INTRODUCTION

Job Title: Drilling Engineer
Name: Victoria Wilkins
Company Overview: Victoria Wilkins is a Drilling Engineer at ExxonMobil Canada, where she contributes her expertise to designing and overseeing well-drilling projects. Her work includes collaboration across various departments and external organizations, supporting the intricate processes that ensure safety, cost-efficiency, and regulatory compliance.

Job Overview

Victoria’s responsibilities encompass a broad range of engineering tasks essential for effective well-drilling operations. She prepares drilling procedures, estimates project costs, chooses the appropriate tools, and assesses potential risks. Additionally, her role involves understanding government regulations to ensure compliance. Victoria’s work initially took her offshore, where she gathered and analyzed data from drilling sites, but she now applies these insights to her onshore responsibilities, supporting a cohesive and team-oriented work environment.

Career Path

Victoria graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering in Ocean and Naval Architectural Engineering from Memorial University, a program that included five co-op internships across multiple industries and locations, refining her skills and interests. While her degree isn’t directly related to drilling, her education provided a solid foundation in engineering principles. Victoria’s time management skills, developed through high school extracurriculars and part-time jobs, have been invaluable in her career. Her hands-on training at ExxonMobil has further specialized her skill set, including classes in Houston with peers from other ExxonMobil locations.

Day in the Life

Victoria’s current onshore role allows her to contribute daily to project planning and decision-making. Her office environment is fast-paced, requiring quick thinking, problem-solving, and excellent communication. Previously, while working offshore, she gained practical experience by collaborating with vendors and service personnel, which now aids her in her onshore work. Victoria enjoys the structured nature of her role, with regular hours that allow for a work-life balance, yet her work remains stimulating due to ExxonMobil’s focus on safety, innovation, and collaboration.

Skills and Tools

Technical Skills: Project design, data analysis, regulatory knowledge, cost estimation, and risk assessment. Soft Skills: Problem-solving, communication, teamwork, and time management. Tools Used: Offshore and onshore drilling technology, project management software, compliance assessment tools.