Four engineers from Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) have received international acclaim after clinching the First Place Technical Paper Award at the Society of Petroleum Engineers’ (SPE) annual international conference and exhibition.

The winning team — Augustine Okosun, Osehojie Ojeh-Oziegbe, Oluwatobilola Aribike, and Oladokun Adubi — was honoured for pioneering work on the “Perforate, Wash, and Cement” (PWC) technology, a method that plays a critical role in the safe and permanent closure of offshore oil wells.

Their research demonstrated how PWC effectively seals the space between a well’s casing and the surrounding borehole, creating a permanent isolation barrier to prevent fluid migration and protect the environment. This technology is essential for maintaining well integrity during abandonment operations.

Although the PWC method is already established globally, last year marked its first use in Nigeria’s deepwater sector during the Bonga Field midlife plug and abandonment campaign. The deployment delivered notable cost and time savings when compared to conventional techniques.

Lead engineer Augustine Okosun said the award reflects Shell’s commitment to innovation and operational excellence. “Our goal is to encourage industry-wide adoption of cost-effective and environmentally sound practices,” he said.