Well Engineering
A Well Engineering role at Shell is a chance to develop your technical skills and push boundaries.
The Shell Graduate Program
As a technical graduate, you’ll embark on a three-year training program, which will give you a comprehensive introduction to many areas of Shell’s business and operations. From this robust platform you’ll be perfectly positioned to become a pioneer in the field of Well Engineering, which could set you on the road to a long and fulfilling career in the energy sector.
Joining the Program you'll have the opportunity to work alongside some of the industry’s leading technical experts and visionaries, as well as gaining experience on some of Shell’s most groundbreaking engineering projects. Within Shell you'll find a supportive work environment, designed to ensure you develop to your potential. You’ll also build valuable networks with teams across the globe, leading to truly collaborative innovations and advances in the field of well engineering.
Well Engineering
Our wells engineers are at the heart of our Upstream business, delivering critical support to our global exploration and development teams, they also play a part in our efforts to achieve a reliable energy future.
If you join us as a wells engineer you’ll work with teams who are constantly innovating to help meet the energy needs of society in economically, environmentally and socially responsible ways. You could be involved in providing critical support from our global exploration projects, designing, building and maintaining different types of wells all over the world. To do this you’ll need a high level of technical competency, passion and a collaborative work ethic.
Training to become a Shell Well Engineer – Hanne Skogestad
Title: Training to become a Shell Well Engineer - Hanne Skogestad
Duration: 2:03 minutes
Description: Hanne talks about living and working offshore as a drilling engineer
Training to become a Shell Well Engineer - Hanne Skogestad Film Transcript
[Background music]
Calm music
[Video footage]
Hanne wearing hardhat and overalls walking through factory. Close-up of Hanne’s face. Hanne working at a desk.
Interview with Hanne Skogestad
Hanne Skogestad
Drilling Engineer
[Hanne]
“Hi, I’m Hanne Skogestad and I work as a drilling engineer on the West Navigator.”
[Video footage]
Rig.
Large ship with a rig on it moving away from port and into open water. Mountains in background.
[Hanne]
“My background is actually chemical engineering, but I always knew from university that I wanted to work offshore. My main responsibility is here to learn and the whole purpose is to prepare you to become a well engineer in the office.”
[Video footage]
Large machinery, lots of pipes. Hanne and group of people standing at the bottom. Hanne listening and nodding to what someone is saying. Man looks up and points.
[Hanne]
“Because people come from different universities, different countries, so for Shell to make sure that everybody has the same experience, same knowledge they have this well engineering program that train you and you have to do two exams, and in this way they can make sure that everybody has the same knowledge and the same competence.”
[Video footage]
Worker walking around plant. Two people working on machinery. Group of people talking.
Hanne working at a computer. Close-up of Hanne’s face. Close-up of monitor. Hanne using a calculator.
[Hanne]
“Shell has given me a huge packet of books, thousands of pages, and when I’m at home I study them and I have to pass 80% of those papers before I’m allowed to take the exam. It’s like a little family offshore, you know you take care of each other. We eat, we sleep, we’re always here. So the atmosphere is quite unique.”
[Video footage]
Two men in control room of a ship, talking.
Close-up of safety checklist in Hanne’s hand.
[Hanne]
Probably feel safer here than at home. It’s just because safety is such a big part of your daily life. When you think about these things every day, you go around, is this safe, should we be doing this a different way? It just becomes a habit and something you get very good at. Of course, I still need years of experience but you just get better and better and when I go home I still… it’s still part of me.
So I can see when I’m home I’m always thinking safety as well.”
[Video footage]
Two workers on a high platform, pointing at something. Man looks at safety checklist.
Looking down from a high platform. Worker is looking over edge. Another worker walks along platform and bends down to look at railing.
Close-ups of health and safety posters on the wall.
[Hanne]
“It’s not only cosy out here, it can be quite tough. It’s not for everyone, but I still enjoy it.”
[Video footage]
Ship at sea.
[Graphic]
Shell logo
[Text displays]
Copyright Royal Dutch Shell plc 2011
Roles and responsibilities
Working as a Wells Engineer for Shell is a chance to become an innovator within one of the company’s most influential disciplines. You could contribute to a variety of operational areas, including:
- Completions and Well Engineering
- Health Safety Security & Environment Principles
- Well Design
- Well Economics
- Wells Contract Managements
- Wells Site Engineering
Your responsibilities could include:
- Optimizing well construction maintenance and abandonment operations
- Subsurface data gathering
- Testing and monitoring well flow
- Engineering of well intervention activities
Training and development opportunities
Throughout the Program you'll receive regular development checks to help you to discover your true potential as a Wells Engineer and to become an accomplished professional. At Shell we believe that best practice and rigorous standards are only as effective as the people who implement them, which is why we offer world-class training and development. There will be a combination of on-the-job, classroom and online learning. You'll also be given continuous coaching and mentoring.
Future assignments
Your development won’t end after the Shell Graduate Program. Once completed, you will continue to develop and continue your technical skills through the three-year Shell Advanced Technical Program. Following a clear structure and defined goals, this further learning will enable you to continue to push boundaries and take on a more senior role in Shell’s technical environment.
Looking for a career at Shell?
Contact us
If you need assistance and information relating to your application or the recruitment process you can contact us.
Recruitment scams
This is an important notice on fraudulent communications that have been made to members of the public.
Careers FAQs
Explore our Frequently Asked Questions and find the answers you're looking for.