Technology-led exploration success

摘要

The importance of technology in overcoming current exploration challenges was underlined by Shell's global head for exploration, Ceri Powell, at a recent briefing at the company's learning center at Rijswijk, in Holland. "I really think it is about more brain cells per barrel," she says. "Technology is a means to enable geologists and geophysicists to overcome the challenges that we have in the subsurface today." To this end Shell's research and development budget has averaged US$1.1 billion/yr over the last five years. The efforts are bearing fruit. 2014 was an excellent year for Shell exploration-wise for the company, with particular successes have been in Malaysia, the Gulf of Mexico and Gabon (see below for more detail).