Drilling Optimization Engineer

About the Role

The Drilling Optimization Engineer will drive performance analytics and optimization initiatives for Patterson-UTI Drilling Company, LLC by analyzing drilling data to support field operations, engage stakeholders, and optimize on-shore drilling rigs. This role reports directly to the Drilling Optimization Manager.

Key Responsibilities

• Interfaces directly with all stakeholders, both internally and externally, to drive performance initiatives for assigned customers.
• Track, analyze, and manage KPI’s to identify areas for improvement.
• Evaluates drilling performance and creates recommendations related to drilling practices and/or drilling parameters to improve KPI’s internally and externally.
• Assesses processes on the rig site or elsewhere to identify inefficiencies, collaborate with the operations team, senior management, and customers to propose improvements, and write and execute performance improvement plans.
• Develop and maintain roadmaps and heatmaps for operational phases.
• Own performance-improvement plans and drive corrective actions to completion.
• Serve as a technical performance advisor to operations, sales, and related groups.
• Promotes innovation and new technologies.
• Provide training, coaching, and pre-project planning to operations to enhance rig KPI performance.
• Perform root cause analysis for incidents, equipment failures, and operational issues, and integrate improvements companywide.
• Coordinate with customers at all organizational levels, aligning goals and responding to data/report requests.
• Coach and train operations personnel on the Patterson PTEN+ portal and other performance tools.
• Analyze large datasets and develop visuals and reports in Tableau, Spotfire, Power BI, etc.
• Develop a company-wide repository of best practices.
• Lead the evaluation and enhancement of rig/equipment monitoring, state detection, and notification systems.
• Define requirements and contribute technical expertise to design and develop visualizations, control applications, customer web portals, and other initiatives.
• Diagnose and resolve complex drilling-performance related issues, supporting Superintendents.
• Participate in handover meetings with Operations and support groups.
• Collaborate with Business Analytics Managers to share cost information on rig labor and M&S, optimizing costs regionally.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Able to thoroughly learn the details of our business quickly.
• Build engaging relationships at all levels of the organization and with customers.
• Analyze complex processes and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Able to think strategically and translate concepts into action plans and track results.
• Simplify and explain complex topics for coaching and training.
• Ability to manage challenging situations, make difficult decisions, deliver uncomfortable messages, provide feedback, and present data effectively to customers with professionalism.
• Able to work both independently and as part of a team, managing multiple tasks and projects simultaneously to meet challenging deadlines.
• Proficient in utilizing advanced logical and mathematical calculations.
• Excellent verbal and written English Language communication.
• Strong computer skills, including MS Office Suite and other business systems such as Oracle Outsourcing, Electronic Drilling Recorder, and internal Management System.
• Use of smart phones, laptops, and tablets.
• Able to learn data analytics tools like Qlik, Tableau, Power BI and perform data analytics.
• Physical ability to:
• Lift and carry up to 50 pounds and occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, twist, or crawl during field visits.
• Listen for unusual noises that may indicate equipment or machinery issues.
• Stay alert and focused, including during occasional extended work periods.
• Maintain spatial awareness to safely navigate environments with moving objects, including overhead machinery, and wear required PPE.
• Travel regularly to worksites, which may include extended travel to remote locations and/or overnight stays.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Applied Science, or related field.
• Prior internship or field-based experience.
• Eligible to drive Company or personal vehicle for Company purposes.

Preferred Qualifications

• Hands-on programming experience in Python or C#/Java and different databases.
• Experience working in the oilfield service industry with working knowledge of multiple basins within US Land Shale Plays.