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August, 2010:

Shell fuel manager defends advertising accusations

The Dominion Post

A Shell fuel technology manager says he had not wanted advertisements to quantify fuel savings from a petrol additive because he did not want to end up in court defending it.

But Eric Holthusen ended up in court anyway, where he said yesterday that he believed a 2006 advertising campaign for the “fuel economy formula” additive did not mislead.

The Commerce Commission has laid 22 charges alleging misleading advertising or engaging in conduct liable to mislead. Shell’s defence to the charges continues in Wellington District Court today. 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.

Drilling Permits for Deep Waters Face New Review

THE NEW YORK TIMES

By JOHN M. BRODER

A version of this article appeared in print on August 17, 2010, on page A1 of the New York edition.

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration said Monday that it would require significantly more environmental review before approving new offshore drilling permits, ending a practice in which government regulators essentially rubber-stamped potentially hazardous deepwater projects like BP’s out-of-control well.

The administration has come under sharp criticism for granting BP an exemption from environmental oversight for the Macondo well, which blew out on April 20, killing 11 workers and spewing nearly five million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. 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.

Court Protects Blogger Gripe Sites!

Plave thinks from a legal standpoint that trying to remove online postings or prevent bloggers from posting content is a fruitless activity for an offended firm. "There is no point in a business trying to stop comment," he says, alluding to first amendment rights that protect the free speech of American citizens. "This is why firms do not pursue pulling content off demeaning websites."

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.

Problems with Shell Fuel Save Diesel

Posting by “schnitzer” 16 August 2010

We have a 2003 Facelift Freelander TD4 HSE, it has run normally and as expected until we filled the vehicle with the new Shell Fuel Save Diesel on Saturday 24th July, 2010, since then the revs are all over the place, the vehicle hesitant when start/stopping at places like roundabouts, struggling at higher speeds on the motorway, really feels bad. The car was checked on Saturday last, no faults were highlighted on the computer, but you could hear that the vehicle was not happy.

Then a BMW X3 diesel came in ! same engine, same Shell fuel, same problem, also nothing reporting on the computer system. 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.

Shell in court over misleading ad claims

NZ Herald

Updated 7:04 PM Monday Aug 16, 2010

Ads for oil giant Shell misled consumers by giving them the impression they could travel “appreciably further” by using the company’s petrol, a marketing expert testified today.

Shell New Zealand is defending 22 charges laid by the Commerce Commission under the Fair Trading Act.

They relate to an advertising campaign from April 2006 to May 2007 in which Shell claimed a fuel economy formula added to its petrol was “designed to take you further”. 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.

Shell spying on Shell employees

By a former employee of Shell Oil USA

Reuters Article: Shell critic says oil major targeting his website

John

I must say that I have been very surprised (and  disturbed) to learn of the extent of Shell’s activities in the monitoring of their employees, their outside critics, etc. I find the creation of an internal ‘thought police’ organ very disturbing. Even more disturbing is the employment of former high level British and American governmental ‘spooks and cops’ to run these organizations. Shell’s relationship with the FBI is also very disturbing. Furthermore, Shell’s actions toward you and your blog have been almost ‘neo-facist’ in nature. (Henri Deterding would be proud of them, I am sure. Traditions die hard, I guess.) 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 giant oil field in India sold for a song by Shell

“…sold for a song by accident-prone Royal Dutch Shell yielded Cairn one of the country’s largest-ever finds and catapulted it into the FTSE 100.”

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Cairn shareholders set for £1bn windfall when Indian oil fields are sold to Vedanta

Shareholders in Cairn Energy are in line for a windfall of at least £1bn, with the oil explorer close to completing a £5bn deal to sell its giant Indian oil fields to Vedanta Resources.

By Rowena Mason
Published: 10:58PM BST 14 Aug 2010

The Greenland explorer may confirm the move to sell a 51pc stake to London-listed Vedanta as early as today, after last-minute talks throughout the day yesterday.

Sir Bill Gammell, the chief executive of Cairn, would receive a minimum of £2m from his 0.2pc stake in the explorer if the pay-out were as low as £1bn.

Most investors expect the amount of money given back to them to run into multiple billions, however. The final cash return has not yet been finalised. 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.

