Guillaume D. - Drilling engineer

MINI PORTRAIT

" Originally from Lille - I started my engineering studies in Brest. At Centrale Nantes I was a member of the Student Association, the Forum Atlantique and the Nantes Hockey Club. I started my international career in oil drilling at Total in Dubai and then on site in Congo and Yemen. After two years in consulting in Singapore I joined Shell in Brunei in 2011 and have been in Texas since 2014."

YOUR CURRENT POSITION

" I am a drilling engineer, in charge of preparing and monitoring drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. This is a wide scope position involving the coordination of a team of 150 people and a budget of $100M per well. My role covers geology, drilling operations, digitization of operations and contract negotiations."

WHAT ABOUT ECO-RESPONSIBILITY?

" Drilling is not just contributing to fossil energy production - we have a major responsibility in the design and execution of drilling operations. The primary objective: to ensure that the hydrocarbons end up in your engine, rather than in the air or the oceans."

WHAT ARE YOUR SHORT- AND MEDIUM- TERM OBEJCTIVES?

" Finding a work-life balance is important to keep going. After three companies in 6 years at the beginning of my career, I found that balance at Shell. There are many opportunities for internal advancement in drilling or other disciplines that I will continue to pursue."

WHAT ASPECT OF YOUR TRAINING BEST PREPARED YOU FOR YOUR CURRENT ROLE?

" Almost everything on a regular conceptual level. Technical drawing, material resistance, tribology, project management, automation, programming (Not C++). It is important to be able to get back to basics but knowing how to learn, listen, integrate skills and ask relevant questions about complex projects quickly is essential."

WHAT DID YOU LIKE AT CENTRALE NANTES ?

" Teamwork which was new for me in my studies. Taking part in corporate projects, organizing student events and the Forum Atlantique. An international diploma that opens doors in business."

ADVICE FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS

" Develop your network within and outside the School. Learn to work with people who are different from you. Develop social diversity. Learn Python but keep in touch with reality." 

CENTRALE NANTES IN THREE WORDS

• General engineering,
• Connected
• Transition