Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Interpretation Analyst

🎯 Role Definition

The Interpretation Analyst is a technically focused geoscience professional responsible for interpreting seismic, well and petrophysical data to deliver high-quality subsurface models, prospect evaluations, and production optimization insights. This role combines advanced seismic interpretation workflows, data integration, quantitative analysis and stakeholder communication to enable exploration and development decisions. The ideal candidate is adept with industry-standard interpretation software (e.g., Petrel, Kingdom), has strong subsurface domain knowledge (seismic attributes, AVO/AVO inversion, well ties, petrophysics), and can translate complex geophysical information into actionable insights for geoscience and engineering teams.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Junior Geophysicist / Seismic Interpreter
Petrophysicist or Wellsite Data Analyst
Geoscience Data Analyst with seismic exposure

Advancement To:

Senior Interpretation Analyst / Lead Interpreter
Principal Geophysicist or Reservoir Characterization Lead
Exploration Manager or Technical Discipline Lead

Lateral Moves:

Reservoir Geologist / Geomodeler
Subsurface Data Scientist or Geoscience Data Engineer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Perform detailed seismic interpretation and horizon picking across multiple datasets and basins to define stratigraphic frameworks, fault networks, and reservoir geometries that support exploration and field development decisions.
Integrate seismic volumes with well logs, core descriptions, production data, and geological models to produce consistent reservoir characterization and support petrophysical analyses and volumetric estimates.
Conduct well-to-seismic ties, check shot and VSP analysis, and build velocity models to ensure accurate depth conversion and robust correlation between seismic events and well markers.
Generate and populate structural and stratigraphic maps, isochore and thickness maps, and attribute maps to quantify reservoir continuity, compartmentalization, and prospect potential.
Apply seismic attribute analysis, spectral decomposition, and time-frequency techniques to highlight stratigraphic features, channel systems, and direct hydrocarbon indicators that refine lead and prospect ranking.
Perform AVO/AVO inversion and elastic property inversion workflows (PPG/VP/VS, Poisson’s ratio) to identify fluid and lithology variations and constrain reservoir predictions for exploration and appraisal wells.
Quality control interpretation deliverables, validate seismic horizons and fault surfaces, and maintain version-controlled interpretation projects to ensure reproducibility and auditability.
Build 3D geomodels in collaboration with geologists and reservoir engineers, integrating structural interpretation, facies distribution and petrophysical parameters for static model development.
Produce prospect evaluation documentation including technical write-ups, maps, cross-sections, volumetrics (P50/P90/P10), risk assessments, and work-up materials for investment committees and management review.
Lead multi-disciplinary interpretation workshops with geologists, petrophysicists, reservoir engineers and petrotechnical staff to align on subsurface uncertainties and development strategies.
Execute sensitivity studies and scenario testing (different fault closures, contacts, and net-to-gross scenarios) to quantify uncertainty and to inform drilling and appraisal decisions.
Automate repetitive interpretation tasks using scripting (Python, TCL, or Petrel plugins) and optimize workflows to increase productivity and consistency across interpretation projects.
Perform attribute-driven facies classification and machine-learning assisted interpretation to accelerate subsystem identification and improve reservoir heterogeneity characterization.
Conduct feasibility and screening studies for reprocessing, amplitude preservation and velocity model updates to recommend targeted seismic data enhancements that improve interpretability.
Interface with data management teams to ensure seismic, well and ancillary data are properly catalogued, QC’d, and accessible within corporate databases and interpretation platforms.
Prepare and present technical findings, interpretations and risk assessments to stakeholders and C-suite audiences, translating complex geophysical concepts into clear business implications.
Support well planning and drilling programs by providing target coordinates, structure maps, hazard identification and pre-drill depth prognosis to drilling engineers and operations teams.
Perform post-drill interpretation and update subsurface models with new well data, revise volumetrics and economic assessments, and capture lessons learned for future campaigns.
Mentor junior interpreters and analysts, review their work, provide technical guidance on interpretation methodologies, and help build internal best practices and standards.
Ensure compliance with HSE (health, safety, environment) and data governance policies during field data handling, interpretation activities and when coordinating with external contractors.
Collaborate with exploration and production partners, 3rd-party vendors and service companies to coordinate data acquisition, seismic processing deliverables and interpretation studies.
Track and incorporate the latest geophysical techniques, academic research and industry best practices (e.g., advanced inversion methods, AVO pre-stack workflows, ML-driven attribute analysis) into the team’s interpretation toolset.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
Assist in vendor evaluation and tool procurement by providing technical requirements and use-case validation.
Contribute to internal training materials and knowledge base articles that document interpretation workflows, shortcuts and QA/QC checklists.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Advanced seismic interpretation using Petrel, IHS Kingdom, OpendTect, or equivalent commercial software environments.
Expertise in horizon picking, fault mapping, structural restoration and 3D geomodel building.
Well-to-seismic tying, velocity model building, time-depth conversion and check-shot/VSP analysis.
Proficiency in seismic attribute analysis, spectral decomposition, and quantitative interpretation workflows.
Experience with pre-stack AVO analysis, elastic inversion and rock physics calibration.
Strong understanding of petrophysics, net-to-gross estimation, and integration of log-based reservoir properties into models.
Practical experience with data integration from multiple sources (seismic, well logs, core, production, and satellite/GIS layers).
Scripting and automation skills (Python, MATLAB, Petrel Python API, or platform-specific SDKs) for workflow optimization and data processing.
Familiarity with reservoir modeling and static model construction tools (e.g., Petrel Reservoir, GOCAD, Roxar RMS).
Data quality control, version control of interpretation projects, and effective use of corporate data management systems.
Experience with machine learning techniques applied to seismic and well data (classification, clustering, attribute-driven ML).
Ability to create publication-quality maps, cross-sections, figures and technical reports optimized for both print and digital stakeholders.

Soft Skills

Clear, persuasive written and verbal communication tailored to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills in multi-disciplinary teams.
Critical thinking and structured problem-solving to evaluate multiple hypotheses and quantify uncertainty.
Attention to detail with a methodical approach to QC and validation of interpretation outputs.
Time management and prioritization skills to balance exploration, appraisal and production support tasks.
Coaching and mentoring ability to develop junior staff and cultivate a learning culture.
Adaptability and continuous learning mindset to keep pace with evolving geophysical methods and tools.
Presentation and storytelling skills for delivering concise, action-oriented briefings to management and partners.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Geophysics, Geology, Earth Sciences, Petroleum Engineering, or a closely related discipline.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Geophysics, Exploration Geology, or Applied Geoscience with emphasis on seismic interpretation, reservoir characterization or quantitative geophysics.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Geophysics
Geology / Exploration Geology
Petroleum Engineering
Data Science / Applied Mathematics (with geoscience applications)
Geomatics / GIS

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–7 years of hands-on seismic interpretation and subsurface modeling experience, with demonstrated delivery on exploration or field development projects.

Preferred: 5+ years of progressive experience in seismic interpretation, reservoir characterization and cross-disciplinary subsurface workflows, including exposure to international basins, multi-vendor datasets and advanced inversion/attribute techniques.