Pore Pressure/Geomechanics Specialist
Location: Houston, TX
Job Type: Full-Time
Role SynopsisThe Western Hemisphere Pore Pressure and Geomechanics team, based in Houston, is seeking a Pore Pressure/Geomechanics Specialist to support well planning and execution across the region. This team plays a crucial role in operations spanning the Gulf of Mexico, Trinidad, and exploration activities in Brazil and Canada. Additionally, the team is expanding its involvement in Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) appraisal and development work in the U.S.
This role involves close collaboration with subsurface and wells teams both regionally and globally to ensure the safe and efficient delivery of wells. The specialist will be an integral member of cross-disciplinary well delivery teams, providing essential support for well planning and execution through the development of geologically sound and compliant pore and fracture pressure forecasts and wellbore stability models.
Key Responsibilities

• Pore Pressure and Fracture Pressure Forecasting:
  
  • Integrate various data sources (e.g., seismic velocities, offset well data, log-derived pressures, drilling events) to create pre-drill pore pressure and fracture gradient (PPFG) forecasts.
  • Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team to optimize drilling fluid type/weight, casing design, setting depths, and geo-hazard mitigation strategies.
  • Communicate technical findings, risks, and mitigation strategies to stakeholders including drilling teams, operations, leadership, co-owners, and regulators.
• Operational Support:
  
  • Provide real-time pore pressure detection support for complex development and exploration wells in collaboration with the Remote Collaboration Center.
  • Conduct real-time model calibration, kick analysis, gas and breathing analysis, loss investigations, and formation integrity test interpretation.
  • Recommend adjustments to mud weight, drilling strategy, and pressure point locations based on real-time data.
• Drillability and Wellbore Stability Analysis:
  
  • Develop wellbore strengthening models and implementation plans for drilling through depleted reservoirs.
  • Perform wellbore stability assessments to determine minimum mud weight requirements for drilling and completing wells.
  • Integrate multiple data sources (e.g., logs, drilling data, image logs, caliper logs) to improve wellbore stability models.
• Operational Risk and Assessment:
  
  • Contribute to Reservoir Development Operating Limits, broaching analyses, zonal isolation assessments, alternate well design evaluations, and deviation/abandonment risk assessments.
  • Participate in risk assessments and subsurface-related non-productive time (NPT) investigations.
• Technology Development & Industry Engagement:
  
  • Support the development and implementation of a world-class PPFG and Geomechanics toolkit.
  • Represent the company at industry meetings and joint industry projects (JIPs).
  • Mentor and coach less experienced team members.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD in Engineering, Science, Geoscience, Geomechanics, or Mathematics.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in pore pressure, fracture gradient, and geomechanics-related roles within an operating company.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts for a variety of stakeholders.
• Experience working in cross-disciplinary teams with competing priorities to deliver challenging wells.
• Comprehensive knowledge of PPFG, geomechanics, drilling, and subsurface aspects of well planning and execution.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous PPFG experience with an operator, including wellbore stability and formation pressure integrity test expertise.
• Strong geology and geophysics background with experience in well planning.
• Experience generating pre-drill PPFG forecasts for deepwater development and exploration wells.
• Awareness of related disciplines such as Geology, Petrophysics, Basin Modeling, Processing Geophysics, Reservoir Geomechanics, Drilling Engineering, Rig Systems, and Well Control.
• Proficiency in software and coding (e.g., VBA, Python, Techlog, Petrel).

This role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to high-impact projects in a dynamic and collaborative environment. If you have a passion for geomechanics and well planning and are eager to take on challenging work, we encourage you to apply!

Our role in supporting diversity and inclusion
As an international workforce business, we are committed to sourcing personnel that reflects the diversity and values of our client base but also that of Orion Group. We welcome the wide range of experiences and viewpoints that potential workers bring to our business and our clients, including those based on nationality, gender, culture, educational and professional backgrounds, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, and age differences, job classification and religion. In our inclusive workplace, regardless of your employment status as staff or contract, everyone is assured the right of equitable, fair and respectful treatment.