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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Upstream Project Consultant

💰 $ - $

EnergyOil & GasConsultingUpstream

🎯 Role Definition

The Upstream Project Consultant is a subject-matter expert who advises oil & gas operators, service companies and investment teams on upstream field development, well delivery, reservoir optimization, and project execution. This role combines technical depth in drilling, completions, reservoir and subsea systems with program and commercial acumen to manage FEED, brownfield modifications, capital projects and operational optimization. The consultant provides strategic input, leads multi-discipline teams, and ensures safe, cost-effective delivery of upstream projects from concept through to first oil/gas and handover.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Graduate Petroleum/Drilling/Reservoir Engineer moving into project engineering
  • Field Engineer or Wellsite Supervisor transitioning to project consultancy
  • Asset Engineer or Production Engineer with project delivery exposure

Advancement To:

  • Senior Upstream Project Consultant / Lead Consultant
  • Project Manager / Delivery Manager for major E&P projects
  • Technical Authority / Principal Engineer / Domain Lead

Lateral Moves:

  • Reservoir/Drilling Technical Advisor
  • Asset Manager or Operations Manager
  • Commercial or Contracting Lead for upstream projects

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead technical due diligence for upstream acquisitions, farm-ins and divestments, producing detailed reports on reservoir performance, well integrity, production forecasts, CAPEX/OPEX implications and commercial risk to support investment decisions.
  • Define and manage front-end engineering and design (FEED) scopes for greenfield and brownfield field development projects, including concept selection, cost estimating, schedule planning and risk assessments.
  • Develop and deliver integrated project execution plans covering wells, subsea, topsides, pipelines and onshore facilities; align multi-discipline engineering, procurement and construction strategies to project objectives.
  • Prepare and review technical specifications, tender documents and evaluation criteria for vendors, EPC contractors and service providers to ensure compliance with technical, HSE and commercial requirements.
  • Provide expert support for drilling and completions program design, including well trajectories, casing/cementing programs, completion selection, stimulation plans and drilling risk mitigation.
  • Conduct reservoir engineering studies: static and dynamic modelling, reserves estimation, production forecasting, well testing interpretation and development drilling sequencing to optimize recovery and project economics.
  • Lead well delivery assurance reviews and rig/site acceptance activities; oversee well engineering deliverables, drilling hydraulics, torque & drag analysis and well control planning to minimise non-productive time and cost overruns.
  • Design and advise on subsea architecture, flow assurance, umbilical and tie-back strategies, ensuring compatibility with host facilities and long-term operability of subsea fields.
  • Execute HAZID/HAZOP and other safety-critical risk workshops, integrating process safety, environmental and regulatory requirements into design and operating envelopes.
  • Provide contract management and commercial oversight during bid evaluation, negotiation and contract award; manage change control, claims assessment and cost recovery strategies.
  • Implement project governance and assurance processes: stage-gate reviews, milestone reporting, KPI tracking and corrective action plans to maintain schedule, budget and quality targets.
  • Coordinate interface management between wells, subsea, topsides, and export systems to resolve technical conflicts and minimize rework during detailed engineering and construction phases.
  • Prepare and present technical and commercial proposals, board-level briefings and investment memoranda; translate complex technical data into actionable recommendations for stakeholders and senior management.
  • Lead multidisciplinary teams in remote or offshore environments, providing coaching and technical direction to junior engineers and subcontractor teams to build capabilities and ensure delivery excellence.
  • Conduct brownfield modifications and debottlenecking studies to increase capacity or extend field life, including feasibility studies, cost-benefit analysis and implementation planning.
  • Support well integrity programs and lifecycle well management, advising on inspection, remediation, plugging and abandonment strategies and regulatory compliance.
  • Perform production optimization and diagnostic campaigns using nodal analysis, artificial lift selection, ESP/GLBR/CHOKE optimization, and surveillance programs to improve production efficiency.
  • Develop and implement well intervention and workover strategies, scope coiled tubing, slickline and riserless intervention operations including cost estimates and operational risk assessments.
  • Provide subject matter expertise for digitalization initiatives: digital twins, production monitoring, predictive maintenance models and data-driven decision tools to improve upstream asset performance.
  • Lead post-project reviews and lessons-learned workshops; implement continuous improvement actions across project delivery processes and technical standards.
  • Support regulatory permitting and stakeholder engagement, ensuring environmental impact assessments, community liaison and compliance with local/national regulations for project approvals.
  • Advise on decommissioning planning and execution strategies including scope definition, cost estimating, waste management and regulatory coordination for mature assets.
  • Develop and deliver client-facing training, workshops and capability-building programs on upstream project best practices, subsurface fundamentals and project management techniques.
  • Provide emergency response and incident investigation support for upstream operations, coordinating technical root cause analysis and remedial engineering actions.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Reservoir engineering: static/dynamic modelling, reserves classification (SPE/SPEPRMS), material balance and forecasting.
  • Drilling and completions engineering: well planning, directional drilling, casing design, cementing and completion systems.
  • Subsea and flow assurance engineering: flowline design, hydrate/inhibitor strategies, thermal modeling and pigging.
  • Project management and execution: stage-gate methodology, CPM scheduling, cost estimating (Class 3–5), and risk management.
  • FEED and detailed engineering experience for upstream facilities (platforms, FPSO, onshore processing).
  • Well integrity and lifecycle well management, including P&A planning and regulatory compliance.
  • Contracting and commercial skills: tendering, bid evaluation, EPC/EPCI contracting models and change management.
  • HSE and process safety competence: HAZID/HAZOP facilitation, safety case inputs and environmental permitting.
  • Engineering software proficiency: Petrel, Eclipse/CMG, OFM, Prosper/Talos, Landmark, WellCat, PIPEPHASE, PIPESIM, HYSYS.
  • Data analytics and digital tools: Python/SQL, SCADA data interpretation, digital twin concepts and machine learning for production optimization.
  • Cost control and financial modelling: CAPEX/OPEX modelling, NPV/IRR analysis and sensitivity studies.
  • Subsurface data interpretation: well logs, petrophysics, core analysis and production test interpretation.
  • Offshore operations and logistics planning: rig selection, marine spread coordination and supply chain management.
  • Regulatory and stakeholder engagement experience across jurisdictions (local content, environmental & permitting).
  • Certification familiarity: PMP/Prince2, NEBOSH, IWCF/WC, WellCAP or equivalent well control and safety certifications.

