June 5th, 2007:

“Pipeliners All ! Many thanks to all of you for your contributions to this week’s Bi-Annual Challenge………..and what a Challenge it is going to be for all of us!” Thus begins an email from David Greer, the deputy chief executive officer of Sakhalin Energy Investment Company, the consortium running the Sakhalin 2 project, revealing that he despises “cowards” and urges his staff to “Lead me, follow me, or get out of my way”. Is this the worst motivational email you’ve ever read? Do you have examples of similar memos – or worse?
Hosted by – FT.com

   

By GABRIELA RESTO-MONTERO

The former owner of a Shell gas station that temporarily closed in north Salinas filed a lawsuit Monday against the petroleum giant in his quest to continue selling gas at another station in Marina.

The gas station at 417 N. Main St. in Salinas reopened last week under the leadership of John Edwards Inc., based in Castro Valley. The gas station and mini-mart had been closed for about eight months, according to the new
managers.

Karen Edwards of John Edwards Inc. said the company has no association with the previous owner, Mehdi Shahbazi, who has become well-known locally for his ongoing dispute with Shell Oil Co. Edwards said the North Main Street station’s new management hopes people begin again to frequent the gas station. read more

06.05.07
 
LONDON (Thomson Financial) – Royal Dutch Shell has high hopes for Nigerian oil production following a seemingly democratic presidential election two months ago, said a company official.

Malcom Brinded, Shell’s head of exploration and production, said the company expects to see some production return at the end of this year after the presidential elections in April this year passed with surprisingly little violent incidences.

‘The extent of violence was less than expected,’ he told delegates at an oil and gas conference hosted by Credit Suisse. ‘We indicate that towards the back end of this year some of the (lost) production will be restored,’ said Brinded. He refused to give specific dates and volumes to protect Shell workers in Nigeria. read more

Martyn Wingrove,
Published: Jun 05, 2007

US MINERALS Management Service and offshore companies are still implementing changes to procedures and upgrading rigs in the US Gulf of Mexico as the latest hurricane season begins.

The government organisation that oversees offshore oil and gas operations has been successful in ordering five improvements to standards and procedures in the US Gulf, but oil companies and contractors are having trouble accommodating two more.

As part of the Department of the Interior, MMS has been working with the Department of Energy, the US Coast Guard and American Petroleum Institute to formulate and instigate upgrades to offshore practice ahead of this year’s hurricane season. read more

By Ed Crooksand Jean Eaglesham
Published: June 5 2007 03:00 | Last updated: June 5 2007 03:00

Tony Blair is expected to raise the issue of Russia’s treatment of BP and Royal Dutch Shell at a meeting with Vladimir Putin at the Group of Eight summit this week.

The prime minister is likely to have a one-to-one meeting with Mr Putin at the summit in Germany and plans to raise economic issues, including the pressure exerted by Russia on the British oil companies.

Mr Putin suggested yesterday that he had lost patience with TNK-BP, BP’s 50 per cent-owned joint venture, over its vast Kovykta gas field. read more

EXTRACT: Royal Dutch Shell has resumed normal crude oil production at its 150,000-bpd Bomu pipeline hub in Nigeria, which feeds the Bonny Light crude terminal, after the facility was shut down by local protesters last week, it said on Monday. But analysts saw little to suggest an end to 18 months of violence that has shut about a third of Nigeria’s oil output.        

THE ARTICLE

By REUTERS
Published: June 4, 2007
Filed at 11:30 p.m. ET

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Oil prices eased on Tuesday, as Middle East cyclone fears waned, but concerns over gasoline supply in the United States kept crude above the $70 mark. read more

EXTRACT: You must decide whether you want to sacrifice freedom in Russia on the altar of gas and oil.

THE ARTICLE:

An open letter to the G8 from the best-selling author and prominent critic of the Putin regime

Published: 05 June 2007

I have personal experience of Vladimir Putin’s regime and the way the Russian President operates. I have been forced to seek asylum in Britain for criticising the Kremlin as an independent journalist. I have come to realise that to return to my homeland would be suicidal for me. read more

(Mr Putin’s remarks are a clear signal that TNK-BP will be forced to cede control of the Kovykta project)

By Russell Hotten, Industry Editor
Last Updated: 2:33am BST 05/06/2007

Moscow’s impatience with BP’s Russian joint venture reached the very top of the Kremlin last night when an exasperated President Vladimir Putin joined in criticism of the company’s failure to fully exploit a massive gas field in his country.

Mr Putin’s remarks are a clear signal that TNK-BP will be forced to cede total or partial control of the valuable Kovykta project as part of what is seen as a plan to re-nationalise Russia’s energy assets. read more