Specific Responsibilities
A Production Engineer Sr – Artificial Lift is a member of the production engineering team that should expect to spend 3-4 days in the field each week. This role reports to the asset production engineering manager. They work closely with cross-functional teams to optimize production, reduce costs, and implement artificial lift strategies. Duties will include analyzing production data, identifying areas for improvement, implementing process enhancements, troubleshooting equipment issues, and collaborating closely with Production Operations. They also provide technical support and guidance to junior engineers and production staff. Strong technical knowledge, communication, problem-solving skills, and the ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment are essential for success in this role.
- Partner with Production Operations, Reservoir Engineering, and Facilities Engineering to deliver safe, reliable, and cost-efficient repairs and proactive optimization projects.
- Provide technical support for artificial lift systems (PAGL, gas lift, ESPs, and rod pumps), including selection, installation, and ongoing optimization.
- Spend significant time in the field, up to 50% of work week, working directly at the wellhead with operations personnel and vendors to ensure safe and efficient execution.
- Drive artificial lift optimization by implementing best practices, improving equipment reliability, and reducing operating costs.
- Develop and deliver training programs for field staff to enhance artificial lift uptime and operational knowledge.
- Design and implement solutions to mitigate integrity issues, balancing risk, cost, and long-term reliability.
- Identify, design, and evaluate cost-reduction, debottlenecking, and reliability projects that enhance asset performance.
- Collaborate with vendors to improve artificial lift design, enhance service quality, and ensure adoption of industry best practices in field operations.
- Conduct basic economic assessments, support cost management efforts, and contribute to well and lease-level financial reviews to ensure economic viability.
- Lead and document root cause analyses for artificial lift failures, and develop mitigation plans to prevent recurrence.
- Partner with Production Operations, Reservoir Engineering, and Facilities Engineering to deliver safe, reliable, and cost-efficient repairs and proactive optimization projects.
- Provide technical support for artificial lift systems (PAGL, gas lift, ESPs, and rod pumps), including selection, installation, and ongoing optimization.
- Spend significant time in the field, up to 50% of work week, working directly at the wellhead with operations personnel and vendors to ensure safe and efficient execution.
- Drive artificial lift optimization by implementing best practices, improving equipment reliability, and reducing operating costs.
- Develop and deliver training programs for field staff to enhance artificial lift uptime and operational knowledge.
- Design and implement solutions to mitigate integrity issues, balancing risk, cost, and long-term reliability.
- Identify, design, and evaluate cost-reduction, debottlenecking, and reliability projects that enhance asset performance.
- Collaborate with vendors to improve artificial lift design, enhance service quality, and ensure adoption of industry best practices in field operations.
- Conduct basic economic assessments, support cost management efforts, and contribute to well and lease-level financial reviews to ensure economic viability.
- Lead and document root cause analyses for artificial lift failures, and develop mitigation plans to prevent recurrence.
- Work closely with asset teams to deliver production and P&L objectives, including regular updates and KPI tracking.
Skills
- Act as the primary liaison between Production Engineering, Houston technical teams, and Permian Production Operations, ensuring clear two-way communication. Provide field-based insights and feedback to educate Houston engineers on operational challenges, while also translating technical guidance into practical application for field teams.
- Identify and progress production uplift opportunities such as artificial lift optimizations, recompletions, stimulations, water shut-offs, and well cleanouts.
- Provide production engineering support to development projects, including nodal analysis, infrastructure planning, and field development design.
- Leverage automation technologies and drive (deployment of) digital transformation (e.g., Edge devices, SCADA, and custom scripting) to integrate artificial lift and facilities operations, improve equipment reliability, reduce downtime, and enable data-driven optimization across multiple lift types.
- Must be proficient in all Microsoft applications and other E&P computer applications (i.e: Wellview, Cygnet, Spotfire, OFM, Foresite, Wellflo, Prosper, Rodstar, etc).
- Understanding of automation technologies (e.g., Edge devices, SCADA, and custom scripting)
- High level of production engineering expertise with experience in all types of operations related to the full life cycle of oil & gas producer wells, including:
- Completions, recompletions, and workovers.
- Artificial lift design, installation, and troubleshooting.
- Nodal analysis (Inflow/Outflow performance).
- Facilities upgrades/modification and production takeaway limitations.
- Proven track record of financial performance and responsibility with experience in budget and schedule planning, AFE preparation and economic evaluation.
- Experience implementing sound decisions when faced with multi-faceted problems.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate technical vision, contribute to team goals, and mentor engineering talent.
- Self-motivated, organized, and disciplined in time management.
- Positive attitude with a strong desire to learn, adapt quickly, and contribute meaningfully.
- Not afraid to ask questions and seek clarification to accelerate growth and impact.
Qualifications & Experience
The successful candidate will have the following qualifications and experience:
- Bachelor of Science in Engineering required, from a competitive four-year college or university, with strong academic credentials.
- 6+ years of experience working for energy companies, in production engineering and production operations. Experience in the Permian Basin is preferred
Competencies
The successful candidate should demonstrate and exhibit the following core competencies:
- Communication: Writes, speaks, and presents information effectively and persuasively across communication setting;
- Results: Pursues work with energy, drive, and results orientation to positively impact Apache's business success;
- Collaboration: Works in partnership with others and encourages different perspectives, while building and maintaining trust; and
- Culture: Willingness and ability to align one's behavior with the needs, priorities, and goals of Apache.
Company Overview
Our primary product is energy, and where there is affordable, abundant energy, people are healthier, have access to better education, and are given greater opportunities to elevate their families to higher standards of living.
Nearly 3 billion people — roughly one-third of the global population — live without electricity or without clean cooking facilities. We are committed to providing energy in innovative and more sustainable ways to help raise the standard of living for those living in energy poverty and to meet the ongoing demands of people and economies around the world.
The products we deliver power increasingly cleaner electricity across the globe, fuel tractors and trucks, make fertilizer to keep the world's food supply on the table, and heat our schools, hospitals and businesses.
Our employees bring a wide range of talents and skills to the job every day to tackle complex business challenges. We believe in providing a truly rewarding work environment supported by a benefits platform that ranks among the best in our peer group. Our company offers career development opportunities where employees can grow personally and professionally. We promote employee benefits that cultivate a family-friendly work environment and focus on our employees' overall well-being.
We are committed to being a workplace where all employees are valued and can thrive with a sense of belonging. Our commitment to non-discriminatory, equal employment opportunities benefits our individual employees, our company and our external stakeholders; we are better as an organization when various experiences, ideas, and perspectives are brought to the table.
Apache Corporation is a wholly owned subsidiary of APA Corporation (NASDAQ:APA). Apache has operations in the United States, Egypt's Western Desert and the United Kingdom's North Sea and a sister company with exploration opportunities offshore Suriname. Whether supporting Apache, APA Corporation or one of its subsidiaries, team members are employed by Apache Corporation.
For additional information about APA Corporation, please visit:
Apache Statement on Hiring
To provide genuine equal opportunity to all people, it is the policy of Apache Corporation and its subsidiaries to base all employment-related decisions and actions exclusively on employment-related criteria. To provide genuine equal opportunity to all people, it is the policy of Apache Corporation and its subsidiaries to provide broad dissemination of job opportunities, as consistent with the nature of the positions. To provide genuine equal opportunity to all people, it is the policy of Apache Corporation and its subsidiaries to review its employment-related policies and actions on a regular basis to ensure that their application is consistent with their intent.