The petroleum industry is the largest employer of geophysicists in the United States. The Texas A&M degree program provides a number of courses for students interested in careers in the petroleum industry. The overwhelming majority of petroleum geophysicists work in some area related to petroleum seismology. Reflection seismology is the principal tool used by industry to explore the subsurface and is a major tool in petroleum exploration and production.

Petroleum geophysicists work closely with petroleum geologists, petroleum engineers and other scientists and engineers involved in petroleum exploration and development. As a consequence, petroleum geophysicists need to have a working knowledge of engineering and geology. The mix depends on the geophysical specialty.

There are three main petroleum geophysics specialties: seismic theory, seismic imaging and seismic interpretation. All petroleum geophysicists should have a basic understanding of seismic theory, seismic imaging and seismic interpretation. In addition, they should have knowledge of gravity, magnetic and electrical methods used in petroleum exploration and development. Required courses provide for each of the above except for seismic interpretation and gravity-magnetics. Seismic interpretation is usually taught as a graduate course, but is available as an elective for undergraduates through Directed Studies (GEOP 485). Gravity and magnetics are covered in GEOP 475 Interpretation of Gravity and Magnetic Fields.

Students planning careers in seismic theory may wish to take additional courses in Physics, Mathematics (for example, MATH 417 Numerical Analysis I) and Computer Science. Students planning careers in seismic imaging may wish to take electives in Electrical Engineering (ELEN 444 Digital Signal Processing) and Computer Sciences. Other course recommendations are available from the teaching faculty. Students planning to specialize in seismic interpretation will benefit from GEOL 306 Sedimentation and Stratigraphy, GEOL 312 Structural Geology and Tectonics, PETE 201 Introduction to Petroleum Engineering, PETE 311 Reservoir Petrophysics, and PETE 320 Drilling and Production Systems.