Royal Dutch Shell Group .com Rotating Header Image

January 25th, 2007:

The Moscow Times: Dudley Sees Gazprom Deal by This Summer

Friday, January 26, 2007. Issue 3583. Page 1.
By Andrew McChesney
Staff Writer
  

DAVOS, Switzerland — TNK-BP chief Robert Dudley said Thursday that he expected to reach a deal with Gazprom around the middle of this year under which his company would keep a “sufficient” stake in the giant Kovykta gas field and be actively involved in its operation.

Gazprom in turn would gain a potentially large stake in the $20 billion project in exchange for cash, assets or something else of value that reflected TNK-BP’s investment into the field, Dudley said in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Dow Jones Newswires: TNK-BP Discusses Partnership With Gazprom Aimed at Developing Gas Field in Kovykta

By Jackie Range
January 25, 2007

DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) – OAO TNK-BP, the BP-Russian oil joint venture, discussing a partnership with OAO Gazprom aimed at developing its Kovykta gas field, chief executive Robert Dudley said Thursday.

In an interview with Dow Jones Newswires on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting, Dudley said his company was not in danger of losing its license to develop the massive gas field in Siberia, but added that even if it were to lose that license, the company would not be detrimentally affected. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

AFP: Russian gas sector open to Japanese investment: Gazprom

Thu Jan 25, 2:10 PM ET

MOSCOW (AFP) – The CEO of Russian gas giant Gazprom met with a top Japanese government official for talks aimed at encouraging Japanese investment in natural gas technology in Russia, Gazprom said in a statement.

Alexei Miller and Harufumi Mochizuki, director of Japan’s Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, held the talks in Moscow and a co-operation agreement was signed, it said.

“Particular attention was paid to the need to attract Japanese investment and technology in developing gas refining, chemistry and machine building,” the statement added. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

RIA Novosti: Foreigners to face tougher procedure to access Russian shelf

19:00 | 25/ 01/ 2007 

MOSCOW, January 25 (RIA Novosti) – The procedure by which foreign investors gain access to the Russian continental shelf will be toughened, the Russian natural resources minister said Thursday.

“As these are strategic interests, a tougher procedure will be introduced to grant foreigners access to the shelf,” Yury Trutnev told journalists.

A respected Russian business daily said Monday that all gas and oil fields on Russia’s continental shelf would be placed under the control of state-controlled Gazprom [RTS: GAZP] and Rosneft [RTS: ROSN]. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

MarketWatch: Shell CEO plays down impact of private Sakhalin deal

Jan 25, 2007

DAVOS, Switzerland (MarketWatch) — Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSA) Chief Executive Jeroen van der Veer said Thursday that a confidential deal struck between shareholders in the troubled and expensive Sakhalin-2 oil and gas project and the Russian government may not impact the company’s bottom line as much as some think.

Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum here, Van der Veer refused to confirm media reports that Shell and its partners in the Sakhalin Energy Investment Co. consortium, Mitsui & Co. (MITSY) and Mitsubishi Corp. (8058.TO), must shoulder $3.6 billion in costs. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

WALL STREET JOURNAL ONLINE: Oil News Roundup: January 25, 2007 4:57 p.m.

Crude-oil futures fell 2% to nearly $54 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange Thursday after a widely watched tanker tracker said OPEC is set to increase output in February, when the cartel is actually due to implement further cuts.

Here is Thursday’s roundup of oil and energy news:

* * *
RUSSIA, INDIA STRENGTHEN TIES: Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to build four new nuclear reactors for energy-starved India, as the old Cold War allies sought to reinvigorate their friendship in a new age through energy and military cooperation. Mr. Putin, on a visit during which he was to be the guest of honor at India’s Republic Day celebrations, met with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and the two signed a series of deals on energy, scientific and space cooperation. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The Wall Street Journal: A World Dancing To Energy’s Tune

THE MORNING BRIEF
By JOSEPH SCHUMAN
January 25, 2007

Energy-security worries have long headlined policy confabs, political promises and investor worries. But this week — even beyond dialogues at the White House and Davos — happens to be a good time to watch some of the subject’s geopolitical algorithms at work.

