Seismic Analysis R&D Geophysicist (San Ramon, CA or Houston, TX) / 03221626

Chevron Corporation is one of the world's leading energy companies. The Chevron portfolio includes powerful and respected retail and product brands - Chevron service stations in North America; Texaco service stations in the U.S., Europe, Latin America and West Africa; Caltex services stations in Asia, Australia and parts of the Middle East and Africa; and a broad portfolio of product lubricant brands. College students or recent graduates ready to launch their careers may wish to consider joining us. So too may experienced employees with a strong desire to build on their achievements.

If you are interested in this position, you must respond online. No phone, fax or email inquiries from potential applicants, external recruiters or other interested parties, please.

Chevron is an Equal Opportunity Employer


Position Description:

Chevron Energy Technology Company (ETC) is accepting online applications for the position of a Seismic Analysis R&D Geophysicist (0608-50161281) located in San Ramon, California or Houston, Texas through August 31, 2006.

POSITION DESCRIPTION:
We seek a leading researcher with proven experience in the development and application of geophysical inversion methodologies, including linear and nonlinear deterministic and stochastic approaches, for extracting rock and fluid properties from seismic data and electromagnetic data.


Qualifications:

ESSENTIAL POSITION FUNCTIONS:
Conduct geophysical inversion R&D for rock and fluid properties estimation from seismic and electromagnetic data. Assume a leadership role in steering R&D efforts necessary to grow our differentiated technical services in seismic analysis and electromagnetic analysis. Work with our technology service teams to apply and establish the business value of newly developed inversion algorithms to exploration and development projects. Interact with our research teams to communicate results and share expertise. Mentor the younger staff in the art and science of geophysical inversion.

SPECIAL SKILLS/REQUIREMENTS OR ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS/INFORMATION:
- Ph.D. required in Geophysics, Physics or Computational Physics.
- Relocation benefits will be considered.

SELECTION CRITERIA:
- Required Education/Experience: 3+ years of direct industry experience after the PhD.

- Experience with linear and nonlinear inverse theory approaches for estimating rock and fluid properties from geophysical data, including seismic and electromagnetic data. Knowledge of stochastic inversion methods and modern approaches of statistical inference.

- Experience in integrated geophysical inversion of different data types to arrive at geologically consistent estimates of rock and fluid properties; experience with real world data and signal/noise issues.

- Strong background in analytical and computational geophysics, including numerical seismic and electromagnetic modeling, and an associated understanding of the physics of elastic waves and electromagnetic diffusion in rock.

- Working knowledge of seismic and electromagnetic rock physics; familiarity with seismic imaging and tomography.

- Ability and willingness to apply newly developed algorithms to real world Business Unit projects.

- Familiarity with object-oriented design and parallel programming. Experience with commercial software development

- Good communication and interpersonal skills, ability to work in a highly interactive team R&D setting

PLEASE RESPOND TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS WHEN SUBMITTING YOUR RESUME:
1. Outline an inversion strategy for imaging reservoir fluids using seismic and electromagnetic data. What should be done to properly account for the different physical units of the mixed parameterization?

2. What do you consider to be the most important issues in solving an ill-posed nonlinear optimization problem?

3. What factors control the subsurface resolution of electromagnetic diffusion inversion images of conductivity in a controlled source marine EM survey?

4. *Physically* explain why, if a propagating waveform's spectrum is changed in any way (e.g., via absorption), that it must undergo dispersion.