EOR Specialist

bp; Sunbury-on-Thames; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

bp is seeking an experienced EOR Specialist in the UK to develop and evaluate technologies that improve hydrocarbon recovery and asset performance. You will work within Upstream R&D with autonomy on projects, translating challenges into practical technology options and supporting deployment planning.

The role involves collaboration with reservoir and production engineers, asset teams and external partners, shaping ideas into testable concepts and coordinating field trial readiness.

Qualifications

• Degree in petroleum/chemical/earth sciences or related field (advanced degree advantageous).
• Experience in EOR, reservoir recovery technology, reservoir engineering, chemical/gas EOR, waterflood optimisation or related subsurface technologies.
• Strong understanding of porous-media flow and practical EOR deployment drivers.
• Ability to design, interpret or assure experiments, core floods and formulation studies for technology evaluations.
• Analyses complex data and integrates multidisciplinary inputs to provide practical recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Develop, screen and mature EOR concepts, workflows and technologies aligned with asset recovery challenges.
• Lead or contribute to studies across chemical, gas, water-based and conformance processes.
• Design and evaluate lab, modelling and data evaluation programmes to quantify performance, uncertainty and value drivers.
• Translate technical evidence into practical, benchmarked recommendations for scale-up and deployment readiness.
• Represent bp with external partners and conferences, building internal capability and guiding best practices.
• Work with asset teams to define recovery challenges and translate them into EOR options.

Education

Degree in Petroleum Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Reservoir Engineering, Earth Sciences or related field

Job description

Entity:

Technology

Job Family Group:

Subsurface Group

Job Description:

About the role:

The role of ‘EOR Specialist’ is an experienced individual contributor responsible for developing, evaluating and supporting deployment of EOR technologies to optimize hydrocarbon recovery, increase reserves and bring value across bp’s upstream portfolio.

Working within Upstream R&D, the role is expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy on defined projects, applying practical EOR experience and sound technical judgement to progress technologies from concept through laboratory evaluation, pilot design, field trial planning and potential deployment.

The successful candidate will work closely with a multidisciplinary team of scientists, reservoir engineers, production engineers, operating asset teams and external partners. They will be expected to build trusted relationships, handle partners effectively, translate asset challenges into fit-for-purpose technology options and supply actively to the generation of new ideas and opportunities in reservoir recovery.

Please note that roles based out of SJS or Sunbury will move to Timber Square, Southwark, from Q4 2027.

EOR Technology Development and Studies

• Develop, screen and mature EOR concepts, workflows and technologies aligned with asset recovery challenges and business priorities.
• Lead or chip in to studies across chemical, gas, water-based and conformance improvement processes.
• Design, supervise and interpret laboratory, modelling and data evaluation programmes to quantify performance, uncertainty, risks and value drivers.
• Integrate technical evidence into practical, benchmarked recommendations that support scale-up, field trial planning and deployment readiness.
• Track emerging technologies, industry trials, academic developments and intellectual property opportunities.
• Build internal capability through mentoring, technical networks, lessons learned, guidance notes and training materials.
• Representing bp in a professional capacity at conferences, with industrial partners, in professional societies, in relevant external bodies.
  

Asset Support and Project Delivery

• Work with operating regions to define recovery challenges and translate them into practical EOR options.
• Support screening, feasibility, pilot design and deployment support across bp assets.
• Build trusted relationships with asset teams, R&D colleagues, external partners, service providers and academic collaborators in progressing projects.
• Manage assigned project scopes, interfaces, timelines, risks and deliverables.
• Frame and communicate recommendations around reservoir performance, operational practicality, HSSE, cost, value and execution risk.
• Track emerging technologies, industry trials, academic developments and intellectual property opportunities.
  

HSSE and Ways of Working

• Demonstrate strong commitment to safety, compliance and bp values in all activities.
• Ensure laboratory, pilot and field trial work follows bp safety requirements, applicable standards and management of change expectations.
  