For instance, Chinese President Hu Jintao is a man whose government doesn’t often feel the need to justify its actions. But there officials were yesterday, defending Beijing’s economic ties to Sudan ahead of an African trip by Mr. Hu that includes a stop in Khartoum, as the Financial Times reports. Mr. Hu’s visit comes at time when China has broken with the U.S. and Europe over attempts to make Sudan let U.N. troops help quell the violence in Darfur. But Foreign Ministry official Zhai Jun made clear his government sees nothing shameful when it comes to Sudan. “With Sudan we have co-operation in many aspects, including military cooperation. In this, we have nothing to hide,” he said. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Globe and Mail: Royal Dutch says Shell Canada offer is fair

DAVID EBNER
Globe and Mail Update

CALGARY — Minority shareholders of Shell Canada Ltd. that are threatening legal action over a takeover offer from Royal Dutch Shell PLC don’t have grounds for a court case, Royal Dutch said Thursday.

Royal Dutch owns 78 per cent of Shell Canada and is offering $45 share for the rest, which some minority shareholders say is inadequate. I.G. Investment Management said on Wednesday that it and several other investors would take Royal Dutch to court if they are forced out at $45. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Marketing Magazine: Shell backs Ferrari F1 with world’s costliest ad

By James Quilter
 
LONDON – Shell is to seal off the City of London and turn it into a mini Grand Prix-style racing circuit, as part of the filming of an ad highlighting its partnership with the Ferrari Formula One team.

The TV execution, whose production cost £2m, making it the most expensive ad ever, will promote Shell’s high-performance V-Power fuel. It is intended to support Shell’s positioning as the most innovative fuel brand.

The ad will feature Ferrari F1 cars racing through some of the world’s most famous cities, including New York and Sydney. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Gerry Wolff: ‘no need for nuclear power anywhere in Europe’

January 25th, 2007 07:54

By Gerry Wolff

Regarding Niall Green’s article “wsws.org: European Union announces new energy strategy” (2007-01-25), there really is no need for nuclear power anywhere in Europe because there is a simple mature technology available that can deliver huge amounts of clean energy without any of the headaches of nuclear power.

I refer to ‘concentrating solar power’ (CSP), the technique of concentrating sunlight using mirrors to create heat, and then using the heat to raise steam and drive turbines and generators, just like a conventional power station. It is possible to store solar heat in melted salts so that electricity generation may continue through the night or on cloudy days. This technology has been generating electricity successfully in California since 1985 and half a million Californians currently get their electricity from this source. CSP plants are now being planned or built in many parts of the world. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Ottawa Citizen: Athabasca group expands oilsands project Oilsands: Shell hurt by falling natural gas prices

Lead owner Shell Canada says Q4 profit fell 64 per cent

BY GORDON JAREMKO

EDMONTON • Alberta’s youngest oilsands producer, the Athabasca Oil Sands Project, yesterday unveiled a six- year construction program to erect four more Edmonton- area bitumen upgraders, expand a Fort McMurray, Alta., mine and open up a new pit.

Also under study is a new Ontario upgrader and refinery in Sarnia.

Athabasca aims to build four new plants producing 100,000 barrels per day each in order to process all of its low- grade bitumen output into refineryready oil, Shell Canada president Clive Mather said. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The Edmonton Journal: Royal Dutch goes deep in Alaska waters: Higher crude prices make field viable

Joe Carroll, Bloomberg
Published: Thursday, January 25, 2007

Royal Dutch Shell plans to expand its search for oil by drilling the deepest offshore Alaskan well ever.

Shell, which abandoned U.S. Arctic exploration 21 years ago, plans to drill one well to 14,000 feet beneath the sea floor (4,267 metres), which would exceed the deepest well ever drilled in Alaskan waters by 3,000 feet. Two additional wells will be 7,000 feet deep.

Shell is refurbishing two floating drill rigs, one in Canada and one in Singapore, which will be moved to the Beaufort Sea 90 miles northeast of Prudhoe Bay. Drilling is expected to begin in 110 feet of water on Aug. 1, said Keith Craik, the Shell drilling engineer leading the project. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Jay Draiman, Energy Consultant: MANDATORY RENEWABLE ENERGY – THE ENERGY EVOLUTION – R11

This is a comment posted by Energy Consultant, Jay Draiman, in relation to the  article by Royal Dutch Shell CEO, Jeroen van der Veer, concerning climate change and associated issues.

