Plugging & Abandonment (P&A) and Lease Compliance Specialist

Job Description

Job Description Plugging & Abandonment (P&A) and Lease Compliance Specialist

Location: 15 Smith Rd, Suite 3000, Midland, TX 79705 (Onsite)

Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Engagement: 12-month W2 contract (temp-to-hire)

Target start: Feb/March

A day in this role

Sunrise finds you reviewing GIS layers and planning a field route across PUF lands. By mid-morning you’re on location, inspecting a low-producing lease and confirming that wellbores are plugged to Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) standards. You capture drone imagery, document the status of production equipment, and coordinate with an operator on timelines for full surface restoration. After lunch you brief Surface Landmen and the Environmental Engineer on a spill observation, then join a helicopter overflight to verify reclamation progress. You wrap the day by drafting restoration letters, updating inspection reports, and aligning with Legal, Regulatory, and Commercial Surface teams to ensure every lease remains compliant and every site moves toward native land conditions.

Impact you’ll make

• Drive the professional management and sustainability of University Lands (UL) by enforcing oil and gas lease compliance and stewarding surface restoration.
• Identify shut-in, abandoned, terminated, or marginal wells; manage proper wellbore plugging per Texas RRC requirements; and shepherd end-of-life leases through abandonment and reclamation.
• Independently plan and conduct lease inspections; produce detailed reports and restoration letters; and communicate findings to operators and stakeholders.
• Document on-the-ground conditions, maintain accurate status records, and brief cross-functional UL teams (Surface Ops, Environment, Land, Legal, Regulatory, Commercial Surface).
• Inspect drilling, completion, production, and storage facilities for compliance with federal and state regulations; witness plugging operations to verify regulatory adherence.
• Record and escalate field observations related to spills and other surface risks to help prevent environmental, livestock, and wildlife harm.
• Lead field audits and help educate UL Audit and Regulatory stakeholders on the function of production, separation, and storage equipment.
• Use helicopters and drones to perform aerial surveillance and collect actionable field intelligence for operators and lessees.
• Coordinate removal of abandoned equipment with reclamation service providers and oversee contract crews operating on UL.
• Engage operators and regulatory agencies to resolve compliance issues swiftly and effectively.

Minimum qualifications

• High school diploma and technical experience in upstream or midstream oil and gas operations.
• Expertise in surface operations, land management, and reclamation projects.
• Valid driver’s license.

Preferred qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university (energy management, land management, engineering, technology, or related fields preferred).
• Direct experience with an oil and gas E&P company or contractor.
• 3+ years of professional or technical experience in oil and gas; Permian Basin experience preferred.
• Working knowledge of University Lands surface management, operations, policies, and procedures.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Strong grasp of surface ownership, operations, and land management.
• Fluency with GIS for field navigation and documentation.
• Sound judgment to negotiate work plans and timelines and ensure operator compliance.
• Self-directed, organized, dependable, and responsive; excellent written and verbal communication.
• Hands-on experience with lease inspections, site abandonment, terminations, restoration, and reclamation.
• Ability to identify operational issues, assess risk, mediate stakeholder interactions, and drive remedial actions on surface and environmental concerns.
• Capable of learning quickly, making tough calls, and operating independently or within a high-performing team.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, GIS systems, and mapping applications.

Working conditions

• Fieldwork around oil and gas operations, pipelines, and commercial facilities; use of multiple surveillance technologies; and office work in Midland, TX.
• Repetitive keyboard use at a workstation.

How to apply

Contact: Arun P, US Recruiter - Recruitment
Email: arun@buckeyeglobalit.com
Phone: 614-453-9444