Operations Geologist at Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc

Overall Purpose of the Job

An Operations Geologist plays a crucial role in oil & gas exploration and drilling and acts as a bridge between drilling engineers and geoscientists, ensuring geological objectives align with operational constraints. They work closely with multidisciplinary teams to ensure successful well planning, execution, and data acquisition. They oversee real-time data monitoring, optimize drilling strategies, and mitigate risks such as wellbore instability and depleted reservoirs. Their role is critical in offshore and high-pressure drilling environments, where precision and adaptability are key.

Principal Accountabilities

• Complete Integrated Pore Pressure Prediction (IP3), Site Investigations including Shallow Drilling Hazards Evaluation (top-hole prognosis), geomechanics and surveillance
• Collaborate with geoscientists, reservoir engineers, and Wells teams to develop geological well prognoses, efficient well plan & casing design to meet geologic objectives
• Analyze formation evaluation data to optimize well trajectories
• Supervise well-site geological services, including mudlogging, wireline logging, and coring
• Ensure compliance with geological objectives and regulatory requirements
• Maintain communication with wellsite geologists, drilling crews, and management teams
• Support the Wells team and formation evaluation, during contracting, in the contract technical evaluation for logging (LWD/MWD & Wireline), and Mudlogging services
• Compile well and evaluation plan information to meet regulatory requirements
• Evaluate technical services and cost estimates for coring (handling/preservation and analysis), wellsite data management services, wellsite Geology and Biostratigraphy
• Support well-site-based activities, including selection of casing seats, geosteering, wireline logging, coring and formation testing programs
• Document well objectives, Formation Evaluation (FE) plan, operations and communication protocols, and data/sample distribution into a Geological program
• Supervise and provide logistical/technical support to wellsite Geologists, service company personnel to gather complete, high quality geologic data sets
• Compile and distribute final well reports, logs, and support documents timely to all parties
• Prepare and submit Ready To Drill (RTD) permits documentation to the regulatory authorities and keep a robust inventory of well permits & other permits received from regulatory authorities
• Participate in TD protocol reviews, pre-spud meetings and after-action review and share relevant technical evaluations.

Education

• MSC
• B.Sc in Geology

Skills

• M.Sc. or Ph.D. degree in Geology or Geophysics and a B.Sc. with a minimum of second-class Upper Division (2.1) in Geology or Geophysics
• Minimum 8-10 years of experience in well operations and planning
• NYSC discharge or exemption certificate
• Experience as Operations Geologist in offshore (Jackup Barge/Rig, MODU) drilling activities
• Offshore experience including platform/deviated well drilling with associated technologies (e.g. LWD, WL)
• Offshore and HPHT well-site experience, expertise in MPD drilling practices and drilling challenges
• Experience with directional drilling, well planning, and depth control
• Understanding of BHA (Bottom Hole Assembly) and coring operations
• Familiarity with formation evaluation tools and pressure prediction techniques
• Experience with coring operations, Integrated pre–Pressure Prediction, Shallow Drilling Hazards Evaluation or Geohazards Assessment
• Experience with mud logging, cutting description, and real-time image logs
• Experience with basic FE interpretation for identifying rock type, fluid type, borehole conditions, etc.

Others:

• Ability to work under tight deadlines and shifting priorities
• Effective communication skills in English, good organizational and coordination and interpersonal skills
• Willingness to travel internationally, including offshore
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Working knowledge of Petrel, Paleoscan, and ArcGIS will be beneficial.