(Financial Times: States should create a climate for change

Jan. 25, 2007

In order to insure energy and economic independence as well as better economic growth without being blackmailed by foreign countries, our country, the United States of America’s Utilization of Energy sources must change.

“Energy drives our entire economy.” We must protect it. “Let’s face it, without energy the whole economy and economic society we have set up would come to a halt. So you want to have control over such an important resource that you need for your society and your economy.” The American way of life is not negotiable. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The Globe & Mail (Canada): Analysts question wisdom of oil sands investments

DAVID EBNER

Royal Dutch Shell PLC’s bid for the part of Shell Canada Ltd. it does not own highlights the value of the oil sands, analysts say, but some question whether this could be the beginning of a flurry of deals.

Analyst Andrew Fairbanks of Merrill Lynch called the oil sands “very attractive” but said current oil prices around $50 (U.S.) a barrel don’t justify paying big bucks for assets in northern Alberta.

“We find it very challenging to make the acquisition economics work, particularly in a $50-a-barrel oil price context,” Mr. Fairbanks wrote in a report. He said he cannot justify investing in oil sands companies just on the basis that an acquirer will emerge. “We fail to see real value without using very high oil prices,” Mr. Fairbanks said. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty: Russia/Germany: Iill Will Won’t Dog Merkel, Putin Ties

Putin, Merkel and labrador

Koni makes her entrance (epa)

By Victor Yasmann 
 
(RFE/RL) — Heading into their first bilateral meeting of 2007, Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel had weighty items on the agenda: energy security, the Middle East, Iran, and Kosovo.

In the end, however, the meeting passed smoothly and was virtually problem-free. No major accords or breakthroughs were made, but for journalists on the scene, the story was more about mood than content.

Business Vs. Pleasure read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

wsws.org: European Union announces new energy strategy

By Niall Green

The European Commission published a white paper on the future of energy policy within the European Union on January 11. Although largely presented by the EU and in many media commentaries as an attempt to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the new energy strategy is driven primarily by the need for the European powers to reduce their dependence on unstable oil and gas imports.

Europe, with its limited and dwindling hydrocarbon energy sources, is highly sensitive to the resource wars that have erupted across the globe since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. As America has launched military adventures and instigated coups in order to dominate the main hydrocarbon supplies and transit routes of the world, Europe has found itself increasingly at risk of having its energy needs curtailed. The insecurity of the European powers has been intensified by the resurgence of Russian power due to current high energy prices. Since Russia turned off the gas supply to Ukraine in January 2006, the editorial offices and corridors of power of the European capitals have reverberated with panicked talk of an energy crisis. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

BusinessWorld (Philippines): Palace assures families on safety of workers

Published: Jan 25, 2007

Malacanang assured the families of 24 seafarers abducted from the cargo ship Baco-Liner on Jan. 20 that all possible means would be exhausted to ensure the safety of these overseas workers.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos said negotiations are ongoing between the Nigerian government and the abductors, a militant group identified as the Movement to Emancipate the Niger Delta.

He said the government is hands-off on the negotiations but assured that it is constantly in touch with its Nigerian counterparts. Malacanang has maintained the ban on deployment of workers to Nigeria. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Financial Post (Canada): Energy News

Published: Jan 25, 2007

U.S. OIL AND GAS

A sweeping proposal by President George W. Bush to dramatically cut U.S. gasoline consumption over the next decade–and perhaps change U.S. car culture– was greeted with widespread skepticism from automakers, environmentalists and political experts yesterday. Greenpeace called the plan, unveiled in Mr. Bush’s State of the Union address to Congress Tuesday evening, “delusional,” while the automobile industry insisted it was already going down the environmental green road and did not need new legislation to reduce fuel consumption. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

Financial Times: Oil sands plans to expand

By Bernard Simonin Toronto
Published: January 25 2007 02:00 | Last updated: January 25 2007 02:00

Shell Canada, 78 per cent owned by Royal Dutch Shell, unveiled plans yesterday for a vast multi-billion-dollar expansion of the Athabasca oil sands project in north-east Alberta.

