Senior Operations Geologist – Unconventional Reservoirs

Magnolia Oil & Gas Operating LLC; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Magnolia Oil & Gas is seeking an Operations Geologist to join an integrated subsurface team. The role supports well-planning and drilling operations, from pre-spud to execution, with emphasis on collaboration across geoscience, land, and drilling teams.

Ideal candidates have 5+ years of geoscience experience, strong communication skills, and hands-on experience interpreting 3D seismic data and building integrated structural models. The position offers a hybrid schedule in Houston, TX.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Geology or Geophysics required.
• Minimum 5 years of experience as a geoscientist.
• In-depth understanding of well-planning and drilling execution.
• Excellent communication skills for leading discussions and presentations.
• Ability to interpret 3D seismic data and build integration models.
• Experience with geosteering and related software (StarSteer, SES, Kingdom).
• Knowledge of GIS and satellite imagery for well planning.

Responsibilities

• Support well-planning tasks for a multi-rig horizontal program along the Texas Gulf Coast.
• Generate coordinates, surface hole locations, and QC survey plats.
• Reformat, import, and QC data from offset geosteering interpretations.
• Build integrated structural models with tops, control points, and 3D horizons.
• Generate target lines for wells in Kingdom based on structure and hazards.
• Coordinate with drilling engineers to generate and QC directional plans.
• Create geoprogs with tops, hazards, type logs, and data collection programs.
• Develop operational Road Maps and participate in pre-spud meetings.
• Coordinate data transfer to geosteering team and oversee operations.
• Assist subsurface post-drilling tasks including data reformatting and look-back analyses.

Skills

Geosteering

3D seismic interpretation

Leadership / collaboration

GIS knowledge

Drilling operations experience

Integrated structural modeling

Education

Master’s degree in Geology or Geophysics

Tools

StarSteer

SES

Kingdom

Job description

Posting Details

• Posted on November 9, 2026

Locations

• Corporate Office, Houston, TX 77024, USA
• Hybrid
• Exploration
• Full-Time
• Requisition #: SENIO001319

Description

The Operations Geologist will work on an integrated team of geoscientists, reservoir engineers, drilling engineers, landmen, and geosteering contractors in support of a variety of operational and well-planning tasks. The Operations Geologist takes the conceptual development plan generated by the subsurface team and performs all of the workflows required pre-spud to prepare for drilling operations. This role plays a key part in communication and collaboration between the subsurface development, land, and drilling teams. The person who is successful in this role has a well-rounded skill set and is able to contribute across the roles of development, well-planning, and operations.

Responsibilities

• Support geologists, engineers, and landmen with well-planning tasks for a multi-rig horizontal drilling program along the Texas Gulf Coast.
• Generate XY coordinates from conceptual development plans, coordinate with the land team to assign surface hole locations, generate and QC survey plats.
• Reformat, import, and QC control-point data from offset geosteering interpretations.
• Build integrated structural models with formation tops, control points, and 3D seismic horizons.
• Generate a target line for each well in Kingdom based on structure, subsurface drilling hazards, and optimal landing zones.
• Work with drilling engineers and contractors to generate, QC, and integrate directional plans.
• Generate geoprogs with formation tops, target lines, hazards, type logs, data collection program, etc.
• Generate operational “Road Maps” for drilling team to proactively address hazards, landing zone changes, etc. Directly participate in pre-spud meetings.
• Coordinate data transfer of grids, formation tops, log data, geoprogs, and Road Maps to the geosteering team.
• Provide oversight for geosteering operations and assist when required.
• Assist subsurface team with post-drilling tasks including data reformatting, data import, and look-back analysis.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Geology or Geophysics required.
• Minimum 5 years of experience as a geoscientist.
• In-depth understanding of the well-planning and drilling execution process, including team and individual roles and responsibilities.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal, written, and presentation), including the ability to lead team discussions and generate presentation materials to clearly demonstrate operational plans and pad-readiness.
• Ability to utilize experience and technical skills to analyze and communicate subsurface risk.
• Ability to interpret 3D seismic data, pick horizons, interpret faults, and build integrated structure models to support development planning.
• Ability to utilize basic log analysis, petrophysics, and geomechanics to optimize landing zones.
• Ability to generate cross-sections, structure maps, and petrophysical maps to aid in development planning and high-grading locations.
• Skilled at Geosteering and proficient in software such as StarSteer, SES, or Kingdom.
• Knowledge of geographic information systems (GIS) and satellite imagery for use in the well planning process.

At Magnolia, our employees drive our strategy and our success. As a team, we engage, energize, and inspire each other to deliver top performance. We offer an exciting, results-focused workplace, highly competitive compensation and benefits, and a range of opportunities for career growth. Help us build a winning company that safeguards workers and the environment, enhances careers, strengthens local communities, and increases value for all stakeholders.

Magnolia Oil & Gas is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer: Employment decisions are based on business need, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy), age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations which we operate. Magnolia Oil & Gas will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [e-mail] .

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.