Petroleum Engineer
What you'd do
Explore a new career with the BLM - where our people are our most precious resource. This position is located in the following locations: Vernal, UT $86,123 - $134,195 Special Rate Miles City, MT $74,678 - $116,362 Buffalo, WY $74,678 - $116,362 Flowood, MS $74,678 - $116,362 Canon City, CO $76,650 - $119,434 Sacramento, CA $82,780 - $128,987 We will fill 1 vacancy at each location; however, additional positions may be filled from this announcement if they become available.
Major duties
Conduct technical review of drilling, completion, workover, and plugging programs to ensure safety, environmental protection, and regulatory compliance. Analyze and approve APDs and Sundry Notices, recommending corrective actions or alternative engineering solutions when needed. Evaluate drilling designs, casing/cementing programs, pressure control, drilling fluids, and operational plans to protect resources and prevent hazards (e.g., H2S, abnormal pressures). Support reservoir management through drainage analysis, well spacing evaluation, and participation in unitization/communitization decisions. Lead or support NEPA/land-use planning efforts by providing technical input, reviewing documents, and contributing to interdisciplinary teams. Oversee inspections of drilling and production operations to verify compliance, prevent royalty loss, and ensure safe, workmanlike practices. Provide expert technical guidance to operators and BLM staff, including testimony and specialized recommendations on complex engineering issues.
What you need to qualify
In order to be rated as qualified for this position, we must be able to determine that you meet the qualification requirements - please be sure to include this information in your resume. No assumptions will be made about your experience. You must meet one of the following Basic Requirements in order to be eligible for this position; please see the Education section for the Basic Requirements AND To qualify for the GS-11: You must possess one (1) full year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS-09 level that is equivalent in difficulty and complexity as indicated by the following examples: Providing petroleum engineering expertise to carry out difficult and conventional assignments; unconventional applications including those covering unprecedented, complex and/or novel proposals needing senior engineering assistance; investigating and analyzing reservoir management problems and drainage areas and volumes providing professional petroleum engineering and regulatory review and making recommendations for approval of conventional oil and gas applications and inspecting oil and gas activities for conformance with standards and compliance. -OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least 3 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree. You must include transcripts. -OR- Successful completion of a combination of education and experience as described above. To qualify for the GS-12: At least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-11 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). This experience may include all of the following: performing technical review and making recommendations for approval of all down-hole operations and reviewing applications for permits to drill (APDs) for completeness and adequacy; reviewing downhole pressures, casing and cementing plans, blow out prevention equipment, geology and other procedures to protect people, minerals, and aquifers; coordinating with other specialists; providing on-the-spot instructions and authorizations for final plugging and abandonment of wells; providing technical expertise and support to junior Petroleum Engineers, Petroleum Engineering Technicians, and/or Petroleum Accounting Technicians concerning oil and gas inspection and enforcement issues; conducting both engineering and economic analyses to determine viability of proposals/variances and their respective short and long term benefits; reviewing well data, leases, well spacing, unit agreements for various compliance issues, and maintaining relative spreadsheets; providing various technical reports to management for higher level meetings; providing expertise to management regarding complex technical issues. There is no substitution of education for experience at this grade level. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. You must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement. Time In Grade Requirement: Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade requirement in accordance with 5 CFR 300.604. If you are a current Federal employee in the General Schedule (GS) pay plan and applying for a promotion opportunity, you must have completed a minimum of 52 weeks at the next lower grade level. Physical Demands: The work is primarily sedentary. Occasionally, the petroleum engineer conducts field work which requires travel over rough roads, hiking or climbing in rough terrain, and carrying field equipment. Work Environment: Most work is performed in a typical office environment. Occasional field work will require exposure to a range of climatic conditions from subzero to over 100 degrees temperatures, rain and snow; exposure to poisonous gasses, and other similar dangerous conditions. Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP)/lnteragency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority, you must: 1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well qualified for the position with a score of 90 or above; and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information: CTAP or ICTAP
Before you apply
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