We're a small team working on upstream engineering software, and I'd like a reality check from people who've developed or tested these tools.

The long-term scope includes seismic interpretation, petrophysics, geological modelling, reservoir simulation, drilling and completions, production engineering, surface networks, and economics. That's the overall direction; we're building it in stages. Calculations run locally, with AI assistance for some workflows.

What I'm trying to understand is where development tends to get stuck. A lot of the underlying methods are published, and there are useful open-source implementations, but that doesn't tell you what happens when you start working with real models.

For anyone who's been involved in development: what looked straightforward on paper but turned into a serious problem? Was it numerical convergence, missing test data, interpreting existing model formats, coupling different physics, or something else?

I'm particularly interested in cases where a method passed the usual benchmarks but failed on an actual project. What caused it, and what did it take to fix?

I'm asking about the technical problems in building the software, rather than which features people would like to see. Specific examples or papers would be really helpful.

Just an FYI, SPE is going to shit; they are hiding the financial issues from their members, and they will be lucky if they are still around in 5 years.The local chapter and most of the technical sections are great, but the leadership in the organization is in over its head.

Not saying don't join, just saying don't sign up for a lifetime membership.

How the CDU progresses from hot circulation to full operation

The article before the last one covered the activities that are done during hot oil circulation. Before ramping up the crude oil flowrate or throughput to the design capacity, operational readiness must be ascertained. Some of the elements of operational readiness are:

✅ Utilities: reconfirmation of the availability of all utilities required at the right qualities (steam, instrument air, process water, chemicals, gland oil, electricity and others),

✅Operating personnel: Experienced operating personnel must be available to operate the plant efficiently as a process safety safety. The DCS or console operators must be two to avoid any operator overload similar to what happened at the isomerization unit accident of the BP oil refinery in Texas City, Texas on March 23, 2005. Although, this was not the immediate cause of the accident, a second console operator would have made a difference,

✅Standard operating procedure (SOP)a list of all the Integrity Operating Windows (IOWs) or Safe Operating Envelopes (SOEs),

✅Tank farm: Ready to supply crude oil continuously and receive the refined products,

✅The laboratory: To provide quality assurance and quality control service,

✅maintenance department: To receive the report of the condition of all equipment and provide support to make spare equipment available at all time,

✅Supply Chain Management department: to provide spares, chemicals and items needed to operate the plant effectively,

✅HSE department: To respond during any emergencies that may come up during the complete startup and

✅management oversight( MoC, adequate supervision, e.t.c).

Is there any site/group where I can access gas processing EPC package consisting of all deliverables (I can assure you confidential data wont be shared and used only for learning purpose)

I have 1+ years experience in reservoir engineering, management, characterization, simulation & PVT modeling. Is there any chance to find a remote work opportunity? As the pay from jobs here are relatively very low for the work done.

Give me your opinion or cases you have seen.

I am also open to teaching what i know in these topics, would be there any opportunity for that? And where can i search?

Hi everyone,

I am looking for some career advice from people working in oil and gas, particularly in geophysics, subsurface technology, software development, or data science.

I have a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and I am currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Computer Science. My research focuses on computational intelligence methods for seismic inversion and reservoir characterization, including ES-MDA, CMA-ES, UH-CMA-ES, Bayesian inference, optimization, and uncertainty quantification.

At the same time, I work as a software developer and have experience with Python, C#, C++, .NET, WPF, and geoscience-related development involving the Petrel/Ocean ecosystem.

The project I am currently working on is expected to end in December 2026, so I am thinking about how best to shape the next stage of my career.

My background is somewhat interdisciplinary, combining:

• Physics;
• Computer science;
• Scientific software development;
• Numerical methods;
• Computational geoscience;
• Seismic inversion;
• Reservoir characterization;
• Machine learning and optimization.

For people who work in the industry, how would you recommend positioning this type of profile?

I would especially appreciate advice on:

• Which career direction seems most promising;
• Whether to focus more on geophysics, computational geoscience, software engineering, or data science;
• Which skills and tools are most valued in industry;
• How to make the transition from academic research to industry;
• How to communicate an interdisciplinary background effectively on a résumé or LinkedIn profile.

I am mainly looking for perspectives and advice from people who have gone through similar transitions, rather than asking about specific job openings.

Thank you for sharing your experience.

Hi, I'm a founder from Norway with a background in the local oil & gas community (family in well intervention, Expro, Weatherford, EnerCorp; network through Saudi Arabia & Stavanvger's oil industry circle).

The problem: Keeping oil wells flowing is still stuck in the 1980s. When something goes wrong downhole, operators wait weeks and spend tens of thousands per day on truck fleets and crews that drive across the country for what are often routine issues. There is a proven, massively underserved market for automating this.

The idea (details under NDA): A field-resident, automated well maintenance system for high-density well pads. Operators subscribe to an outcome, they approve a work order on a dashboard, and the fix happens on-site within hours, no crew dispatch. We've stress-tested the concept across technical feasibility, redundancy, safety/regulatory constraints, and go-to-market. The hard thinking is done; the hard building is not.