Shell Motiva VP Tom Purves falls victim to his own Game

By Joe Blow

It was with some elation that I heard of Mr. Purves’ fall from grace with his superiors. In fact I popped the cork on a fine bottle of wine that I have been saving for just such an occasion.  As I sipped my wine and imagined what must have happened, many theories ran through my mind, “Did Botts suddenly grow a brain”, “Did Williams realize what an idiot Purves was”, “Did Voser finally listen to the people”.  Unfortunately for so many, this is a measure of justice, not the absolute Justice we deserve. 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.

Big Oil: In the US Congress you only get what you pay for

“I have about as much faith that the US Congress will do the ‘right thing’ as I do that oil industry management will do the ‘right thing’. ZIP. ZERO. NONE. There is too much oil industry money floating around the halls of Congress.”

Comment by former employee of Shell Oil USA on the LA Times article…

BP spill may cause sea change for energy industry

There a lot of us oil industry ‘worker bees’ who have a thing or two to say about the industry. Most of us find the work in the oil industry, particularly the upstream side of the industry, fascinating, challenging, and extremely rewarding, and would not change careers if we had the chance. There isn’t another profession like it in the world.

But most of us also find the way the industry is managed to be dismally poor and outright abhorring and disgusting at times. Your blog provides a much needed outlet. 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.

Collection of links relating to drilling in the Arctic Ocean

Articles and links supplied by a former employee of Shell Oil USA.


ARTICLES

The Arctic and Shell

What happens if Statoil is involved in major Arctic Ocean blowout?

Statoil, Shell and the Arctic Ocean

LINKS

Shell Chukchi Sea Application 2010 Application for Incidental Harassment Authorization for the Non-Lethal Taking of Whales and Seals in Conjunction with Planned 2010 Exploration Drilling Program Chukchi Sea, Alaska: April 2010

(IF SHELL WISHES TO EXPLAIN HOW YOU “TAKE” A WILD MULTI -TON WHALE IN A “NONE LETHAL” FASHION, WE WILL HAPPILY PUBLISH THAT INFORMATION HERE – I HAVE CHECKED THE 50 PAGES IN THIS SHELL DOCUMENT AND CANNOT FIND AN EXPLANATION?)

I have lifted some text from the NOAA EIS that relates to the bureaucratic definitions of ‘take’ and ‘harassment’. As can be seen, they are not benign definitions. These folks talk about ‘temporary loss’ of hearing. How did they determine this with cetaceans (whales)? Do these people know what they are talking about? 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.

BP spill may cause sea change for energy industry

latimes.com

The massive leak is complicating the belief that the Gulf of Mexico is the nation’s best source of oil and natural gas. Experts predict that production will slow while regulation and deep-water drilling costs will increase.

The BP disaster has complicated the view that the Gulf of Mexico is America’s best source of crude oil and natural gas. Above, workers on an idle oil rig off the coast of Louisiana. (Lee Celano, Reuters / August 10, 2010)

By Ronald D. White, Los Angeles Times August 14, 2010

Not long ago, federal officials were hailing the Gulf of Mexico as America’s best source of future crude oil and natural gas.

But the disastrous BP oil leak has complicated that view and may have a greater effect on the energy industry than any incident since the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, which led to the Environmental Protection Agency and a 27-year moratorium on most offshore drilling. 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.

Corrib gas consultants apologise for omitting data on pipeline route

The Irish Times – Wednesday, July 28, 2010

LORNA SIGGINS Western Correspondent

CORRIB GAS project consultants have apologised for omitting material submitted to An Bord Pleanála as part of its new pipeline route application.

RPS Consultants have written to a number of appellants explaining that some data was omitted from the environmental impact statement.

An Bord Pleanála told The Irish Times yesterday that it was contacted by the consultants, and it believed at this stage it should not delay the resumed oral hearing, set for August 24th, into the last section of pipeline. 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.

BP agrees to $50.6 million fine for safety violations in Texas City explosion

The Washington Post

By Sam Hananel Friday, August 13, 2010

Oil giant BP has agreed to pay a record $50.6 million fine for safety violations at a Texas oil refinery where a 2005 explosion killed 15 workers.

