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June, 2011:

Groups sue Obama administration over drilling approval

WASHINGTON | Thu Jun 9, 2011 7:14pm EDT

(Reuters) – Environmental activists are suing the Obama administration over its approval of a Royal Dutch Shell Plc plan to drill for oil in the Gulf of Mexico.

The suit, filed one day after Exxon Mobil Corp announced two big new oil discoveries in the Gulf, could signal a lengthy fight over the resumption of drilling near the site of last year’s BP Plc oil spill.

Oil exploration in the Gulf was halted after the spill, though drilling has gradually resumed since the administration began approving new permits in February. read more

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News Environmental groups challenge Shell drilling plan

By HARRY R. WEBER, Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) — Environmental groups asked a federal appeals court Thursday to throw out a U.S. government decision to approve a Shell oil exploration plan that involves five proposed wells under more than 7,000 feet of water in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Regulation and Enforcement approved the plan in May. The plan also includes three previously approved wells 72 miles off Louisiana.

Defenders of Wildlife, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Natural Resources Defense Council claim in a petition filed in the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in Atlanta that the decision violates the law and that the environment would be harmed if it stands. read more

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Shell’s U.S. Deep-Water Oil Drilling Disputed in Petitions

By Katarzyna Klimasinska

June 9 (Bloomberg) — U.S. approval of a Royal Dutch Shell Plc oil exploration plan for the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico is illegal and should be withdrawn, environmental groups led by the Natural Resources Defense Council said in petitions.

The NRDC and Oakland, California-based Earthjustice, in filings today in the U.S. Court of Appeals in Atlanta, said the May 10 action by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement violates environmental laws. read more

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Shell adds to Gulf of Mexico finds

HOUSTON, June 9 (UPI) — Shell said expected production at its Cardamom oil and gas field in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico could reach 50,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

Marvin Odum, upstream director for Shell operations in the Americas, said the estimate bodes well for energy supplies for the United States.

“It will also secure employment for more offshore workers,” he added.

Cardamom is expected to reach an eventual peak production rate of 50,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day. More than 140 million boe is expected from the project over its lifetime. read more

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BP says it is still obvious partner for Rosneft

The chairman of BP has said the company remains the “obviously favourable” partner to explore the Arctic with Rosneft, despite the failure of their £10bn tie-up last month.

BP chief executive Bob Dudley (right) with Rosneft president Eduard Khudainatov during the original signing of the share-swap and joint venture deal. Photo: EPA

By Rowena Mason, Energy Correspondent

6:00AM BST 09 Jun 2011

Carl-Henric Svanberg said BP is still optimistic about reaching a deal “in some form or another” after a planned share swap and exploration deal with the Kremlin-backed oil giant fell through.

Bob Dudley, the chief executive of BP, also implied that the company’s efforts to expand in Russia are not yet quite over.

“We’ve worked very hard on this with all the parties,” he said. “From BP’s view, it’s other parties that need to reach an agreement and in the meantime we are moving on.” read more

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Roxana residents assail Shell over benzene worries

Large crowd asks questions about underground plume

June 08, 2011 9:34 PM
GLORIA LLOYD For The Telegraph

ROXANA — Residents concerned about the ramifications of benzene leaks at the former Shell Refinery in 1986 came to an informational meeting Tuesday night looking for reassurance, but many left with more questions than answers.

A crowd of more than 100 residents packed the Rox-Arena to hear a presentation by Simmons law firm attorney Mike Stewart, who outlined a brief history of the benzene plume under Roxana.

Benzene is a carcinogenic chemical that is linked to blood cancers. Stewart said leukemia is benzene’s “signature illness.”
read more

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Shell Makes Final Investment To Develop Cardamom Field

June 8, 2011

LONDON -(Dow Jones)- Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSA.LN) has taken the final investment decision for the multi-billion dollar development of its deepwater Cardamom oil and gas field in the Gulf of Mexico, the Anglo-Dutch energy company said Wednesday.

