Bronco Spotlight: Bryan Currie

Bachelors and Masters, geosciences, 2015

Geologist at Devon Energy

I currently work for an exploration and production company called Devon Energy based out of Oklahoma City.  I have been working as a geologist for our Eagle Ford Business Unit in DeWitt County Texas for the last two years.  I did a 6-month rotation in our Well Construction Business Unit which is responsible for GeoSteering all of the Devon operated.   

What is the most rewarding and the most challenging part of your job?

The most rewarding part of my job is being able to correlate modern day depositional structures and sequences and trying to apply them to patterns observed in the subsurface.  Devon Energy is also the ideal size for a young geologist because it's large enough to offer great training but small enough to allow the opportunity to see and learn the different disciplines in the industry. The most challenging part of my job is working in an office.   

What activities, resources, or people helped you prepare for your career?

One of the main reasons I decided to get my degree at Western Michigan University was because of the reputation and the amount of resources the geology department has to offer.  The Michigan Geological Repository for Research and Education (MGRRE) led by Bill and Linda Harrison offers students the opportunity to get their hands dirty looking at core and correlating the core to the other subsurface data stored in the software they have available for students.  The same software I used for my thesis (Petra) is something I am currently using for my job here at Devon.  MGRRE also does a great job introducing students to a wide variety of geology professionals.   

What advice do you have for others pursuing a career similar to yours?

My advice to other students looking to get into a career similar to mine is to be aware that the oil industry is very cyclic.  Many companies including Devon have had to lay people off because of the low oil prices since late 2014.  If you are fortunate enough to get a job in the industry, be sure to save your money or make smart investments.    

See other Spotlights