Going Underground

Software for oil exploration and production has been a topic for software R&D for decades, and Shell is one of the main players. The role of such applications can´t be underestimated. For example, what´s the cost of a defect if you drill in the wrong place as a result of a software bug, knowing that without software you wouldn´t have a clue where to start drilling? Shell, one of the largest companies in the world, is very specific about which software it wants to develop and which software it wants to buy elsewhere, even for a core competence like oil exploration and production.