Salt Cavern Engineer Lead Expert

SUMMARY

We have a great opportunity for a Salt Brine Cavern Engineer Expert to join our Westlake Performance & Essential Materials team. This position will make decisions and recommendations that are recognized as expert in brine field operations, salt dome geology and aquifer reservoirs, salt cavern asset management, solution mining, brine disposal, underground storage caverns, pipeline management, safety regulations and salt cavern risk mitigation.  Development of long-term brine field plans with the Natrium, Lake Charles, and Plaquemine sites will be driven by this role as well as coordinating salt reliability from Boardwalk for the Geismar site. Operating standards and best practice sharing/implementation will also be led by this role, demonstrating a high degree of technical knowledge, experience, and mature judgment in planning, organizing and guiding Westlake salt operation assets.  This position will be concentrated within our North America manufacturing sites.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

May include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Develops strategy and serves as subject matter expert in Brine Cavern/Salt Deposit Management and Risk Mitigation

• Optimizes long-term planning for the development plans for Westlake North American salt/brine assets.

• Provides technical support to Westlake Engineering, Operations and Maintenance departments for salt/brine wells and caverns

• Reviews and develops recommendations based on internal and external inspections of wells/caverns and establishes appropriate inspection and testing intervals, maintains inspection and test records, and monitors the testing, alteration, and repair of wells/caverns.

• Provides expertise to the sites in addressing well and cavern reliability issues.

• Serves as the Westlake Brine/Salt Westlake focal point responsible for managing key relationships.

• Oversees engineering service providers, brine well drillers, and maintenance contractors in order to implement best practices, state and federal compliance, and mechanical integrity assessments.

• Provides guidance and auditing to confirm best practice adoption and operating standard execution.

• Advises Westlake Senior leadership and site management informed on progress of projects, improvements made and other items as necessary.

• Develops best practices and builds competence of salt/brine sources and internal brine generation for all Westlake sites.

• Ensures a strong safety culture through enforcing safe operations and a commitment toward environmental health and safety.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Geology or Geophysics (PE certification preferred)

• Minimum 10 years of related experience in brine field operations, geology of salt caverns, and/or petroleum well drilling for salt extraction

• Experience in interfacing with contractors and company staff on brine field management

• Excellent organizational, interpersonal and communication skills, verbal and written

• Proficient computer skills, with good working knowledge of all standard company applications (i.e., Microsoft Word, Excel, etc.)

• Self-directed and motivated with the ability to make sound decisions based upon technical information

• Good leadership skills

WHY JOIN US?

At Westlake, you will be a part of global diversified team working together to provide the world essential and more sustainable products that enhance people’s lives every day. There are learning and development opportunities to craft your career path.  We offer benefits that enhance your life such as competitive compensation package, health insurance, bonus incentives, retirement plan, life benefits - and many more.

Travel: up to 33%

Relocation: Yes, Domestic (only)

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; stand; walk; use hands to touch, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch.  During plant visits must be able to climb stairs and ladders in order to access elevated structures and equipment such as towers and columns. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Additionally, this position must make general decisions requiring judgement and perform activities requiring sustained concentration.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The noise level in the work environment is sometimes moderate when working in an office, however, some of the work may be required in the operating units which mandates usage of required PPE including safety glasses, hearing protection, etc.  May also result in exposure to outside elements and may require usage of stairs and elevators.  Travel including air travel or auto travel may occasionally be required.

WORK LOCATION

This position is location agnostic and can be located in Houston, Texas or at one of Westlake’s Gulf Coast plants (Lake Charles, LA, Plaquemine, LA, Geismar, LA or New Martinsville, WV) and will be required to travel to our other Westlake plant locations in the United States.