Principal Petrophysicist

CNPC R&D (DIFC) Company Limited is CNPC’s new R&D and Technical Support centre based in Dubai with mission to support the company’s asset interests in the Middle East (e.g., UAE, Iraq, Oman) and conduct strategic R&D projects in close collaboration with CNPC’s upstream research and engineering institutes in Beijing and other internal and external partners.Role PurposeThe Petrophysicist will be a key member in the technical department, with the objective of contributing to subsurface models and regional studies resulting in field development plans for hydrocarbon fields.Key AccountabilitiesLead advanced petrophysical interpretation and integrated formation evaluation using open-hole, cased-hole and LWD data to evaluate reservoir properties, hydrocarbon distribution and reservoir quality.Develop, calibrate and continuously improve petrophysical interpretation workflows, petrophysical models and rock physics models through the integration of well logs, core data and other subsurface datasets.Lead petrophysical evaluation of carbonate and other complex reservoir systems, quantify technical uncertainties and support reserve estimation, reservoir characterization and field development planning.Integrate petrophysical interpretation with geological, geophysical and reservoir engineering studies to support exploration, appraisal, production optimization and reservoir management.Establish and maintain company petrophysical standards, interpretation workflows, quality assurance processes and technical governance in accordance with industry best practices.Provide technical assurance, independent technical reviews and decision support for major exploration, appraisal and development projects, including recommendations for additional data acquisition and formation evaluation.Define technical requirements, scopes of work and quality standards for contractor and consultant studies, and oversee the technical quality of project deliverables.Evaluate, qualify and deploy emerging technologies, advanced logging tools, digital solutions and AI-enabled petrophysical workflows to enhance technical capability and operational efficiency.Translate petrophysical studies into actionable reservoir characterization, reserve evaluation and field development recommendations that support business decisions.Lead research, technology development and knowledge transfer initiatives to strengthen company petrophysical capability and promote the implementation of innovative technologies and best practicesQualification and ExperiencePhD in Petroleum Engineering, Petrophysics, Geophysics, Applied Physics, or a closely related discipline.Strong academic and technical background in petrophysics, well logging and formation evaluation.15+ years of relevant professional experience in petrophysics, well logging and formation evaluation, preferably with an international oil and gas company, research institute or technical service organization.English proficiency at B2 level or above, with the ability to communicate effectively in a multicultural and technical environment.Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook).Job-Specific SkillsExtensive experience in petrophysical evaluation of carbonate and complex reservoirs, including fractured, vuggy, heterogeneous and multi-porosity systems; experience with Middle East reservoirs is highly desirable.Expert knowledge of open-hole, cased-hole and LWD formation evaluation, including conventional logs, image logs, NMR, dielectric logs, formation testing and other advanced logging technologies.Strong expertise in petrophysical interpretation, rock physics and integrated reservoir characterization through the integration of well logs, core data, RCAL, SCAL and other subsurface datasets.Advanced understanding of lithology and mineral identification, porosity and permeability evaluation, saturation modelling (Archie and non-Archie), net pay determination, fluid characterization and reserve evaluation.Proven experience in developing, calibrating and validating petrophysical models, interpretation workflows and quality assurance processes at well, reservoir and field scales.Strong capability in integrating petrophysical interpretation with geological, geophysical and reservoir engineering studies to support exploration, appraisal, reserve estimation, field development planning, production optimization and reservoir management.Demonstrated ability to assess technical uncertainties, reservoir risks and data gaps, and recommend appropriate data acquisition and formation evaluation strategies.Expert user of industry-standard petrophysical software (e.g., Techlog, Interactive Petrophysics or equivalent), with experience in digital workflows, data integration and AI-enabled petrophysical applications.Research and Technical InnovationDemonstrated experience in leading or contributing to research and development (R&D), technology development and applied technical studies related to petrophysics, formation evaluation, rock physics and reservoir characterization.Proven ability to drive technology innovation through the evaluation, qualification and implementation of emerging technologies, including digital petrophysics, advanced logging, machine learning/AI-assisted interpretation and integrated formation evaluation workflows.Experience in leading or participating in major research programs, technology development initiatives or collaborative industry/academic projects at national or international levels is highly desirable.A strong record of technical achievements, including publications, patents, technical standards, technology deployment, research grants or other recognized contributions to the advancement of petrophysical practices.Professional CompetenciesStrong technical leadership and problem-solving capabilities, with the ability to resolve complex subsurface challenges and provide strategic, decision-oriented technical guidance.Proven project leadership and contractor management experience, including technical governance, quality assurance and delivery of complex multidisciplinary projects.Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with technical teams, management and external partners.Demonstrated ability to mentor technical professionals, promote knowledge sharing and collaborate effectively in multidisciplinary, multicultural and international environments.