Although the fine pales in comparison with the billions of dollars BP has committed to pay for damages caused by the oil spill at its well in the Gulf of Mexico, it is the largest penalty in the history of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Under the agreement, BP will also invest $500 million between now and 2016 to upgrade safety conditions for workers at the refinery in Texas City, about 40 miles southeast of Houston. 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.

Corrib Gas Project: very nervous about being specific on paper about landfall or pipeline routes

Another leaked internal email from the Corrib Gas Project supplied by the “Celtic Tiger 5” group of dissident Shell employees. Ancient but revealing.

From: McGoldrick John
Sent: 07 January 2000 16:39
To: Adlam, John; Easey John; Simpson Mike; Steen Rosemary
Subject: RE: Corrib – Design Basis for Commerciality Review


Seems to be a problem with table 3.4  low reserves case is higher than base. I’m also very nervous about being specific on paper about landfall or pipeline routes ( see 7.4.1.) Can we avoid this? I work on the assumption that whatever is distributed will become public ( at the very least BGE will get a copy).-  Rapellez  “Dublin est un village” 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.

Shell Debt Risk Falls After Company Agrees $5 Billion Loan

San Francisco Chronicle

Friday, August 13, 2010

Aug. 13 (Bloomberg) — Credit-default swaps linked to Royal Dutch Shell Plc fell to the lowest in two weeks after Europe’s largest oil company said it obtained $5.1 billion of credit lines to refinance debt.

Contracts on Shell fell 2 basis points to 76.3, the lowest since July 29 and the first decline since Aug. 9, according to data provider CMA. Swaps are used to speculate on a company’s ability to repay debt and fall when perceptions of credit quality improve. 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.

Chevron Makes Gas Discovery Off Coast of Australia

Bloomberg

By Edward Klump – Aug 12, 2010 9:05 PM

Chevron Corp., the second-largest U.S. oil company, announced a natural-gas discovery in the Exmouth Plateau area off the northwest coast of Australia.

The Brederode-1 exploration well was drilled to a depth of 9,022 feet (2,750 meters) in waters 4,550 feet deep, San Ramon, California-based Chevron said today in a statement. It found 49 feet of net gas pay, the company said.

The discovery provides further evidence of the gas potential of the Exmouth Plateau in the Carnarvon Basin, Chevron Vice Chairman George Kirkland said in the statement. It follows a 2009 discovery in the same area and extends known gas resources farther off Australia’s shores, the company 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.

Statoil, Shell and the Arctic Ocean

From a former Shell employee…

This follows up on my article… What happens if Statoil is involved in major Arctic Ocean blowout?

I am absolutely certain that senior level Statoil management is fully aware of the potential ‘political consequences’ if any of their exploration or production operations in US Arctic waters were to suffer from a major ‘environmental incident’. The BP fiasco has sensitized the entire industry to that issue. I am also certain that the Norwegian government is likewise aware of the potential consequences.

(I am also certain that the Dept. of Interior and MMS are in over their little heads and clueless about how to deal with such a situation.) 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.

MORE CORRIB GAS PROJECT LEAKED INTERNAL EMAILS

MORE CORRIB GAS PROJECT INTERNAL EMAILS SUPPLIED BY A MEMBER OF THE “CELTIC TIGER 5” – A CLAIMED GROUP OF DISSIDENT SHELL EMPLOYEES

From: Grant David
Sent: 29 September 1999 13:58
To: Jones Ifor
Subject: RE: Corrib Well Fluid Analysis

Lambo

Due to the very short half-life of radon, it needs to be measured ideally within about 4 days of the sample being taken.  The samples currently held by Core Lab will therefore be of no further use in determining radon levels.

Because of this problem, we made arrangements to measure the radon levels offshore at the time of sampling.  The level measured was 26.9 Beq/m3 (“normal” formation radon concentrations are quoted by the lab as being in the range 10 – 100 Beq/m3). 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.

Corrib offshore embarrassing obstacle on the seabed

The anchor is lying on its back imbedded in the seabed with the crown end of the shank submerged.

