Senior Petrophysicist - Exploration Studies

ADNOC Abu Dhabi UAE; Al Ruways Industrial City; On-site; AED 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

ADNOC Abu Dhabi UAE is seeking a Senior Petrophysicist to lead petrophysical interpretation, reservoir characterization and hydrocarbon resource definition in Abu Dhabi. The role focuses on integrating wireline logs, core data and SCAL results to support exploration play reviews and prospect ranking, while mentoring junior staff.

The candidate will oversee data quality, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, and participate in technical tender evaluations for petrophysical studies across

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering or equivalent technical discipline.
• Advanced or supplementary study in petrophysics, applied physics or related subsurface disciplines preferred.
• Minimum 9 years of varied petrophysical engineering experience.
• Strong combination of field and office-based petrophysics experience.
• Experience with petrophysical software and interpretation hardware.

Responsibilities

• Lead interpretation and evaluation of petrophysical data to determine hydrocarbon presence and rock properties.
• Review petrophysical studies and challenge non-standard assumptions or anomalous results.
• Quality control wireline logs, core measurements and laboratory data.
• Develop SCAL programs and monitor data quality and completeness.
• Correlate SCAL measurements across fields to strengthen reservoir characterization.
• Identify sources of error and uncertainty in core analysis results.
• Prepare technical proposals and scopes of work for outsourced petrophysical studies.
• Monitor consultant performance and verify compliance with scope and standards.

Skills

Petrophysical interpretation

Formation evaluation

Wireline log analysis

Core analysis

SCAL

Reservoir characterization

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Petroleum Engineering

Advanced petrophysics studies

Tools

Petrophysical software

SCAL hardware

Job description

Senior Petrophysicist - Exploration Studies Job Snapshot Role: Senior Petrophysicist - Exploration Studies Location: Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates Industry: Oil and Energy Function: Engineering Experience: Minimum 9 years Job Type: Full-time Position Overview Senior Petrophysicist - Exploration Studies in Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates is a senior Oil and Energy opportunity focused on petrophysical interpretation, reservoir characterization, exploration evaluation and hydrocarbon resource definition. The role leads analysis of well logs, core data, SCAL results and formation evaluation information to support exploration play reviews, prospect ranking, well proposals, reserve estimation and multidisciplinary subsurface studies across Abu Dhabi. Job Details Country: United Arab Emirates City: Abu Dhabi Emirate Industry: Oil and Energy Function: Engineering Salary: 30000-45000 Estimated salary range based on similar jobs in the job city; please confirm the final offer with the employer. Gender: Any Candidate Nationality: Any Job Type: Full-time Role Context The Senior Petrophysicist provides technical leadership in evaluating reservoir properties and hydrocarbon potential from petrophysical, core and fluid information. The position integrates wireline logs, laboratory measurements and geological context to define rock and fluid properties, identify reservoir quality and support exploration and appraisal decisions. The role also provides quality assurance for third-party studies, contributes to well design and logging strategies, maintains petrophysical databases and mentors developing technical staff.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead interpretation and evaluation of petrophysical data to determine hydrocarbon presence, fluid type, contacts, reservoir quality and rock properties.
• Review petrophysical studies prepared by internal teams and consultants and challenge non-standard assumptions, methodologies or anomalous results.
• Perform quality assurance and quality control of wireline logs, core measurements and laboratory petrophysical data.
• Develop SCAL programs and monitor execution, data quality and technical completeness.
• Correlate SCAL measurements with reservoir rock types across fields to strengthen reservoir characterization.
• Identify potential sources of error, uncertainty, approximation and analytical assumptions in core analysis results.
• Reconcile SCAL datasets produced by different laboratories, contractors and acquisition periods to improve consistency and usability.
• Define petrophysical interpretation parameters for reservoir evaluation and exploration studies.
• Prepare technical proposals, justifications and scopes of work for outsourced petrophysical studies.
• Participate in technical tender evaluations for petrophysical consultancy and specialized study contracts.
• Monitor consultant performance and verify compliance with approved scope, technical standards and contractual requirements.
• Quality control final consultant reports to ensure conclusions are technically sound and clearly presented.
• Integrate petrophysical findings with geological, geophysical, drilling and reservoir engineering studies.
• Contribute to exploration play evaluation, prospect maturation and hydrocarbon resource definition.
• Support development of exploration well proposals and subsurface evaluation programs.
• Provide technical input to well completion decisions, casing depths, cementation quality and tubular requirements.
• Support planning of logging and well testing programs based on exploration and reservoir objectives.
• Select appropriate logging tool combinations and acquisition sequences for representative formation evaluation data.
• Define recording modes, logging speeds, resolutions and special measurement requirements.
• Identify intervals requiring extended measurements, MDT acquisition or specific formation testing.
• Review petrophysical data during drilling operations and provide timely technical recommendations.
• Advise multidisciplinary teams on reservoir quality, fluid contacts, formation properties and uncertainty ranges.
• Prepare technical reports, interpretations, presentations and recommendations for management review.
• Present petrophysical conclusions to technical committees, exploration teams and other concerned stakeholders.
• Monitor developments in petrophysical software, hardware, logging tools and formation evaluation technology.
• Liaise with software suppliers and technical service providers regarding enhancements and new applications.
• Recommend acquisition of specialized petrophysical software and hardware and prepare supporting business justifications.
• Participate in conferences, technical seminars and professional knowledge-sharing activities.
• Review technical publications and emerging methods relevant to petrophysics and subsurface evaluation.
• Propose technical data exchanges with companies operating in surrounding countries and emirates to strengthen regional studies.
• Contribute to data package preparation, presentations and reports for bid rounds and data room activities.
• Support management reporting including weekly highlights, action trackers and exploration well drilling reports.
• Coordinate ad-hoc technical requests from universities, research institutions and third parties.
• Support training requests and knowledge-sharing initiatives with academic and technical organizations.
• Ensure petrophysical data received from service companies, Group Companies, joint ventures and third parties is properly received, calibrated, quality controlled and loaded into corporate databases.
• Maintain exploration and corporate petrophysical databases with reliable and current information.
• Provide technical mentoring and development support to less experienced petrophysics staff.

