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February, 2014:

Nigeria ravaged by $20bn oil robbery

Screen Shot 2014-02-10 at 16.29.29It was 2am when a fireball pierced the inky night sky above a small community in the Niger delta. The explosion near Port Harcourt last June killed several people and released 6,000 barrels of crude oil. The cause: contractors hired by Royal Dutch Shell to stop pirates siphoning oil from a huge pipeline were themselves stealing fuel, and something went terribly wrong. The blast led to the shutdown… Shell, the largest foreign operator in the country, was responsible for more than 20,000 barrels of last year’s spills.

By John Donovan: Sunday 17 February 2014

The Sunday Times has today published an article by Danny Fortson under the headline: “Nigeria ravaged by $20bn oil robbery”

The article reveals information about a new website being launched next month by The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency as a result of an initiative by a group of interested parties, including the Nigerian Government and local communities. The website will publish searchable details about every oil spill in Nigeria. It is expected to shame big oil. 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.

North Sea sale move after Shell profit warning

Screen Shot 2014-02-15 at 09.44.10Royal Dutch Shell plans to put three oil and gas assets in the North Sea up for sale as it seeks to ramp up disposals and focus on improving shareholder returns after a shock profit warning.
read more

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Royal Dutch Shell: Mismanagement Of Big Oil In 2013

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Charles Constantinou: Feb. 14, 2014

Screen Shot 2014-02-10 at 16.29.29Shell’s performance was particularly disappointing, and in my opinion it reflects a mixture of management decisions, which are in conflict as if the engineers and technical specialists of the company do not seem to agree with their own economists and/or accountants, which leads to huge losses in particular projects, huge underestimates of investment requirements and frequent announcement of changes in decisions for particularly important projects. The most disappointing change is Shell’s latest decision not to proceed with previous plans to build a major facility in Louisiana that would turn natural gas into synthetic diesel, as reported in my study “Expressway to US Energy- Independence GTL Diesel” of June 2012. 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 Appoints new Legal Director

Shell Legal Director, Donny Ching

Shell Legal Director, Donny Ching

FROM LAW CAREERS NET: Prominent in-house appointments have made the news this month, with Royal Dutch Shell naming Donny Ching as its new legal director… As The Lawyer reported, Ching’s appointment at Shell followed the unexpected departure of legal director Peter Rees QC. Ching leaves his current role as general counsel for Shell’s project and technology group; to date, he has held positions within the business in Hong Kong, London, Qatar, Singapore and, most recently, the Netherlands. 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.

How much reliance can be placed on Royal Dutch Shell predictions?

Screen Shot 2014-02-13 at 17.22.27How much reliance can be placed on predictions emerging from Shell scenarios team? Very little if past accuracy of Shell predictions is any guide. Six years ago the then head of Royal Dutch Shell, the clueless Jeroen van der Veer predicted that the world would begin to run out of oil within 7 years – that’s next year. Since then, the whole outlook for oil and gas reserves has changed dramatically as a result of fracking and the US will surpass Saudi as the worlds top oil producer by 2016.

By John Donovan

Bloomberg news has published an article today under the headline Shell Sees Stable Oil Price for 20 Years With Volatility Bursts

Extract

In Shell’s “tighter” supply scenarios, crude prices could steadily increase over the 20 next years, while still going through periods of volatility that could see Brent falling to $70 a barrel, Bentham said.

How much reliance can be placed on predictions emerging from Shell scenarios team?

Very little if past accuracy of Shell predictions is any guide. 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’s fire sale

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Screen Shot 2013-12-22 at 19.09.52Royal Dutch Shell’s decision to unload a massive amount of assets is a troubling sign. Shell’s fire sale casts into doubt how effective it can be in producing growth this year, even with its promising projects. Shell recently suspended drilling in the Arctic. It’s also selling a stake in a liquefied natural gas project in Australia for $1.1 billion and may also consider unloading an interest in a U.S. pipeline project. These actions are part of a broader initiative in which Shell intends to sell $15 billion worth of assets over the next two years. 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.

