Senior Drilling Engineer

Woodside Energy Ltd

20h•Hybrid

About The Position

Woodside Energy USA Services Inc. seeks a Senior Drilling Engineer in Houston, Texas. The role plans and delivers project segments and complete well designs as part of a team, working across disciplines and independently on complex problems with some supervision. The engineer makes recommendations on project direction and scope, adapts to changing conditions, and produces high-quality written work and concise presentations while maintaining professional and ethical conduct. The position covers drilling engineering from conceptual design through operational support and post-well review. It includes planning costs, time, and resources; evaluating offset wells; designing well architecture, casing, trajectories, surveys, drill strings, hydraulics, cementing, and fluid systems; selecting drilling materials and equipment; evaluating new drilling technologies; and supporting well acceptance, barriers, and integrity. The engineer prepares drilling programs and related operational documentation, reviews daily activity reports, supports field operations and problem solving, participates in reviews and audits, and captures lessons learned. The position is based in Houston, TX, with telecommuting permitted. It requires up to 10% domestic and international travel to drilling locations or regional offices for operational support and coordination.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent in Engineering or a related field of study.
Nine years of experience in the job offered or a related occupation.
At least two years of experience developing engineering well designs and programs for onshore or offshore drilling operations, including casing design, cementing programs, drilling fluids, well control requirements, and bottom-hole assembly configurations.
At least two years of experience preparing drilling cost estimates and AFE-level budgets, tracking expenditures, and conducting quantitative cost variance analysis.
At least two years of experience performing drilling engineering calculations, including hydraulics modeling, torque and drag, ECD, surge and swab, and pore pressure and fracture gradient evaluation using industry-standard methods.
At least two years of experience evaluating technical specifications and performance criteria for drilling services and equipment suppliers, including drilling tools, fluids, casing, and cementing services.
At least two years of experience conducting formal drilling risk assessments, including hazard identification and mitigation planning under HSE standards and regulatory requirements.
At least two years of experience analyzing offset well and drilling performance data, including rate of penetration, non-productive time, and equipment performance, and applying findings to future well designs.
At least two years of experience designing and verifying well integrity and well barrier configurations in compliance with applicable regulations, industry standards, and documented engineering practices.
At least two years of experience preparing and reviewing technical drilling documentation, including well programs, daily drilling reports, and end-of-well reports, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and record retention compliance.
Well Control certification: IADC or IWCF Supervisor Level 4 Combined Surface/Subsea Stacks.

Responsibilities

Plan and deliver project segments and whole well designs within a team.
Collaborate across disciplines to share knowledge and achieve objectives.
Work independently to solve complex problems with some supervision.
Make recommendations on project direction and scope, and adapt to new or changing project conditions.
Prepare high-quality written work and clear, concise presentations; demonstrate professional and ethical behavior.
Plan project costs, time, and resources.
Conduct offset well reviews and conceptual design.
Evaluate casing seats, load cases, well architecture, and stress analysis.
Design well trajectories and survey programs; perform drill string design and drilling hydraulics.
Design cement slurries for casing strings to achieve zonal isolation and select drilling fluid systems.
Select drilling materials, including OCTG, wellheads, and liner hangers; recommend bits and drilling mechanics.
Evaluate and recommend new drilling tool technologies.
Develop well acceptance criteria and well barriers, and perform well integrity work.
Prepare drilling programs, load-out lists, contingency plans, and MOCs; support pre-spud meetings and post-well or post-campaign reviews.
Review daily activity reports for accuracy and appropriate detail; provide operational support, problem solving, contingency planning, and record keeping.
Participate in After Action Reviews and ensure lessons learned are captured.
Participate in field audits, visits, and site-based HSE programs.
Develop engineering well designs and programs for onshore or offshore drilling operations.
Prepare drilling cost estimates and AFE-level budgets, track actual expenditures, and analyze cost variances.
Perform standard drilling calculations, including hydraulics, torque and drag, ECD, surge and swab, and pore pressure and fracture gradient evaluations.
Evaluate technical specifications and performance criteria for drilling services and equipment suppliers.
Conduct formal drilling risk assessments, including hazard identification and mitigation planning.
Analyze offset well and drilling performance data, including rate of penetration, non-productive time, and equipment performance, and apply findings to future well designs.
Design and verify well integrity and well barrier configurations for compliance with regulations, standards, and documented engineering practices.
Prepare and review technical drilling documents, including well programs, daily drilling reports, and end-of-well reports, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and record retention compliance.
Travel up to 10% domestically and internationally to drilling locations or regional offices for operational support and coordination.