Directional Drilling Specialist

Directional Drilling Specialist

JOB-10047901

Anticipated Start Date

November 9, 2026

Location

Midland, TX

Type of Employment

Contract Hire

Employer Info

Our client is a global leader in energy technology, providing cutting-edge solutions across the oil and gas industry. Operating in over 100 countries, they focus on digital innovation and sustainable practices to drive the future of energy and support the transition to lower-carbon operations.

Job Summary

We are seeking a skilled and safety-focused Directional Drilling Specialist to support conventional oil and gas drilling operations. This role is responsible for planning, executing, monitoring, and optimizing directional wellbore trajectories to ensure wells are drilled safely, efficiently, and in accordance with approved drilling programs and operational standards.

Job Description

• Review well plans, geological targets, and directional drilling programs to evaluate feasibility, identify risks, and support successful well execution.
• Develop and execute directional drilling plans, including bottom-hole assembly (BHA) recommendations, tool selection, and trajectory control strategies.
  
• Monitor and control wellbore trajectories in real time, using appropriate slide and rotary drilling techniques to maintain alignment with planned targets and tolerances.
  
• Read and interpret directional plots, well trajectories, MWD survey data, inclination, azimuth, and toolface orientation.
  
• Calculate and project wellbore curves and perform slide calculations to achieve planned build, turn, and hold sections.
  
• Apply anti-collision principles and survey management practices to maintain wellbore separation and integrity.
  
• Monitor drilling performance indicators, including rate of penetration (ROP), torque and drag, equivalent circulating density (ECD), and other relevant operational parameters.
  
• Identify opportunities to improve drilling efficiency, optimize trajectory execution, and reduce non-productive time (NPT).
  
• Communicate effectively with drillers, company representatives, drilling engineers, geologists, and third-party service providers throughout critical drilling operations.
  
• Troubleshoot directional drilling tools, downhole motor performance, survey quality, telemetry issues, and other operational challenges.
  
• Support wellbore quality initiatives, including tortuosity control, hole cleaning awareness, and stuck-pipe prevention.
  
• Maintain accurate directional surveys, daily drilling reports, BHA performance records, shift handovers, and operational documentation.
  
• Participate in pre-job planning, risk assessments, safety meetings, and post-job reviews to promote continuous improvement.
  
• Follow all applicable safety, environmental, and operational procedures, including stopping work and escalating concerns when unsafe conditions arise.

Skills Required

• Strong conventional drilling experience, including vertical, deviated, and/or S-curve well operations.
• Preferred minimum of one year of directional drilling experience, with consideration given to candidates who demonstrate equivalent technical knowledge and practical capability.
• Working knowledge of directional drilling fundamentals, including trajectory design, curve calculations, toolface control, slide calculations, and survey interpretation.
• Understanding of anti-collision principles, wellbore separation, and survey management.
• Ability to read and interpret directional plots, drilling programs, well schematics, and survey data.
• Familiarity with downhole motors, measurement while drilling (MWD) systems, and rotary steerable systems (RSS).
• Understanding of rig operations, including tripping, connections, drilling fluid systems, basic hydraulics, and stuck-pipe prevention.
• Ability to recognize operational risks, troubleshoot problems, and make sound decisions under time-sensitive conditions.
• Strong communication, analytical, documentation, and problem-solving skills.
• Willingness and ability to work rotational schedules, including nights, at customer drilling locations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Recognized directional drilling training or industry certification.
• Previous experience with MWD systems and directional survey interpretation.
• Exposure to rotary steerable systems, complex well profiles, or performance drilling environments.
• Experience in conventional land drilling, pad drilling, or multi-well batch operations.
• Familiarity with directional drilling planning, reporting, and trajectory management software.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate operational information clearly and effectively with rig crews, customers, and engineering teams.

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent required; technical education or equivalent field experience preferred.

Additional Requirements

• Schedule: 20/10 work schedule. 12.5hrs a day either day or night tour.
• Conventional drilling expertise: Strong understanding of rig operations, drilling processes, and downhole conditions.
  
• Directional calculations: Ability to calculate and project curves, perform slide calculations, and evaluate wellbore trajectories.
  
• Anti-collision awareness: Understanding of survey accuracy, wellbore separation, and collision avoidance.
  
• Real-time troubleshooting: Ability to assess changing operational conditions, identify problems, and recommend corrective actions.
  
• Safety-first mindset: Consistent adherence to operational procedures, risk management practices, and environmental standards.
  
• Analytical decision-making: Ability to interpret drilling data and make sound decisions under pressure.
  
• Communication: Clear, concise communication with rig personnel, drilling engineers, customers, and service providers.
  
• Documentation and accountability: Accurate reporting, effective shift handovers, and attention to operational details.
  
• Teamwork and customer service: Professional collaboration and a commitment to safe, reliable, high-quality execution.

Pay Rate

• $55 per hour (Compensation will be offered based on experience, skills, and market factors)

HirePower Personnel, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.