Monica Marquez: Cal Poly Pomona Engineer Leading Excellence in Oil & Gas Innovation
Monica Marquez stands as a prominent figure in the oil and gas industry, blending technical expertise, hands-on experience, and a commitment to sustainable progress—all rooted in her education at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona). As a petroleum engineer with over 15 years of experience, Marquez has contributed to landmark projects in unconventional resource extraction, digital transformation in drilling, and mentorship programs for emerging talent. Her journey from a Cal Poly Pomona classroom to leading technical teams at major energy firms underscores the university’s role in shaping industry-ready professionals. This article explores Marquez’s career trajectory, the foundational education she received at Cal Poly Pomona, her impact on the oil and gas sector, and why her story matters for aspiring engineers and the industry at large.
The Making of a Petroleum Engineer: Cal Poly Pomona’s Role in Shaping Marquez’s Expertise
Cal Poly Pomona’s College of Engineering has long been recognized for its “learn by doing” philosophy, and nowhere is this more evident than in its petroleum engineering program. For Monica Marquez, this approach was transformative. Enrolling in 2005, she chose Cal Poly Pomona for its reputation for blending theoretical rigor with practical field exposure—a critical factor for a discipline as hands-on as petroleum engineering.
Curriculum Designed for Real-World Application
The petroleum engineering program at Cal Poly Pomona emphasizes core subjects like reservoir mechanics, drilling engineering, and production technology, but it also prioritizes courses that bridge theory and practice. Marquez cites Petroleum Reservoir Simulationand Well Logging Interpretationas pivotal. In these classes, students worked directly with industry-standard software (e.g., Eclipse, Petrel) and analyzed real reservoir data provided by partner companies like Chevron and Occidental Petroleum. “We weren’t just solving textbook problems,” Marquez recalls. “We were interpreting actual well logs from the Permian Basin and modeling production decline curves for fields in Kern County. That gave me confidence I could step into a job on day one.”
Beyond coursework, Cal Poly Pomona’s labs and facilities played a key role. The university’s Petroleum Engineering Laboratory houses equipment for core analysis, fluid property testing, and flow assurance studies—tools Marquez used extensively. She participated in a senior design project where her team optimized hydraulic fracturing designs for a hypothetical shale play, using microseismic data to predict fracture propagation. “That project mimicked work I’d later do at my first job,” she says. “It taught me how to balance cost, safety, and production efficiency—skills every petroleum engineer needs.”
Faculty with Industry Experience
Cal Poly Pomona’s faculty, many of whom have spent decades in the oil and gas sector, provided Marquez with mentorship that extended beyond lectures. Dr. Carlos Mendez, her reservoir engineering professor, had previously worked as a production engineer for Shell. “He didn’t just teach us equations; he shared stories about troubleshooting well performance in the Gulf of Mexico,” Marquez explains. “That human element—understanding the challenges engineers face in the field—made the material stick.”
This emphasis on experienced faculty ensures students gain insights into industry pain points. For Marquez, this translated to an ability to ask the right questions early in her career. “When I joined my first company, I wasn’t intimidated by senior engineers because I’d already discussed similar challenges with my professors,” she notes.
Early Career: From Classroom to Field—Marquez’s First Steps in the Industry
After graduating with a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering in 2009, Marquez joined Occidental Petroleum (Oxy) as a production engineer. Her role focused on optimizing output from mature fields in California’s San Joaquin Valley, a region known for its complex geology and aging infrastructure.
Tackling Mature Field Challenges
Mature fields present unique issues: declining production rates, high water cut, and the need for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques. Marquez’s first project involved analyzing production data from a 50-year-old field to identify underperforming wells. Using pressure transient analysis and production logging tools, she pinpointed wells with formation damage caused by outdated completion practices.
“Many of these wells had been producing for decades without modern stimulation,” Marquez says. “By recommending targeted acidizing treatments and re-fracturing, we boosted production by 18% in six months.” This early success earned her recognition within Oxy and solidified her interest in EOR and production optimization.
Learning from Seasoned Mentors
At Oxy, Marquez was paired with a senior reservoir engineer who had 30 years of experience. “He taught me to look beyond surface data,” she explains. “We’d spend hours in the field, inspecting well pads and talking to roughnecks. Understanding how equipment performed in real time gave me a better grasp of what the data was telling us.” This mentorship was informal but invaluable, highlighting the importance of on-the-job learning—a hallmark of Cal Poly Pomona’s educational philosophy.
