Drilling Mud System Design

JOB DESCRIPTION

Static Equipment & Drilling / Mud Systems Design Engineer

Department: Engineering / Design
Reports To: Engineering Manager / General Manager – Manufacturing
Location: Kuwait
Industry: Oil & Gas / Drilling Equipment / Fabrication / Static Equipment

1. Job Purpose

The Static Equipment & Drilling/Mud Systems Design Engineer will be responsible for the design, engineering, preparation of drawings, technical documentation, and engineering support for static equipment, drilling rig equipment, mud systems, tanks, pressure vessels, and related oilfield equipment.

The position requires strong practical knowledge of oilfield equipment design, fabrication, applicable international codes and standards, material selection, welding, fabrication methods, and site/customer requirements.

The engineer will work closely with Sales, Production, QA/QC, Procurement, Projects, and customers to convert technical requirements into safe, practical, cost-effective, and manufacturable designs.

2. Key Responsibilities

A. Static Equipment Design

* Design and engineer:
* Mud tanks and mud pits
* Diesel/fuel storage tanks
* Water tanks
* Chemical tanks
* Vacuum tanks
* Cement silos/bulkers
* Pressure vessels
* Air receivers
* Degassers and related drilling equipment
* Skids and process equipment
* Structural frames and supports
* Manifolds, piping and associated equipment
* Prepare and review GA drawings, fabrication drawings, assembly drawings and detail drawings.
* Perform engineering calculations for tanks, vessels, structural components and associated equipment.
* Select suitable materials, plate thicknesses, profiles, nozzles, flanges, valves and other components.
* Ensure designs are suitable for fabrication, transportation, installation and operation.

B. Drilling Rig & Mud System Engineering

* Develop and review designs for drilling rig mud systems and associated equipment.
* Understand the complete mud circulation system, including:
* Mud tanks
* Mixing tanks
* Suction tanks
* Active/Reserve tanks
* Sand traps
* Desanders/desilters
* Mud cleaners
* Centrifuges
* Shale shakers
* Degassers
* Mud pumps and suction/discharge arrangements
* Agitators
* Mud manifolds and piping
* Develop equipment layouts and interconnection arrangements.
* Review mud-system capacities, flow requirements, tank volumes, pump capacities and piping arrangements.
* Coordinate interfaces between mechanical, structural, piping and electrical/instrumentation requirements.

C. Codes & Standards

The engineer should have practical knowledge of relevant codes and standards, as applicable to the project, including:

* ASME Section VIII
* ASME Section IX
* API 650
* API 12F / API 12J, where applicable
* API 7K / relevant drilling equipment standards
* AWS D1.1
* ASME B31.3
* NBIC, where applicable
* ASTM material standards
* Applicable API, ASME, ISO and client specifications

Ability to identify the correct design code and applicable project specification before commencing design is essential.

D. Engineering Drawings & Documentation

* Prepare:
* General Arrangement Drawings
* Fabrication Drawings
* Assembly Drawings
* Piping Layouts
* Nozzle Orientation Drawings
* Structural Drawings
* BOM/MTO
* Design calculations
* Datasheets
* Equipment specifications
* Welding details
* Inspection and testing requirements
* Review customer drawings, specifications and technical requirements.
* Incorporate customer comments and manage drawing revisions.
* Ensure drawings are clear, accurate and production-friendly.

E. Engineering Calculations

Perform or coordinate calculations for:

* Tank shell and bottom thickness
* Roof design
* Internal and external pressure
* Vacuum conditions
* Hydrostatic loading
* Wind and seismic loads, where applicable
* Nozzle reinforcement
* Flanges and manways
* Structural supports
* Lifting and transportation loads
* Skid and frame design
* Piping loads and supports
* Equipment operating loads
* Pressure and hydrotest requirements

3. Manufacturing & Production Support

* Work closely with fabrication and production teams to ensure designs are practical and manufacturable.
* Provide engineering clarification during fabrication.
* Resolve technical issues arising during manufacturing, inspection and testing.
* Review fabrication deviations and propose technically acceptable solutions.
* Participate in design reviews, FATs, inspections and customer technical meetings.
* Support QA/QC in resolving drawing, welding, material and inspection-related issues.
* Ensure designs consider fabrication cost, material availability and production efficiency.

4. Customer & Project Engineering

* Review RFQs, customer specifications and tender documents.
* Identify technical deviations, exclusions and clarifications.
* Prepare technical offers and engineering submissions.
* Participate in customer technical discussions.
* Respond to technical queries and comments.
* Coordinate with third-party inspectors such as AI, BV, DNV, ABS, SGS, etc., where required.
* Support project execution from RFQ → Design → Approval → Fabrication → Inspection → FAT → Delivery.

5. Required Technical Skills

The candidate should have strong working knowledge of:

* Static equipment design
* Pressure vessel design
* Atmospheric storage tank design
* Oilfield/drilling equipment
* Mud systems
* Mechanical equipment
* Piping and valves
* Welding and fabrication
* Material selection
* Engineering calculations
* ASME/API codes
* Manufacturing drawings
* BOM/MTO preparation
* 2D/3D CAD

6. Software Skills

Essential:

* AutoCAD
* Microsoft Excel
* Microsoft Office

Preferred:

* SolidWorks / Inventor / similar 3D CAD
* PV Elite / Compress or equivalent pressure vessel design software
* Tank design/calculation software
* AutoCAD Plant 3D or similar
* ERP/SAP exposure

7. Qualification & Experience

Education:

* Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
* Engineering qualification from a recognized university.

Experience:

* 5–10 years relevant experience in oil & gas, drilling equipment, pressure vessels, tanks, static equipment or heavy fabrication.
* Experience with drilling rigs, mud systems and oilfield equipment is highly preferred.
* Candidates with hands-on fabrication and manufacturing experience will be preferred.

8. Desired Candidate Profile

The candidate should:

* Have strong practical engineering knowledge rather than purely theoretical design experience.
* Understand how equipment is actually fabricated and assembled.
* Be able to independently develop a design from customer requirements.
* Be capable of reviewing customer specifications and identifying technical gaps.
* Have good knowledge of welding, materials and fabrication processes.
* Be comfortable working directly with production, QA/QC and customers.
* Have good technical communication and documentation skills.
* Be capable of managing multiple projects and meeting engineering deadlines.
* Have a strong safety and quality mindset.

9. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

* On-time completion of engineering drawings and calculations.
* Accuracy and quality of engineering deliverables.
* Reduction of design errors and fabrication rework.
* Customer drawing approval turnaround time.
* Compliance with applicable codes and customer specifications.
* Engineering support to production without delays.
* Effective resolution of technical issues.
* Cost-effective and manufacturable designs.
* Zero major engineering-related quality complaints.

10. Preferred Industry Experience

Preference will be given to candidates with experience in:

Oil & Gas | Drilling Rigs | Mud Systems | Pressure Vessels | Storage Tanks | Cementing Equipment | Well Service Equipment | Heavy Fabrication | Skid Packages | Oilfield Equipment

11. Reporting & Coordination

The engineer will coordinate with:

Sales & Marketing → Engineering → Production → QA/QC → Procurement → Projects → Customers / Consultants / Third-Party Inspectors