A $300M UAE Drilling Programme Saved by Two Hires in 28 Days
Career Pro helped an offshore operator keep operations running when its critical experts left.
Client Overview
Halcyon Energy Services is an Abu Dhabi-based upstream oil and gas services company providing drilling and reservoir evaluation services to major operators across the UAE and Oman. In late 2025, the unexpected resignation of two senior subsurface engineers threatened to delay a $300M offshore drilling programme.
Company Size
400–500 Employees
Locations
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Growth Stage
Operational Continuity Critical
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Challenge
Two simultaneous senior departures in the most technically specialised part of the business created an operational crisis. Halcyon had weeks, not months, to replace knowledge that had taken years to build.
Specialisation Was Extremely Narrow
The roles required deepwater reservoir modelling experience specific to carbonate formations. There were fewer than 400 people who globally fit the profile.
Operator Client Was Already Asking Questions
Halcyon's main operator client had flagged the departures and was watching the replacement process closely.
Previous Recruitment Attempts Had Failed
Two internal HR searches over six weeks had produced zero viable candidates before Career Pro was engaged.
Competitors Were Recruiting the Same Profiles
ADNOC's upstream partners were simultaneously headhunting for identical skill sets, tightening the available talent pool further.
Knowledge Transfer Window Was Closing
One departing engineer agreed to a 4-week handover, creating a hard deadline to get replacements on the ground.
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Our Approach
Career Pro activated its dedicated oil and gas talent network built over eight years placing upstream professionals across the GCC, North Africa, and Southeast Asia, prioritising speed without compromising on technical fit.
Global Specialist Search Activated in 24 Hours
Within one business day, outreach began to 180 subsurface professionals across UAE, Oman, Malaysia, and the UK.
Technical Pre-Screening Panel Designed
A two-stage technical assessment was co-designed with Halcyon's Chief Geoscientist to evaluate carbonate reservoir competency precisely.
Departing Engineers Involved in Process
With Halcyon's consent, the outgoing engineers participated in candidate briefings, accelerating knowledge validation during screening.
Competitor Intelligence Provided
Career Pro shared real-time data on what ADNOC's partners were offering, enabling Halcyon to structure competitive packages immediately.
Relocation Timeline Compressed
For one international candidate, Career Pro coordinated with a UAE PRO to process a priority employment visa in 11 working days.
28 Days
from engagement to both roles filled within the 4-week knowledge transfer window180 +
targeted specialists reached globally within the first 72 hours of the search100 %
operator client retention and Halcyon's main client renewed their contract 60 days after the crisis was resolved2.4 x
faster than Halcyon's previous best hiring time for equivalent subsurface rolesWhat our clients say
Zarif Usaim, CEO, Dubai
6 months ago
We partnered with Career Pro to fill several key positions, and their team demonstrated deep market understanding and professionalism. Their support directly contributed to improved team performance.
Farhan, COO, Dubai
6 months ago
Helpful Team. The Career Pro team was incredibly responsive during a critical hiring phase for our operations. Their ability to quickly provide top talent helped us meet tight deadlines without compromising quality.
Fakih Sati, Head of Sales, Dubai
6 months ago
We were searching for high-performing sales professionals, and Career Pro delivered beyond expectations. Their recruiters understood our goals and provided candidates who delivered immediate results.
Utbah Basil, HR Manager, Sharjah
6 months ago
From our initial consultation to final onboarding, the Career Pro team was a true partner. Their strategic input helped streamline our hiring process and strengthen our workforce with top-tier candidates.
Additional Impact
Drilling Programme Protected
$300M offshore programme proceeded without a single day's delay.
Operator Confidence Fully Restored
Client extended contract term by an additional 18 months.
Internal Succession Planning Initiated
Halcyon launched a structured succession plan for all senior technical roles.
Knowledge Transfer Completed in Full
Both new hires were shadowing outgoing engineers within 10 days of offer acceptance.
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