Shell has a 60 per cent stake in Athabasca, with the remainder split between Chevron, the US energy group, and Western Oil Sands of Calgary.

The cost and precise timing of the proposed expansion were not disclosed. Shell said that the timing would hinge on “market conditions, key economic indicators, the ability to meet our sustainable development criteria and the outcome of the regulatory process”. Regulatory approval is expected by the end of 2009. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

New York Times: Energy Research on a Shoestring

EXTRACT: For instance, Royal Dutch Shell has invested $1 billion over the last five years in clean energy like biofuels for transportation, solar and wind for electrical generation and hydrogen. That is one of the biggest commitments to clean energy by any company, but it is less than one fifth of what Shell invested over roughly the same period with Chevron and another partner in a giant oil sand mining project in Canada. The companies say they can contain emissions through a process called carbon capture and sequestration. But most experts say development of technologies to bury significant amounts of carbon gases effectively could take decades. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

CNW.ca: Shell Canada Announces Earnings of $1.7 Billion

Attention Business/Financial Editors: 

    CALGARY, Jan. 24 /CNW/ – Shell Canada Limited announces annual earnings
of $1,738 million or $2.11 per common share in 2006 compared with
$2,001 million or $2.43 per common share in 2005(1). The decrease was largely
due to the first major scheduled turnaround of the Athabasca Oil Sands
Project, together with lower natural gas prices.

    Fourth-quarter earnings were $223 million compared with $611 million for
the same period in 2005(1). The decrease was mainly due to lower commodity
prices and a charge for the Long Term Incentive Plan.
    Cash flow from operations was $2,614 million in 2006, down $422 million
from 2005(1), due to the same factors that impacted full year earnings.
    Capital and predevelopment expenditures amounted to $2,426 million in
2006, excluding the acquisition of BlackRock Ventures Inc. (BlackRock),
compared with $1,715 million in 2005. The difference was due to increased
investment in growth activities in unconventional oil and gas.
    “Strong production from our oil sands operations following the scheduled
turnarounds, and record earnings in Oil Products, underpinned our 2006
results,” said Clive Mather, President and Chief Executive Officer, Shell
Canada Limited. “Expansions of our mining, in situ and unconventional gas
businesses are now all in full swing. With the acquisition of BlackRock and
other strategic land positions, we have built a strong platform for future
growth.” read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

mulenews.com: Smoking Meth Just Got A Lot Easier!

1/25/2007  

Nothin’ says lovin’ like some good ol’ paraphanalia.  That’s why we were eccestatic to find that we could purchase a beautifuly adorned, exquisitely wrapped, meth pipe from a local Shell Gas Station. 

 I’d like to take this opprortunity to introduce Saint Joseph to the “Mystic Vase”, a lovely little glass meth pipe equipped with flower inside and a dainty red bow. 

 Here’s how it went down:  My sister and I enter the store in question and proceed to stare at the candy isle trying to decide what we wanted.  We were rather loud about our selection, and finally made our way to the counter.  The clerk was all smiles.  read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

bbj.hu: Climate change more extreme than thought, US study to show

25 Jan 2007

The changing climate is more threatening than previously thought, a US government study will show, the report’s author said.

The six-month study was conducted for a US national security entity and will be published officially in coming weeks, said Peter Schwartz, chairman of Global Business Network, a San Francisco-based consultancy that completed the work last month. „The rate of climate change is much faster than we all think,” Schwartz said at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. „There will be many extreme large weather events. It is more urgent and catastrophic than we previously thought.” The US and other nations may experience adverse effects of climate change within 10 years, Schwartz said. In his State of the Union Address this week, US President George W. Bush outlined a plan to „help confront climate change” by promoting the use of biofuels in cars, though his policy fell short of demands from some business leaders to set broader limits on carbon dioxide emissions that cause global warming. Schwartz told reporters attending a dinner in Davos that Bush’s speech nevertheless showed the US government’s view on climate change has evolved to a point where it now discusses „what to do, not whether.” read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.