KBR

Reservoir Engineering Manager / Petroleum Engineering Manager

Basra, Al Başrah, Iraq Full time

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.