What Keeps Someone Excited After 35 Years in the Same Industry

In the latest of our series where we take a deeper dive into the lives and careers of some of the contractors that have passed through (and continue to revisit) Orion’s doors, we look at Andrew Winter, whose journey into Petrophysics wasn’t as straightforward as first planned, and how, despite 35 years in the business, every new project and every day still feels like a new adventure.

What is Petrophysics?

It's not a term most people come across in everyday conversation. Put simply, petrophysics is the science of studying the physical and chemical properties of rocks and understanding how fluids such as oil and gas move through them. 

Once the rock and hydrocarbons they contain down the borehole have been analysed, they work with geologists and reservoir engineers to calculate the total amount of moveable hydrocarbons in place. This is fundamental to oil and gas operators as it provides them with the information to decide if the well will make enough money to justify completion and production. 

For Andrew Winter, the simple question of ‘What is Petrophysics?’ sparked a career that would challenge him intellectually as well as take him across the globe. 

Despite spending over 35 years in the industry, Andrew's curiosity never faded. The constant need to solve complex problems, adapt to new technologies, and understand what lies beneath the Earth's surface ensured that no two days were ever quite the same.

[New Zealand - where it all started for Andrew]

His journey into the field wasn't part of a carefully planned career path:

"I fell into petrophysics completely by accident."

At the time, he was living in New Zealand and looking to become an airline pilot. However, a temporary job with an oil company introduced him to a career he had never previously considered.

"No planning whatsoever. I'd never even heard of the job until I met somebody who did it."

His story highlights something many young professionals and career changers often overlook; some of the most rewarding careers are the ones you don't plan for and least expect.

Being a Petrophysicist is More Than Just a Job

When people think about working in the oil and gas and energy industry, they often imagine offshore rigs, hard hats, and remote locations. The reality can be very different.

Petrophysics combines science, technology and decision making. It's a career built around understanding what lies beneath the Earth's surface and helping businesses make critical decisions worth millions.

"It's a technical challenge; people are quite surprised when you say you sit behind a computer screen doing interpretation."

For those who enjoy solving complex problems, that's exactly what makes it exciting. But the technical side was only part of the attraction to Andrew.

A Career That Opened Up the World

One of the biggest surprises wasn't the work itself, it was where the work would take him.

"What I didn't expect was the international travel."

Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, energy companies were expanding into new regions across the globe, creating opportunities to work in countries many people only ever see on a map.

"Every three months I was on a business class trip to somewhere in the world. It was Indonesia, it was South America, it was the Philippines or wherever." 

When asked what his favourite location was that he's had the privilege to visit, he replied:

"Bolivia. I love Bolivia - it was such an easy-going country. The people were very friendly. Despite the extreme poverty, the people were still very, very friendly and entrepreneurial."

[At the Bolivia/Argentina border]

While being able to do what he loves and experience travelling all over the world, Andrew’s role also comes with responsibility. If something's happening at a critical moment that needs an instant decision to be made, then he must be on standby and on call 24 hours a day. 

"The thing I don't like now is working through nights. If there's a problem, they'll call us. When we're drilling a well, I get called at three in the morning. So, you don't get a lot of sleep."

Like anyone who’s been in a long-term career, technology has a way of changing the game – for the good and the bad. When Andrew first started out in the industry, he was on-site most of the time, but as technology, communication and connectivity accelerated, being physically present also changed: 

"The need to go to the well site became less."

For young people considering their future, it's a reminder that some careers can offer far more than a salary. They can provide experiences, opportunities, and adventures that shape who you become. They offer the chance to learn firsthand about different cultures and ways of life, something you simply can't get from a typical 9-to-5 job.

The Best Careers Often Start Unexpectedly

Today, there is increasing pressure to have everything figured out. Choosing the right degree. Picking the right career. Following the right path. But stories like Andrew's challenge that way of thinking. 

Many successful professionals didn't have a master plan. Instead, they stayed curious, remained open to opportunities, and were willing to try something new.

"My whole plan was to become an airline pilot."

Before becoming a petrophysicist, Andrew had studied as a geologist, and shortly after graduating, ended up working as a technical assistant at an oil company in New Zealand. So how did the pivot from technical assistant to petrophycisist happen?

"I worked with a contractor who was a petrophysicist. Eventually he decided to leave the company, and I was made petrophysicist in his absence. No planning whatsoever.”

And it’s a decision Andrew has never regretted since day one, despite having to give up on his early flying career!

It shows that you don't need to have every step mapped out. Sometimes your next opportunity is one you never even considered.

Final Thoughts Over a Long Career

After more than 35 years in the industry, Andrew's story demonstrates that the most fulfilling careers are not always the ones you originally set out to pursue. What began as an unexpected opportunity evolved into a profession that challenged him intellectually, took him around the world, and allowed him to work at the forefront of science and technology.

His experience highlights the value of staying curious, embracing new opportunities, and remaining open to unexpected paths. Rather than following a carefully mapped out plan, Andrew built a successful and rewarding career.

For anyone considering their future career options, petrophysics offers far more than technical expertise alone. It is a profession built on problem-solving, continuous learning, global opportunities, and the chance to make a meaningful impact within a complex and evolving industry.

As Andrew's journey shows, sometimes the most rewarding careers are the ones you never planned for, they are the ones you discover along the way.

[The other career that could have taken off! Andrew still manages to fly and train others]