Teresa Reid: Fueling her Future

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates the U.S. has likely surpassed Russia and Saudi Arabia as the world’s largest producer of crude oil. Sophomore Teresa Reid is inspired by the growth of the industry in the U.S., and is looking to the future when she can toss her hat into the ring and work with some of the best petroleum and natural gas engineers in the world. 

“Out of all of the engineering fields, Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering (PNGE) was most intriguing to me because of the opportunities stemming from growth of the industry in the U.S.,” said Reid. 

Since well-before her high school graduation, Reid knew studying engineering was her calling. As a student who always excelled in subjects related to math and science, she knew that engineering would lead her to a job that plays on her strengths, a job that she can be passionate about. Now a sophomore PNGE and applied mathematics double major at Saint Francis, Reid has already received awards, research grants and an internship in her field. 

Last year, Reid was named Outstanding Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering Freshmen Student. “I put a lot of hard work and a lot of time into studying,” said Reid. “It was a huge honor.”

This past summer, Reid was the recipient of a Summer Student Research Grant. For several weeks over the break, she stayed on campus to master computer simulation software that allowed her to create 2D and 3D reservoir models. She then used the software to create property maps of Marcellus Shale well formations and create reservoir models to predict and evaluate well performance and well reserves. Her completed research, titled “Property Study and Reservoir Modeling of Marcellus Shale, PA,” was presented at the annual Saint Francis University Student Research Day in November.

Following the completion of her sophomore year this spring, Reid has accepted an internship with Range Resources, one of the largest exploration companies operating in the United States that pioneered operations in the Marcellus Formation. As an intern, Reid will gain hands-on experience working in the field, conduct  research on the lifecycle of a well, and will present her work to Range Resources executives in August. “Spending every day helping to produce petroleum-based fuels in an efficient and environmentally-conscious manner is something I can be proud of,” Reid said.

In addition to all her hard work in the classroom and professional field, Reid is also a starting midfielder for the NCAA Division 1 Red Flash women’s soccer team. Her dedication to both her studies and her sport demand much of her time, but she has found a good balance. She implements her own 10-hour rule for every exam – putting in at least 10 hours of study time before sitting down to take a test – and she is still able to maintain her hectic soccer schedule and hang out with friends. 

“As a freshman I struggled a little managing my time, but by the spring semester of that year I figured out my schedule and was able to balance everything,” Reid explained. “At first it was hard, but playing soccer helped me learn how to manage my time. So in a way, it was very beneficial.”