Business And Functional Purpose

Through its merger with Oil Search, Santos has acquired and assumed operatorship over a world-class portfolio of oil leases on the Alaskan North Slope, USA.

Our focus in Alaska is advancement of our Pikka Phase 1 project, which includes a single drill site, an oil processing facility, and other infrastructure to support production of 80,000 barrels of oil per day.

Pikka has been identified as being among the top quartile of oil and gas development projects for greenhouse gas emissions performance. Pikka is poised to play an important role in the energy transition and is aligned with our company goal of managing climate change risk. The project is on track to be ready for a final investment decision by mid-year 2022.

The Pikka Unit is one of the largest conventional oil discoveries made in the United States in the last 30 years, and the Pikka Phase 1 Project is the most significant development on Alaska's North Slope in more than 20 years.

The permitted Pikka development project includes two additional drill sites. The Alaska assets also include discoveries made from both the Mitquq and Stirrup exploration wells drilled in 2020. These opportunities combine to offer a clear path to long-term growth in Alaska.

Position Purpose

The Senior Development Geologist will be a key member of the Subsurface Team that is primarily tasked with the delivery of development wells within the Pikka Unit on the North Slope of Alaska. The Pikka Unit, which is located adjacent to several giant producing oil fields, was discovered in 2013. To date, 20+ exploration and appraisal wells have been drilled in the unit area, which, combined with full coverage of 3D seismic data, have delineated a giant oil resource. The company expects that the initial development will target approximately 768 million barrels of oil in the field, with first production anticipated in 2026 and plateau production rates of 80,000 barrels per day (gross).

Reporting to the Geoscience Manager, the Senior Development Geologist will ultimately be responsible for the planning and safe delivery of development wells within our drilling campaigns. The Senior Development Geologist will also provide guidance to the greater integrated Subsurface, Operations, Drilling and Completions teams regarding well design, data gathering requirements, geologic interpretation of well logs, maps, input into evergreen 3D geologic models & operations support during our development drilling campaigns. The Senior Development Geologist will also Identify, capture and apply continuous learning practices into Geoscience workflows in order to continue to build efficiencies and improve the way we work.

Key Accountabilities And Responsibilities

• Well Planning & Delivery: Integrate geologic, geophysical, petrophysical and engineering data to ensure that specific well objectives are achieved for development wells and future appraisal opportunities. Safely execute and deliver development wells that contribute to Alaska Unit production goals
  
• Geologic Interpretation: Develop and maintain robust, consistent and defendable geologic interpretations in support of well plans and during development drilling operations. Utilize stratigraphic well top correlations, 2D mapping and 3D modeling techniques, incorporating Santos established integrated subsurface workflows, in order to identify, capture and apply continuous learnings by integrating well results in real time in order to assess implications for well design and delivery for future wells and development drilling campaigns
  
• Coaching and Mentoring: Act as a Geologic mentor, providing expert counsel and direction to geoscientists and other disciplines within the broader Alaskan Business Unit to enhance their understanding of Geologic related topics
  
• Professional Development: Identify an internal professional development mentor and opportunities to gain exposure and support business drivers for Santos projects. Remain up to date on the latest information on new Geoscience technologies and methods, and recommend application of such technologies/methods relevant to operations, reservoir characterization and reservoir modeling activities. Seek out external coursework, workshops, or other opportunities to develop Geoscience acumen within the Subsurface group and within other relevant disciplines.
  
• Data Management: Build and maintain accurate and comprehensive databases. Champion data stewardship within the Subsurface group. Create guidelines and standards for Geoscience databases.

Qualifications, Skills & Experience Required

Formal Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree or higher in engineering, geoscience or physics.

Skills and Technical Capabilities

• Substantial experience in development and appraisal planning and execution
  
• Expert knowledge of reservoir characterisation techniques, wireline / MWD / LWD logs and formation evaluation techniques, coring and core analyses, pore pressure predictions and preferably geomechanical analysis
  
• Sound knowledge of clastic sedimentologic, stratigraphic and structural geology concepts and integration of geologic, geophysical and petrophysical inputs into detailed well plans, geologic interpretation and 3D reservoir models
  
• High competency in Petrel software
  
• Strong communication skills are required, as is the ability to work collaboratively with co-workers in the Subsurface team, the drilling and completions groups, and external organizations such as service companies and regulatory agencies
  
• The ability to characterise and succinctly articulate the subsurface issues and recommendations to other relevant disciplines and management is required.
  
• Ability to work independently, but also work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team environment to develop clear, business-focused recommendations and appropriate work programmes.
  
• Clear and concise written and oral communication skills. Ability to build consensus across the organization.

Experience

• Approximately 10-15 years of oil and gas industry experience working as a Geoscientist with a variety of Geoscience operations and reservoir characterization roles in Exploration, Development and Production settings
  
• Previous operational experience, including as an Operations Geologist is preferred
  
• Ideally, candidates should have experience working on Alaskan field development projects, preferably with an Operator.