Drilling Engineer - Completion Specialist

Placements24; Soweto; On-site; ZAR 1,100,000 - 1,900,000; Full time

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a skilled Drilling Engineer with a completions specialty to support field operations in Soweto and surrounding areas. The role centers on design, planning, and execution of well completion campaigns to maximize hydrocarbon production and reservoir contact.

The ideal candidate brings extensive experience in completion design, artificial lift, and wellbore integrity, with strong leadership and on-site supervision skills for demanding field environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Petroleum Engineering.
• Minimum of 7 years in drilling and completions engineering with a focus on completion design and execution.
• Proven experience in designing/open-hole, cased-hole, and multi-stage completions.
• Extensive knowledge of artificial lift systems and their application.
• Strong understanding of wellbore integrity principles and integrity management.
• Familiarity with completion equipment, tools, and materials.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills for team supervision.
• Ability to work in demanding field conditions and manage operational challenges.
• Proficiency in completion design software and well planning tools.
• Relevant certifications (e.g., IADC WellSharp) are highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize well completion programs, including casing, tubing, sand control, and artificial lift.
• Select appropriate completion equipment and materials based on reservoir characteristics and operations.
• Develop detailed completion procedures, risk assessments, and contingency plans.
• Supervise on-site completion operations, ensuring safety and regulatory compliance.
• Monitor wellbore conditions and completion performance, adjusting as needed.
• Troubleshoot completion-related issues such as stuck pipe and equipment failures.
• Ensure wellbore and production casing integrity throughout completion.
• Collaborate with production engineers for smooth handover from completion to production.
• Prepare daily and final completion reports documenting operations and lessons learned.
• Participate in post-completion reviews to identify future improvements.

Skills

Completion design

Open hole completions

Cased hole completions

Multi-stage completions

Artificial lift

Wellbore integrity

Team leadership

Field supervision

Well planning software

Education

Bachelor's degree in Petroleum Engineering

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a dynamic oilfield services company, is seeking a skilled Drilling Engineer with a specialization in completions to support operations in **Soweto** and surrounding areas. This crucial role focuses on the design, planning, and execution of well completion operations to ensure safe, efficient, and optimal hydrocarbon production. The position is field-intensive, requiring significant on-site presence and hands‑on involvement in critical completion phases. You will be responsible for selecting appropriate completion equipment, developing detailed completion programs, and supervising execution to maximize well performance and reservoir contact. The ideal candidate will possess a strong technical background in well completions, artificial lift, and wellbore integrity. You will work closely with drilling engineers, production engineers, and operational teams to deliver successful completion campaigns. This is an excellent opportunity to apply your specialized expertise in a challenging operational environment and contribute to the success of major drilling projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and optimize well completion programs, including casing, tubing, sand control, and artificial lift systems.
• Select appropriate completion equipment and materials based on reservoir characteristics, well design, and operational requirements.
• Develop detailed well completion procedures, risk assessments, and contingency plans.
• Supervise and manage on‑site completion operations, ensuring adherence to safety standards, company policies, and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor wellbore conditions and completion performance during operations, making adjustments as needed.
• Troubleshoot completion‑related issues, such as stuck pipe, lost circulation, and equipment failures.
• Ensure the integrity of the wellbore and production casing throughout the completion process.
• Collaborate with production engineers to ensure a smooth transition from completion to production phase.
• Prepare daily and final completion reports, documenting operations, performance, and lessons learned.
• Participate in post‑completion reviews to identify areas for improvement in future operations.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Petroleum Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in drilling and completions engineering, with a strong focus on completion design and execution.
• Proven experience in designing and implementing various types of completions, including open hole, cased hole, and multi‑stage completions.
• Extensive knowledge of artificial lift systems (ESPs, rod pumps, gas lift, etc.) and their application.
• Strong understanding of wellbore integrity principles and integrity management.
• Familiarity with completion equipment, tools, and materials.
• Excellent problem‑solving, analytical, and decision‑making skills.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills for effective team supervision and collaboration.
• Ability to work effectively in demanding field conditions and manage operational challenges.
• Proficiency in relevant completion design software and well planning tools.
• Relevant certifications (e.g., IADC WellSharp) are highly desirable.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive contract rate commensurate with experience and expertise. This position provides significant hands‑on experience and exposure to complex completion challenges within the **Gauteng** region. Opportunities for continued engagement on various projects and professional development are available. You will work as part of a dedicated operational team, contributing directly to the successful delivery of drilling campaigns. Join a reputable company that values technical proficiency and operational excellence in the energy sector.