LATEST LEAKED SHELL INTERNAL EMAIL FROM ILL-FATED CORRIB GAS PROJECT IN IRELAND

From:     Scott, Hugh H SUKEP-EPE-T-WM
Sent:    31 July 2006 11:02
To:    Gillespie, Colynn M SUKEP-EPT-IT-ED; Read, St.John MS SEPIL-EPE-T-IP
Subject:additional debris on seabed

Colynn, St John,

We have dropped an anchor (15mT in weight with about 1 1/2ft of chain) while recovering at the P3 location. The anchor cannot be recovered by the rig and we thus forced to leave it behind.

The coords of anchor are:
138m from well centre at Easting 367,634, Northing 6,023,998

Can you mark up the survey drawings and inform the relevant parties of the new obstacle on the seabed. The next time a suitable vessel is in the field we should try to move/recover the anchor as it will interfere with future anchor patterns for a rig returning to location. 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.

Contracts Put Bidders Off Shell,Exxon Gas Assets-Sources

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

AUGUST 10, 2010

By Jessica Hodgson and Jan Hromadko Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

LONDON (Dow Jones)–Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSB) and Exxon Mobil Corp.’s (XOM) jointly-owned gas storage business in Germany is proving a tough sell to both corporate and financial investors, according to people who have looked at the assets.

Though the assets in themselves–storage facilities for natural gas–are high quality, the contracts associated with them are the worst of all worlds: they aren’t long enough for the infrastructure funds who typically look at assets like this, and paradoxically are too long for strategic investors like European energy companies, dampening enthusiasm at both ends of the market. 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.

What happens if Statoil is involved in major Arctic Ocean blowout?

Comment by former Shell employee on the article: Shell, Statoil to Conduct Seismic Studies in Chukchi Sea

It is my understanding that Statoil, which just received permission from a Federal court to proceed with seismic exploration studies in the Chukchi Sea, was at one time wholly owned by the Norwegian government. Today it is a privatized company but the Norwegian government still holds a majority of the stock in the company. It is my understanding as well that Statoil is the last of the three Norwegian oil/gas production companies established by Norwegian government policy in the early 1970’s to develop their oil and gas resources in their sector of the North Sea. As such it is the ‘flagship’ oil company of Norway and responsible for the development of Norwegian oil and gas resources, which are quite substantial. 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.

Shell, Statoil to Conduct Seismic Studies in Chukchi Sea

Alaska Public Radio Network

Mon, August 9, 2010

Alexandra Gutierrez, KUCB – Unalaska

Both Shell and Statoil have received approval from the National Marine Fisheries Service to conduct seismic studies in the Chukchi Sea thanks to a new decision by a federal court. The oil companies had previously been prohibited from doing any work there because of a court order that blocked drilling. U.S. District Judge Ralph Beistline had issued that order in July, but revised it to allow research work. Beistline amended the Shell order and the Stat Oil ruling last week. 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.

For oil rig workers, high stress and high risk

washingtonpost.com

By Carol D. Leonnig and Marc Kaufman

Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Tall order: Drilling pipes loom large on an oil platform. A CDC report showed fatality rates on rigs at about seven times higher than that for all workers. (Gerald Herbert/Associated Press)

After a 10-hour ride over choppy seas, a crew of welders arrived just before midnight at an oil rig in the waters off Galveston, Tex. The eight men were briefed on rig evacuation plans and assigned bunks, where they slept for two or three hours before being awakened for work. 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.

Comment on leaked Corrib emails

Comment on leaked Corrib emails from a former Shell employee.

There is some discussion in the emails of a production string connector failure triggering a potential underground blowout.

It is an issue. That was what happened to Shell on their Gulf of Mexico Bourbon platform in late 1987, I believe. A failure in the production string of a gas well compounded by parted casing and a poor cement job.

The end result was an underground flow of gas between the casing and the well bore into shallow porous sands. Once the sands were charged with high pressure gas there was a sudden eruption of a ‘gas volcano’ under one corner of the platform. Ruined everybody’s day. 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.

Shell Corrib Gas Project flood of leaked internal emails

By John Donovan

I have published below Shell internal emails and minutes of a meeting, all relating to the Shell led Corrib Gas Project in Ireland.

All of the items been supplied by a group of Shell Corrib employees who wish to be known as “Celtic Tiger 5?.

