Shallow Characterization Geoscientist

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Job Summary

Job Description

Permian Basin Overview

ConocoPhillips and its heritage companies have operated in the Permian Basin for almost 100 years. Across New Mexico and Texas, the company holds conventional positions in the Northwest Shelf and Central Basin Platform, and an unconventional position in the Delaware Basin. Permian saw significant growth in 2021 with the acquisition of Concho Resources Inc. in January 2021 and the addition of Shell’s Permian acreage in December 2021. At year-end, the company held approximately 1.5 million net acres in the Permian Basin.

Net production for the Permian in 2022 was 461 MBOED.

Click here to learn more about Living and Working in Midland.

Description

If you are selected as the Shallow Characterization Geoscientist, you will report through the Subsurface organization to the Geoscience Supervisor. Your primary responsibility will be to handle the static and dynamic characterization of shallow disposal zones in both basins (Delaware Mountain Group; San Andres-Glorieta), coordinating with other teams undertaking sub-regional shallow characterization and data acquisition to ensure coverage and consistency, and working with all stakeholders impacted by these efforts.

Accordingly, you will serve as the technical subsurface single point of contact (SPOC) for shallow disposal. You will play an active role in the burgeoning industry-led water stewardship/pressure response technical groups, as well as supporting internal multi-discipline teams that handle shallow disposal-related issues. Considering the complexly interwoven nature of both deep and shallow disposal in the Permian, you will actively partner with the Permian Induced Seismicity Geoscientist. You will also have the opportunity to work with multiple disciplines among the Asset, Reservoir Characterization, and Global Technical Functions (GTF) teams, as well as the Sustainable Development (SD) and Drilling groups, to provide technically grounded support in all matters related to shallow disposal. Your work will directly impact ConocoPhillips’ Subsurface Containment Assurance (SCA) strategy in the Permian.

This role requires practical geoscience experience, strong operations awareness, a decisive nature, and excellent written and verbal communications skills.

Responsibilities may include:

Handling the subsurface characterization of shallow disposal zones in both basins:

• Coordinate shallow zone geological characterization efforts across all Asset teams—ensure a consistent approach to evaluation of rock properties, geocellular modeling, and inputs to simulation work
• Work hand-in-hand with petrophysicists from both Midland and Delaware Basins, as well as pore pressure and geomechanics experts in GTF
• Integrate with reservoir engineering counterparts in the Asset and corporate teams to provide static and dynamic pore space and pressure assessments
• Work with all teams that do/should collect data in the overburden section, and coordinate data acquisition to fill critical gaps, including influence on partner data acquisition and data trades
• Analyze and predict shallow hazards where possible, including drilling- and completions-related risks; communication of risks to stakeholders
• Undertake cohesive, regionally consistent risk assessment for all pending third-party SWD permits, incorporating Asset teams’ recent work; support and help coordinate a cohesive response on behalf of Permian
• Contribute to the annual SCA assessment as a Permian SME

Serving as internal technical go-to for all disposal-related subsurface topics:

• Work cooperatively with all COP teams to understand and manage the full-cycle issues surrounding shallow disposal
• Gather internal support, resources for quick-hit and longer-term efforts, including development of hazards dashboards, disposal forecast/locus of activity; including input from Drilling, water team/Sustainable Development, Reservoir, GTF representatives

Leading/participating in outward-facing disposal-related groups:

• Lead or actively participate in technical sub-groups; involve other COP disciplines as needed
• Proactively monitor and advocate for further involvement in complimentary initiatives: i.e. new efforts that come out of the evolution of the regulatory and production risk space
• Keep up-to-date with requirements of the regulatory environment, anticipating TX RRC, NMOCD, other regulatory agencies’ needs/demands
• Proactively identifying the need for communication; carry out appropriately targeted presentations, discussions, written/verbal follow-through for management, stakeholders

Basic/Required:

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis for anyone other than current employer
• 7+ years of industry experience as a geoscientist
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Geology, Geophysics, other related technical field, or foreign equivalent
• Advanced level of proficiency in geoscience software (including Petrel or Geographix),
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft O365 applications: Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams, and Word
• Intermediate level of proficiency with various internal and industry databases, software, and techniques related to analysis of contributing disciplines/issues (i.e. water production and disposal; geomechanics/structural geology)

Preferred:

• Master’s degree or higher in geology or geophysics, or non-US equivalent
• 10+ years of industry experience as a geoscientist
• Complete understanding of the full-cycle issues surrounding shallow disposal, including technical geoscience picture, produced water management, risks to production, regulatory concerns, key internal/external stakeholders; ability to secure and synthesize input from key contributors and stakeholders into a cohesive inward- and outward-facing approach to shallow disposal
• Strong organizational skills—ability to prioritize activities and requests from contributors and stakeholders
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Proven ability to influence behavior and practices across teams and disciplines
• High level of initiative, enthusiasm, and creativity
• Listens actively and invites new ideas for shared understanding, then influences and acts to drive positive performance and achieve results
• Takes ownership of actions and follows through on commitments by holding others accountable and standing up for what is right
• Delivers positive results through realistic planning to accomplish goals
• Builds effective solutions based on available information and makes timely decisions that are safe and ethical

Apply Before: March 20, 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.