Production Engineer

Summary:

The Production & Facilities Engineer is responsible for daily surveillance, optimization, and maintenance of upstream production systems and surface infrastructure. The engineer integrates real-time data analysis, field visits, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure safe, reliable, and cost-effective production across multiple assets. The position combines technical design, operational troubleshooting, and regulatory compliance with hands-on support in the field.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities:

Production Surveillance & Optimization:

• Monitor real-time production data via SCADA and production dashboards.
• Identify underperforming wells, decline trends, and anomalies in fluid volumes, pressures, or ratios.
• Collaborate with operations to adjust choke settings, lift parameters, and flowback strategies.
• Troubleshoot daily operational issues—e.g., slugging, separator upsets, fluid carryover.
• Participate in morning operations calls and lead daily/weekly performance reviews with field team.

Artificial Lift and Equipment Management:

• Manage performance and run-life of artificial lift systems (rod pump, ESP, gas lift, plunger).
• Recommend and design lift optimization strategies based on well performance diagnostics.
• Coordinate well interventions and liaise with service providers for lift repairs or upgrades.
• Maintain pump cards, vibration trends, and fluid level data for optimization.

Facility Engineering and Maintenance:

• Oversee design and integrity of tank batteries, separators, heater treaters, and flowlines.
• Coordinate and troubleshoot equipment failures (compressors, control valves, instrumentation).
• Initiate MOCs (Management of Change) and ensure P&ID updates are accurate.
• Generate facility sizing calculations and recommend debottlenecking solutions.
• Assist with new facility tie-ins and project execution:

Cost and AFE Management:

• Track daily lease operating expenses (LOE) and optimize field cost drivers.
• Create or review AFEs for recompletions, workovers, compression installs, and facility upgrades.
• Approve invoices, confirm field work scope completion, and coordinate with procurement.

Safety, Regulatory, and Compliance:

• Ensure field operations comply with internal safety standards and federal/state regulations.
• Participate in safety audits, HAZOP reviews, and risk assessments.
• Support environmental compliance efforts (e.g., vapor recovery, flare monitoring, SPCC plans).
• Oversee incident reports, conduct root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Work closely with field foremen, pumpers, automation techs, and lease operators.
• Coordinate with reservoir, completions, and drilling engineers for full asset optimization.
• Support planning and scheduling for facility construction and field development.
• Serve as the technical liaison between office engineering and field execution teams Daily Tools & Platforms Used.
• SCADA Systems: CygNet, XSPOC, Weatherford ForeSite, Peloton.
• Data Analysis: Spotfire, Power BI, Excel dashboards, PHDWin.
• Design Tools: AutoCAD, Aspen HYSYS, PipeSim, Flaresim.
• Documentation Systems: OpenWells, WellView, SAP, Maximo.

Qualifications:

• 3–7 years of upstream oil & gas experience, preferably in production and surface facilities.
• Strong working knowledge of artificial lift design and facility engineering.
• Experience in field troubleshooting, failure analysis, and facility operations.
• Proficient in technical reporting, safety documentation, and regulatory requirements.
• Strong field presence with the ability to lead by example and communicate clearly with non-engineering field staff.