Title Senior Petroleum Geologist

Summary

SUMMARY

The Senior Petroleum Geologist leads prospect generation and field evaluation by integrating geologic, petrophysical, and geophysical data to define drillable opportunities and optimize development plans. The role builds basin and play models, prepares resource and reserve estimates under accepted frameworks, and produces clear maps, cross sections, and static reservoir models to guide well placement and completion strategy. The geologist partners with reservoir, drilling, and production teams to align subsurface interpretations with economics, schedules, and risk mitigation.

The position prepares high quality technical reports and executive briefs for Tribal leadership, government partners, and industry stakeholders, supports negotiations with data driven exhibits, mentors junior staff, and upholds rigorous QA and safety practices across all phases of work.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Salary Range: $85,000 - $105,000

Comprehensive federal benefits package available to full‑time employees, including health insurance, paid time off, and retirement plan participation.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serves as a leadership position within the functional Petroleum Geologist Labor Category and is responsible for formulating and recommending strategic plans for the development of oil, gas, and other mineral deposits on Indian lands.
• May be expected to perform supervisory responsibilities, reporting to the On‑Site Lead and Project Manager, and is responsible for the day‑to‑day direction of technical work as required by specific work orders.
• Performs and oversees complex geologic interpretation and mapping, including the creation of resource‑specific structural maps, isopach maps, cross‑sections, and production maps to identify and evaluate prospective areas.
• Leads the development of marketing and promotional programs to inform industry of the mineral potential on Indian lands through forums, technical discussions, and poster sessions.
• Travels frequently to Indian Reservations across the continental U.S. and Alaska to conduct fieldwork, collaborate with Tribal leaders, collect rock samples, and oversee project activities.
• Evaluates oil and gas proposals and agreements for technical feasibility and relevance to the goals of the Tribal royalty owner, applying effective negotiation techniques to assist in settling controversial issues.
• Evaluates grant entries from Tribal organizations, provides technical assistance to Tribes preparing grant applications, and is assigned grants to monitor throughout their lifecycle, ensuring compliance and successful project outcomes.
• Generates sophisticated geologic displays, digital presentations, and technical reports for industry trade shows and for meetings with Tribes, BIA agency staff, and industry partners.
• Integrates complex geological and geophysical data from diverse sources, including sparse data sets from Rocky Mountain and Mid‑Continent provinces, to generate high‑quality conventional and unconventional oil and gas leads and prospects.
• Supports the maintenance and population of DEMD’s energy and mineral resource databases, converting field data, lab analyses, and published geologic materials into integrated digital formats for mapping and interpretation.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Technical Capacity: Expert petroleum geology across conventional and unconventional systems, with deep understanding of hydrocarbon generation, migration, trapping, and classification. Proficient in resource and reserve estimation frameworks and methods.
• Complex Problem Solving: Integrates geologic, petrophysical, and geophysical evidence to mature prospects in data‑sparse settings. Applies play‑based risking, volumetrics, and scenario testing to assess technical, operational, and financial feasibility.
• Reservoir and Field Evaluation: Extensive experience building and interpreting static models, structure and isopach maps, and reservoir characterizations to guide development planning, with focus on Rocky Mountain and Mid‑Continent basins.
• Tools and Data Mastery: Proficient with industry interpretation platforms such as Geo Graphix, Petra, and Kingdom for well, log, and seismic…