Job Description
Job title: Drilling Manager – Oil & Gas (Upstream)
Work Location: Chennai / Kharsang
Reports to: Head of Drilling
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
The Drilling Manager is responsible for planning, executing, and supervising drilling operations to ensure wells are delivered safely, on time, within budget, and in compliance with regulatory and company standards. The role provides technical leadership, operational oversight, and coordination with multidisciplinary teams and contractors, from well design through completion or handover.
Responsibilities:
- Develop and approve well designs, drilling programs, and operational procedures
- Select appropriate drilling technologies, equipment, and materials
- Review geological and subsurface data to optimize well trajectories and drilling performance
- Prepare AFE budgets, cost estimates, and drilling schedules
- Operations Management
- Oversee day-to-day drilling operations (onshore )
- Ensure compliance with HSE policies, well control standards, and regulatory requirements
- Monitor drilling performance, NPT, and KPIs; implement corrective actions
- Manage risks related to well integrity, lost circulation, kicks, and stuck pipe
- Health, Safety & Environment (HSE)
- Champion a zero-incident safety culture
- Ensure compliance with local regulations, company HSE standards, and environmental permits
- Lead or participate in incident investigations and audits
- Ensure emergency response and well control preparedness
- Contractor & Stakeholder Management
- Manage drilling contractors, service companies, and rig crews
- Evaluate contractor performance and control service quality and costs
- Coordinate with subsurface, completions, production, logistics, and procurement teams
- Interface with regulators, partners, and joint venture representatives
- Cost & Performance Control
- Track drilling expenditures against AFE and manage cost overruns
- Optimize drilling efficiency and reduce NPT
- Approve invoices and verify contractor charges
- Implement lessons learned and continuous improvement initiatives
- Leadership & Reporting
- Lead and mentor drilling engineers and supervisors
- Prepare daily, weekly, and end-of-well reports
- Present operational updates to senior management
- Support long-term drilling strategy and field development planning
Education and Work Experience Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline
- 15+ years of drilling experience, including supervisory or management roles
- Strong knowledge of well design, drilling fluids, casing design, well control, and drilling optimization
- Valid Well Control Certification (IWCF)
- Experience with onshore/offshore drilling operations (as applicable)
- Strong leadership, decision-making, and communication skills
Work Location: Chennai / Kharsang
Reports to: Head of Drilling
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
The Drilling Manager is responsible for planning, executing, and supervising drilling operations to ensure wells are delivered safely, on time, within budget, and in compliance with regulatory and company standards. The role provides technical leadership, operational oversight, and coordination with multidisciplinary teams and contractors, from well design through completion or handover.
Responsibilities:
- Develop and approve well designs, drilling programs, and operational procedures
- Select appropriate drilling technologies, equipment, and materials
- Review geological and subsurface data to optimize well trajectories and drilling performance
- Prepare AFE budgets, cost estimates, and drilling schedules
- Operations Management
- Oversee day-to-day drilling operations (onshore )
- Ensure compliance with HSE policies, well control standards, and regulatory requirements
- Monitor drilling performance, NPT, and KPIs; implement corrective actions
- Manage risks related to well integrity, lost circulation, kicks, and stuck pipe
- Health, Safety & Environment (HSE)
- Champion a zero-incident safety culture
- Ensure compliance with local regulations, company HSE standards, and environmental permits
- Lead or participate in incident investigations and audits
- Ensure emergency response and well control preparedness
- Contractor & Stakeholder Management
- Manage drilling contractors, service companies, and rig crews
- Evaluate contractor performance and control service quality and costs
- Coordinate with subsurface, completions, production, logistics, and procurement teams
- Interface with regulators, partners, and joint venture representatives
- Cost & Performance Control
- Track drilling expenditures against AFE and manage cost overruns
- Optimize drilling efficiency and reduce NPT
- Approve invoices and verify contractor charges
- Implement lessons learned and continuous improvement initiatives
- Leadership & Reporting
- Lead and mentor drilling engineers and supervisors
- Prepare daily, weekly, and end-of-well reports
- Present operational updates to senior management
- Support long-term drilling strategy and field development planning
Education and Work Experience Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline
- 15+ years of drilling experience, including supervisory or management roles
- Strong knowledge of well design, drilling fluids, casing design, well control, and drilling optimization
- Valid Well Control Certification (IWCF)
- Experience with onshore/offshore drilling operations (as applicable)
- Strong leadership, decision-making, and communication skills
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