Drilling Superintendent – Offshore / Onshore Operations

Job Title

Drilling Superintendent – Oil & Gas

Location

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Employment Type

Full-Time

Career Level

Senior Management

Experience Required

12–18 Years

Salary Range

USD $7,000 – $10,500 per month (based on experience and qualifications)

Job Overview

We are seeking a highly experienced and technically accomplished Drilling Superintendent to lead the planning, execution, and supervision of drilling operations for onshore and offshore oil and gas wells in Abu Dhabi. This senior role is responsible for ensuring wells are delivered safely, efficiently, on schedule, and within approved budgets while meeting the highest technical, operational, and HSE standards.

The Drilling Superintendent will provide strategic and hands-on leadership across the full drilling lifecycle, from well design and planning through execution, completion, and handover. You will coordinate closely with drilling contractors, service companies, geology, reservoir, production, HSE, and logistics teams to ensure seamless execution of drilling programs.

The ideal candidate brings deep technical drilling expertise, strong risk management capabilities, and proven leadership in complex drilling environments.

Key Responsibilities

Drilling Program Planning & Execution

• Plan, review, and manage drilling programs for onshore and offshore wells
• Ensure drilling designs, well programs, and procedures meet technical and operational requirements
• Oversee execution of drilling operations in accordance with approved programs
• Ensure wells are delivered on time, within budget, and to required quality standards

Contractor & Service Company Management

• Supervise drilling contractors, rig crews, and service providers
• Ensure contractors comply with contractual, technical, and HSE requirements
• Review contractor performance and address gaps in execution
• Manage day-to-day coordination between rig teams and service companies

Schedule, Cost & Performance Control

• Ensure adherence to drilling schedules and approved budgets
• Monitor drilling costs, daily expenditures, and operational efficiency
• Identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising safety or well integrity
• Report deviations and implement corrective actions

Well Integrity & Technical Assurance

• Monitor well integrity throughout drilling operations
• Ensure proper casing, cementing, mud programs, and well control practices
• Review drilling parameters and optimize performance
• Ensure compliance with company well integrity and engineering standards

Risk Management & Operational Safety

• Conduct drilling risk assessments and hazard analyses
• Implement mitigation plans for operational and geological risks
• Ensure strict adherence to well control, blowout prevention, and emergency response procedures
• Maintain focus on safety-critical activities at all times

Drilling Performance Monitoring

• Review daily drilling reports, well data, and performance metrics
• Analyze NPT (Non-Productive Time) and drilling efficiency
• Identify lessons learned and apply continuous improvement initiatives
• Optimize drilling performance using best practices and new technologies

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Coordinate with geology, reservoir, subsurface, and production teams
• Ensure alignment between well objectives and drilling execution
• Support production and completion teams during handover phases
• Participate in technical reviews and planning meetings

HSE & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with HSE policies, ADNOC / UAE regulations, and international standards
• Promote a strong safety culture across drilling teams and contractors
• Participate in safety audits, inspections, and drills
• Ensure all drilling activities meet environmental and regulatory requirements

Incident Management & Investigation

• Lead or support incident, near-miss, and well control investigations
• Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions
• Ensure lessons learned are communicated and applied across operations
• Maintain transparent reporting to management and regulators

Leadership, Mentorship & Team Development

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to drilling engineers and supervisors
• Develop drilling team capability and succession planning
• Promote best practices and knowledge sharing across teams
• Support professional development of junior and mid-level engineers

Reporting & Management Communication

• Prepare detailed drilling progress, performance, and cost reports
• Present operational updates and risk assessments to senior management
• Provide recommendations to improve drilling efficiency and safety
• Support long-term drilling strategy and field development planning

Qualifications & Educational Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering or a related engineering discipline
• Advanced drilling or well control certifications are an advantage
• IWCF or IADC well control certification preferred
• Strong understanding of drilling engineering principles and industry standards

Experience Requirements

• Minimum 12 years of experience in oil and gas drilling operations
• Proven experience in onshore and offshore drilling environments
• Strong exposure to complex wells, HPHT, or deep drilling operations is an advantage
• Experience supervising drilling rigs and contractors
• Middle East oil and gas experience is strongly preferred

Skills & Competencies

• Deep technical knowledge of drilling equipment, operations, and well control
• Strong leadership, decision-making, and crisis management skills
• Excellent risk assessment and problem-solving abilities
• Strong commercial awareness and cost control mindset
• Ability to manage high-pressure operations and multiple stakeholders
• Excellent communication, reporting, and coordination skills
• High commitment to safety, integrity, and operational excellence

Benefits & Compensation

• Executive-level monthly salary ranging from USD $7,000 to $10,500
• Offshore allowances and rotational benefits (where applicable)
• Comprehensive medical insurance coverage
• Paid annual leave as per UAE labor law
• Long-term contract stability within a leading oil and gas organization
• Opportunity to lead high-impact drilling programs and complex wells

Why Join Us

This role offers a senior leadership opportunity for an experienced drilling professional to oversee critical drilling operations in one of the world’s most active oil and gas regions. As Drilling Superintendent, you will play a key role in delivering safe, efficient, and technically sound wells while shaping drilling strategy and mentoring the next generation of drilling professionals.