Job description

Pore Pressure/Geomechanics Specialist

Role Synopsis The central Western Hemisphere Pore Pressure and Geomechanics team in Houston is seeking a specialist in Pore Pressure and Geomechanics to contribute to well planning and execution across the Western Hemisphere. This role involves supporting operations in the Gulf of Mexico, Trinidad, and exploration activities in Brazil and Canada, as well as emerging work in Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) in the US. The team collaborates closely with subsurface and wells teams regionally and globally to ensure safe and efficient well delivery.

The Pore Pressure/Geomechanics Specialist plays a key role in multidisciplinary well delivery teams, providing expertise in developing geologically sound and compliant pore and fracture pressure forecasts, as well as wellbore stability models. They participate in all stages of well planning, from conceptualization to post-well analysis. During execution, the specialist collaborates with the Real Time Collaboration Center on pressure detection efforts and works with subsurface, drilling, and completions teams to incorporate pore pressure and wellbore stability considerations for safe and effective well execution.

Primary Accountabilities * Pore Pressure and Fracture Pressure Forecasting: o Integrate various pressure indicators and observations within a geological framework to generate pre-drill pore pressure and fracture gradient forecasts. This includes seismic velocities, offset well data, log-derived pressures, basin models, drilling events, and reservoir depletion effects. o Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to optimize drilling fluid selection, casing design, and hazard mitigation strategies, and effectively communicate technical findings and risks to stakeholders.

* Operational Support for Pore Pressure Detection: o Provide operational support for pore pressure detection in complex wells, including real-time model calibration, kick analysis, gas detection, and interpretation of formation integrity tests. o Communicate updated pore pressure forecasts to operations teams and recommend adjustments to drilling strategy as needed.

* Drillability Assessment: o Work with wells teams to develop wellbore strengthening models and implementation plans for drilling through depleted reservoirs.

* Wellbore Stability Analysis: o Develop wellbore stability models to provide minimum mud weight recommendations for drilling and completion operations, integrating data from various sources such as logs, drilling data, and image analysis.

* Operational Assessment: o Contribute to operational assessments including Reservoir Development Operating Limits, zonal isolation assessments, and risk assessments.

* Participation in NPT Analyses: o Participate in non-productive time (NPT) analyses and investigations related to subsurface activities.

* Toolkit Development: o Support the development and implementation of a comprehensive PPFG and Geomechanics toolkit.

* External Representation: o Represent the company at industry meetings and Joint Industry Projects (JIPs) as required.

* Team Coaching: o Provide coaching and mentorship to less experienced team members.

Essential Education Master's or PhD in Engineering, Science, Geoscience, Geomechanics, or Mathematics.

Essential Criteria * Minimum 5 years of experience in relevant oilfield roles (drilling PPFG/geomechanics) with an operator or service company. * Strong communication skills with the ability to convey technical concepts to diverse stakeholders. * Ability to work effectively in cross-disciplinary teams and manage competing priorities. * Proficiency in PPFG, geomechanics, drilling, and subsurface aspects of Well Planning and Execution.

Desirable Criteria and Qualifications * Previous experience with PPFG and geomechanics in operator settings, as well as wellbore stability and formation pressure integrity tests. * Experience in generating pre-drill PPFG forecasts for deepwater wells in development and exploration contexts. * Knowledge of Geology, Petrophysics, Basin Modeling, Processing Geophysics, Reservoir Geomechanics, Drilling Engineering, Rig Systems, and Well Control. * Proficiency in relevant software and coding languages (e.g., VBA, Python, Techlog, and Petrel).

Our role in supporting diversity and inclusion
As an international workforce business, we are committed to sourcing personnel that reflects the diversity and values of our client base but also that of Orion Group. We welcome the wide range of experiences and viewpoints that potential workers bring to our business and our clients, including those based on nationality, gender, culture, educational and professional backgrounds, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, and age differences, job classification and religion. In our inclusive workplace, regardless of your employment status as staff or contract, everyone is assured the right of equitable, fair and respectful treatment.