Principal Geophysicist
Job Fit Check
Base Career helps you apply smarter for this job.
Key skills for this role
Role Overview
The Principal Geophysicist provides senior geophysical expertise across subsurface studies and projects.
The role focuses on seismic interpretation, seismic inversion, reservoir characterization, and subsurface uncertainty.
The position independently leads complex geophysical studies and provides technical recommendations for field development, well placement, reserves evaluation, production optimization, and troubleshooting.
The role contributes to workflow improvement, knowledge sharing, mentoring, and technical discussions with stakeholders.
Key Skills for This Role
Full Job Posting
Company Context
CNPC R&D (DIFC) Company Limited is CNPC’s R&D and technical support centre in the Dubai International Financial Centre.
The centre supports CNPC upstream assets across the Middle East through field-driven R&D and collaboration with research and engineering institutes and global partners.
Role Purpose
The Principal Geophysicist provides senior geophysical expertise across subsurface studies and projects.
The role focuses on seismic interpretation, seismic inversion, reservoir characterization, and subsurface uncertainty.
The position independently leads complex geophysical studies and provides technical recommendations for field development, well placement, reserves evaluation, production optimization, and troubleshooting.
The role contributes to workflow improvement, knowledge sharing, mentoring, and technical discussions with stakeholders.
Seismic Interpretation and Evaluation
- Lead 2D and 3D seismic interpretation, including structural, fault, and stratigraphic interpretation, mapping, and framework development.
- Perform pre-stack and post-stack seismic inversion and quantitative and qualitative seismic attribute analysis.
- Integrate core and well-log data with seismic data to improve reservoir characterization and prediction.
- Apply advanced geophysical techniques and software to complex subsurface challenges.
- Generate and interpret seismic attributes and inversion products to characterize traps, reservoirs, fractures, facies, and uncertainties.
Reservoir and Field Development
- Develop structural and stratigraphic frameworks for static reservoir models and provide geophysical inputs for reserves estimation and booking.
- Integrate geophysical, geological, petrophysical, and reservoir engineering interpretations into fit-for-purpose subsurface models.
- Assess geophysical and subsurface uncertainties affecting project outcomes.
- Provide geophysical inputs to field development plans, development concepts, well placement, and trajectory optimization.
- Support oilfield development and production activities, including troubleshooting and debottlenecking.
Technical Delivery and Collaboration
- Lead assigned geophysical studies and workstreams, owning technical scope, quality, schedules, and deliverables.
- Select appropriate methodologies, workflows, and software and review technical interpretations and deliverables.
- Improve geophysical workflows, methodologies, standards, and best practices.
- Identify technical risks and escalate material issues to project leadership.
- Collaborate with subsurface disciplines, communicate recommendations to technical and non-technical audiences, and participate in reviews and client meetings.
- Share knowledge and mentor less-experienced geophysicists.
Qualifications and Experience
- PhD in Geoscience.
- At least 15 years of relevant upstream oil and gas industry experience.
- Strong expertise in seismic interpretation, seismic inversion, and integrated subsurface studies.
- Experience with reservoir characterization, field development, and production-related studies.
- Demonstrated experience independently leading complex geophysical studies or multidisciplinary subsurface workstreams.
- Experience with a major international oil company, oilfield services company, or leading energy organization is highly desirable.
- Middle East upstream experience is an advantage.
- Fluency in English with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Job-Specific Skills
- Strong expertise in 2D and 3D seismic interpretation, including structural and stratigraphic interpretation, mapping, and framework development.
- Strong experience in pre-stack and post-stack seismic inversion, seismic attributes, fracture identification, and sedimentary facies prediction.
- Ability to integrate seismic with geological, petrophysical, and reservoir engineering information for reservoir characterization and static modeling.
- Understanding of geophysical applications to field development, well placement, trajectory optimization, reserves evaluation, production support, troubleshooting, and debottlenecking.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and multidisciplinary collaboration skills.
Apply for this job in 1 click
Skip the repetitive application forms
Install the Base Career Chrome Extension and autofill job applications across major job boards with your profile.
Trusted by over 500,000 job seekers on Base Career
More from this employer
More jobs at CNPC R&D (DIFC) Company Limited
Vice President, Technical
, UAE
CNPC R&D (DIFC) Company Limited is CNPC (China National Petroleum Corporation)’s R&D and Technical Support Centre based in Dubai, supporting CNPC’s upstream assets and business interests and promoting CNPC’s technologies
Senior Principal Geologist (Carbonate Development Geologist)
, UAE
CNPC R&D is seeking a senior principal geologist specializing in carbonate development to lead static geological modeling, field development support, and integrated subsurface studies. The role requires a PhD in geoscien
Senior Principal Carbonate Development Geologist
, UAE
We are seeking a Senior Principal Carbonate Development Geologist to deliver development geology expertise in projects, focusing on conceptual and digital geological models. The role involves leading the construction of
Principal Petrophysicist
, UAE
CNPC R&D seeks a Principal Petrophysicist to lead advanced petrophysical interpretation and integrated formation evaluation for hydrocarbon fields. The role involves developing and improving petrophysical models, evaluat