Petrophysicist

PETROPHYSICIST (PAYE CONTRACT ROLE UNTIL MARCH 2026 – UXBRIDGE)

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Consultant Petrophysicist will primarily support the UK based Exploration team working on recently captured, client operated Mozambique licences with up to 4 deepwater exploration wells due to be drilled in the next 4 years. The role will also support other currently active exploration projects in Africa.

The requirement is for a Petrophysicist with a strong track record in E&A drilling operations. Working as part of the exploration team, the role requires detailed understanding of well planning, data acquisition and petrophysical solutions in frontier and emerging basins. In particular, a skilled understanding of well planning, definition and justification of formation evaluation plans and VOI, risk assessments, preparation of detailed logging and coring programmes, preparation of operational decisions (e.g. section TDs, completion strategy, log triggers) in addition to Quick-look and advanced petrophysical interpretations are required. Additional work may include petrophysical assessments of key wells in new venture dataroom environments or as part of a longer-term regional basin evaluations and occasional cover for other projects (e.g. UK producing assets) as required. Experience in the provision of bespoke petrophysical inputs for rock physics and AVO analysis projects would be advantageous.

The position reports to the GM Exploration UK and will involve close collaboration with a number of different exploration, new ventures and operations teams located in the UK and Beijing. In addition, the role will have access to engagement and knowledge sharing within the global petrophysical function and have further access to support from the D&P Petrophysics Manager based in Uxbridge.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS:

You will:

Maintain and demonstrate safety first behaviours particularly in well planning and operations as well as across the workplace generally.

Ensure best practice in petrophysical approach is taken for both operations and project-based interpretation work. Ensure rigorous technical evaluations are completed to functional standards in a timely fashion. Define the appropriate formation evaluation approach, methods, and techniques to derive petrophysical properties. Ensure interpretations are fit for purpose, to be used by subsurface teams in a robust assessment of producible hydrocarbons in place.

Prepare formation evaluation plans for exploration wells. Collaborate with stakeholders including drilling and completion colleagues, the project subsurface team, and the geological operations team to create fit for purpose Data Acquisition plans that address key project issues. Mature data acquisition plans through the Well Delivery Process by engaging with contractors and co-ordinating data acquisition planning meetings.

Be physically present in the office to ensure clear communication with the team members and alignment on well planning, operations, interpretation, and the application of petrophysical evaluations.

Provide comprehensive petrophysical interpretation skills, based on expertise developed in a breadth of depositional environments, including clastics and carbonates. Exercise good judgment in identifying critical formation evaluation issues within a dataset to provide insight into both upside and downside uncertainties associated with resource evaluations.

Provide appropriately conditioned log datasets and formation evaluation results to be integrated with seismic quantitative interpretation workflows.

Provide operational support during drilling (LWD) and wireline logging to ensure good quality datasets are acquired. Deliver petrophysical products in a timely fashion to support operational decisions.

Provide accurate petrophysical deliverables for New Ventures projects that can support robust assessment of new acreage. Deliver formation evaluation results in a timely fashion that meet functional standards, sometimes under short project timeframes, and that are suitably integrated with subsurface colleague’s analysis in the team.

Present petrophysical interpretations and results to key stakeholders including teams, management, and partners. Actively participate in peer assists, technical assurance reviews and competitive technical intelligence activities.

Act as data owner for all petrophysical data and products on behalf of the Exploration project teams. Manage the quality control, approval and publication of well data and interpretation products to be used with confidence by the subsurface teams.

Keep abreast of technology developments (internal and external) and deploy fit-for-purpose new technology.

As a senior petrophysicist in the organisation, share expertise and provide technical support to colleagues. Foster strong teamwork and collaboration within and between the teams. Manage multiple projects and requests simultaneously, communicating well to understand priorities and timelines.

You are:

Proven operated experience in wireline logging and formation evaluation of open hole logging operations, logging tool fundamentals, coring operations, core laboratory procedures and measurements, mudlogging operations and analysis of mudlogging data. Knowledge of drilling operations, and an ability to work with drilling engineers to design logging and coring programmes.

Proven ability to analyse log data, including proper environmental corrections, and an ability to recognize logging tool measurement limitations in an environment of clastics, carbonates, shaly sands, thin beds. Proven ability to analyse core data, including recognition of corrections and uncertainties that apply to various core data depending on the type of measurement procedures used.

Experience of attending data rooms, performing fit-for-purpose evaluations for regional assessments, and summarising formation evaluation results for effective resource assessment and technical review.

Experience of integrating petrophysical data with seismic quantitative interpretation workflows.

Experience of working with petrophysical data from frontier or emerging basins where datasets may be incomplete and challenging data issues may exist.

Ability to conduct statistical analyses and to use decision tools (decision trees and probabilistic analysis) to make sound recommendations. Proactive analytical skills with attention to detail and process improvements.

Core Competencies:

Adaptability/Managing Change: Ability to embrace new technologies, meet emerging market demands, respond effectively to changing conditions, apply continuous improvement techniques and create new business opportunities.

Teamwork: Knowledge, skill and ability to work effectively with others across different functional teams to achieve optimal collective results.

Communication: Ability to speak and write clearly and succinctly in a variety of settings and styles; ability to secure information, listen effectively and get messages across that have the desired effect.

Global Cultural Sensitivity: Ability to work successfully in any community by effectively handling cultural, political and economic differences.

Technical/Operating Skills: Possession of appropriate technical and operational knowledge, skills and experience to ensure performance at a high level of accomplishment.

Initiative: Think critically and act logically to evaluate situations and generates required steps to ensure success.

Business Understanding: Knowledge and expertise in formulating competitive strategies and managing policies, practices, costs, trends and information across the business.

At a minimum, you have:

Minimum BSc. in Petroleum Engineering or Earth Sciences.