Kashagan Oilfield To Reach Original Production Estimate By 2015

LONDON SOUTH EAST: Thursday, 13th Feb 2014

Costs at the Kashagan site have spiralled in recent years and it has taken 13 years since the beginning of development to reach this point. Once oil starts to flow at the site, Shell, which owns 16.81% of the Kashagan development, is expected to take over management of production operations, along with Kazakhstani state company KazMunaiGas JSC. Shell also will take on planning, development and construction of phase 2 of the project’s offshore facilities, which is designed to bring it up to full production. 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.

Glencore-Macquarie Said to Exit Race for Shell Australia Assets

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February 12, 2014

Screen Shot 2013-12-22 at 19.09.52Macquarie Group Ltd. (MQG) and Glencore Xstrata Plc (GLEN) dropped out of bidding for Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA)’s Australian oil refinery and filling stations, according to four people with knowledge of the matter. The assets Shell is selling include storage terminals, filling stations and an oil refinery in Geelong, south of Melbourne. Shell is stepping up asset sales after new Chief Executive Officer Ben van Beurden promised last month to cut capital spending following the company’s first profit warning in a decade. 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.

Firesale: Shell to sell three North Sea oil fields

Exclusive: Oil giant insists it is committed to North Sea after telling staff it expects to sell assets as part of £9bn disposal programme

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Screen Shot 2013-11-13 at 07.38.22Royal Dutch Shell is poised to announce the sale of three of its fields in the North Sea as the company speeds up its plan to divest $15bn (£9bn) of assets.

Staff at the Anglo-Dutch oil major were briefed about the sale of the Anasuria, Nelson and Sean fields during the last few days and an announcement by the company is expected shortly, The Telegraph can reveal. 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 halts work on Pierre River oil sands mine in northern Alberta

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| February 12, 2014 5:18 PM ET

Screen Shot 2014-02-13 at 00.32.08CALGARY – Royal Dutch Shell PLC told regulators it is halting work on its Pierre River mine in northern Alberta’s oil sands and that it has no idea when it may revive the blueprints. The Hague-based company this year cancelled plans to drill in Alaska’s Arctic and postponed development of a liquefied natural gas venture offshore Australia. The company issued a rare profit warning last month before reporting a 49% plunge in quarterly earnings to $2.9-billion. 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.

So the world’s biggest company now has a tech center in Cambridge…

Will Royal Dutch Shell fly a pirates flag on the Shell TechWorks office as fair warning to any entrepreneurs foolish enough to disclose confidential new technology and business ideas to Shell – in my experience the worlds leader predator of intellectual property?

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Screen Shot 2014-02-10 at 16.29.29Without making much of a splash, the largest corporation in the world set up shop in Cambridge last year. Royal Dutch Shell — with an astonishing $481 billion in revenue and 87,000 employees — opened up its first Shell TechWorks innovation office in Kendall Square last year. The objective, according to a company web page, is to “work with local entrepreneurs, investors, companies, scientists, partners and suppliers to help speed up the deployment of new technologies in Shell’s business.” 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.

Sinister Events In Ireland

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Screen Shot 2013-08-21 at 21.37.35OSSL and their allegations of Police corruption by Shell in relation to the Corrib Gas Project seems to have become entangled is an extraordinary situation involving the Irish Police Force (The Garda) and the authority responsible for independently investigating such allegations, the Garda Siochána Ombudsman Commission. In November Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan issued an astonishing warning of ‘mass assassinations’ if the Ombudsman gain access to certain classified files. The latest bombshell development is news that the Police Ombudsman hired a British security company to investigate if it had been placed under electronic surveillance (by the police?)

by John Donovan

OSSL and their allegations of Police corruption by Shell in relation to the Corrib Gas Project seems to have become entangled is an extraordinary situation involving the Irish Police Force (The Garda) and the authority responsible for independently investigating such allegations, the Garda Siochána Ombudsman Commission.

In November Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan issued an astonishing warning of ‘mass assassinations‘ if the Ombudsman gain access to certain classified files. 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.

Arrow postponement confirmed

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Wed, 12 February 2014

Royal Dutch Shell has postponed its final investment decision on the proposed Arrow LNG Project in Queensland, with Chief Executive Ben van Beurden citing the ‘economics and inflation risks on these proposals’ for the company’s decision.

