Abstract
Success in upstream engineering requires far more than technical competence alone. While university curricula emphasize analytical rigor and engineering fundamentals, the professional expectations within an upstream oil and gas company are often more nuanced and less straightforward than students anticipate. This talk explores what professionalism truly looks like in an upstream engineering role, including communication, judgment, accountability, and adaptability in a multidisciplinary, high-stakes environment.
In addition, the presentation offers practical guidance on preparing for interviews with upstream operators. Beyond mastering technical questions, candidates must demonstrate commercial awareness, professional maturity, and an understanding of how reservoir engineers contribute to business decisions. By connecting academic preparation to real-world expectations, this session aims to help students better position themselves for both the interview process and long-term success in upstream reservoir engineering roles.
Bio
Courtney Stephens is the Founder and CEO of QED Energy Analytics and brings more than two decades of experience across the upstream oil and gas industry, spanning reservoir evaluation, investment banking, commercial analysis, and organizational development.
Courtney began her career in the oil patch in 2002, training as a Petroleum Analyst at Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc. She later expanded her technical and commercial expertise at Waterous & Co. (now Scotiabank), where she served as an Engineering Technologist. In 2005, Courtney joined Marathon Oil Company, where she served in multiple roles including Senior Engineering Technician and Senior Commercial Analyst within the Southern Business Unit. During her tenure at Marathon, she worked with several teams and also founded Marathon’s Technician Community of Practice and was a key contributor to the implementation of the company’s Technician Training Curriculum.
Courtney holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Centenary College of Louisiana, graduating Magna Cum Laude with Departmental Honors. She is featured in 101 Careers in Mathematics (Fourth Edition), published by the American Mathematical Society, and her career profile is highlighted by the Mathematical Association of America.
Courtney was named Young Entrepreneur of the Year by the Houston West Chamber of Commerce in 2012 and received the Young Alumni Leadership Award from Centenary College of Louisiana in 2017. She currently serves on Centenary’s President’s Advisory Council. Courtney has been featured in VoyageHouston, ShoutOutHTX, and CanvasRebel, and is a 2025 honoree of Hart Energy’s Influential Women in Energy.