Senior Drilling Engineer

NES Fircroft; Town of Texas (WI); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

NES Fircroft is seeking an experienced Drilling Engineer for The Woodlands, TX. You will lead well construction preparation, casing design with subsurface input, and ensure timely long-lead item procurement.

You will manage budgets, AFEs, and contract terms, while applying QAQC across SAP, OpenWells, and Well Cost tools. The role requires deepwater drilling experience, knowledge of MPD operations, and a strong background in HAZID/HAZOP analyses.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree required.
• Valid medical certification required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Project).
• Experience with Landmark OpenWells reporting system.
• Experience with Landmark well engineering software suite.
• SAP cost control experience advantageous.
• WELS OPERATOR logistics software experience advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Participate in Well Construction Preparation and gate reviews from design to readiness to drill.
• Prepare full casing design with subsurface input; mandatory use of corporate tools.
• Identify long-lead item requirements and ensure timely ordering.
• Plan well trajectories and directional drilling; review offsets.
• Prepare yearly budgets and AFEs using Well Cost.
• Participate in DWOPs and technical workshops; ensure action items are tracked.
• Support safety analyses (HAZID/HAZOP/Bow Tie) and finalize docs.
• Ensure lessons learned are captured to prevent recurrence.
• Prepare Blow Out Emergency Response Plan (BOERP).
• Operate with QAQC for digital tools and data; prepare drilling and P&A programs.
• Tendering and contract holder duties: scope of works, evaluations, award recommendations, SAP PO issuance, QAQC of materials.
• Manage contracts, ensure terms adherence, and cost certification.

Skills

8+ years experience

Deepwater operations

Drilling Engineer

Well Construction Process

MPD operations

Fractured carbonate knowledge

Education

Engineering degree

Medical certification

MS Office Suite proficiency

OpenWells reporting system

Landmark OpenWells software

SAP for cost control (adv)

WELS OPERATOR logistics software (adv)

Tools

Stresscheck

Wellplan

Wellcat

OpenWells

Spotlight

Well Cost

SAP

WELS OPERATOR

Wellit

Job description

DUTIES AND RESPSONSIBILITIES

• Actively participate in the Well Construction Preparation as per ETL instruction in order to get all gates completed from Well design options to Readiness to drill peer reviews.
• Prepare full casing design with the information provided by subsurface team. Skills in corporate tools: Stresscheck, Wellplan, Wellcat, etc are mandatory.
• Identify Long Lead Item requirements and ensure those are ordered on time.
• Prepare well trajectories optimization (directional drilling planning).
• Prepare Offset wells review document.
• Prepare Yearly budgets and well AFEs with corporate software Well Cost.
• Actively participate in DWOP’s and technical workshops and ensure that all data gathered is thoroughly reviewed and action items followed up on.
• Actively participate in any HAZID, HAZOP and Bow Tie Analysis. Assist with preparation of final documentation.
• Ensure all relevant lessons learned from previous projects have been reviewed and any necessary action taken to prevent re-occurrence.
• Ensure compliance with Company policies, standards and approved procedures.
• Prepare Blow Out Emergency Response Plan (BOERP).
• Ensure all the digital tools are used and properly maintained with high control on data QAQC.
• Prepare Drilling Program.
• Prepare P&A Program.
• Tendering & Contract holder duties:
  • Prepare detailed Scope of Works for all services related to deepwater drilling operations: mud, cement, tubulars, liner hangers, BHA items, packers, etc.
  • Complete technical evaluation.
  • Assist on commercial evaluation.
  • Prepare award recommendation.
  • Act as contract holder:
    • Candidate will be assigned several contracts and candidate will be fully responsible of them.
    • Ensure contract terms are as per the agreed terms during the tender phase.
    • Prepare SAP contract structure in order to improve cost certification efficiency.
    • Issue SAP purchase orders.
    • Ensure QAQC process for both purchase and rental equipment follows QAQC regulations.
    • Follow up material delivery as per PO terms and conditions.

Execution Phase

• Assist with the preparation and perform final review of the well Drilling Programme and Detailed Operations Plan. Ensure documents comply with company policy, relevant industry standards and local regulations.
• QAQC daily drilling report in Openwells prior to its final distribution.
• Make sure all data in the DDRs is correct and it is properly captured in corporate reporting tool Spotlight on a daily basis.
• Ensure all operations are well planned in order to ensure seamless and efficient operations with minimal NPT.
• Support DS in all operational issues with engineering calculations, service company’s management, policies & procedures verification etc.
• Continually encourage the use of safety systems and tools while also monitoring participation / usage (safety cards, TBT, JRA, TOF, weekly walk-around etc).
• Review Lookahead with DS and make sure material and services from service companies are organized accordingly.
• Review all Work Instructions prior to execution.
• Actively track operational performance against KPI’s through DDR’s and ProNova performance monitoring software. Ensure recommendations for improvements in operational performance are captured and communicated.
• Prepare any Management of Change (MoC) documents and risk assessments when required.
• Prepare any Non-Conformance Report (NCR) when required.
• Prepare final P&A program.
• Review the engineering focused After Action Review (AAR) report and apply lessons learnt.
• Ensure all lessons learned are accurately captured in Openwells for implementation on subsequent projects (continuous improvement).
• Logistics:
  • Assist with the load out requirements.
  • Ensure all the load out requirements are guaranteed (service companies management)
  • Assist with the preparation of the well Master Equipment List (MEL) and Cargo Package preparation with corporate Wellit software.
  • Prepare all cargo packages and ensure load out manifests issued through Wellit are accurate.
• Contract holder:
  • Manage assigned contracts in such a way that contract terms are always met .
  • Ensure all items delivered to the rig are QAQCed.
  • Follow up material delivery from and to contractor’s base in order to minimize the stand by costs.
  • Complete daily cost certification.
  • Perform monthly cost certification recap and release SES accordingly.
  • Work closely with cost controller and ensure service companies are getting paid in due time.

Post Well Phase

• Prepare the End of Well Report (EOWR), ensuring that the document is accurate and highly detailed.
• Assist with the close out of all outstanding field tickets and invoices.
• Participate in all Service Quality Meetings (SQM’s) and provide technical input as required. Ensure service company performance has been accurately recorded and all required Non-Conformance Reports (NCR’s) have been submitted and approved.
• Work with logistics team to ensure all leftover materials are accurately documented and stored correctly.

EDUCATION / QUALIFICATIONS

• Degree qualified in Engineering.
• Valid Medical certification.
• Strong understanding of Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Project).
• Strong understanding of the Landmark OpenWells reporting system.
• Strong understanding of the Landmark well engineering software suite.
• Experience of working with SAP for cost control advantageous but not essential.
• Experience of working with WELS OPERATOR logistics software advantageous but not essential.

EXPERIENCE & KNOWLEDGE

• Candidate Minimum 8 years of industry experience.
• Candidate must have experience working in Deepwater operations.
• Candidate must have experience of working as a Drilling Engineer.
• Knowledge and previous experience with the Well Construction Process highly advantageous.
• Knowledge and experience of drilling fractured carbonates or pre-salt formations is advantageous but not essential.
• Knowledge and experience of Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) operations advantageous but not essential.

Location: The Woodlands, TX and some travel to Mexico

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining andManufacturingsectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.