Lead MPD/MPCD

Lead Drilling Engineer – MPD/PMCDBlock 20 Exploration | Luanda, Angola

Location: Luanda, Angola
Assignment: Residential position
Discipline: Drilling Engineering / Managed Pressure Drilling
Reporting to: Head of Drilling Engineering

We are seeking an experienced Lead Drilling Engineer to support exploration drilling activities in Angola.

This is a technically challenging role within a high-value deepwater drilling programme, involving complex well designs, demanding operational performance targets and significant technical risks associated with drilling deep-buried pre-salt carbonate reservoirs.
A key focus will be the engineering preparation, operational readiness and integration of Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) and Pressurised Mud Cap Drilling (PMCD) technologies to address severe formation losses and challenging downhole conditions.

The successful candidate will provide drilling engineering leadership from concept selection and well design through detailed planning, technical assurance and operational execution support.

Project Context:

The assignment is based in Luanda, supporting deepwater drilling operations using dynamically positioned drillships.

The programme involves:

• Deepwater exploration drilling in Block 20, Angola.
  
  
  
• Vertical and S-shaped well trajectories through Miocene/Oligocene formations into deep-buried pre-salt carbonate reservoirs.
  
  
  
• Severe-loss risks requiring specialist MPD and PMCD solutions.
  
  
  
• Integration of MPD/PMCD equipment with rig systems, subsea equipment and drilling operations.
  
  
  
• Complex technical assurance, operational readiness and contractor interfaces.
  
  
  
• High-value drilling campaigns where safety, performance, non-productive time and well costs are critical.
  
  
  

The drilling programme is planned around approximately eight wells per year, with an indicative average well duration of 70 days and significant expenditure associated with deepwater rig operations.

Key Responsibilities:

Drilling Engineering Leadership

• Lead drilling engineering activities from concept selection and feasibility studies through well design, detailed planning and execution support.
  
  
  
• Prepare and review Statements of Requirement (SOR), Basis of Design documents, drilling programmes and End of Well Reports.
  
  
  
• Develop and challenge well cost estimates, AFEs, schedules, risk assessments and drilling performance forecasts.
  
  
  
• Lead Project Drilling Reviews, Peer Reviews, DWOPs and associated technical assurance processes.
  
  
  
• Develop drilling procedures, contingency plans and well barrier management strategies.
  
  
  
• Support offshore teams during critical operations, providing engineering solutions to complex drilling challenges.
  
  
  

MPD / PMCD Engineering

• Lead engineering preparation and operational support for MPD and PMCD operations.
  
  
  
• Validate operating envelopes, procedures, contingency plans and operational readiness requirements.
  
  
  
• Ensure MPD/PMCD systems are appropriately integrated into well designs, drilling programmes and rig operating procedures.
  
  
  
• Support equipment qualification, technical evaluations, tendering, procurement and long-lead equipment planning.
  
  
  
• Coordinate interfaces between drilling engineering, completions, subsea teams, drilling contractors and specialist MPD/PMCD service providers.
  
  
  
• Participate in HAZID, HAZOP, SIMOPS and well barrier reviews associated with managed-pressure operations.
  
  
  
• Monitor MPD/PMCD performance, NPT, safety KPIs and cost efficiency.
  
  
  
• Capture lessons learned and implement improvements across future drilling campaigns.
  
  
  

Performance and Cost Management

• Monitor drilling performance against operational, safety, schedule and cost objectives.
  
  
  
• Support continuous improvement initiatives and the implementation of lessons learned.
  
  
  
• Contribute to contractor management, service contract evaluations and drilling performance optimisation.
  
  
  
• Help ensure well trajectories are delivered as planned and final well costs remain within the targeted tolerance of 5%.
  
  
  
• Mentor drilling engineers and contribute to technical competency development within the Wells organisation.
  
  
  

Candidates should demonstrate:

• A degree in Drilling Engineering or an equivalent relevant engineering discipline.
  
  
  
• A minimum of 10 years' experience in the petroleum industry, with substantial international drilling exposure.
  
  
  
• Strong knowledge of deepwater drilling environments and offshore well construction.
  
  
  
• Demonstrable experience in deepwater MPD and/or PMCD operations.
  
  
  
• Strong understanding of severe-loss drilling environments, well barriers and managed-pressure technologies.
  
  
  
• Experience with complex well designs, drilling programmes, operational risk management and contingency planning.
  
  
  
• Experience managing multidisciplinary interfaces involving drilling, completions, subsea systems, drilling contractors and MPD/PMCD service providers.
  
  
  
• Participation in technical assurance processes, including HAZID, HAZOP, DWOP and barrier reviews.
  
  
  
• Strong communication, coordination and stakeholder-management skills within international project teams.
  
  
  
• A current IWCF well-control certificate and relevant T-BOP experience, as required.
  
  
  

Previous operational experience is highly desirable, as is an IFP Drilling & Completion qualification or equivalent.


The ideal candidate will combine strong drilling engineering fundamentals with practical experience in deepwater MPD/PMCD applications, particularly where severe losses, fractured or challenging carbonate formations and complex equipment integration create significant operational risks.
Experience supporting high-value deepwater drillship campaigns, preparing specialist managed-pressure programmes and coordinating engineering solutions across multiple service providers will be particularly relevant.

Candidates with the required deepwater MPD/PMCD experience are invited to submit an up-to-date CV, together with their availability and rate expectations, for consideration.


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