What are the responsibilities and job description for the Reservoir Engineer position at Western Natural Resources?
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Reports to: VP, Infrastructure
Employment Type: Salary, Exempt Full-Time
About Us
Western Natural Resources (WNR) is a privately held, Oklahoma City–based oil and gas company focused on acquiring, developing, and operating high-quality upstream energy assets. Founded through a strategic partnership between Centalion and experienced energy leaders, WNR combines deep industry expertise, disciplined execution, and a long-term approach to building a premier energy company.
WNR is a rapidly growing organization with an entrepreneurial culture where collaboration, integrity, safety, and accountability are central to how we operate. As the company expands its asset base and team, employees have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact, work closely with experienced industry leaders, and help build the infrastructure and culture of a growing energy company.
Position Summary
The Reservoir Engineer position will support Western Natural Resources' asset development. The Reservoir Engineer builds the production forecasts, type curves, and economics that guide drilling and completion decisions, and supplies the technical inputs behind the company's reserves estimates. This is a hands-on technical role in a growing company, with room to shape engineering processes and tools.
Key Responsibilities
- Perform decline curve analysis and production forecasting for producing wells and undeveloped locations
- Develop and update type curves and well performance models for the company's development areas
- Analyze production, pressure, and completion data to evaluate well performance, spacing, and parent-child interaction
- Monitor well and field performance against forecast and recommend changes to development or operating plans
- Evaluate well, project, and acquisition economics under multiple price and cost scenarios
- Support development planning, drilling and completion programs, and capital budgeting with engineering and finance teams
- Prepare reserves estimates and supporting data for annual and interim reserves reports, in line with SEC and SPE-PRMS guidelines
- Provide data and technical support to the independent reserves engineering firm, auditors, and lenders
- Maintain reserves and economics databases and ensure data quality across engineering, land, and accounting systems
- Support acquisition and divestiture evaluations, including reserves and valuation analysis
- Work with geoscience, drilling, completions, production, land, and finance teams
- Help build engineering workflows, templates, and reporting tools as the team grows
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Petroleum Engineering (or Chemical, Mechanical, or a related engineering discipline)
- 5 years of reservoir engineering experience in upstream oil and gas
- Experience with unconventional shale reservoirs, preferably Haynesville or other Gulf Coast gas plays
- Strong skills in decline curve analysis, production forecasting, and well economics
- Working knowledge of SEC reserves rules and SPE-PRMS definitions
- Proficiency in reserves and economics software (such as Aries, PHDWin, or ValNav) and advanced Excel
- Experience with production and well data sources and analysis tools (such as Enverus, Spotfire, or similar)
- Strong analytical, written, and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's degree in Petroleum Engineering or a related field
- Experience with reserve-based lending and borrowing base processes
- Experience evaluating acquisitions and divestitures
- Programming or data skills (Python, SQL, or Power BI) for automating forecasts and reporting
What We Offer
- Competitive base salary performance-based incentives
- Direct influence over company’s reservoir engineering and reserves process, standards, and growth
- Broad scope and early responsibility on acquisitions and new developments
- Flat, collaborative team structure with fast decision-making
Physical Requirements
Ability to perform the essential functions of the position, including sitting, standing, walking, communicating, and using standard office or job-related equipment. May require lifting, travel, working outdoors, or use of personal protective equipment.