Oil and Gas Industry in Oman: Jobs, Salaries & Market Overview

Oman Oil and Gas Sector Overview

Oman is a significant oil and gas producer with a unique position in the GCC energy landscape. Unlike its neighbors who benefit from massive, easily accessible reservoirs, Oman's oil production comes largely from mature, technically challenging fields that require sophisticated enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques, making the Sultanate a center of excellence for mature field management and EOR technology. The oil and gas industry is managed primarily by Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), the largest exploration and production company, alongside OQ Group (formerly Oman Oil Company), which manages downstream, petrochemical, and integrated energy operations. Oman holds proven crude oil reserves of approximately 5.4 billion barrels and natural gas reserves of approximately 24 trillion cubic feet, with daily oil production of approximately 1.1 mbpd in 2026.

Oil and gas operations are distributed across Oman's interior desert regions, with PDO's headquarters in Muscat and operational areas spanning the central and southern concession blocks. The Yibal, Lekhwair, and Nimr fields are among the most significant production areas. Block 6, PDO's primary concession, covers approximately 100,000 square kilometers of desert terrain. OQ operates downstream facilities including the Sohar and Duqm refineries, the Salalah Methanol Company, and Liwa Plastics Industries Company. The Duqm Special Economic Zone is developing as a hub for downstream and industrial operations.

Oman's oil and gas sector is distinguished by its technical sophistication. The challenging geology of Omani reservoirs, including heavy oil, tight reservoirs, and complex carbonate formations, has driven the adoption of advanced technologies including thermal EOR (steam injection), polymer flooding, miscible gas injection, and extensive horizontal drilling programs. This technical environment creates demand for highly skilled engineers and has made PDO one of the world's leading operators in EOR technology application.

GDP Contribution and Production

The oil and gas sector contributes approximately 35% to Oman's GDP and accounts for roughly 70% of government revenue, though these shares have decreased as fiscal reform (including VAT introduction) and economic diversification take effect. The Sultanate's fiscal breakeven oil price is approximately USD 73 per barrel, lower than some GCC peers due to fiscal reforms implemented since 2020.

Daily crude oil production of approximately 1.1 mbpd comes from over 200 producing fields, a far more fragmented production base than Saudi Arabia or Kuwait. PDO alone operates over 7,000 wells, manages one of the world's largest steamflood EOR projects (Amal), and operates an extensive pipeline network spanning thousands of kilometers across the desert. Natural gas production of approximately 4 bcfd supports power generation, petrochemical production, LNG export (Oman LNG), and industrial use. The Khazzan tight gas project, operated by BP, has significantly increased Omani gas production.

Oman LNG, in which the government holds a 51% stake, operates a 10.4 MTPA LNG plant at Qalhat near Sur. Partners include Shell, TotalEnergies, and various Asian utilities. LNG exports contribute significantly to government revenue and create a distinct set of employment opportunities in gas processing and LNG operations.

Top Oil and Gas Employers

Oman's oil and gas employment features PDO as the anchor, with a growing ecosystem of operators and services companies:

• Petroleum Development Oman (PDO): The largest oil producer in Oman (approximately 70% of total production), jointly owned by the government (60%), Shell (34%), TotalEnergies (4%), and Partex (2%). PDO employs over 8,000 staff directly and manages over 50,000 contractor workers across its vast concession area.
• OQ Group: The integrated energy company manages downstream refining (Sohar and Duqm refineries), petrochemicals (ORPIC, Liwa Plastics), exploration and production (through OQ EP), and trading operations. Employs thousands across integrated operations.
• BP Oman: Operator of the Khazzan tight gas project (Block 61), one of the largest tight gas developments in the Middle East. Employs hundreds of engineers and technical staff.
• Oman LNG: Operates the 10.4 MTPA LNG facility at Qalhat, employing LNG process engineers, maintenance specialists, and operations staff.
• Daleel Petroleum: Operates Block 5, producing approximately 50,000 bpd, employing upstream professionals.
• Occidental Oman (Oxy): Operates Block 9 (Suneinah) and Block 27 (Safah), with significant EOR operations.
• Oilfield services: SLB, Halliburton, Baker Hughes, Weatherford, and numerous drilling companies maintain large Oman operations given the high drilling intensity of Omani fields.
• EPC contractors: Petrofac, Tecnicas Reunidas, and others deliver major construction projects for PDO and OQ.

