Purpose & Accountabilities:

Shell entered in 2016 into an Extended Technical Service Agreement (ETSA) with the Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) for the Heavy Oil fields in north Kuwait (NKHO). Under the NKHO ETSA, Shell will provide technical and managerial support and services to KOC based on its expertise in Heavy Oil field development and operations. Shell will assist KOC to achieve optimal production volumes with safe maximum recovery of hydrocarbons at optimum cost from the South Ratqa and Umm Niqa fields in Northern Kuwait. These developments constitute key strategic projects in support of the Kuwaiti Government’s long-term vision for the country and are therefore very prominent in PTD’s portfolio.

The NKHO fields are currently in initial stages of production and will be ramped up to achieve very challenging production targets. The fields produce heavy oil (12 – 21 ºAPI), from highly unconsolidated formations using PCPs and SRPs as artificial lift methods. The fields operate 1000+ wells, from an extensive surface network involving steam and water injection. Umm Niqa is undergoing cold production, whilst South Ratqa producers under CSS, followed by continuous steam injection. Artificial lift optimization, sand management and reservoir integrity management are the main technical challenges at this stage, whilst cost optimization is a key non-technical focus area in the next few years.

The Principal Production Technologist is a member of the FD team, supporting KOC on one or more production units in the NKHO fields.

The purpose of the multi-disciplinary Field Development (FD) team is to maximize the value from existing assets and drive top quartile Wells and WRFM performance that will result in additional production, increased reserves and increased efficiency and effectiveness through a focused delivery program. As a member of the team, the Principal Production Technologist also contributes to ongoing development studies associated with next phases of the field development.

Due to the nature of the ETSA agreement, this role has a significant stakeholder management dimension, requiring focused efforts to improve and extend the working relationship between Shell and KOC.

The Sr Production technologist has the following main tasks:

As KOC is moving towards digitization with real time monitoring of data coming in from field.

• The PT is expected to assist KOC (& its Contractor) data flow process , EBS and dashboard.
• The dashboard and data should help KOC in daily wells/field optimization and help in well reviews.
• The dashboard and the data should be flexible to cut and slice the data in many ways.
• A PT should have good grasp of Excel, Power BI & Spotfire ( an asset to have) and making workflow for dashboard.
• Educate/Support contractor on creation of dashboard ( KOC uses Weatherford and their dashboard in known as ForeSite)
• Champion a strong HSSE culture and performance in KOC Field Development Group.
• QA/QC of the technical work and active coaching of junior Kuwaiti staff.
• Deliver all PT related activities associated with WRFM, liaising with Petroleum Engineering, Well Surveillance, Operations, Well Services and Other Engineering disciplines as appropriate.
• Responsible for meeting the area WRFM targets (KPIs).
• Participation in integrated activity planning.
  
  

This is an excellent opportunity for a Production technologist looking for the chance to broaden his/her technical skills and further develop integration and leadership skills in a non-operated environment. Ample scope exists to further develop leadership competences by leading asset-wide business improvement projects and integrated deliverables as part of the ESTA yearly work plan.

Special Challenges:

• HSSE leadership in the Shell and KOC team in Kuwait.
• Continue to demonstrate Shell’s added value to KOC and Kuwait.
• Working in a multi-company, multi-cultural team environment requires the incumbent to have excellent people management skills to build trust and respect.
• The incumbent will need to quickly establish hir/her credibility as a highly competent professional, with the ability to work in a multi-faceted team to deliver quality, fit-for-purpose work.
• Manage the key interfaces between Shell, KOC and KOC contractors and facilitate alignment of interfaces.
• Carry out “fit-for-purpose” implementation of Shell processes and systems to the Field Development Department in KOC.
  
  

Dimensions:

The NKHO ETSA is focusing on two Heavy Oil fields. Their development is a mega KOC Project using cold flow and thermal/chemical EOR oil facilities & wells.

The Umm Niqa project consists of cold- heavy oil operations. 200+ vertical/deviated wells started production in 2005 on cold production using PCP(Progressive Cavity Pump).

Skills & Requirements:

• Degree in Engineering, Mathematics, or a Physical Science.
• At least 10-15 years of PT relevant experience in Oil and Gas Industry, with at least the last 5 years of past continuous employment history in SHELL .
• Well conversant with data analytic skills in PT domain
• Knowledge of PCP/SRP pumping system is an advantage
• Experience in sand management/sand analysis and operating pumps in a sand producing reservoir is an asset
• Consultancy skills and experience working in non-operated ventures are an advantage.
• Ability to motivate self, demonstrating resilience in dealing with challenging stakeholders on technical and non-technical issues is a must have.
• A self-starting leader, motivating a wide cross section of people of different abilities for quality results
  
  

Special Skills For Kuwait

Working successfully as Shell consultant in one of the KOC ETSAs requires that you bring in both excellent technical skills and excellent soft skills to build effective relations with your key stakeholders. Building personal relations in a Middle Eastern setting as well as in a client-consultant relationship is critical for success. In KOC, Shell staff are in an advisory role without authority. This means staff must adapt their ways of working and develop influencing skills and active stakeholder management to be successful. The incumbent needs to find ways to manage change and drive integration whilst having no organizational authority.

Introducing Kuwait

The assignments in Kuwait pose an excellent opportunity for candidates to demonstrate and develop consultancy skills that are increasingly valuable to the Shell Group and will set you up for success in future jobs, especially JVs. The assignments are generally perceived as challenging, and candidates need to reflect if they have or can develop the soft skills, resilience, and flexibility to be successful and to make the assignment rewarding. This introduction is meant to set right expectations for candidates to make a good decision and set them up for success.

Before Selection:

Successful applicants in must be endorsed by KOC before commencement of the transfer process