“This is another sizable deep-water investment by Shell that strengthens energy supplies to the USA. It will also secure employment for more offshore workers,” said Shell Upstream Americas Director Marvin Odum. (Right)

Shell said its plan to develop Cardamom was a “significant, multi-billion dollar investment” although it didn’t specify how much and over what period of time it would be spending the money. 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.

Irish planning authority controversial decision on Corrib Gas ‘super-tunnel’

Tuesday, 07 June 2011 08:22

Rabbitte dubs Bord Pleanála decision about Corrib ‘super-tunnel’ as ‘extraordinary’

Áine Ryan

Minister for Energy, Pat Rabbitte has dubbed as ‘extraordinary’ An Bord Pleanála’s decision that a section of the raw gas pipeline for the Corrib project should be laid in a sub-sea tunnel in the Sruwaddacon estuary.

In fact, a series of recent remarks made by the Labour minister, from Ballindine, has led community group, Pobal Chill Chomáin to seek an urgent meeting with him. In a letter, seen by The Mayo News, they claim he is misinformed about key issues relating to the project and protest. 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 oil spills in the Niger Delta

From pages 7, 8, 9 & 10 of “Royal Dutch Shell and its sustainability troubles” – Background report to the Erratum of Shell’s Annual Report 2010

The report is made on behalf of Milieudefensie (Friends of the Earth Netherlands)
Author: Albert ten Kate: May 2011.

Oil spills

Oil spills in the Niger Delta

Oil spills from oil installations (pipelines, flowlines, well-heads, flowstations, storage tanks etc.) occur at a regular basis in the Niger Delta, some ten times a week. According to the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), oil companies reported 2,054 cases of oil spill incidents (spills of more than one barrel) between June 2006 and June 2010.

Human suffering

Amnesty International has concluded that the oil companies in the Niger Delta are linked to violations of several internationally recognized human rights as stipulated by the United Nations. These rights comprise the right to food, the right to work, the right to an adequate standard of living, and the right to health and a healthy environment. Audrey Gaughran, Amnesty International’s Head of Business and Human Rights, describes the impacts of oil spills on communities as follows: “People living in the Niger Delta have to drink, cook with and wash in polluted water. They eat fish contaminated with oil and other toxins – if they are lucky enough to be able to still find fish. The land they farm on is being destroyed. After oil spills the air they breathe smells of oil, gas and other pollutants. People complain of breathing problems and skin lesions – and yet neither the government nor the oil companies monitor the human impacts of oil pollution”. 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.

Golden age for Australia’s LNG?

CANBERRA, Australia, June 7 (UPI) — Australia’s liquefied natural gas industry is on course for a “golden age,” with the sector posed to boost the country’s economy by $38.5 billion by 2020, the International Energy Agency said.

IEA’s “Are We Entering a Golden Age of Gas?” report unveiled Monday forecasts global use of gas to increase by more than 50 percent from 2010-35.

“We think Australia will play a crucial role in the golden age of gas. It could be a golden age for Australia’s LNG industry,” IEA Chief Economist Fatih Birol, the lead author of the report, told The Australian newspaper. 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.

Class action suit targets benzene spill

Claims contamination has hurt property values

June 06, 2011 9:13 PM By SANFORD J. SCHMIDT The Telegraph

EDWARDSVILLE – Three law firms have filed a class action lawsuit in Madison County, alleging a 1986 Shell Oil Co. benzene spill and intrusion into residences have damaged the groundwater and reduced the value of people’s homes.

The suit is different from other benzene suits in that it seeks compensation for property damage, rather than damages for health effects, including cancer.

Property values have dropped, and residents cannot sell their homes, leaving them “trapped in their homes,” the suit claims. 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 targets $3 billion investment in domestic gas

Monday, 06 June 2011 00:00 Olusola Bello

Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) is committing over $3 billion to domestic gas projects which will help boost economic growth in the country and end gas flaring. Specifically, the gas from the projects will provide feed stocks to the power and fertiliser plants and is expected to boost power generation in the country.

Mutiu Sunmonu, chairman, Shell Group of Companies in Nigeria and also managing director of Shell Petroleum Development Company, who confirmed this to BusinessDay, observed that the company’s gas gathering project had suffered significantly in the last four to five years due to insecurity in the Niger Delta and funding challenges on the part of the Federal Government. 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.