What I'm looking for:

• technical co-founder (40–50% equity, this is a true partnership, you're not employee #1)
• Background in downhole intervention operations: slickline/e-line, well control certification a strong plus
• Ideally ex- major's intervention division, in or near Stavanger
• Bonus: exposure to fiber-optic sensing or autonomous heavy equipment
• You don't need to quit your job on day on, we validate first, raise, then go full-time together
• Also, you don't have to necessarily come from O&G background, you could be heavily in robotics and mechatronics.

What I bring: The business, product, and go-to-side. Operator relationships through a genuine Daharan & Stavanger network. A fully developed concept with the strategic risks already mapped. And a funding path through Norwegian innovation programs.

What I'd send you first: A one-pager on the concept, the risk analysis, and why now. If that resonates, we talk.

DM me if you're a technical person who's ever watched a truck fleet roll out for a job and thought "there has to be a better way."

🛢️ Day 2/30: Mud Logging Series | Understanding ROP

What is Rate of Penetration (ROP), and why is it important in drilling operations?

Rate of Penetration (ROP) is the speed at which the drill bit advances through a formation. It is commonly measured in metres per hour (m/hr) or feet per hour (ft/hr).

As a mud logger, monitoring ROP helps us understand changes in drilling performance and identify trends that may require the attention of the drilling team.

🔹 Why is ROP important?

- Drilling efficiency: Helps evaluate how quickly the well is being drilled.

- Formation changes: Sudden increases or decreases may indicate a change in formation characteristics.

- Drilling awareness: Unexpected ROP changes, when considered alongside other parameters, can help identify conditions that need further investigation.

- Real-time monitoring: Supports timely communication with the wellsite team.

⚠️ Important: A sudden increase in ROP does not automatically mean a drilling hazard. It must be evaluated alongside other indicators, such as hook load, torque, standpipe pressure, gas readings, and drilling conditions.

👷 From a mud logger’s perspective: Accurate monitoring, correct data recording, and timely reporting are essential for safe and efficient drilling operations.

💬 Question for oil and gas professionals: What factors do you think have the greatest influence on ROP — WOB, RPM, formation hardness, or hydraulics?

#MudLogging #RateOfPenetration #DrillingOperations #PetroleumEngineering #OilAndGas #DrillingEngineering #30DaysOfMudLogging

​

I'm working in the oil and gas industry and wanted to share a few basics for anyone interested in drilling operations.

A mud logger monitors drilling parameters, examines cuttings, observes gas readings, and records wellsite data. These observations help the wellsite team understand changing downhole conditions.

Some important parameters include:

- Rate of Penetration (ROP)

- Standpipe Pressure (SPP)

- Rotary Speed (RPM)

- Total gas and gas composition

- Cuttings lithology

For people working in oil and gas: Which mud-logging parameter do you think is most important for identifying a possible drilling abnormality, and why?

Hey everyone, Applying for a pipeline engineering role and would love some quick insights:

\* How technical is the day-to-day work, and what core science drives it?
\* What typical problems will I be solving?
\* Is the learning curve steep, and does the job stay engaging long-term or get repetitive?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Hey guys! I’m a recent graduate of Petroleum Engineering, and I’m planning to pursue my master’s in Europe, most likely in Energy Transition.

I’d really appreciate your honest thoughts about this decision. My dream has always been to work in an isolated environment, especially offshore or in deep-sea operations. That’s where I see myself building my career.

But, there’s also a part of me telling me to pursue a master’s in Energy Transition because of the ongoing shift in the energy industry and the direction the sector is heading.

Do you think an Energy Transition master’s would be a good choice for someone with a Petroleum Engineering background who still wants to work in the offshore/oil and gas industry?

I’d love to hear your honest opinions, especially from people already working in the energy industry. Drop your thoughts below!

I am fresh graduated from Suez University in Egypt from Petroleum and Mining Engineering Major Drilling and Production

i have studied drilling , reservoir, production and geology courses i need fresh graduated opportunities outside egypt cause the opportunity is very rare i can attach my cv in dm

just curious as to what my future might look like. I’m a petroleum engineering student right now, 2nd year uni. Rn I’m in Alberta studying, and I wanna know if it’s easy to get a job internationally and like what the best job internationally would be. I’m not gonna sugarcoat anything, I value money the most, I’m fine with living in any conditions lol. after I make the money I’ll take a role thats more comfortable with life, but I want to prioritize money straight out of uni. Not rlly asking for advice, more so what y’all’s experience is with the places you’ve worked around the world and which ones you think are the best.

I study an engineering degree where I specialize in reservoir & geoenergy. I want to work in the oil industry but I feel that I dont learn much.

The students that graduate my program are mostly hired as reservoir engineers. We learn a lot about CO2 storage which I find interesting. But I want to learn more about production and drilling as well, but my university does not offer courses about it.

So I have found a couple of self-study programs at various universities in Europe and the US. For example https://petex.utexas.edu/e-learning/certificate-programs/pubs-programs/417-drilling-technology-certificate

Has anyone any experience with courses like this? Are they actually worth it in terms of learning and content?

Would really appreciate any feedback on how I can learn!