Geomechanics Specialist

Job summary

Entity:

Production & Operations

Job Family Group:

Subsurface Group

Job Description:

Role Synopsis

The Geomechanics Specialist individual contributor role is part of the Geoscience team within bpx energy’s Subsurface Technology Team (STT). The STT is a centralized center of technical excellence made up of geoscience and reservoir engineering experts who support bpx energy’s multi-rig program across the Permian, Eagle Ford, and Haynesville development teams. The purpose of the Geoscience team in STT is to proactively drive subsurface excellence by supporting the technical assurance of annual capital investments, improving & standardizing technical processes, solving the toughest technical problems, and pursuing & adopting innovations.

This is a high responsibility, high impact, and high reward role in which the Geomechanics Specialist will be the sole individual contributor responsible for the geomechanics discipline in bpx energy. This entails using independent judgement in developing reliable geomechanics solutions that are aligned with business needs and well communicated & integrated across stakeholders. Such geomechanics solutions span across drilling, completions, and reservoir engineering and are aimed at improving bpx energy’s safety, production, and cost metrics.

The ideal candidate demonstrates a strong personal commitment to inclusion, teamwork, respect, trust, accountability, and ownership. They thrive in fast-paced, agile, and lean environments, showing resilience and adaptability under dynamic conditions. A growth mindset is essential, along with a proven ability to learn quickly, improve continuously, and adjust to change.

This individual is data-driven, detail-oriented, and skilled in exercising independent judgment. They bring strong critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and confidence in navigating unstructured or uncertain situations.

Key Accountabilities

Develop and update geomechanical models, integrating core, log, DFIT, and other geomechanics-related data to estimate structure-, mineralogy-, pressure- and production-dependent stresses & rock mechanical properties.

Design and lead the acquisition of geomechanics-based data (field and lab). Build, own, and manage databases of previously acquired and future acquisition of core, log, DFIT, and other data related to geomechanics applications.

Support drilling engineering with developing & maintaining pore pressure, fracture gradient, and mechanical earth models that inform wellbore design, targeting, well planning, and drilling execution in effectively preventing wellbore instability, mud losses, influx events, and casing collapse issues. This includes understanding and addressing the impact of faults and offset wells in the required mud weight of future wells.

Support completions engineering with the optimization of hydraulic fracturing designs for primary and infill development wells. This includes understanding and addressing the impact of wellbore orientation, stress profiles, faults, and offset wells to optimize hydraulic fracture growth in future wells. This also includes integrating geomechanics principles in support of hydraulic fracturing and fault stability modeling (analytical & computational).

Support reservoir engineering with production forecasting. This includes understanding and addressing the impact of stress profiles, faults, and offset wells to accurately predict production curves and EURs of future wells.

Effectively manage stakeholders across STT, asset teams, and functional teams, including leadership, geoscientists, reservoir engineers, drilling engineers, and completion engineers. This includes reliable communication channels, continued priority alignment, data & model consistency, and the highest levels of accountability & trustworthiness.

Drive the standards of excellence in the geomechanics domain. This includes building, standardizing, optimizing, and managing geomechanics-related processes; supporting the technical assurance of projects; offering and hosting one-on-one mentoring sessions; and coordinating & leading technical development workshops.

Lead the advancements of technical capabilities in the geomechanics domain through the pursuit and deployment, or development, of new technologies & workflows. This includes staying at the forefront of the latest offers from third-party service providers – for field and lab applications; benchmarking of peer competitors; and attending fit-for-purpose technical conferences and consortia meetings.

Visit the field to support technical projects such as overseeing data acquisition programs.

Essential Education & Experience

Master of Science in Engineering, Physics, Geology, or related fields

Minimum of 15 years of industry experience working as a Geomechanics Specialist in U.S. unconventional plays.

Theory, application, modeling, and interpretation of rock mechanics & geomechanics concepts

Field- and well-based acquisition & interpretation of indirect measurements for geomechanics applications

Acquisition, laboratory analysis, and interpretation of direct rock sample measurements for geomechanics applications

Integration of geomechanics applications with other subsurface disciplines such as petrophysics, geophysics, and geology

Integration of geomechanics applications with engineering disciplines such as drilling, completions, and reservoir

Moderate to advanced understanding of vertical & horizontal drilling, hydraulic fracturing, and production physics. While a robust knowledge of theoretical concepts is foundational, it is required that the ideal candidate demonstrates the expertise in the above capacities applied to the U.S. unconventional oil and gas business. A track record of reliability, integration, and alignment across teams coupled with excellent communication skills is a must.

Self-starter with the ability to use independent judgement in identifying, leading, and addressing challenges or opportunities; managing uncertainty and risk; integrating multiple data sources; and making data-driven decisions.

A track record of multi-discipline integration, teamwork, mentoring, reliability, and time & project management.

Excellent communication skills, especially when addressing technical concepts to a non-technical audience.

Demonstrated ability to succeed in fast-paced and lean work environments by embracing change & adapting quickly.

Demonstrated ability to understand technical projects through the lens of business outcomes such as IRR and NPV.

Geoscience software (slb suite preferred, e.g., Techlog, Petrel)

Desireable Criteria

Eagle Ford, Permian, and Haynesville preferred.

Data visualization software (Power BI or Spotfire preferred).

Competitor benchmarking applications (Enverus preferred).

Programming and data analytics (Python preferred).

Hydraulic fracturing software (ResFrac).

How much do we pay (Base)? $200,000 - $250,000. Note that the pay range listed for this position is a good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible base compensation at the time of posting.

Must be legally authorized to work full time in the US for anyone other than your current employer

Must not require, now or in the future, sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., TN, H1B status)

Why join us?

At bpx, we support our people to learn and grow in a diverse 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.

We offer a reward and wellbeing package to enable your work to fit with your life. These can include, but not limited to, access to health, vision, and dental insurance, flexible working schedule, paid time off policy, discretionary annual bonus program, long-term incentive program, and a generous 401(k) matching program.

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 accommodations.

Discover your place with us and help our business meet the challenges of the future!

Travel Requirement

Up to 10% travel should be expected with this role

Relocation Assistance:

This role is not eligible for relocation

Remote Type:

This position is a hybrid of office/remote working

Skills:

Completions petrophysics, Core acquisition and analysis, Cost-conscious decision-making, Data acquisition strategy, Data Analysis, Data Management, Depositional framework, Fluid Properties, Fluid sampling and analysis, Geomechanical analysis, Integrated Well Delivery, Petrophysical Dynamic Reservoir Description, Petrophysical Static Reservoir Description, Reservoir geomechanics, Rock Properties Framework, Subsurface integration, Subsurface uncertainty and risk management, Subsurface verification and assurance, Supplier Relationship Management, Well integrity petrophysics, Well interventions petrophysics, Well Planning

Legal Disclaimer:

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, socioeconomic status, neurodiversity/neurocognitive functioning, 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.