SLB, Shell partner to accelerate digital and AI solutions in upstream operations

SLB has signed a strategic collaboration agreement with Shell to co-develop new digital and artificial intelligence technologies aimed at improving performance and efficiency across global upstream operations. The initiative expands the companies’ long-standing technical relationship and underscores the accelerating role of AI-driven automation in subsurface, drilling and production workflows.

Under the agreement, SLB and Shell will work to create agentic AI solutions designed to support technical experts and enhance real-time decision-making. The companies plan to build an open data and AI infrastructure using SLB’s Lumi™ platform, which unifies subsurface, well construction and production data in a secure digital environment.

“The energy industry is being reshaped by digital and AI,” said Rakesh Jaggi, president of SLB’s digital business. “Working with industry leaders like Shell enables us to accelerate development of advanced digital and agentic AI solutions that are changing how our industry works through automation and autonomy to generate value right across upstream, from planning through operations.”

The collaboration builds on a series of recent digital initiatives between the companies. Earlier this year, SLB and Shell entered into a partnership to roll out the Petrel™ subsurface platform across Shell’s global portfolio to standardize workflows and speed deployment of scalable digital tools. The new agreement will help inform Shell’s long-term technology roadmap, promote shared learning and generate solutions designed for broad industry adoption.

SLB said the work aims to deliver measurable performance gains while supporting industry efforts to reduce operational costs and enhance efficiency across upstream development.