Petroleum Scientist 1, 2, or 3 (Enforcement)

The Office of Enforcement (OENF) is dedicated to ensuring regulatory compliance and protecting public and environmental interests through rigorous inspection programs, timely enforcement actions and transparent oversight. The Office emphasizes proactive monitoring, consistent regulatory enforcement and transparent reporting. Its operations are designed to uphold compliance standards, swiftly address violations and maintain trust and accountability within Louisiana’s regulated community.

The Petroleum Scientist 1, 2, or 3 performs highly complex technical, investigative, and enforcement work on a statewide basis for the Louisiana Department of Conservation & Energy, Office of Enforcement, Inspection Division, Injection & Mining Section. Responsibilities include conducting highly technical announced and unannounced inspections and investigations of injection wells throughout Louisiana to ensure compliance with applicable requirements. This is a field-based position in which the incumbent will primarily work from their home residence, with occasional computer-based work completed from home. 

The position requires almost daily travel within assigned parish areas, primarily for day trips and field inspections. Duties may also require traveling by boat to water-based injection well locations and working outdoors in the heat, cold, and inclement weather conditions commonly encountered in south Louisiana. The incumbent may be required to walk across uneven terrain to access certain inspection sites. Daily inspection reports and related documentation will be completed and submitted through a computer-based reporting system. The incumbent will also be responsible for monitoring and scheduling maintenance of the assigned state vehicle and ensuring its safe storage at the employee’s primary residence.

A bachelor’s degree in a geoscience field or engineering.

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.

Job Duties: 

Additional duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• Thoroughly inspects and monitors by-product operations, including hazardous waste injection wells, solution mining of salt, hydrocarbon storage in solution-mined salt caverns, enhanced oil recovery wells, oil and gas exploration and production waste injection wells, and commercial exploration and production waste disposal facilities.
• Prepares and reviews in-depth reports on findings of all field investigations and inspections which serve as official records and are used in court litigation as necessary.
• Independently reviews permits, equipment, and safety precautions involved in the drilling/operation/work over activity for injection wells. This includes responsibility for ensuring that operators possess valid permits and that all conditions of the permits are closely followed during construction of said facilities.
• Reviews various technical reports and makes recommendations to Petroleum Scientist Supervisor or Manager on matters of regulatory noncompliance.
• Provides various reporting information for the compilation of statistical data on operator compliance activities for inclusion in the division’s state and federal performance indicators and any other required reports.
• Performs quarterly compliance reviews of UIC testing schedules and issue compliance notices to operators in accordance with the prescribed test frequency.
• Performs quarterly compliance reviews of UIC testing schedules and issue compliance notices to operators in accordance with the prescribed test frequency.
• Maintains files on all hazardous/non-hazardous waste disposal wells and operations located at industrial plant sites and those operated by commercial concerns.
• Maintains files on salt dome storage cavity operations concerning oil and gas storage.
• Maintains any assigned vehicle and equipment according to recommended guidelines.
• Provides technical assistance to private industry in the interpretation of State and Federal laws and Office of Conservation and departmental rules and regulations.
• If requested, provides functional supervision and training of lower level Conservation Enforcement Specialists in the performance of law and regulation enforcement, well tests, on-site investigations concerning underground injection operations, and the completion of necessary field reports.
• Assists the Director and Assistant Director of the Office of Enforcement and Office of Permitting & Compliance on any special field investigations deemed necessary.

Position-Specific Details:

Appointment Type: Probational. This position requires the selected applicant to serve a minimum probationary period of twelve (12) months. A current, permanent status state employee may be required to accept a probational appointment in lieu of promotion. Additional Vacancies may be filled from this announcement within 90 days of the closing date.

Career Progression:  This position  does participate in a Career Progression Group.

Work Schedule: Work hours are  flexible.

Location: This position reports to Baton Rouge, LA, but performs work throughout the southeastern part of the state.   The ideal candidate would have primary residency in one of the following assigned parishes: Assumption, Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Mary, or Terrebonne.

Compensation:  The salary offered will be determined based on qualifications and experience.   

Career Progression:  This position may be filled as a Petroleum Scientist 1, 2, or 3 depending on the level of experience of the selected applicant.

How To Apply:

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy. 

To apply for this vacancy, click on the “Apply” link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page. 

* Information to support your eligibility for the position must be included in the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).  Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.

For further information about this vacancy contact:

Human Resources

Department of Conservation and Energy

PO Box 94396

Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9396

Email: DNR-Recruiting@la.gov