of industry experts
which was nerve racking at the time but on
the whole an invaluable experience."
"After graduating in 2007 I joined Maersk Oil
in Aberdeen. I liked the Maersk Oil graduate
programme as it allowed me to rotate to a
number of different departments improving
my knowledge in all areas."
Charlie is currently working in exploration
completing a study on Upper Jurassic sand
distributions in the Outer Moray Firth but
will shortly be rotating to Rock Physics then
into Operations Geology.
"I have also been given the opportunity to
join the Maersk International Technology
and Science programme (MITAS), a two year
programme that combines challenging hands
on experience with theoretical learning,
aiming to fast track new graduates to
becoming technological leaders or specialists
in the A.P. Moller - Maersk Group.
"The theoretical learning includes courses
such as project management and process
excellence while also giving you the chance
to hone your leadership and teamwork skills.
The major benefit of the programme is the
opportunity to network with other Maersk
employees from different business units and
from all over the world.
"If you asked me 10 years ago where I
thought I would be now I probably would
not have said working for an oil company.
However, I am confident I made the right
choice. Although my career in the oil industry
has only just begun, I like the way it's going
so far."
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