‘The challenges facing E&P [exploration and production] professionals of the 21st century will be increasingly attuned to those of knowledge management, as we strive to improve our ability to...

‘The challenges facing E&P [exploration and production] professionals of the 21st century will be increasingly attuned to those of knowledge management, as we strive to improve our ability to identify, access and recover increasing volumes of hydrocarbons in response to global demands . . . Continued improvements in current E&P technical capability will be complemented by effective data management, in its broadest sense, as the industry seeks to enhance the management of hydrocarbon reservoirs’ (John Darley, Director of Shell Technology EP, 2002). Shell’s Exploration and Production employed about 30,000 people in 2002. Shell’s E&P business was a worldwide activity (across 45 countries), with operations in areas such as North America, Europe, the North Sea, The Netherlands, Africa, the Middle East, the Far East and Australia. ‘Deploying technology on such a global spread contributes to successful implementation by speeding applications up the learning curve’, Darley said. ‘For example, experience gained in horizontal gravel packing in the Gulf of Mexico has been quickly and effectively applied in Shell operations in both the Far East and Middle East. Building on those experiences allows us to improve the original concepts and move up a continuous circle of global improvements.’ Shell exploration and production activities were directed toward increasing value in Shell’s E&P business through the rapid application of key technologies, providing technology and technical solutions to Shell operating units and partners worldwide. ‘We have focused expertise and funding to make sure that these technologies are quickly applied across Shell’s businesses’, Darley said. ‘It has proven extremely effective. We have a very rapid takeoff on all of those technologies around the world, and see corresponding value generation in terms of reduced well costs, higher oil and gas productivity and increased reserves.’