Principal Well Engineer

Position: Principal Well Engineer
Department: Wells
Location: Basra, Iraq
Duration: 12 months renewable
Rotation: 28/28

Role synopsis 

The Principal Well Engineer reports to the Well Engineering Manager (WEM). The role will be responsible for supplying well engineering and well operation support across the Wells department. Responsibilities include the development and implementation of a bespoke Wells Management System (WMS), engineering and management of integrated well engineering projects across the drilling, workover and well services functions as well as providing peer review and guidance to the wider WE community.

The individual shall have a broad experience base across drilling, workover and well services with a main experience base in one or more of these areas. A thorough understanding of Wells organisations and management systems in complex operations will be required; similarly a strong working relationship with the wells operations teams, subsurface, HSE, base management, reservoir engineering and contractors is essential. The individual should be adaptable and demonstrate a willingness to apply themselves across various wells functions.

Key accountabilities 

• Creation, review and update of documents within the Wells Management System (WMS), standards and BOD’s under the direct guidance of the WEM
• Project management and engineering of integrated engineering projects across the drilling, workover and well service functions working with various teams and stakeholders across multiple teams and departments.
• The identification, evaluation and application of value enhancing, innovative and new technologies and continuous improvement initiatives across the Wells teams.
• Lead problem-solving sessions with delivery teams, engineering and service providers to resolve challenges and manage change.
• Consolidate performance reporting across Wells, structuring input from the various functions and presenting this in a clear and meaningful way on a regular basis.
• Focal point for wellheads and Xmas trees contracts. Includes preparation and evaluation of tenders. Technical design and review ensuring fit-for-purpose design. Operational oversight.
• Focal point for OCTG contracts. Includes preparation and evaluation of tenders. Technical design and review ensuring fit-for-purpose design.
• Develop and initiate a WMS self-verification process.
• Participate in HSE & NPT incident root cause analysis, investigations and reporting.
• Participate in planning of well control exercises.
• Arrange and facilitate contractor performance improvement meetings as and when required.
• Assurance of the technical integrity of operations and compliance with in-country law, policy, international standards and guidelines.
• Develop (annual) WE departmental objectives for inclusion in AOP and report on progress throughout the year.
• Initiate and or contribute to engineering research projects.
• Provide additional technical input and support to various wells teams when required.

Criteria and Qualifications

• Possesses international experience in the oil & gas industry.
• Educated to Bachelor of Science (Engineering) degree level, or equivalent.
• A broad engineering and operations experience across drilling, workover, well services and well integrity with a main experience base in one or more of these areas.
• Team player, fluent in English language with strong communication skills is essential.
• Strong leadership.
• Good interpersonal skills – peer reviews/consultation
• Experience in developing, maintenance and improvement of Integrated Management Systems in the wells sphere.
• Experience working for an international major operator preferred.
• Knowledge of tender preparation and evaluation of wells contracts.
• Effective and proficient communicator, both verbal (English language) and written.
• Maintains a high standard of business integrity, professional behaviour and confidentiality.
• Experience in PowerBI and Sharepoint.
• Experience working in a Joint Venture environment and in a remote location.
• Experience in tendering & contracting. Demonstratable history of being part or leading a Technical Evaluation Team for tender evaluation (Technical only).
• Experience working on land operations, and in the Middle East would be considered beneficial.

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 and Manufacturing sectors 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.