About Imperial's Cold Lake operationCold Lake is an in-situ oil sands operation in northern Alberta. Sitting on a large, high-quality resource base, the operation is using and piloting next-generation solvent technologies that can improve production and lower greenhouse gas emissions intensity.
Cold Lake is one of the longest running oil sands operations in northeastern Alberta and one of the largest in-situ thermal operations in the world. The operation supplies refineries across Canada and the United States with the crude needed to create fuel, asphalt and other important products. The site's past success and current strength stem from the skills, commitment and passion of the site's workforce, made up of approximately 400 employees and 1,000 contractors including from Indigenous-owned businesses. In 2025, gross production at Cold Lake averaged 151,000 barrels per day.
What role you will play in our teamThe Operations Geologist will support planning and execution of heavy oil drilling programs at our Cold Lake Asset. Working as part of the Cold Lake Geoscience Team, you will provide geological support for drilling operations, well placement, geosteering, and post-drill evaluations while helping to optimize reservoir development and well performance. You will also contribute to opportunity generation activities by integrating subsurface interpretations, reservoir performance and completions data to help identify, evaluate, and mature future development prospects.
This role offers an excellent opportunity for an early-career geoscientist to gain hands-on experience in drilling and development geology within a fast-paced operating environment. The successful candidate will work closely with drilling, completions, reservoir, and production teams to support the safe and efficient execution of development programs while building the technical skills required to contribute to reservoir characterization and opportunity generation efforts across the asset.
What you will do- Interpret and integrate subsurface data, including well logs, core, cuttings, drilling data, and production information.
- Apply geologic and subsurface insights to generate infill and near-field drilling opportunities for short-cycle execution
- Assist with well planning activities, including offset well reviews, geological prognoses, target selection, and hazard identification.
- Provide geological support for active drilling operations, including monitoring well progress, interpreting geological data, and communicating recommendations to operational teams.
- Collaborate with reservoir, drilling, completions, and production teams to support development planning and field optimization.
- Participate in reserves and resources evaluations as required.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives related to drilling performance, reservoir understanding, and development optimization.
- Ensure all work is conducted in accordance with company safety standards, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.
About youSkills and Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Geology, Geoscience, Earth Sciences, or a related discipline.
- 0 to 5 years of industry experience.
- Eligible for registration or registered as a Geoscientist-in-Training (G.I.T.) or Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.) with APEGA or an equivalent professional organization.
- Understanding of sedimentary geology, stratigraphy, and reservoir characterization principles.
- Ability to interpret geological, petrophysical, and operational datasets
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Detail-oriented with the ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment.
- Ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic operational setting.
Preferred Experience- Knowledge of Manville reservoirs and associated development strategies.
- Experience working with well logs, core data, cuttings descriptions, and subsurface databases.
- Experience with geological interpretation, mapping and drilling software such as Accumap, Petrel, StarSteer or similar applications.
- Experience designing deviated, horizontal or multilateral wells and oil sands evaluation drilling programs.
- Experience supporting drilling operations in heavy oil, oil sands, or unconventional resource developments
- Field experience supporting rig operations or wellsite geological activities is considered an asset.
- Demonstrated interest in development and operations geology within a heavy oil operating environment.
Your benefitsAn Imperial career is one designed to last. Our commitment to you runs deep: our employees grow personally and professionally, with benefits built on our core categories of health, security, finance, and life. Imperial Oil has been recognized as one of Canada's and Alberta's top employers (2024) as recognized by Mediacorp Canada Inc.'s 24th annual competition.
We offer you:
- Competitive salary
- Training and mentorship
- Relocation assistance as required
- Employee resource groups (ERG's) - opportunity to participate in volunteer groups that support furthering the company's inclusion objectives
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