Senior Drilling Engineer

Caturus; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Caturus Energy is seeking a Senior Drilling Engineer skilled in Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) and high-temperature, high-pressure (HTHP) environments. You will plan and execute complex well designs, optimize drilling performance, and maintain top safety standards while collaborating with geologists, reservoir engineers, and field personnel.

Ideal candidates have 10+ years in drilling engineering, familiarity with MPD technologies, and a track record of delivering efficient, safe operations in

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Petroleum Engineering or Mechanical Engineering.
• 10+ years of drilling engineering experience with MPD and HTHP.
• Experience in Haynesville, Austin Chalk or Eagle Ford is a plus.
• Strong knowledge of pressure management, well control, and fluid dynamics.

Responsibilities

• Design, plan and execute MPD-focused drilling programs.
• Provide real-time technical support at rig sites for MPD and conventional drilling.
• Optimize ROP, bit selection and drilling fluids.
• Lead troubleshooting for drilling events and formation challenges and coordinate with vendors.

Skills

Managed Pressure Drilling

HTHP Drilling

Drilling Design & Planning

Leadership & Collaboration

Problem Solving

Safety & Compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Petroleum or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

K&M ERA

WellView

Corva

MPD Choke Systems

Job description

Department: Upstream Operations - Drilling & Completions

Location: US TX Houston - Corporate Office

About Us:

The Caturus platform founded by Kimmeridge – an alternative asset manager focused on the energy sector – supports Kimmeridge’s overarching goal of providing low-cost energy on demand with the lowest carbon footprint.

Kimmeridge’s vision in creating Caturus is to build the only independent, fully integrated natural gas and LNG export platform in the U.S. through a combination of its upstream operations and via Commonwealth LNG, a 9.5 million tonnes per annum liquefied natural gas export terminal in southwestern Louisiana on the U.S. Gulf Coast. The combined entities are committed to delivering responsibly sourced, low-emission fuel to domestic and international markets.

Caturus is a Houston-based, private exploration and production company seeking to materially grow production through development of deep, high pressure, dry gas windows of the Eagle Ford and Austin Chalk, as well as Haynesville formations located in Texas and Louisiana while maintaining a relentless focus on safety.

Commonwealth LNG was founded by industry veterans who decided to re-engineer the LNG construction model. Using proven best practices, Commonwealth is committed to building a world-class LNG export facility while focusing on safety, managing risk and achieving best-in-class environmental standards.

Job Description

Position Summary

Caturus Energy is seeking a highly skilled Senior Drilling Engineer with expertise in Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) and experience in High-Temperature, High-Pressure (HTHP) environments. The ideal candidate will play a critical role in planning and executing complex well designs, optimizing drilling performance, and ensuring operational efficiency while maintaining the highest safety standards.

While prior experience in Haynesville, Austin Chalk, and Eagle Ford formations is a plus, it is not a requirement. The successful candidate will work closely with multi-disciplinary teams, including geologists, reservoir engineers, and operations personnel, to deliver high-quality drilling programs in challenging environments.

Key Accountabilities

Drilling Engineering & Well Design

• Design, plan, and execute drilling programs with a focus on MPD techniques to optimize wellbore stability and pressure control.
• Apply HTHP drilling best practices to mitigate downhole risks and ensure well integrity.
• Evaluate offset well data to improve drilling efficiency and minimize non-productive time (NPT).
• Collaborate with geologists and reservoir engineers to optimize well trajectories and target intervals.

Operations & Execution

• Provide real-time technical support to rig-site teams for MPD and conventional drilling operations.
• Implement and monitor drilling optimization strategies, including ROP (Rate of Penetration) management, bit selection, and drilling fluid optimization.
• Lead troubleshooting efforts for drilling dysfunctions, well control events, and formation-related challenges.
• Coordinate with service providers and vendors to ensure the use of cutting-edge MPD technologies.

Safety, Compliance & Performance Optimization

• Ensure adherence to HSE (Health, Safety, and Environmental) standards and regulatory requirements.
• Conduct risk assessments and develop mitigation plans for complex drilling scenarios.
• Utilize data analytics and performance tracking tools to drive continuous improvement.
• Implement lessons learned from previous drilling operations to enhance best practices.

Technical Leadership & Collaboration

• Mentor and train field team in MPD and HTHP drilling methodologies.
• Participate in drilling optimization workshops and contribute to the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Support budgeting and cost estimation for drilling projects to optimize economic performance.

Qualifications

Education, Certificates, and Licenses:

• Bachelor's degree in Petroleum Engineer, Mechanical Engineering or a related field required.

Experience:

• 10+ years of experience as a Drilling Engineer with a strong focus on Managed Pressure Drilling Proven track record in HTHP well operations and experience handling well control challenges Experience in Haynesville, Austin Chalk or Eagle Ford a plus

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Proficiency in drilling engineering software (e.g., K&M ERA, WellView, Corva, or similar).
• Strong understanding of pressure management techniques, well control, and fluid dynamics.
• Knowledge of downhole tools, BHA design, and MPD choke systems.
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making skills in high-pressure environments.
• Strong communication and leadership abilities to collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams.
• Ability to work independently while supporting field operations as needed.