Technical

• Degree in Petroleum Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Reservoir Engineering, Earth Sciences or related field; advanced degree or equivalent experience advantageous.
• Experience in EOR, reservoir recovery technology, reservoir engineering, chemical / gas EOR, waterflood optimisation or related subsurface technologies.
• Strong understanding of porous-media flow, recovery mechanisms and practical EOR performance / deployment drivers.
• Able to design, interpret or assure experiments, core floods, compatibility tests and formulation studies for technology evaluations.
• Analyses complex data, integrates multidisciplinary inputs and gives clear, practical recommendations with sound judgement.
  

Project, Delivery and Partner Skills

• Handles technical scopes, interfaces, timelines and work independently.
• Establishes relationships and influences across asset, technology and functional teams.
• Works effectively in multidisciplinary teams and translates asset needs into technology plans.
• Communicates clearly through technical reports, management summaries and presentation materials.
• Frames recommendations around value, risk, uncertainty and deployment practicality.
  

Behaviours

• Self-starting, delivery-focused and comfortable with technical ambiguity.
• Curious and innovative, able to generate, shape and test new ideas.
• Collaborative and inclusive, building trust across subject areas, cultures and geographies.
• Open to challenge and committed to evidence-based decisions, technical excellence and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrates bp values and behaviours.
  

Desirable experience

• Experience with uncertainty management, field trial planning, surveillance design or deployment readiness is beneficial.
• Experience handling external research, service company or university collaborations.
• Awareness of technology readiness, stage-gate delivery, agile principles, intellectual property and commercialization.
  

The Subsurface & Wells team is a central technology group within bp’s Upstream Research & Development (URD) organisation, bringing together a multidisciplinary team including reservoir engineers, chemical engineers, geoscientists, production specialists and applied scientists to develop, test and deploy technologies that maximise hydrocarbon recovery and improve asset performance. The team works closely with bp’s global operating assets, production and reservoir management teams, wells and facilities engineers, digital specialists, and external partners including universities, research institutes and technology suppliers.

A key strength of the team is its combination of world-class subsurface expertise and a culture that encourages innovation, scientific rigour and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Team members have influence from early-stage research through to field deployment, helping deliver real business value and supporting bp’s ambition to safely maximise recovery from existing resources.

Why join us?

At bp, we support our people to grow in a diverse and exciting environment. We believe that our team is strengthened by diversity.

There are many aspects of our employees’ lives that are meaningful, so we offer benefits to enable your work to fit with your life. These benefits can include flexible working options, a generous paid parental leave policy, excellent retirement benefits, among others!

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Travel Requirement

Up to 10% travel should be expected with this role

Relocation Assistance:

This role is not eligible for relocation

Remote Type:

This position is a hybrid of office/remote working

Skills:

Data acquisition strategy, Data Analysis, Data Management, Depletion and Storage Development Planning, Fluid Properties, Fluid sampling and analysis, Geological Reservoir and Storage Unit Modelling, Integrated Resource Progression, Measuring and Verification for Carbon Storage, Monitoring, Operations Geology, Petrophysical Dynamic Reservoir Description, Petrophysical Static Reservoir Description, Reservoir Forecasting and Business Planning, Reservoir quality, Rock Properties Framework, Subsurface integration, Subsurface uncertainty and risk management, Subsurface verification and assurance, Well and Area Performance Management

Future Location Notice: This role will start in Sunbury, London. bp has announced a planned office move to Timber Square, London, with all positions currently advertised in Sunbury, including this one, expected to relocate around Q4 2027-Q1 2028. This presents an exciting opportunity for all employees and leaders to come together in one London location. The specific date of the move will be confirmed closer to the time.

Legal Disclaimer:

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics like race, religion, color, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status or disability status.Individuals with an accessibility need may request an adjustment/accommodation related to bp’s recruiting process (e.g., accessing the job application, completing required assessments, participating in telephone screenings or interviews, etc.). If you would like to request an adjustment/accommodation related to the recruitment process,please contact us.

If you are selected for a position and depending upon your role, your employment may be contingent upon adherence to local policy. This may include pre-placement drug screening, medical review of physical fitness for the role, and background checks.