Lead Reservoir Engineer

Placements24; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Professional development

Relocation assistance

Cape Town office

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Reservoir Engineer to base in Cape Town. The role focuses on optimizing hydrocarbon recovery, reservoir characterization, performance monitoring, and development planning with advanced simulation and data analytics.

You will lead reservoir engineering activities, influence technical direction, and collaborate across geoscience, production, and drilling teams to achieve operational excellence and asset value growth.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Petroleum Engineering or related discipline.
• At least 10 years of reservoir engineering experience, with 3+ years in a lead/supervisory role.
• Strong expertise in reservoir simulation, history matching, and forecasting.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement reservoir management plans to optimize production and recovery.
• Perform detailed reservoir performance analysis and forecasting.
• Build and calibrate reservoir simulation models using Eclipse/CMG.
• Conduct uncertainty and risk analyses for field development scenarios.
• Evaluate enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques and opportunities.
• Collaborate with geoscientists, production engineers, and drilling teams for integrated development.
• Prepare technical reports, economic evaluations, and stakeholder presentations.
• Mentor junior engineers and drive technical excellence within the team.
• Stay updated with advancements in reservoir engineering technologies.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Project management

Education

Master's degree in Petroleum Engineering or related field

Tools

Eclipse

CMG

History matching

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent entity within the Energy sector, is actively seeking a highly skilled and experienced Lead Reservoir Engineer to be based in our Cape Town, Western Cape office. This senior position is pivotal to optimizing hydrocarbon recovery and maximizing asset value through sophisticated reservoir characterization, performance monitoring, and development planning. The successful candidate will spearhead reservoir management strategies, utilizing advanced simulation techniques and data analytics to inform critical decisions. You will be instrumental in driving the technical direction for reservoir engineering activities, ensuring efficient and sustainable production operations. This role demands a leader with a deep understanding of reservoir physics, fluid flow, and economic evaluation, committed to achieving operational excellence and contributing to the company's strategic objectives. We are looking for an individual with a proven ability to influence and guide technical teams, foster innovation, and deliver impactful results in a challenging operational landscape. The candidate should possess exceptional analytical capabilities and a forward-thinking approach to reservoir management.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive reservoir management plans to optimize production and recovery.


• Conduct detailed reservoir performance analysis, including decline curve analysis, material balance, and production forecasting.


• Build, calibrate, and run reservoir simulation models using industry-standard software (e.g., Eclipse, CMG).


• Perform uncertainty and risk analysis for reservoir performance and field development scenarios.


• Evaluate and recommend enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques.


• Collaborate closely with geoscientists, production engineers, and drilling teams to ensure integrated field development.


• Prepare technical reports, economic evaluations, and presentations for management and stakeholders.


• Mentor and guide junior reservoir engineers, fostering technical expertise within the team.


• Stay updated with the latest advancements in reservoir engineering technologies and best practices.


• Participate in peer reviews and provide technical assurance for reservoir studies.

Requirements

• A Master's degree in Petroleum Engineering, or a related discipline.


• A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in reservoir engineering, with at least 3 years in a lead or supervisory role.


• Demonstrated expertise in reservoir simulation, history matching, and forecasting.


• Proficiency with major reservoir simulation software packages.


• Strong understanding of reservoir physics, fluid properties, and rock mechanics.


• Experience with development planning, economic analysis, and reserve reporting.


• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.


• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.


• Ability to manage projects, deadlines, and cross-functional teams effectively.


• Experience in mature field management and EOR is highly desirable.

Benefits

• Attractive base salary with performance-driven bonuses.


• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.


• Generous retirement savings plan.


• Professional development opportunities and continuous learning support.


• Relocation assistance if applicable.


• A dynamic and challenging work environment in beautiful Cape Town .


• Significant role in major energy projects.


• Employee wellness programs.