Sex scandal allegations against a Shell executive

EMAIL SENT TO MICHIEL BRANDJES, COMPANY SECRETARY & GENERAL COUNSEL CORPORATE, ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC

From: John Donovan <[email protected]>
Date: 6 June 2011 12:45:23 GMT+01:00
To: [email protected]
Subject: Sex scandal allegations against a Shell executive

Dear Mr Brandjes

You may be aware of the article we published on 2nd June concerning allegations against one of your colleagues:

Serious allegations against a Senior Shell Executive

EXTRACT FROM THE ALLEGATIONS”

“He is widely known among Shell employees to have had affairs with people on his staff, and when the relationship goes sour, they are put on leave and ultimately terminated from the company. All seems to be done hush-hush to maintain appearance…” 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 Nigeria

From page 6 of “Royal Dutch Shell and its sustainability troubles” – Background report to the Erratum of Shell’s Annual Report 2010

The report is made on behalf of Milieudefensie (Friends of the Earth Netherlands)
Author: Albert ten Kate: May 2011.

PART ONE

Shell in Nigeria

In oil production, Nigeria is the most important country for Shell. During the period 2006-2010, Nigeria accounted for about 16% of Shell’s worldwide production of oil and liquid natural gas. During the year 2009, production falls due to disrupting activities by militant groups in the Niger Delta reached their peak for the time being. During the year 2010, production climbed back again, with Nigeria accounting for almost 19% of Shell’s worldwide production of oil and liquid natural gas. 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 Syria

A research paper prepared for IKV Pax Christi
Final version: 13 May 2011
Jan Willem van Gelder Anna van Ojik

Profundo Radarweg 60 1043 NT Amsterdam The Netherlands Tel: +31-20-820 83 20 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.profundo.nl (English)

RELATED ARTICLES:

Shell must suspend operations in Syria

Shell accused of supporting Syrian regime

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Shell Faces NGO Pressure To Withdraw From Syria

Shell in Syria

1.1    Introduction

Shell has a long history in Syria. It has had a presence in the country since the 1940s and has been a shareholder in Al Furat Petroleum Company (AFPC) for some 25 years.1 In Syria, Shell is only active in the upstream segment of the oil sector.2 The two subsidiaries of Shell active in Syria’s upstream oil sector, Syria Shell Petroleum Development and Shell South Syria Exploration, are discussed in the following paragraphs. 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.

Legal loss to Shell dire for wildlife

Edmonton Journal June 3, 2011 3:21 AM

The recent rejection by a superior court justice of an appeal of an Energy Resources Conservation Board decision on Shell Canada’s application to drill in the Castle wilderness is fallacious.

Now the legal system has joined the ERCB and the provincial sustainable resource development (SRD) department in failing to block further loss of grizzly bear habitat and endangered plant communities.

The judge ruled: “The well’s opponents did not present any persuasive evidence it would endanger the bears.” read more

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Cosan Jumps After Shifting More Debt to Raizen Venture With Shell

By Lucia Kassai and Andrew Herndon – Jun 2, 2011 8:38 PM GMT+0100

Cosan SA Industria & Comercio rose the most in a week after it transferring $3.3 billion in debt to a joint venture with Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA), more than previously announced.

Cosan rose 93 Brazilian centavos, or 4 percent, to 24.06 reais at 4:34 p.m. in Sao Paulo trading, the most since May 25. Shell’s Class A shares fell 1.7 percent in London to close at 2,122 pence.

Cosan shifted about 5.24 billion reais ($3.3 billion) in net debt to the Raizen venture, the Barra Bonita, Brazil-based company said today in a regulatory filing. That’s more than the $2.8 billion in debt it said in August that would transfer to the new company, which was formally created 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.

Shell Says Delay in U.S. Offshore Oil Drilling ‘Highly Unusual’

By Katarzyna Klimasinska – Jun 2, 2011 3:53 PM GMT+0100

Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA), blocked for about four years from developing 10-year Arctic leases purchased from the U.S., said the delays are “highly unusual” and undermine confidence in the federal offshore program.

