Senior Drilling Engineer

About this opportunity

Main Duties and Responsibilities: Prepare detailed drilling programmes for upcoming wells using established field practices and offset-well experience. Develop well trajectories and directional drilling plans using COMPASS. Perform drilling engineering calculations and modelling using WELLPLAN, including hydraulics, ECD, torque and drag, and hole-cleaning assessments. Develop casing, drilling fluids, cementing, BHA and directional drilling requirements in conjunction with the relevant technical disciplines and service companies. Review offset-well performance, NPT, drilling problems and lessons learned and incorporate relevant improvements into new well plans. Prepare drilling time estimates, operational sequences and engineering input to well cost estimates. Ensure planned operations are practical and consistent with rig and service-company capabilities. Prepare and review technical scopes for drilling-related equipment and services as required. Participate in drilling programme reviews, DWOPs and operational planning sessions. Provide engineering support during drilling operations, including calculations, troubleshooting and technical recommendations. Support the onboarding and preparation of an additional drilling rig for the upcoming drilling programme. Work closely with the drilling contractor and service companies to ensure equipment, services and personnel are ready for operations. Review rig equipment and operating capabilities against planned well requirements. Coordinate drilling engineering and operational interfaces between the rig and third-party service companies. Support rig readiness, pre-spud, and operational planning activities. Ensure established company drilling practices, procedures, and lessons learned are incorporated into preparations for the new rig. Requirements: Minimum of 15 years of drilling engineering and drilling operations experience. Minimum of 7 years with a major international operator or large independent oil and gas operator. Strong experience in detailed well planning and preparation of drilling programmes. Extensive working knowledge of Halliburton Landmark COMPASS and WELLPLAN. Strong practical knowledge of well trajectory and directional drilling planning; torque and drag; drilling hydraulics and ECD; casing and cementing; drilling fluids; BHA selection; hole cleaning; and drilling performance and NPT reduction. Demonstrated ability to use offset-well information and lessons learned to efficiently plan subsequent wells. Experience working directly with drilling contractors and oilfield service companies. Strong understanding of land-rig drilling operations. Ability to work independently and manage multiple engineering activities. Fluent in written and spoken English. Engineering degree or equivalent relevant technical qualification. Preferred: Previous experience in Kurdistan or the wider Middle East; land-rig mobilisation, onboarding and start-up; multi-well drilling campaigns; established fields with proven well designs and operating practices; and a combination of office-based drilling engineering and field operational experience. Practical and delivery-focused, with the ability to become productive quickly. Capable of taking established well designs, offset data, and existing field practices and efficiently developing complete drilling programmes for upcoming wells. Focused on detailed well planning and execution rather than developing new engineering philosophies or redesigning established practices. Comfortable working directly with drilling contractors and service companies to support the introduction of an additional rig into an established drilling operation. The role is based in Dubai, UAE, with travel to Kurdistan as required. The approved outsourced contract duration is three months. Working Conditions: Five days a week, Monday to Friday. Only qualified candidates will be contacted. Minimum of 15 years of drilling engineering and drilling operations experience. Minimum of 7 years with a major international operator or large independent oil and gas operator. Strong experience in detailed well planning and preparation of drilling programmes. Extensive working knowledge of Halliburton Landmark COMPASS and WELLPLAN. Strong practical knowledge of well trajectory and directional drilling planning; torque and drag; drilling hydraulics and ECD; casing and cementing; drilling fluids; BHA selection; hole cleaning; and drilling performance and NPT reduction. Demonstrated ability to use offset-well information and lessons learned to efficiently plan subsequent wells. Experience working directly with drilling contractors and oilfield service companies. Strong understanding of land-rig drilling operations. Ability to work independently and manage multiple engineering activities. Fluent in written and spoken English. Engineering degree or equivalent relevant technical qualification. Preferred: Previous experience in Kurdistan or the wider Middle East; land-rig mobilisation, onboarding and start-up; multi-well drilling campaigns; established fields with proven well designs and operating practices; and a combination of office-based drilling engineering and field operational experience. Practical and delivery-focused, with the ability to become productive quickly. Capable of taking established well designs, offset data, and existing field practices and efficiently developing complete drilling programmes for upcoming wells. Focused on detailed well planning and execution rather than developing new engineering philosophies or redesigning established practices. Comfortable working directly with drilling contractors and service companies to support the introduction of an additional rig into an established drilling operation. The role is based in Dubai, UAE, with travel to Kurdistan as required. The approved outsourced contract duration is three months.