Production Chemist

Job Title

Production Chemist

Work Schedule

Sunday-Thursday

Department

RPT

Work Location

HKN Hamrin Block, Salahaldin, Republic of Iraq – any of HKN’s site

Reports to

Production Chemist Lead

Start Date

To be confirmed

Subordinates

Field Lab Technicians

Application Deadline

October 3, 2026

Contract Type

Open Contract

Other details

Three months’ probation

About Us:

HKN Hamrin Ltd. is a privately held, independent oil and gas company operating in the Republic of Iraq. The Hamrin Block is comprised of 535 km2 and contains one producing field. The Hamrin field produces oil primarily from the Tertiary (Miocene) reservoirs — the Jeribe and Euphrates formations — with the Dhiban formation as a secondary reservoir.

At HKN, our strength lies in our highly experienced, diverse team, whose professionals bring insights from working across 80+ countries. We are committed to building a culture deeply rooted in our Core Values, which include Integrity, Respect, Commitment, Excellence, and Teamwork.

Position Summary

The Production Chemist safeguards crude oil quality and production system integrity through the selection, application, and optimization of production chemicals, including demulsifiers, corrosion inhibitors, scale/hydrate control, and H₂S scavengers.

Working across the laboratory and Hamrin field facilities, the role conducts chemical testing and analysis, interprets results, guides laboratory technicians, and reports technical findings and risks to management, supporting safe, reliable, compliant, and cost-effective operations.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

Process Understanding & Production Support

• Develop and maintain a working understanding of the full production process — separation, dehydration/desalting, stabilization, and export — and relate chemical performance to process conditions such as temperature, pressure, flow regime, water cut, and fluid composition.
• Monitor and optimize production operations by assessing the chemical integrity and efficiency of the process, and troubleshoot upsets that affect throughput or product quality.

Chemical Treatment & Mechanisms

• Apply in-depth knowledge of chemical treatment mechanisms to correctly select, apply, and dose demulsifiers, corrosion inhibitors, scale inhibitors, H₂S scavengers, biocides, and other production chemicals.
• Design and conduct bottle tests and jar tests to evaluate chemical performance, interpreting results with reference to the chemistry and mode of action of each product rather than empirical results alone.
• Recommend, implement, and continuously optimize chemical treatment programs to enhance separation, protect equipment, improve product specification, and reduce operating cost.

Corrosion & Asset Integrity

• Implement and oversee corrosion management and monitoring programs — coupons, ER/LPR probes, iron/manganese counts, and residual inhibitor analysis — to protect production equipment and pipelines.
• Support asset and pipeline integrity activities by trending corrosion data, assessing internal corrosion risk, and advising on inhibitor availability, treatment effectiveness, and mitigation measures.

Analysis, Data & Reporting

• Conduct chemical analysis of production fluids (crude oil, produced water, and gas) to evaluate quality and diagnose issues affecting production.
• Analyze and trend laboratory and field data to optimize chemical treatments, demonstrate program performance, and improve production outcomes.
• Prepare clear technical reports and documentation, and promptly communicate pertinent issues and recommendations to management.

Collaboration, Team Guidance & Compliance

• Guide and mentor field laboratory technicians in performing routine and non-routine analytical tests correctly and safely.
• Collaborate with production, operations, and integrity teams to integrate chemical solutions effectively into production operations.
• Ensure compliance with environmental regulations and industry standards governing chemical usage, handling, storage, and disposal.

Minimum Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry or chemical engineering.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience as a laboratory or production chemist in the oil and gas industry.
• Demonstrated understanding of production processes and the mechanisms of chemical treatment within production systems.
• Experience in corrosion management and asset / pipeline integrity monitoring.
• Hands-on experience with bottle testing and evaluation of demulsifiers, H₂S scavengers, and corrosion inhibitors.
• Proficiency with analytical techniques, laboratory instrumentation, and data analysis and interpretation.
• Strong communication skills for reporting findings and collaborating across multidisciplinary teams.
• Knowledge of oil and gas production processes, chemical analysis methods, and industry-specific HSE regulations.

Preferred:

• Familiarity with sour-service operations, including H₂S handling and relevant NACE/ISO corrosion standards.
• Experience establishing field laboratories, developing SOPs, and producing technical documentation.

Physical Requirements

• Fitness for field work; able to work at field facilities.