Senior Petroleum Engineer - Subsurface Development

Placements24; Gqeberha; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Retirement fund

Performance bonuses

Hybrid work structure

Job summary

Placements24 client in the oil and gas sector seeks a Senior Petroleum Engineer to join the subsurface development team in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape. You will evaluate reservoir potential, design well trajectories, optimize production, and conduct economic analyses.

This role requires expertise in reservoir mechanics, production systems, and drilling operations, with collaboration across geology, production, and operations to deliver integrated field development plans.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Petroleum Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• 7+ years of experience in petroleum engineering with focus on field development and production optimization.
• Proficiency in reservoir simulation and economic evaluation software.
• Strong understanding of wellbore mechanics, fluid flow in porous media, and production system analysis.
• Experience with artificial lift technologies (e.g., ESPs, rod pumps, gas lift).
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, and decision‑making capabilities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills for multidisciplinary teamwork.
• Familiarity with the South African regulatory framework for the Oil & Gas industry is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage integrated field development plans for new and existing assets.
• Perform reservoir engineering studies, including material balance, decline curve analysis, and volumetric calculations.
• Design and optimize well completions and artificial lift systems.
• Conduct economic evaluations of development options and projects.
• Collaborate with geologists and geophysicists on reservoir characterization and modeling.
• Work with drilling engineers to plan well trajectories and drilling programs.
• Monitor production performance and identify opportunities for optimization.
• Prepare technical reports, presentations, and recommendations for management.
• Stay current with technological advancements and best practices in petroleum engineering.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to team knowledge development.

Skills

Analytical skills

Problem solving

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Petroleum Engineering

Master's degree in Petroleum Engineering

Tools

Reservoir simulation software

Economic evaluation software

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a respected entity in the Oil & Gas sector, is seeking an experienced Senior Petroleum Engineer to join their subsurface development team in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape. This role is vital for maximizing the value of the company's asset portfolio through expert engineering analysis and development planning. You will be responsible for evaluating reservoir potential, designing well trajectories, optimizing production strategies, and conducting economic analyses. The position requires a strong understanding of reservoir mechanics, production systems, and drilling operations. You will work closely with geoscientists, production engineers, and operations teams to deliver integrated field development plans. This is a challenging and rewarding opportunity to contribute to significant projects within a supportive and innovative environment. The hybrid work model provides a balance between focused independent work and collaborative team engagement in Port Elizabeth.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and manage integrated field development plans for new and existing assets.
• Perform reservoir engineering studies, including material balance, decline curve analysis, and volumetric calculations.
• Design and optimize well completions and artificial lift systems.
• Conduct economic evaluations of development options and projects.
• Collaborate with geologists and geophysicists on reservoir characterization and modeling.
• Work with drilling engineers to plan well trajectories and drilling programs.
• Monitor production performance and identify opportunities for optimization.
• Prepare technical reports, presentations, and recommendations for management.
• Stay current with technological advancements and best practices in petroleum engineering.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to team knowledge development.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Petroleum Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in petroleum engineering, with a focus on field development and production optimization.
• Proficiency in reservoir simulation and economic evaluation software.
• Strong understanding of wellbore mechanics, fluid flow in porous media, and production system analysis.
• Experience with artificial lift technologies (e.g., ESPs, rod pumps, gas lift).
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams.
• Familiarity with the South African regulatory framework for the Oil & Gas industry is an asset.
• Adaptability and willingness to engage in hybrid working arrangements.
• Must have valid work authorization for South Africa.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary, a comprehensive benefits package including medical aid and retirement fund, performance bonuses, and ample opportunities for professional growth and career advancement.
• The hybrid work structure supports a healthy work-life integration for employees in Port Elizabeth.

Join a forward-thinking company dedicated to excellence in the energy sector.