Job Description - Production Engineer (00034744)
Occidental is an international energy company with assets primarily in the United States, Middle East and North Africa. We are one of the largest oil producers in the U.S., including a leading producer in the Permian and DJ basins, and offshore Gulf of Mexico. Our midstream and marketing segment provides flow assurance and maximizes the value of our oil and gas. Our chemical subsidiary OxyChem manufactures the building blocks for life-enhancing products. Our Oxy Low Carbon Ventures subsidiary is advancing leading-edge technologies and business solutions that economically grow our business while reducing emissions. We are committed to using our global leadership in carbon management to advance a lower-carbon world.
We are looking for an experienced and motivated individual to fill the position of Asset Production Engineer in our US Onshore Resources & Carbon Management (ORCM), Midland Basin Business Unit based in Houston, Texas.
This business unit’s objective is to optimize base production and maximize value out of existing assets, while growing production by developing new fields with an emphasis on unconventional reservoirs. The successful candidate in this position will work within the asset team in collaboration with the field operations team and multidisciplinary technical team to help deliver the business plan and business unit targets. Primary responsibility is to optimize oil and gas production at the well and field level. The successful candidate will demonstrate creativity, motivation, and teamwork necessary to challenge and optimize/improve current artificial lift systems and field operation practices.
- Lead the well repair process by evaluating well history, economics, and preparing repair plan including lift design changes. Collaborate with Well Servicing Team on execution of the workover procedure.
- Lead the well surveillance process to ensure optimal production performance, and identify and safely carry out production improvement opportunities such as artificial lift re-designs and optimization, well enhancements, workovers.
- Collaborate daily on team meetings with the operations team and well servicing team.
- Develop and present detailed project plans to obtain AFE approval for projects or update management on results.
- Select the appropriate artificial lift system by examining the drawdown potential of each method, initial and operating expense, range of production and depth, and special problems such as sand/scale/deviation.
- Design artificial lift systems for horizontal and vertical wells with various producing depths and fluid types.
- Provide production engineering support for new well design and operation.
- Work closely with the field to optimize artificial lift methods and facility performance.
- Recommend modifications and/or investments to upgrade systems to reduce operating costs.
- Lead periodic wells reviews with reservoir engineers, geologists, and field personnel.
- Conduct post audit reviews of workover costs and well performance to deliver economic programs.
Education:
BS degree in Engineering; PE, ME, or ChemE from an ABET accredited program.
Experience:
4+ years of production engineering experience or equivalent.
Required Professional and Technical Knowledge/Qualifications/Licenses/Certifications:
- Knowledge and experience in operating/designing Gas Lift, ESP and Beam wells.
- Demonstrated ability or capacity to use engineering skills to solve problems and monitor and analyze your asset performance to enhance production.
- Ability to interact and communicate (written and verbal) effectively with team members, other departments, and working interest partners.
- Exhibit the qualities of a good team player.
- Self-starter, ability to work with a minimum of supervision and deal with ambiguity.
- Working knowledge of industry software packages such as PROSPER, WinGLUE, OFM, LOWIS, Spotfire.
- Strong facilitation and project management skills.
- Up to 15% travel to the field located in West Texas.
Additional Desired Qualifications:
- Field experience in production operations or well servicing.
- Good working knowledge of drilling, completion, production and facilities operations.
- Understanding of lean thinking and other process improvement techniques a plus.