This is what they claim:

We are Celtic Tiger 5 who are current shell employees working in/or for Shell Ireland. We represent HSE, Commercial, IT, Construction and are interested in spreading correct information to the outside world and our fellow citizens in the West. Please feel free to publish this information on your website…

As previously indicated, Shell will be concerned about the prospect of another active subversive employee group within the company following the leak to us in February of the Shell Global Address Book in what was described as the worlds biggest breach of employee details. The leak turned into a global PR black-eye for Shell. 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.

FINALLY PLUGGED THE HOLE

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.

Alaska Gov: Judge Clears Shell’s Offshore Seismic Oil Testing

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

AUGUST 6, 2010

SAN FRANCISCO -(Dow Jones)- Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell said Friday that Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSB, RDSB.LN) and other companies can proceed with seismic testing for oil and gas in Alaska’s Chukchi Sea after a federal judge agreed that such activities aren’t restricted by an injunction on offshore drilling.

In addition to Shell, the judge’s ruling on Thursday allows other companies to pursue seismic testing in Arctic waters, including Norwegian oil producer Statoil ASA (STL.OS) which had proposed doing offshore seismic testing this summer, Parnell 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.

Shell Corrib employee group leaking information to website

We are Celtic Tiger 5 who are current shell employees working in/or for Shell Ireland. We represent HSE, Commercial, IT, Construction and are interested in spreading correct information to the outside world and our fellow citizens in the West. Please feel free to publish this information on your website with our introduction…

By John Donovan

We have received several Shell internal emails and the minutes of the Corrib Asset team Meeting held on 26 March 09.

The source claims to be a group of Shell Corrib employees who wish to be known as “Celtic Tiger 5”.

Printed immediately below is an extract from the covering email received:

We are Celtic Tiger 5 who are current shell employees working in/or for Shell Ireland. We represent HSE, Commercial, IT, Construction and are interested in spreading correct information to the outside world and our fellow citizens in the West. Please feel free to publish this information on your website with our introduction…
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 Arctic and Royal Dutch Shell

Shell lease blocks in Chukchi sea

What makes the oil companies think they can produce oil and gas safely in the very harsh world of the Arctic oceans?

Our article The Arctic and Shell addresses this important subject. We have added more links to associated information.

Shell Chukchi Sea Application 2010 Application for Incidental Harassment Authorization for the Non-Lethal Taking of Whales and Seals in Conjunction with Planned 2010 Exploration Drilling Program Chukchi Sea, Alaska: April 2010

(IF SHELL WISHES TO EXPLAIN HOW YOU “TAKE” A WILD MULTI -TON WHALE IN A “NONE LETHAL” FASHION, WE WILL HAPPILY PUBLISH THAT INFORMATION HERE – I HAVE CHECKED THE 50 PAGES IN THIS SHELL DOCUMENT AND CANNOT FIND AN EXPLANATION?)
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.

Investors urge oil spill action plans

Financial Times

By Sheila McNulty in Houston

Published: August 5 2010 05:19 | Last updated: August 5 2010 05:19

EXTRACTS

Investors managing over $2,500bn in assets are pressing the world’s biggest oil and gas companies to disclose their spill prevention and response plans for offshore oil operations.

The letters, which have been sent to chief executives at 26 energy companies, including ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell, Chevron and Petrobras, were signed by more than 50 investors, according to Ceres/Investor Network on Climate Risk. 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.

Oil Rig’s Owner Had Safety Issue at 3 Other Wells

THE NEW YORK TIMES

Derick E. Hingle/Bloomberg News: Oil rigs owned by Transocean, including the Development Driller II, in the Gulf of Mexico in July. Despite safety concerns, the Development Driller II is drilling a relief well at the Deepwater Horizon site.

A version of this article appeared in print on August 5, 2010, on page A1 of the New York edition.

By IAN URBINA

The company that owned the oil rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in April had widespread safety concerns about several of its other rigs in the gulf, and a month before the disaster it commissioned a broad review of the safety culture of the company’s North American operations, according to confidential internal reports.

