SHELL HAS been involved in the oil and gas industry in Abu Dhabi for more than 60 years.

It has a shareholding in two joint ventures with Adnoc - a nine and a half per cent shareholding in Adco and a 15 per cent shareholding in Gasco.

Shell has been involved in a number of initiatives relating to the development of Adnoc's human resources, and will be providing financial support to Adnoc's recently-established Petroleum Institute in Abu Dhabi.

''Shell is delighted to have been invited to be a supporting contributor to the Petroleum Institute,'' said Mohamed Defrawi, country chairman and managing director of Shell Abu Dhabi.

''We expressed our commitment to support the project from the very beginning and have been closely involved in the planning stages,'' he told the Shell in the Middle East magazine.

''In fact, a Shell secondee sits on the project team for the development of the Institute,'' he added.

''We recognise that Adnoc is, and has been for some time, actively engaged in the development of national staff for the oil and gas industry, so the Petroleum Institute is a natural progression in the development of technical engineering and professional staff.

''This can only lead to benefits for Abu Dhabi, for Adnoc and for Shell as a partner with Adnoc in our two joint ventures in Abu Dhabi, Adco and Gasco,'' Defrawi explained.

Shell will be represented both on the governing body of The Petroleum Institute and on the Industry Advisory Board.

The Petroleum Institute was born of a need to train UAE nationals in the specific needs of the UAE's oil and gas industry.

A feasibility study concluded significant demand for such a centre and a project team was established.

Adnoc approached its industry partners, including Shell, to get their support for the project. A steering committee, the secretary of which was a Shell secondee, was formed and letters of intent sent to a range of colleges.

At the stage of evaluation, Shell supported Adnoc by bringing into the project team two senior advisers to assist in the selection process of suitable colleges and universities to tender for the management of the Petroleum Institute.

With the help of Shell International Exploration & Production and Shell secondees, working with the Adnoc Group, the Petroleum Institute has now put in place a Competency-Based Approach System for the professional development of its staff.

''Over the years, Shell has given ongoing support to the Human Relations Development (HRD) of the Adnoc Group,'' a Petroleum Institute official told the magazine.

The Petroleum Institute also entered into an agreement between Shell and Adnoc to utilise Shell's education facilities in the Netherlands.