The Hague-based company acquired oil leases in the Beaufort Sea in 2005, and added Chukchi Sea leases in 2008. Since then, Shell has been pursuing permits from drilling regulators and the Environmental Protection Agency. 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.

Serious allegations against a Senior Shell Executive

By John Donovan

We have received serious allegations from a purported insider directed against a senior Shell executive.

The insider equated the alleged odious activities of the relevant executive with the sex scandals surrounding Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dominique Strauss-Kahn and John Edwards. Reference was also made to a related article in Time Magazine.

The purported insider claims that the alleged serial infidelity involving Shell staff is widely known among employees within the relevant Shell company. read more

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DONOVAN EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE WITH SHELL INTERNATIONAL CONCLUDED ON 1 JUNE, 2011

Equally unforeseen, a CAS spook involved in the investigation of leaks to our website, has subsequently leaked information directly to us, including top secret Shell internal intel documents, one of which, we have already published.

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, Rosneft in talks for Russian arctic

Published: June 1, 2011

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, June 1 (UPI) — Royal Dutch Shell said Russian oil company Rosneft was interested in jointly exploring the hydrocarbon potential in Russia’s arctic waters.

Shell Chief Executive Officer Peter Voser said following talks with Rosneft last week that both could look at “a multitude” of opportunities in the Russian arctic. Some of the blocs included in the talks had been set aside by Rosneft for British energy company BP, the Financial Times reports. 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 adverts being investigated

June 1 2011 at 04:15pm

The Advertising Standards Authority is investigating whether Royal-Dutch Shell advertisements about hydraulic fracturing are misleading and untruthful, the Treasure Karoo Action Group (TKAG) said on Wednesday.

Shell had run the full-page advertisements in national weekly newspapers and had distributed flyers at its service stations, TKAG national co-ordinator Jonathan Deal said in a statement.

This, after the Cabinet declared a moratorium on all applications for licences to conduct hydraulic fracturing in the exploration of shale gas reserves in the Karoo. 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.

Law suit claims benzene leaks caused fatal leukemia

Late teacher’s estate sues oil companies

May 30, 2011 11:44 PM By SANFORD J. SCHMIDT The Telegraph

EDWARDSVILLE – The estate of a beloved Roxana School District teacher and administrator, who died of leukemia in early 2008, is suing Shell Oil Co. and BP Products North America, claiming leaks from their refinery caused her illness.

Jeffry Ochs, special administrator of the estate of Debra Ochs, is suing on his own behalf, as the victim’s husband, and on behalf of their minor child, Annika Ochs.

The lawsuit filed in Madison County Circuit Court claims that while Debra Ochs was visiting her grandparents in South Roxana and while serving as a teacher and principal at Central Elementary School, she was “exposed to and inhaled, ingested or otherwise absorbed benzene, which was emitted, leaked, spilled, dumped and otherwise discharged into the air, and surface/groundwater by defendants. read more

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Shell is sure of its future investment in the North Sea

mark williamson QATAR

1 Jun 2011

THE chief executive of Shell said the North Sea was still important for the oil and gas giant, which could invest in the province for decades to come.

Peter Voser reiterated Shell’s concerns that the controversial Budget tax hike could make some small developments unviable.

However, he said the company would still go ahead with big investments in the kind of bumper projects that could generate the returns it targets.

Asked where the North Sea fit with Shell’s strategy, Mr Voser said: “It’s an important area for us still. read more

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Blackpool Rocked

Blackpool Shale Gas drilling suspended after quake

31 May 2011

Shale gas test drilling in Lancashire has been suspended following an earthquake on the Fylde coast.

Cuadrilla, the firm behind the tests, said drilling had been suspended as a precaution after the 1.5 magnitude tremor – the second in two months.

It will now examine the data collected by the British Geological Survey (BGS) before deciding whether to resume.

A tremor centred on Poulton-le-Fylde on 1 April shared a “similar location and mechanism”, the BSG 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.