Senior Fluids Engineer

Job description:

MAJOR FUNCTIONS

• The Senior Fluids Engineer provides technical leadership and operational oversight for all drilling fluids, solids control, and waste management activities supporting Company’s exploration, appraisal, and development wells. The role owns the fluids Basis of Design and Drilling Fluids Program, manages fluids contractors, drives cost and performance improvement, and ensures HSE compliance across the full well lifecycle.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

HSE Accountability

• Support and promote implementation of all applicable Company HSE policies, standards, and initiatives.
• Review Contractor HSE systems, controls, and compliance through office reviews and rig-site visits.
• Lead or participate in rig-side risk assessments involving fluids, solids control, and waste management activities.
• Ensure fluids and waste management operations comply with Company environmental requirements and applicable regulations.

Fluids Program Design & Well Planning

• Prepare and own the fluids sections of Basis of Design (BoD) documents, detailed Drilling Fluids Programs (DFP) and Recommended Practices (RP) for exploration, appraisal, and development wells.
• Design fluid systems appropriate to specific formation challenges (H₂S management, losses in fractured carbonates, shale/inhibitive systems, underbalanced or managed-pressure applications, scavengers, bridging, and LCM strategies).
• Collaborate closely with Drilling, Completions, and Well Testing engineers to ensure fluids programs are technically robust, operationally feasible, and aligned with overall well objectives.
• Actively participate in Company DWOP (Drill Well on Paper) and CWOP (Complete Well on Paper) sessions.
• Develop and maintain contingency plans and write Management of Change (MOC) documents when operational changes are required, ensuring the established MOC process is followed.

Contractor Management & Operational Oversight

• Accountable for compiling tenders and evaluating Contractors for drilling fluids, solids control, and waste management services.
• Prepare technical specifications for fluids-related equipment and services in accordance with Company and industry standards.
• Direct, coach, and provide technical support to Company and Contractor rig-site fluids engineers.
• Ensure critical fluids parameters are monitored and assessed daily so that fluid properties remain within programmed boundaries.
• Keep the Drilling Superintendent and Well Engineers informed of any fluids-related issues in a timely manner.
• Provide input to, and support pit remediation and site restoration projects.
• Lead technical audits of Contractor personnel, equipment, and base facilities.
• Interview proposed Contractor personnel and review competency ratings.
• Moderate Contractor Quarterly Performance Reviews (QPR).
• Accountable for delivery of the fluids section of the End of Well Report (EOWR) and for ensuring Contractors meet timelines for end-of-section and end-of-well reporting.
• Capture fluids-related Lessons Learned during operations and ensure they are documented in the EOWR and systematically incorporated into future programs.
• Monitor daily drilling reports from the rig to verify that required properties and Company requirements are followed.
• Maintain daily updates to Company well cost/fluids tracking spreadsheets as a cross-check against Contractor monthly invoices.
• Communicate well updates to Contractors to ensure timely mobilization of equipment and products.
• Perform wellsite visits as required to verify that programs and procedures are executed in compliance with applicable plans and policies.
• Ensure compliance with relevant Crescent Petroleum standards and procedures.

Cost Control & Commercial Support

• Drive continuous improvement in fluids, solids control, and waste management performance with the dual goals of reducing cost and improving drilling conditions.
• Support preparation of cost estimates, Bills of Quantities, and commercial evaluations for fluids and drilling waste management (DWM) scopes of work.
• Identify and implement opportunities for material optimization, inventory management, and waste reduction.

Leadership, Knowledge Management & Continuous Improvement

• Provide expert technical knowledge on drilling fluids, solids control, and waste management to raise understanding of complex issues among Company and Contractor personnel.
• Maintain excellent working relationships with subordinates, Contractors, and Crescent Petroleum management.
• Stay abreast of current technologies and industry best practices; monitor operational performance against established goals and recommend improvements to senior management.
• Conduct technical research and analysis to support field development, exploration, and drilling plans.
• Support the development and maintenance of internal digital tools, templates, job models, databases, and dashboards that improve the quality, efficiency, and consistency of fluids engineering work and knowledge retention.

Minimum Professional Experience Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, Geology, or a closely related discipline.
• Minimum 12–15 years of progressive fluids-related experience, of which at least 5 years must have been at a senior/coordinating or managerial level (Drilling Fluids Coordinator, Senior Fluids Engineer, Fluids SME, or equivalent).
• Candidates with prior experience in a service-company technical or laboratory department are preferred. 
• Experience in sour-gas / high-H₂S carbonate environments, particularly in the Middle East or Kurdistan Region of Iraq, is highly advantageous.