A professional who studies structure of subsurface rock formations to locate petroleum deposits. Responsibilities include:

• Conducts research, using geophysical instruments such as seismograph, gravimeter, torsion balance, and magnetometer, pendulum devices, and electrical-resistivity apparatus to measure characteristics of earth.
• Computes variations in physical forces existing at different locations and interprets data to reveal subsurface structures likely to contain petroleum deposits.
• Prepares charts, profiles or subsurface contour maps, and determines desirable locations for drilling operations.
• Directs field crews drilling boreholes and collecting samples of rock and soil for chemical analysis of hydrocarbon content.
• May specialize in particular instrumentation and be designated Electrical Prospector; Gravity Prospector; Magnetic Prospector; Seismic Prospector.