Three people wearing white lab coats talking

Major Innovation Milestones

Shell’s history is full of examples of how we’ve powered progress through new ideas and pioneering technology. On this page, we’ve looked at some of the key areas where we’ve made breakthroughs over the years, and where we’re still pushing boundaries today.

1890s

Sabic Bunkering Teesside

Shipping

Historical:

Oil tankers safe enough for the Suez Canal

Today:

Conceptual design for new LNG carriers

1900s

Automated drilling machine

Wells

Historical:

Core sampling and analysis

Today:

Automated drilling

1910s

Man robotics testing new catalyst

Refining

Historical:

Extraction of aromatics from kerosene

Today:

High-throughput robotic testing of new catalysts

1920s

workers working in GTL station

Gas-to-liquids (GTL)

Historical:

Conversion of synthesis gas into liquids

Today:

Pearl – the largest GTL plant in the world

1930s

Shell V-Power signage

Fuels and lubricants

Historical:

High-octane aviation fuels

Today:

V-Power fuel & PurePlus  technology in motor oils

1940s

Woman in white lab coat wearing protective glasses

Petrochemicals

Historical:

Catalytic hydration of  ethylene to ethanol

Today:

OMEGA process for  ethylene glycol manufacture

1950s

Floating oil facility in sea

Offshore Engineering

Historical:

Submersible drilling rig in the Gulf  of Mexico (12 metres depth)

Today:

Floating facility in the Gulf  of Mexico (2,900 metres depth)

1960s

Worker walking up ramp of LNG facility

Liquefied natural gas (LNG)

Historical: 

Commercialisation of LNG technology

Today:

Prelude floating LNG facility

1970s

Plant showing ASU & UTL units

Enhanced recovery

Historical:

Surfactant for enhanced  recovery of oil

Today:

Nitrogen for enhanced  recovery of gas

1980s

Financial statistics graphs on a screen

Seismic imaging

Historical:

Data rendered in 3D

Today:

Data rendered in time-lapse 3D

1990s

Finger touching digital tablet screen

Field optimisation

Historical:

Smart wells

Today:

Fibre-optic sensing

More about Shell’s Heritage

Brand history

Over a century ago, Shell’s iconic logo started life as a mussel shell – discover how the brand has changed over the years.

Company history

Go back to 1833 to see where it all started and how Shell has evolved to become one of the world’s leading energy companies.

More aspects of our heritage

Motorsport History

Shell was there alongside the earliest motorsport pioneers, helping to fuel their dreams of turning a new mode of transport into an exciting way to compete. And Shell is still involved today, partnering with race teams at tracks around the world – from Formula 1 to MotoGP to Nascar.

Aviation History

Shell has been powering aviation from its earliest beginnings…here are just a few of the milestones the company has been a part of along the way.

Preserving Shell’s heritage

With so much inspiration to draw from the past, we are committed to preserving and celebrating Shell’s heritage and sharing it with as many people as possible.