Senior PPFG & Geomechanics Specialist
Job Description
Entity:
Production & Operations
Job Family Group:
Job Description:
The Western Hemisphere Pore Pressure and Geomechanics teams are seeking a Senior Pore Pressure & Geomechanics Specialist to support bp’s ambitious Gulf of America portfolio, including brownfield and greenfield developments, appraisal campaigns, and exploration drilling activities. Based in Houston, this role will work closely with global PPFG and Geomechanics teams to deliver technically robust, safe, and compliant well planning and execution solutions across complex deepwater operations.
The successful candidate will serve as an integral member of multidisciplinary well delivery teams, providing expertise in pore pressure prediction, fracture gradient analysis, wellbore stability, and drilling geomechanics throughout all phases of the well lifecycle, including concept development, detailed planning, real-time execution support, and post-well analysis.
This position requires collaboration with subsurface, drilling, completions, and Real-Time Operations Center teams to optimize drilling performance, manage well integrity risks, and support safe and efficient operations.
Key Accountabilities
Pore Pressure, Fracture Gradient & Geomechanics Modeling
Develop and maintain geologically sound pore pressure and fracture gradient (PPFG) forecasts for exploration, appraisal, and development wells by integrating multiple subsurface datasets and geological interpretations within a robust regional framework.
Leverage and interpret data including:
- Seismic velocity pressure analysis
- Offset well data
- Measured formation pressures
- Connection gas trends
- Log-derived shale pressures
- Basin modeling outputs
- Leak-off and mini-frac test data
- Lost circulation events
- Reservoir depletion impacts
- Lithology and stratigraphic variations
Provide technical recommendations to optimize:
- Drilling fluid selection and mud weight programs
- Casing design and casing setting depths
- Wellbore strengthening strategies
- Geo-hazard mitigation plans
- Drilling performance and well integrity
Communicate technical findings, operational risks, uncertainties, and mitigation strategies to multidisciplinary collaborators, including drilling teams, operations leadership, co-owners, and government regulators.
Operational & Real-Time Drilling Support
Provide real-time operational support during drilling operations for complex deepwater development and exploration wells.
Partner closely with the Real-Time Operations Center to support:
- Pressure detection and monitoring
- Real-time PPFG model calibration
- Kick detection and analysis
- Gas trend and breathing analysis
- Loss investigations
- Formation integrity test interpretation
Continuously update PPFG and geomechanics models during drilling operations and recommend operational adjustments to improve safety, drilling efficiency, and well delivery performance, including:
- Mud weight optimization
- Drilling parameter adjustments
- Identification of potential pressure transition zones
- Wellbore stability risk mitigation
Drilling Geomechanics & Well Integrity
Support development and implementation of wellbore strengthening strategies for depleted reservoirs and challenging drilling environments.
Contribute to advanced wellbore stability analyses and minimum mud weight recommendations through integration of:
- Wireline and LWD log data
- Drilling performance data
- Cavings analysis
- Borehole image logs
- Caliper and hole condition data
Support broader well integrity and reservoir management activities, including:
- Reservoir operating limits
- Broaching assessments
- Zonal isolation evaluations
- Alternate well design assessments
- Abandonment risk and deviation studies
Continuous Improvement & Leadership
Participate in risk assessments associated with PPFG, wellbore stability, zonal isolation, and drilling geohazards.
Support non-productive time (NPT) investigations and contribute to operational learning and continuous improvement initiatives.
Drive development and implementation of PPFG and geomechanics workflows, digital tools, and technical standards.
Represent bp at industry forums, technical conferences, and joint industry projects (JIPs).
Provide mentoring, coaching, and technical guidance to junior team members and early-career engineers/geoscientists.
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Geoscience, Geomechanics, Earth Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, or a related technical field.
- Advanced degrees are preferred
Experience & Qualifications
- Significant industry experience in pore pressure prediction, fracture gradient analysis, and drilling geomechanics within an operator or service company environment
- Strong understanding of deepwater drilling operations and subsurface well planning
- Experience supporting complex offshore exploration and development wells, preferably in the Gulf of America
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams and manage competing operational priorities
- Strong communication and collaborator management skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear operational recommendations
- Experience with wellbore stability analysis, formation integrity testing, and pressure management workflows
- Familiarity with subsurface fields including geology, geophysics, petrophysics, basin modeling, drilling engineering, and reservoir geomechanics
- Knowledge of rig systems, drilling operations, and well control principles
Technical & Software Skills
Experience with industry-standard PPFG and subsurface software tools, including:
- Techlog
- Petrel
- Python
- VBA
Experience with data analytics, automation, or digital workflow development is considered advantageous.
Why join us
At bp, we support our people to learn and grow in a diverse and ambitious environment. We believe that our team is strengthened by diversity. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment in which everyone is respected and treated fairly.
There are many aspects of our employees’ lives that are meaningful, so we offer benefits ( https://exploreyourbenefits.com/landing.html) to enable your work to fit with your life. These benefits can include flexible working options, a generous paid parental leave policy, and excellent retirement benefits, among others!
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
Travel Requirement
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Legal Disclaimer:
We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics like race, religion, color, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status or disability status. Individuals with an accessibility need may request an adjustment/accommodation related to bp’s recruiting process (e.g., accessing the job application, completing required assessments, participating in telephone screenings or interviews, etc.). If you would like to request an adjustment/accommodation related to the recruitment process, please contact us.
If you are selected for a position and depending upon your role, your employment may be contingent upon adherence to local policy. This may include pre-placement drug screening, medical review of physical fitness for the role, and background checks.