Business Purpose

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

Santos' focus in Alaska is the 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 first oil in 2026.

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

Reporting to the Sr. Geologist, Well Delivery Team Lead, the Senior Geomodeler is responsible for the creation and maintenance of static 3D reservoir models through the collaboration with geologists, geophysicists, petrophysicists, and reservoir engineers. The models will then be utilized to determine hydrocarbons in place; to optimize well placement and well planning; and to test development scenarios.

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with OSL's HSES policies and standards in all activities.
• Geomodelling: Develop and maintain fit-for-purpose and defendable static reservoir models. Utilize industry standard modelling techniques, incorporating Oil Search's established integrated subsurface workflows, as appropriate, to develop and support the models.
• Uncertainty Description: Quantify and incorporate reservoir uncertainty into modelling workflows in order to test and rank development concepts against decision criteria and subsurface risks. This is likely to include the development of a range of models.
• Project Delivery: Work as an integrated team member with petrophysicists, geoscientists, and reservoir and drilling engineers to develop an appropriate approach to reservoir characterization and well planning in order to determine optimal well placement leading to selection of the preferred development architecture for the field.
• Well Planning: Contribute to appraisal and development well planning to ensure that all well objectives are achieved.
• Documentation: Provide input into well planning documents and field development plans.
• Data Management: Help to build and maintain accurate and comprehensive databases gathered in conjunction with other Subsurface Team members.
• Studies: Help to design, plan, and execute reservoir geology studies, to include the identification of new or emerging technologies where appropriate.
• Professional Development: Maintain and enhance professional development through evaluation of the latest technological trends, advancements and innovations in geomodelling and management; self-directed through technical reading, webinars, and courses. 

Qualifications, Skills and Experience Required

Formal Qualifications:

• Bachelors Degree or higher in Geology or a related discipline.

Skills / Technical competencies:

• Substantial experience in 3D static modelling using software such as Petrel or RMS.
• Operational experience (well planning and data acquisition).
• 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 effectively within a multi-discipline team environment to develop clear, business-focussed recommendations and appropriate work programmes.
• Extensive experience as a geoscientist with an E&P Operator, preferably with experience on a range of operated development and production projects and reservoirs.
• Experience of characterizing reservoir heterogeneity and the mapping and understanding of fault and fracture systems.
• Up to date working knowledge of technical software and other analytical tools, and Microsoft Office.
• Familiarity with hydrocarbon resources estimation.
• Clear and concise written and oral communication skills. Strong business sense and commercial skillset. Ability to build consensus across the organization.

Experience:

• 15+ years' experience as a practicing geoscientist
• At least the last six years should have been in roles with significant geomodelling experience in an oil and gas company or consultancy company, a large part of which should have been involved with integrated subsurface studies.