Geologist – WNS Growth

Welcome to ConocoPhillips, where innovation and excellence create a platform for opportunity and growth. Come realize your full potential here.

Who We Are

We are one of the world’s largest independent exploration and production companies, based on proved reserves and production of liquids and natural gas. With operations and activities in 13 countries, we explore for, develop, and produce crude oil and natural gas globally. We are challenged with an important job to safely find and deliver energy to the world. Our employees are critical to our success, and with them we power civilization.

We’re grounded by our SPIRIT Values – safety, people, integrity, responsibility, innovation, and teamwork. These values position us to deliver strong performance in a dynamic business – but not at all costs. We believe it’s not just what we do – it’s how we do it – that sets us apart.

We strive to make a significant difference in the communities where we live and operate. We create an inclusive environment that values all voices and opinions. Together, the different backgrounds, experiences, ideas, and perspectives of our employees drive our success.

Job Summary

Alaska Overview

ConocoPhillips is Alaska’s largest crude oil producer and largest owner of exploration leases, with approximately 1.2 million net undeveloped acres at year-end 2022. The company produced an average of 200 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2022. ConocoPhillips has major ownership interests in two of North America’s largest legacy conventional oil fields, both located on Alaska’s North Slope: Kuparuk, which the company operates, and Prudhoe Bay. Additionally, ConocoPhillips operates several fields on the Western North Slope. The company has an ownership interest in the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) and owns/operates the Polar Tankers fleet.

Western North Slope Overview

The Western North Slope encompasses the Colville River Unit (Alpine), its satellite fields and the Greater Mooses Tooth Unit.

Alpine Overview

The Alpine Field, located approximately 34 miles west of Kuparuk, is one of the largest conventional onshore oil fields developed in North America in the past 25 years. Alpine is a model for future oil developments as directional drilling and other innovations minimize its environmental footprint. Field installations include one central production facility that separates oil, natural gas, and water.

In 2022, net crude oil production was 30 MBOED.

Alpine Satellites Overview

The Alpine satellites fields consist of the Fiord, Nanuq and Qannik. All satellite fields are produced through the Alpine facilities. In 2016, approval was received to construct an extended-reach drilling (ERD) rig to access the western extension of the Fiord Field. The rig was delivered to the Alpine CD2 drill site in 2020 and commenced drilling operations in June 2021. As North America’s largest mobile land rig, it is capable of drilling lateral lengths to more than seven miles and is expected to enhance resource recovery and minimize the surface footprint of development. The wells are being drilled from a 5.8-acre expansion of the CD2 drill site. In May 2022, Fiord West Kuparuk achieved its first production.

In 2022, net crude oil production was 30 MBOED.

Description

The Western North Slope (WNS) asset is anchored by the Alpine field and associated satellites, Nanuq, Fiord and Qannik, which are developed from five gravel drill sites in the Colville River Unit (CRU). The Alpine field and its satellites have been developed almost exclusively with long horizontal wells drilled in line drive patterns. WNS continues to maintain an active drilling and well intervention program to improve production.

The WNS Growth Geologist will be a part of the team responsible for two crucial parts of the WNS long range development plan; continuation of the Extended Reach Drilling (ERD) program to develop the Fiord West resource, and maturation/progression of the Infrastructure Led Exploration (ILX) portfolio to deliver new resources into the WNS development plan. The WNS Growth Geologist will report to the WNS Growth Development Supervisor.

Job Description

Your responsibilities may include:

• Lead well planning, execution and post-drill analyses through collaboration with a multi-discipline team that includes Geophysics, Petrophysics, Drilling, Completions, Reservoir and Production Engineering, Land, Legal, Commercial, Facilities and Operations
• Perform geologic analysis including mapping key horizons, fault interpretation, log correlations, formation top prediction, identifying drilling hazards, and operational geology as needed
• Geologic aspects of the Well Design and Delivery Process (WDDP) and Authority for Expenditure (AFE) documentation to build technical planning and investment justification for development wells and projects
• Effectively communicate with local and global chiefs to support project assurance; participate in assurance reviews
• Collaborate with vendors and SME’s in support of data acquisition, analysis and integration
• Support regulatory required PA reviews, stakeholder engagement deliverables and permitting process
• Mentor less experienced staff
• Lead and/or support special projects and technical studies as needed

Qualifications

Basic/Required:

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis for anyone other than current employer
• Master’s degree or higher in Geoscience or foreign equivalent
• 10+ years geoscience experience in the petroleum industry

Preferred:

• Development experience – this role involves planning and execution of complex well designs through challenging geologic conditions. ERD wells in the Fiord West program will be planned to >40,000’ MD with as many as 6 casing strings in order to manage the variable and unstable overburden
• Subsurface integration skills – this role involves integration of multiple facets of subsurface characterization into a coherent geologic description; these characterization elements include seismic and well-based mapping, petrophysical analyses, structural and fault studies, pore pressure measurements and predictions as well as historical production performance
• Sedimentology/stratigraphy understanding – this role will evaluate different stratigraphic/depositional models to support development planning and production performance predictions
• Risk and uncertainty analysis expertise – familiarity with decision quality processes/tools; ability to integrate geologic characterization into risk assessments and contingency planning
• Familiarity with building and interrogating geomodels
• Exposure to exploration and appraisal programs
• Generates effective solutions based on available information and makes timely decisions that are safe and ethical
• Listens actively and invites new ideas for exchanged opinions, then influences and acts to drive positive performance and achieve results
• Builds strong relationships based on trust and seeks opportunities to collaborate across the matrix/organizational boundaries to achieve business goals

Apply Before: January 31, 2024

Sponsorship:

ConocoPhillips’ sponsorship for employment authorization in the U.S. is NOT available for this position.

EEO:

In the US, ConocoPhillips is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other legally protected status.