In response to “a series of serious accidents and near-hits within the global organization,” Transocean, the world’s largest offshore drilling company, commissioned the risk management company Lloyd’s Register to investigate its Houston headquarters and three other gulf rigs besides the Deepwater Horizon to assess its safety culture. 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.

BP, Chevron, Shell Settle Gasoline-Additive Pollution Cases on Long Island

Bloomberg

By Thom Weidlich – Aug 4, 2010 8:16 PM GMT+0100

BP Plc, Chevron Corp. and Royal Dutch Shell Plc units were among dozens of energy companies that agreed to pay $42 million to settle claims brought by communities on New York’s Long Island alleging contamination of water with a gasoline additive.

The companies and the plaintiffs, including water districts and the towns of Southampton, East Hampton and Huntington, filed notice today of their motion to dismiss the lawsuits. The suits, part of larger litigation over methyl tertiary butyl ether, were brought by 23 Long Island districts, said Marc Bern, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, who said the pact’s financial terms were confidential. The total amount was $42 million, according to a person familiar with the settlement. 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.

Shell paid £3.3billion into its pension scheme last year

Footsie firms shell out over £17.5 billion into final salary pension schemes

By Ben Laurance
Last updated at 11:38 AM on 4th August 2010

Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell was the biggest individual contributor to its schemes, almost quadrupling payments to £3.3bn. Britain’s biggest companies last year increased their payments into final salary pension schemes by an astonishing 50pc, a report reveals.

They pumped an unprecedented £17.5bn into funds in an attempt to ensure that they can finance payouts to employees after they retire.

The drive by companies to shore up their final salary schemes – combined with last year’s strong rise in share prices – meant that by the end of 2009, the total deficits of FTSE-100 companies’ pension funds had almost halved to £51bn, according to a study by actuaries LCP. A year earlier, the gap was £96bn. 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.

Judge clarifies Chukchi lease injunction

AlaskaDispatch

Jill Burke | Aug 3, 2010

Despite last month’s court order to halt any activity related to oil and gas exploration in the Chukchi Sea, Royal Dutch Shell has successfully lobbied for the chance to complete some of its planned activities in the Arctic this summer.

The initial injunction came after a federal judge in Anchorage found that the federal government hadn’t completed all of the work required before offering up acreage in the Chukchi Sea under lease sale 193. Failure by regulators to evaluate the effect of natural gas development on the environment and to determine whether missing information in the reviews was relevant or essential were among the judge’s main concerns. 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.

Death and oil in Niger Delta’s illegal refineries

CNN

By Christian Purefoy, CNN// <![CDATA[ // // <![CDATA[ // -1) {document.write('August 3, 2010 -- Updated 1322 GMT (2122 HKT)');} else {document.write('August 3, 2010 9:22 a.m. EDT');} // ]]>August 3, 2010 — Updated 1322 GMT (2122 HKT) STORY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Illegal refineries distill diesel from crude oil by heating over naked flames
  • Worker: “I cannot count the number of people who have died in explosions”
  • Nigeria is major oil exporter, but most in Niger Delta live on less than $2 a day
  • Shell managing director estimates around 100,000 barrels stolen a day

Niger Delta, Nigeria (CNN) — The young man, his body glistening with black oil and sweat, poured more oil onto the fire. The flames roared, heating two barrels of oil to explosive temperatures. He escaped to a safer distance, a slight smile breaking his grim face ­– he had survived.

“This job is very dangerous,” he explains, asking to remain anonymous. “The smoke, the heat ­– I cannot count the number of people who have died in explosions because they cannot escape the flames.” 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.

Australia’s Nexus shares soar on Shell takeover talk

Reuters Africa

Tue Aug 3, 2010 7:06am GMT

* Biggest shareholders approached on possible takeover -report

* Nexus said no takeover approach received

* Shares trim gains after jumping 30 pct to 9-mth high

* Stock’s volume on Tuesday exceeds 90-day avg by 12 times

By Fayen Wong

PERTH, Aug 3 (Reuters) – Shares of Australian oil and gas company Nexus Energy (NXS.AX: Quote) surged as much as 30 percent on Tuesday on speculation Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L: Quote) was lining up an A$480 million ($438 million) takeover offer to secure gas supplies for its flagship floating LNG 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.