From Classroom to Core Shed: Building Skills for Namibia’s Upstream Industry

Held from 29 September to 03 October at the NUST Hotel School, the workshop was facilitated by Shyamalan Ramaswami, Global Evaluation Manager and Principal Petrophysicist at Shell Exploration and Production B.V. and focused on the Introduction to Formation Evaluation: Operational Petroleum Engineering – Log Evaluation, Well Testing, and Rock & Fluid Analysis.

The programme included guest speakers from industry service providers including SLB, Halliburton and Expro. Students also visited NAMCOR’s core shed, where they had the opportunity to examine geological samples from Shell-drilled wells in the Orange Basin. The workshop provided hands-on exposure to well data and geological specimens, transforming classroom concepts into practical skills. Students shared positive feedback, noting that the core shed visit was particularly valuable as it provided hands-on experience with real rock samples taken directly from wells, offering practical insight into subsurface geology. Others highlighted that it was an excellent opportunity to see real-world applications of what was being presented and gain a deeper understanding of oil and gas practices beyond theoretical concepts.

At the closing cocktail reception, Ms Kornelia Shilunga, Special Advisor and Head of the Presidency’s Upstream Petroleum Unit (UPU), commended Shell Namibia’s collaboration with NUST. She described it as a strong example of how industry and academia can work together to build national capacity. Ms Shilunga noted that the initiative supports the government’s local content policy, which encourages oil companies to invest in Namibian talent and services. She also highlighted the importance of ethics and discipline among young professionals, encouraging students to embrace every opportunity to contribute to the development of Namibia’s natural resources sector.