Reflection Of My Future

While there are some serious deficiencies in my undergraduate transcript (addressed herein), I sincerely believe a truer reflection of my academic potential can be found in my professional career, where I am currently 'A ' rated (top 15% of employees) by Schlumberger.

If any characteristic could be said to define my life and my career so far, it would be that of grit. As an undergraduate student I became mired in a spiral of debt. I took on extra employment to sustain my way through college, sometimes working full time to pay the bills. I burned the candle at both ends and wound up in serious debt (around $100,000), worn out and sick – literally. But I did not give up. I found the strength to see it through and ultimately achieved a 2.II with

I run at least 20 miles/week (follow me at strava.com/athletes/paulbar), and I completed the New York City Marathon in 2014. In the process I raised over $1000 for an Alzheimer’s charity in memory of my grandfather. I also blog about personal finance (droppedcoin.com), and enjoy cooking (Instagram @paulie_numerouno) and spending quality time with my wife & kids (Facebook @paulbar).

I wish to pursue further education in Petroleum Engineering to ultimately improve my career prospects. I am keen to expand my knowledge beyond drilling engineering and into the broader topic of well engineering such that I can take on more responsibility in future drilling projects. I believe that the Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering at Texas A&M is the right place for me to do this because it has an unrivalled reputation in the subject and a faculty packed with pre-eminent thinkers in the reservoir engineering domain. I noted with interest, the research pursued by the following members:

- Professor Dupriest. His research interests cover much of the applied engineering practices I have utilized on a day-to-day basis for several years. I would obtain great value in deepening my understanding of subjects such as stuck pipe avoidance and borehole quality

My uncle, Iain Sneddon, was heavily involved in developing the CAPM (Continuous Annular Pressure Management) dual gradient drilling system and this is where I first took an interest in such systems. MPD in general is an area where I see a lot of value in expanding my knowledge and understanding.

- Professor Laprea-Bigott. I was first exposed to heavy oil in the North Sea when I delivered an exploration well for a client that heated the drilling fluid while drilling through the pay zone, in order to reduce skin damage. Such techniques are always going to be valuable throughout the world as hydrocarbons become more and more difficult to