Title

Senior Drilling Engineer

Compensation

• Base Salary (doe) $190,000 to $210,000
• This position is Bonus Eligible (to be worked out at time of offer)
• Excellent Benefit and Relo Package

Location

Houston, Texas

Client

Our client is an oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in the Gulf of Mexico, one of the most attractive hydrocarbon basins in the world.  They have a management team noted for its technical expertise, an incomparable asset suite, and the financial support of their international corporate headquarters.

Their deepwater drilling campaign is starting in the fall of 2009 with the drilling of a deepwater appraisal well with a TD of 33,000 ft in 35,000 ft of water.  Shortly after that well is completed, they will be into a 1.5 rigs/year, deepwater, subsalt exploration drilling program. Drilling engineering staff members are now being recruited to support that program.

Duties & Responsibilities

The lead drilling engineer is expected to champion all aspects of our client's 'Well Delivery Process': Design, Plan, Execute and Review. This Houston-based position will focus on our client’s operated deepwater exploration wells in the Gulf of Mexico. Some occasional support for non-operated and shallow water (shelf) wells will be required occasionally.  Specific job duties include:

• Provide technical guidance to the drilling engineering staff (currently 6 engineers, expected to grow to 10).
• Provide mentoring and coaching to junior staff as well as new grad trainees.
• Assist in developing and applying drilling standards, policies and processes.
• Benchmark their drilling performance against industry standards such as Dodson and Rushmore.
• Confirm that drilling engineering designs and programs meet both internal and external codes, standards and regulations.
• Support drilling in their stage gated project decision process.
• Represent our client at meetings with service providers, joint venture partners, industry forums, government bodies and other company affiliates.
• Recommend technology research projects and act as their representative in JIPs.
• Remain abreast of and, as appropriate, implement new technology to reduce cost or risk, improve performance and/or increase value.
• Participate in cross-divisional and cross-discipline peer reviews, communities of practice and information exchange forums.
• Conduct regular rig-site visits, inspections and audits during ongoing operations.
• Review and approve cost estimates, particularly probabilistic cost estimates.
• Create a safe workplace to protect both the environment and our client's business assets and reputation.

Education/ Experience

• Requires a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering
• A Minimum of 15 years of well-rounded experience in drilling engineering
• At least 10 years of offshore experience.
• Deepwater and/or Gulf of Mexico experience is A MUST. 
• MUST HAVE a working knowledge of government regulations and permitting requirements. 
• Required to have demonstrated effectiveness and/or training in problem solving in a team based environment.

Core Competencies Adaptability

• Ability to embrace new technologies, meet emerging market demands, respond effectively to changing conditions, apply continuous improvement techniques and create new business opportunities.
• Teamwork: Knowledge, skill and ability to work effectively with others to achieve optimal collective results.
• Technical/Operating Skills: Possession of appropriate technical and operational knowledge, skills and experience to ensure performance at a high level of accomplishment.