Scaling Expertise: Leading Projects in Unconventional Resources and Digitalization
By the mid-2010s, Marquez had transitioned to a role at a mid-sized independent operator, where she focused on unconventional resources like the Eagle Ford Shale. This shift required her to master new technologies, from horizontal drilling to multi-stage fracturing, and adapt to the fast-paced nature of shale play development.
Driving Efficiency in Shale Operations
In her role as a drilling operations engineer, Marquez led efforts to reduce well costs while maintaining production targets. She analyzed drilling parameters (e.g., rate of penetration, torque) across 50+ wells and identified inefficiencies in bit selection and mud programs. By partnering with service companies to test new polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) bits and water-based mud formulations, her team cut drilling time per well by 12%, saving the company $2.5 million annually.
“Cal Poly Pomona’s focus on data analysis prepared me for this,” Marquez says. “We’d spent countless hours in labs running statistical models on production data—so when I got to shale, using machine learning to optimize drilling parameters felt like a natural extension.”
Pioneering Digital Transformation
As the industry embraced digital tools, Marquez shifted her focus to integrating data analytics and automation. She spearheaded a project to deploy real-time monitoring systems across the company’s Permian Basin assets, using IoT sensors to track pressure, temperature, and flow rates. This system alerted engineers to potential issues (e.g., equipment failures, formation leaks) before they escalated, reducing downtime by 25%.
“Digitalization isn’t just about fancy tools—it’s about making better decisions faster,” Marquez explains. “My education at Cal Poly Pomona taught me to question assumptions and rely on data, which is exactly what’s needed to lead these transitions.”
Beyond Technical Work: Mentorship and Industry Leadership
Marquez’s influence extends beyond project execution. She has mentored dozens of young engineers, many of whom are now in leadership roles themselves, and has actively contributed to industry organizations like the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE).
Cultivating the Next Generation
Recognizing the value of her own mentors, Marquez established a mentorship program at her current company, pairing junior engineers with seasoned veterans. She also volunteers with Cal Poly Pomona’s petroleum engineering department, guest-lecturing on topics like EOR and digital oilfields. “Students today are tech-savvy, but they need to understand the fundamentals—reservoir behavior, fluid dynamics,” she says. “I try to bridge that gap by sharing real-world examples from my career.”
Her efforts have not gone unnoticed. In 2022, Cal Poly Pomona awarded her the “Alumni of the Year” in Engineering, citing her “commitment to advancing both the industry and the next generation of engineers.”
The Future of Oil & Gas: Marquez’s Vision and Cal Poly Pomona’s Role
As the energy sector grapples with decarbonization and the transition to renewables, Marquez believes petroleum engineers will play a critical role in ensuring a smooth shift. “Oil and gas will remain part of the energy mix for decades,” she says. “Our job is to make production cleaner, safer, and more efficient—whether through carbon capture, hydrogen integration, or improved EOR techniques.”
Cal Poly Pomona, she notes, is already adapting. The university recently launched a new track in “Energy Transition Engineering,” which combines petroleum engineering fundamentals with coursework in renewable energy and carbon management. “This ensures graduates are equipped to lead in a changing industry,” Marquez adds. “My hope is that future Monicas—engineers with strong technical skills and a commitment to progress—will continue to drive innovation.”
Conclusion: Monica Marquez and the Legacy of Cal Poly Pomona Engineering
Monica Marquez’s career exemplifies the impact of Cal Poly Pomona’s “learn by doing” philosophy. From her early days optimizing mature fields to leading digital transformation in shale plays, her success stems from a foundation built on hands-on experience, industry-relevant coursework, and mentorship. As the oil and gas industry evolves, her story offers a blueprint for engineers seeking to thrive in a dynamic field—one that values both technical expertise and a forward-thinking mindset.
For aspiring petroleum engineers, Cal Poly Pomona remains a top choice, producing graduates who can hit the ground running and make meaningful contributions. And for the industry, leaders like Marquez ensure that innovation and sustainability go hand in hand—proving that even in a transitioning energy landscape, the skills honed at institutions like Cal Poly Pomona remain indispensable.