Drilling & Completions Engineer

Brunel Energy; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 500,000 - 750,000; Full time

Job summary

Brunel Energy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, seeks a Drilling & Completions Engineer to plan, execute and optimise complex offshore wells, including ERD. You will provide around-the-clock engineering support, drive performance improvements and mentor junior engineers.

The role focuses on integrated well planning, MPD/continuous circulation, and adherence to HSE standards while collaborating with multiple teams to deliver safe, on-time well completions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Petroleum, Mechanical, Chemical or Civil Engineering or a related discipline (Master's degree preferred).
• 18+ years of drilling and/or completions engineering experience, including offshore operations.
• Hands-on experience with stuck pipe prevention and recovery, losses management, and ROP optimisation.
• Experience with MPD, continuous circulation or other advanced drilling technologies is highly desirable.
• Experience mentoring or training junior engineers.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute wells from concept through completion, including well design, drilling programmes, casing and completion design, and cost estimates (AFE).
• Provide daily engineering support to drilling operations, including 24/7 support during critical operations such as ERD sections, well control events and stuck-pipe recovery.
• Develop and apply integrated wellbore stability models across drilling teams to enhance wellbore quality and reduce drilling risk.
• Prepare risk assessments and contingency plans for shallow losses, stuck pipe and BHA recovery, and other known field hazards.
• Lead performance improvement processes, capturing operational lessons learned and embedding them into future well plans and procedures.
• Develop and implement rate of penetration (ROP) optimisation strategies to deliver consistent, high drilling performance across all wells.
• Apply industry best practices to reduce non-productive time (NPT), well durations and drilling expenditure.
• Analyse NPT events, perform root cause analysis and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Conduct feasibility assessments of new drilling technologies such as MPD and Continuous Circulation Systems, identifying required rig modifications and expected benefits.
• Introduce and trial new tools and techniques (e.g. open hole inflatable packers, free point indicator tools) and capture results for wider rollout.
• Work with QA/QC teams and third-party service providers to resolve tool deficiencies and improve equipment reliability.
• Coach and mentor junior engineers, supporting them to meet competency requirements and become qualified drilling engineers.
• Collaborate with geoscience, reservoir, completions, rig contractor, service company and supply chain teams to deliver integrated well solutions.
• Contribute to knowledge sharing through lessons-learned sessions, technical reviews and documentation.

Skills

Drilling Engineering

Reservoir Engineering

Workover

Completion Engineer

ERD Extended Reach Drilling

Complex well

Education

Bachelor's degree in Petroleum, Mechanical, Chemical or Civil Engineering

Job description

Requirements & Summary

Company: Brunel Energy
Skills: Drilling Engineering , Reservoir Engineering , Workover or Completion
Other Skills: Completion Engineer, ERD Extended Reach Drilling, Complex well
Experience: 18 + Years
Education: Bachelors/3-5 yr Degree
Employment Type: Full Time Contractor
Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Position Summary

The Drilling & Completions Engineer is responsible for planning, executing and optimising complex offshore wells, including extended reach drilling (ERD) wells, safely, on schedule and within budget. The role provides daily engineering support to rig operations, including 24/7 support during critical operations, drives performance improvement and technology adoption, and coaches junior engineers toward full qualification.

Key Responsibilities Well Planning & Execution

• Plan and execute wells from concept through completion, including well design, drilling programmes, casing and completion design, and cost estimates (AFE).
• Provide daily engineering support to drilling operations, including 24/7 support during critical operations such as ERD sections, well control events and stuck-pipe recovery.
• Develop and apply integrated wellbore stability models across drilling teams to enhance wellbore quality and reduce drilling risk.
• Prepare risk assessments and contingency plans for shallow losses, stuck pipe and BHA recovery, and other known field hazards.

Performance Improvement & Optimisation

• Lead performance improvement processes, capturing operational lessons learned and embedding them into future well plans and procedures.
• Develop and implement rate of penetration (ROP) optimisation strategies to deliver consistent, high drilling performance across all wells.
• Apply industry best practices to reduce non-productive time (NPT), well durations and drilling expenditure.
• Analyse NPT events, perform root cause analysis and implement corrective and preventive actions.

Technology & Innovation

• Conduct feasibility assessments of new drilling technologies such as Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) and Continuous Circulation Systems, identifying required rig modifications and expected benefits (e.g. improved hole quality).
• Introduce and trial new tools and techniques (e.g. open hole inflatable packers, free point indicator tools) and capture results for wider rollout.
• Work with QA/QC teams and third-party service providers to resolve tool deficiencies and improve equipment reliability.

HSE & Quality

• Ensure safety is prioritised in all drilling procedures and operations, supporting a strong HSE culture on the rig.
• Ensure compliance with company standards, regulatory requirements and well integrity policies.
• Participate in HAZID/HAZOP, pre-job and post-job reviews, and incident investigations.

People Development & Collaboration

• Coach and mentor junior and national (Emirati) drilling engineers, supporting them to meet competency requirements and become qualified drilling engineers.
• Collaborate with geoscience, reservoir, completions, rig contractor, service company and supply chain teams to deliver integrated well solutions.
• Contribute to knowledge sharing through lessons-learned sessions, technical reviews and documentation.

4. Qualifications & Experience Education

• Bachelor's degree in Petroleum, Mechanical, Chemical or Civil Engineering or a related discipline (Master's degree preferred).

Experience

• 8-12 years of drilling and/or completions engineering experience, including offshore operations.
• Proven track record delivering complex wells, including ERD, within schedule and budget.
• Hands-on experience with stuck pipe prevention and recovery, losses management, and ROP optimisation.
• Experience with MPD, continuous circulation or other advanced drilling technologies is highly desirable.
• Experience mentoring or training junior engineers.

Desired Candidate Profile

Qualifications & Experience

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Petroleum, Mechanical, Chemical or Civil Engineering or a related discipline (Master's degree preferred).

Experience

• 8-12 years of drilling and/or completions engineering experience, including offshore operations.
• Proven track record delivering complex wells, including ERD, within schedule and budget.
• Hands-on experience with stuck pipe prevention and recovery, losses management, and ROP optimisation.
• Experience with MPD, continuous circulation or other advanced drilling technologies is highly desirable.
• Experience mentoring or training junior engineers.