Soft Skills

  • Strong stakeholder management and client-facing communication; able to present complex technical topics to non-technical audiences.
  • Leadership and team-building: mentor junior engineers and lead multidisciplinary teams across cultures and time zones.
  • Problem solving and analytical thinking with demonstrated ability to simplify complexity and make pragmatic decisions under uncertainty.
  • Commercial awareness and negotiation skills to balance technical solutions with cost and schedule constraints.
  • Adaptability and resilience working in fast-paced, changing upstream environments, including remote and offshore assignments.
  • Time management and prioritization to juggle multiple projects, deliverables and rapid client requests.
  • Facilitation skills for workshops, risk reviews, and governance meetings.
  • Clear technical writing for reports, specifications, and investment memoranda.
  • Collaborative mindset with experience working in matrix organisations and contractor partnerships.
  • Continuous improvement orientation and curiosity for new technologies and methods in upstream engineering.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Geoscience, or equivalent technical discipline.

Preferred Education:

  • Master's degree in Petroleum Engineering, Reservoir Engineering, Offshore/Structural Engineering, or MBA for commercially-focused roles.
  • Professional certifications such as PMP, Prince2 Practitioner, NEBOSH, WellCAP/IWCF, or relevant industry training.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Petroleum Engineering
  • Reservoir or Drilling Engineering
  • Subsea / Offshore Engineering
  • Chemical or Mechanical Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 6–15+ years of upstream oil & gas experience with progressive responsibility in wells, reservoir or project delivery roles.

Preferred:

  • 8+ years with direct experience delivering FEED to execution projects, offshore drilling campaigns and integrated field developments.
  • Demonstrable track record in client advisory, technical due diligence, and cost/schedule optimisation on upstream projects.
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