The institute will offer programs custom designed to address the unique geoscience and engineering challenges of geographic regions around the world.

Client companies will be able to actively participate in co-designing training programs that are integrated across disciplines and tailored to specific client career development needs, the partners said.

"Working with SCA, we can develop a modular curriculum that includes more than 200 courses for the upstream petroleum industry," NExT general manager Sunil Pangarkar said. "Through its overseas affiliates NExT and SCA will work closely with client companies to design a unique program offering, that addresses the technical needs of their portfolios around the world."

The institute will include integrated exploration and production training in geoscience, petroleum engineering and petroleum business management. Training will address topics essential for all levels of exploration and production educational needs from the new hire to the experienced professional.

"The global alliance between SCA and NExT brings a new paradigm to exploration and production training for the 21st century," SCA chief executive Danial Tearpock said.

"The combined strength of SCA's geoscience and NExT's engineering curricula is unparalleled in our industry. Our global alliance, The Upstream Institute brings a low cost, organised training program to meet the career development, skill requirements and special needs of our client companies."