Ideal Profile

• Bachelor 's Degree in Petroleum Engineering or an equivalent technical discipline.
• Advanced or supplementary study in petrophysics, applied physics, mathematics or related subsurface disciplines is preferred.
• Minimum 9 years of varied experience in petrophysical engineering.
• Strong combination of field and office-based petrophysics experience.
• Extensive practical experience using petrophysical software and specialist interpretation hardware.
• Advanced knowledge of wireline log interpretation and formation evaluation.
• Experience with SCAL design, execution, quality control and interpretation.
• Strong understanding of conventional and special core analysis.
• Ability to integrate petrophysical results with geology, geophysics, reservoir engineering and drilling information.
• Experience supporting exploration well planning, logging programs and formation testing.
• Understanding of reservoir rock properties, fluid contacts, saturation and hydrocarbon evaluation.
• Experience reviewing consultant studies and managing technical scopes of work.
• Knowledge of petrophysical database management and technical data quality assurance.
• Ability to communicate complex technical findings to multidisciplinary teams and senior management.
• Strong analytical judgment and ability to assess uncertainty in subsurface datasets.
• Experience mentoring junior technical professionals is highly valuable.

Skills Set

• Petrophysical interpretation
• Formation evaluation
• Wireline log analysis
• Core analysis
• Special Core Analysis
• SCAL
• Reservoir characterization
• Hydrocarbon evaluation
• Fluid contact identification
• Rock property analysis
• Reservoir saturation analysis
• Petrophysical modelling
• Log quality control
• Core data quality control
• Formation testing
• MDT interpretation
• Logging program design
• Logging tool selection
• Well proposal support
• Exploration petrophysics
• Prospect evaluation
• Hydrocarbon resource assessment
• Reservoir studies
• Well completion support
• Casing depth evaluation
• Cementation quality assessment
• Tubular evaluationPetrophysical software
• Subsurface data integration
• Geological integration
• Reservoir engineering integration
• Drilling support
• Technical tender evaluation
• Consultant management
• Scope of work development
• Petrophysical database management
• Data calibration
• Technical reporting
• Exploration data rooms
• Technical mentoring

Why Join Us

Why Join Us This role offers experienced petrophysicists the opportunity to influence exploration and reservoir decisions across complex subsurface environments in Abu Dhabi 's Oil and Energy sector. The position combines advanced formation evaluation, SCAL interpretation, well planning, prospect assessment and multidisciplinary integration while providing exposure to sophisticated software, specialized logging technologies and high-value exploration programs. It is a strong opportunity for professionals seeking deeper technical authority and leadership responsibility in exploration petrophysics.

About the Company

ADNOC Group is a major integrated energy organization headquartered in Abu Dhabi with extensive upstream exploration and production activities. Its subsurface teams apply advanced geoscience, reservoir engineering and petrophysical technologies to evaluate hydrocarbon resources, mature exploration opportunities and support responsible development of the United Arab Emirates ' energy resources.