In-Demand Oil and Gas Roles

Oman's oil and gas job market in 2026 reflects the sector's technical sophistication:

• EOR Specialists: Oman's most distinctive demand. Steamflood, polymer flood, and miscible gas injection specialists are critical for maintaining and growing production from mature fields. PDO's thermal EOR operations at Amal and Nimr are among the world's largest.
• Petroleum Engineers: Reservoir engineers for complex carbonate and clastic reservoirs, production engineers for artificial lift optimization, and completions engineers for horizontal and multilateral wells.
• Drilling Engineers: PDO operates one of the world's most active drilling programs by well count. Well design, directional drilling, and drilling optimization in challenging desert conditions create persistent demand.
• Process Engineers: Gas processing, LNG operations, refinery optimization, and petrochemical production require process engineering expertise across multiple facilities.
• Solar and Renewable Energy Engineers: PDO's Miraah solar thermal project (one of the world's largest) uses concentrated solar power for steam generation for EOR, creating demand for solar energy engineers within the oil and gas context.
• Geoscientists: Complex Omani geology requires skilled geologists and geophysicists for field development, exploration, and reservoir characterization.
• HSE Managers: PDO's safety culture and the remote, challenging operating environment require qualified HSE professionals. Desert operations add specific environmental and safety considerations.
• Maintenance Engineers: The large installed base of production facilities, pipelines, and processing plants creates demand for mechanical, electrical, and reliability engineers.

Salary Ranges by Role and Experience

Oil and gas salaries in Oman reflect PDO's status as a premium employer. The following ranges represent monthly base salaries in OMR for 2026:

PDO's compensation packages are among the most comprehensive in Oman. Beyond base salary, packages include furnished company housing in PDO residential areas (Muscat or field camps), annual flights for employee and family, health and dental coverage, children's education at PDO-sponsored schools, sports and recreation facilities, company vehicle or transportation allowance, annual bonus (typically 2-3 months), and end-of-service gratuity. Field-based rotational positions include desert allowances, camp accommodation, and rotational leave patterns (typically 28 on/28 off for remote locations). Shell's minority shareholding in PDO means that operational standards and career development approaches reflect international best practices. OQ and Oman LNG offer similarly competitive packages, while oilfield services companies provide attractive but generally less comprehensive benefits.

Omanization in Oil and Gas

PDO is Oman's Omanization flagship, with approximately 82% of its direct workforce being Omani nationals. The company operates one of the most extensive national workforce development programs in the GCC, including the PDO Technical Training Center, sponsorship of hundreds of Omani students at international universities, and structured multi-year development programs for graduates entering the petroleum engineering, geoscience, and operations tracks. Shell's involvement brings international training expertise and secondment opportunities for Omani PDO staff to Shell operations worldwide.

Expatriate opportunities at PDO focus on highly specialized roles in EOR (particularly thermal recovery and chemical flooding), complex well drilling, geoscience interpretation of challenging reservoirs, and senior project management. OQ and Oman LNG have similar Omanization profiles. Oilfield services companies operate with lower but still significant Omanization targets (typically 35-50%), providing broader access for international professionals. The In-Country Value (ICV) program incentivizes contractors to employ Omani nationals and procure from Omani suppliers.

Key Operations and Fields

Oman's oil and gas operations span the interior desert:

• Yibal-Khuff: One of Oman's oldest and most complex fields, producing both oil and sour gas. The Yibal Khuff deep gas project is one of the most technically challenging developments in the region.
• Nimr: A massive heavy oil and EOR operation area, using steamflood and polymer injection to produce heavy oil from shallow reservoirs.
• Amal: One of the world's largest steamflood EOR projects, producing heavy oil using solar-generated steam (Miraah project).
• Khazzan (Block 61): BP's tight gas development, one of the largest in the Middle East, using horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing.
• Oman LNG (Qalhat): 10.4 MTPA LNG facility processing gas from multiple fields for export to Asian markets.
• Duqm Refinery: A joint venture between OQ and KIPIC (Kuwait), with 230,000 bpd capacity.

Future Outlook: 2026-2030 Growth Projections

Oman's oil and gas sector is positioned for sustained activity and energy transition:

• Production maintenance: PDO's challenge is maintaining approximately 650,000 bpd production from mature fields through advanced EOR, in-fill drilling, and new technology deployment. This creates sustained demand for reservoir and production engineering expertise.
• Gas expansion: BP's Khazzan expansion, PDO's Yibal Khuff development, and potential new gas discoveries will grow Oman's gas production, creating gas processing and pipeline engineering positions.
• Green hydrogen: Oman's most transformative energy opportunity. The ACME solar-to-hydrogen project (USD 2.5 billion) and SalalaH2 project aim to produce green hydrogen for export, potentially creating thousands of new energy positions by 2030.
• Solar EOR: PDO's pioneering Miraah concentrated solar project will expand, creating further integration between renewable energy and oil production.
• Downstream expansion: The Duqm refinery operations, Liwa Plastics, and potential new petrochemical developments will sustain downstream employment.

Employment projections suggest Oman's oil and gas sector will maintain its current workforce while adding 5,000 to 8,000 positions by 2030, with the strongest growth in green hydrogen, gas development, and advanced EOR. For petroleum engineers and energy professionals, Oman offers a uniquely technical career environment where mature field challenges demand creativity and innovation. The combination of PDO's comprehensive benefits, Shell-standard operational practices, zero income tax, and Oman's welcoming culture and natural beauty makes the Sultanate an attractive destination for energy professionals who value technical challenge alongside quality of life.