Title:

Reservoir Engineering Manager / Petroleum Engineering Manager

Position Title: Reservoir Engineering Manager / Petroleum Engineering Manager

Department: Reservoir Management / Subsurface / Technical

Reports To:  Asset Manager / Technical Director

Location:  Basra, Iraq
Employment Type:  Full-time, Contract

Rotation:  28/28

Role Purpose

The Reservoir/Petroleum Engineering Manager leads the subsurface engineering discipline to maximize asset value through strategic reservoir management, production optimization, reserves assurance, and development planning. This role oversees multi-disciplinary teams, ensures technical excellence, and aligns engineering activities with corporate objectives for safe, reliable, and profitable hydrocarbon recovery.

Key Responsibilities

1. Reservoir Management & Field Development

Lead reservoir surveillance, performance evaluation, and reservoir modelling activities.Direct the creation and updating of static and dynamic reservoir models.Oversee development plans, depletion strategies, reservoir stimulation programs, and IOR/EOR initiatives.Ensure optimization of production and recovery factors across assets.

2. Technical Leadership & Governance

Provide technical assurance on reservoir engineering work, simulations, forecasts, and reserves estimates.Establish best practices, workflows, and standards across the reservoir engineering discipline.Guide and coach engineers, ensuring continuous capability development.

3. Production Optimization

Oversee production forecasting, decline curve analysis, material balance, and nodal analysis.Collaborate with production and operations teams to diagnose well performance and propose interventions.Support short- and long-term hydrocarbon production strategies.

4. Reserves Management

Manage annual reserves certification (1P/2P/3P) and SPE-PRMS compliance.Interface with internal and external auditors for reserves reporting.Ensure robust documentation and auditable technical justification.

5. Project & Asset Integration

Collaborate closely with geology, geophysics, petroleum engineering, drilling, and operations teams.Provide subsurface input for well planning, workovers, and drilling campaigns.Evaluate project economics and support business planning and investment decisions.

6. Data & Technology

Champion use of advanced reservoir management technologies, digital tools, and AI/ML integration.Oversee data quality assurance, interpretation, and integration into models.

7. HSE & Risk Management

Ensure all activities comply with corporate HSE and regulatory standards.Lead subsurface risk assessments and ensure mitigation plans are in place.

Qualifications & Experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering, Reservoir Engineering, or related field (mandatory).Master’s degree or PhD in Petroleum/Reservoir Engineering (preferred).

Experience

Typically 20+ years in reservoir or petroleum engineering.Minimum 5 years in a leadership or managerial role.Demonstrated experience with major oil & gas reservoirs (carbonate/clastic, conventional/unconventional).Strong background in field development, simulation, and reserves evaluation.Site experience in the middle east and any specific experience in the Iraqi southern Oil Fields would be advantageous.

Technical Skills

Expertise in reservoir simulation (e.g., Eclipse, tNavigator, CMG).Proficiency in production optimization tools (e.g., Prosper, GAP, MBAL).Strong reservoir surveillance and modelling capability.Solid understanding of well testing, pressure-transient analysis, and flow assurance.

Soft Skills

Leadership and team development abilities.Excellent communication and stakeholder management.Strong analytical, decision-making, and strategic thinking skills.