Senior Geophysicist

Our client is looking for a Senior Geophysicist to join the growing team in Calgary, Alberta. The Senior Geophysicist owns seismic interpretation, reservoir imaging and time-lapse surveillance for assigned development areas, supporting greenfield (FDP/FID) and brownfield programs, execution and start-up, and dynamic reservoir optimization. The role also leads the design, acquisition, processing, inversion and integration of 3D, 4D and 2D seismic programs, and works as part of an integrated GGRE team with the asset geologist and reservoir engineer.

As development moves into structurally and stratigraphically more complex sustaining areas, seismic quality and interpretation increasingly govern pad placement, caprock clearance and impairment prediction. The role therefore carries direct accountability for the geophysical basis of major capital decisions.

Responsibilities:

Seismic Interpretation and Reservoir Imaging

- Interpret 3D seismic for assigned areas: structure and time-depth conversion, horizon and fault interpretation, Q-channel and collapse feature mapping, mud plug and breccia delineation, and seismic anomaly characterization
- Deliver seismic attribute analysis, inversion products and depth-converted surfaces that directly constrain well placement, pad layout and volumetrics
- Own seismic-to-well ties, velocity modelling and depth-conversion uncertainty, and communicate the resulting positional risk to the integrated team
- Map caprock structure, thickness and integrity-related features to support AER requirements and shallow caprock assessments

Reservoir Surveillance and Time Lapse (4D) Seismic

- Plan, execute and interpret 4D seismic acquisition programs to monitor steam chamber development and conformance
- Integrate 4D results with observation well temperature and pressure data, PNL logging and production performance to recommend steam allocation, well optimization and brownfield targets
- Define and improve 4D acquisition cadence and processing quality so that time-lapse results are usable for development decisions rather than descriptive only

Seismic Program Design, Acquisition and Processing

- Design and steward 3D, 4D and 2D acquisition programs: scope definition, vendor technical assurance, field QC, processing and inversion oversight, and acceptance review with the geoscience team
- Support regional reprocessing, merge, inversion and interpretation projects and ensure results are delivered in a form the asset teams can apply




- Evaluate and trial advanced and emerging techniques (shallow seismic imaging and rapid acquisition methods, azimuthal and full waveform approaches) and recommend adoption where value is demonstrable
- Manage seismic data quality, storage and referencing in collaboration with technical data and records staff

Development and Execution Support

- Work as an integrated team with the asset geologist and reservoir engineer to deliver holistic evaluations of project potential for FDP and FID packages
- Provide geophysical justification for pad location, trajectory and horizon selection at internal peer reviews and HQ Expert Reviews
- Support planning and execution of SAGD well pairs, including drilling support and post-drill reconciliation of predicted versus encountered subsurface
- Support winter program design by identifying seismic data gaps, recommending dipole sonic and calibration well locations, and integrating new well results into the seismic framework

Technical Assurance, Continuous Improvement and Knowledge Sharing

- Act as the geophysical subject matter expert in the departmental technical assurance and peer review process
- Document, standardize and consistently apply geophysical interpretation and QC workflows across assets
- Provide guidance to less experienced geoscientists through coaching, reviewing and delegating work; directing the work of seismic vendors and contractor
- Support corporate processes including Reserves and Contingent Resources, WP&B;, Strategic Plan and regulatory submissions with defensible geophysical inputs, and lead cross-discipline focus groups on interpretation and mapping conventions

Qualifications:

Required

- Undergraduate or post-graduate degree in Geophysics or a related geoscience discipline
- Professional designation with APEGA (P.Geoph.) in good standing
- 10 or more years of subsurface interpretation experience, including substantial time in a development or production setting
- Operational SAGD or other thermal process experience
- Demonstrated experience with 3D and 4D seismic interpretation, including time-lapse monitoring of thermal recovery processes




- Strong knowledge of clastic depositional environments and a sound understanding of rock physics
- Experience with seismic acquisition design, processing QC and inversion
- Strong understanding of depth conversion, velocity modelling and the quantification of positional uncertainty
- Software: Petrel and Hampson-Russell (or equivalent interpretation and inversion packages)
- Working knowledge of the upstream oil sands business model and demonstrated ability to work within multidisciplinary teams
- Must be legally entitled to work in Canada

Preferred

- Advanced Quantitative Interpretation (QI) skills including pre-stack/simultaneous inversion, AVO, rock physics modelling (RokDoc, Hampson-Russell or equivalent)
- Seismic processing: working knowledge of processing fundamentals, velocity model building and 4D processing, with experience QC'ing processing vendors
- Experience mentoring or coaching junior geoscientists or leading acquisition or processing projects end to end
- Knowledge of shallow geophysical mapping techniques and caprock imaging in shallow, low-signal environments
- Knowledge of carbonate and salt dissolution mapping and its structural consequences at the Devonian surface
- Understanding of reservoir and production engineering sufficient to integrate 4D results with performance data
- Experience with microseismic, passive seismic and induced seismicity monitoring
- Experience with AER regulatory processes
- Proficiency with Power BI; scripting in Python or R considered an asset

Desired Skills and Attributes

- Displays a strong personal commitment to Health, Safety and Environment (HSE)
- Displays honesty and integrity in all interactions and decisions
- Works collaboratively and actively builds networks
- Shares knowledge and participates in joint initiatives, peer reviews and problem-solving
- Demonstrates cultural awareness and works effectively in a multi-cultural setting
- Works well under pressure, balances multiple assignments and prioritizes transparently
- Able to work independently and as part of a team to deliver timely, decision ready results
- Demonstrates interest in developing others and appetite for broader technical or leadership responsibility over time

Benefits:

- Company pension
- Dental care
- RRSP match

Education:

- Bachelor's Degree (required)

Experience:

- subsurface interpretation: 10 years (required)
- Operational SAGD or other thermal process: 5 years (required)

Licence/Certification:

- P. Geoph (required)

Work Location: In person

📌 Senior Geophysicist (Calgary)
🏢 Debbie Mastel and Associates
📍 Calgary