Senior Petroleum Specialist; NMSLO

Job Title

Senior Petroleum Specialist (NMSLO #)

The core mission of the New Mexico State Land Office (NMSLO) is to responsibly generate revenue through a wide array of leasing activities on state trust lands on behalf of public schools, universities, and hospitals. This position provides engineering expertise and analysis to the Oil, Gas and Minerals Division, assists with units and commingulation agreements, reviews leases and wells for paying quantities, and offers additional engineering support as needed.

This position will review, evaluate, process, and approve applications from the oil & gas industry for units involving state trust lands. It evaluates and approves unit applications to ensure that the proposed use of state trust lands is in the best interests of the trust and its beneficiaries. The position evaluates the state's economic interest in all unit wells and units, reviews unit plans of development, monitors unit production, refers marginally productive units to the engineering staff for economic analyses to determine possible termination, performs commercial determinations on oil & gas wells for unit wells and paying quantity analyses, and reviews and recommends commingling applications for approval in collaboration with the Oil Conservation Division and the Bureau of Land Management.

Internal:
Oil, Gas, and Minerals Division;
Administrative Services;
Commercial Division;
Legal Division;
Surface Resources Division; and executive State Land Office management officials (Office of the Commissioner).
External:
New Mexico public schools, universities, hospitals, individuals, general public, lessees (agricultural, oil and gas companies, commercial, rights‑of‑ways), natural resource authorization users, program enrollees, hunters, and other government entities (state, federal, city, county, tribal).

• A strong background in petroleum engineering
• Strong knowledge of well drilling and completion techniques, reservoir analyses, and reading and interpreting well logs
• An understanding of decline curves and assessing the economics of oil & gas production wells
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written
• Ability to fit into a team environment and work with many different personalities
• Experience in managing projects and knowledge of development units in the State of New Mexico

Bachelor's Degree in Environmental, Mechanical, Civil, or Geological Engineering and four (4) years of experience in a government regulatory role including oil field experience. Any combination of education from an accredited college or university in a related field and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling eight (8) years may substitute for the required education and experience.

• Must possess and maintain a valid New Mexico Driver's License
• Must obtain and maintain a State of New Mexico Driving Certificate

Work is performed primarily in an office setting with exposure to VDT and extensive use of personal computers, faxes, copiers and printers, and telephone usage. The role involves extended periods of sitting, standing, bending, squatting, climbing, reaching, kneeling, and crawling. Ability to lift up to 25 lbs. is required. Some travel may be necessary.

The NM State Land Office offers a telework policy allowing up to 24 hours a week. New employees receive a hiring bonus of forty (40) hours of leave at the start date, in addition to standard leave accrual.

This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.