Mr van Beurden also stated that the company is not expecting any major final investment decisions in Asia Pacific LNG in 2014.

FULL ARTICLE

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’s troubles

Big Oil’s troubles will lead to the next huge advance in energy technology

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By Steve LeVine

They spent too much

And they discovered that their technology was inferior

Survival and industry culture will trigger a big leap

FULL ARTICLE

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Royal Dutch Shell Prelude Safety Debate

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Screen Shot 2014-02-10 at 16.29.29OFFSHORE EXPERT: “Having read this Prelude document a few times to take it all in, it seems to me that the main issue is how do you design for a 10,000 year event?” COMMENT: “I am not an expert and would only say that so-called 10,000 year weather events seem to be occurring annually at the moment. If Noah was still around, and residing in Southern England, he might well be looking for his carpentry tools.”

COMMENT FROM A RETIRED SHELL OFFSHORE MANAGER

John,

Regarding recent discussions on this website about Shell Prelude FLNG project, information available via this link provides useful input.

The 28 page section of a 75 page Shell document gives a description of the development and goes into great detail, providing answers to most of the issues raised by a fellow Shell Retiree.

Having read this Prelude document a few times to take it all in, it seems to me that the main issue is how do you design for a 10,000 year event?

The many issues raised with respect to cyclonic activity, waves, wind and the ability to weather vane are answered.  There are two thrusters located near the stern with a total power of 6 megawatts or 8,000 HP.  More than ample to ensure the heading of the facility is optimum at all times. Other issues with respect to Green house gas emissions during operations and other environmental are dealt with in detail. 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 looks to science for arctic help

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HOUSTON, Feb. 11 (UPI) — Michael Macrander, a chief scientist for Shell in Alaska, said engagement with the scientific community could help his company navigate arctic waters. Shell Chief Executive Officer Ben van Bueden said last month he was “not prepared to commit further resources for drilling in Alaska in 2014” following a court decision challenging a 2008 lease for acreage in the Chukchi Sea. Shell’s arctic campaign was plagued by problems with its drilling rigs, Noble Discoverer and Kulluk, and the cost associated with managing operations in the harsh arctic climate. Macrander told delegates at an arctic technology conference in Houston the arctic problems could be answered with science-based solutions. 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.

Research Councils should steer clear of strategic partnerships with individual firms

Firms like Shell can and should collaborate with taxpayer funded researchers. But no single organisation should be granted privileged access to the processes by which priorities for public research funding are set.

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: Tuesday 11 February 2014 08.29 GMT

My fellow blogger Alice Bell posted about a new tie-up between NERC (the UK Natural Environment Research Council) and Shell last week. The tie-up takes the form of a formal Memorandum of Understanding, which – in Shell’s words – is intended “to maximise the benefits from our mutual interests in areas of long-term research, postgraduate training and knowledge exchange through jointly funded and supported research projects”. “Strategic partnerships” are all the rage between research performing organisations and companies (NERC is a significant performer of research through major institutes such as the British Antarctic Survey but its primary role is as a funding agency) and this is not NERC’s first such partnership (that was with engineering partnership Arup), but it’s the most high profile announced so far. The post generated some debate below the line, raising several issues which are worth exploring 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.

Benchmark in Jeopardy

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Screen Shot 2013-05-17 at 01.06.41Straining to solve a problem that might be illusory, European regulators soon might create real problems by increasing the volatility of an important crude oil price marker. Worried that shenanigans might reach beyond financial markets, the EC expanded its proposal to encompass commodities, including oil. In May, the EC and European Free Trade Association Surveillance Authority unveiled investigations into suspicions that representatives of Shell, BP, and Statoil had distorted trading information they provided Platts. Results of those probes have yet to be reported. 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 you don’t know about Royal Dutch Shell’s Profit Warning

Screen Shot 2014-02-11 at 11.05.56I can exclusively reveal today that the question of whether Shell was legally obliged to issue a profits warning did not first arise in relation to the final quarter. It was raised at the highest levels of Shell and of the Financial Conduct Authority some months earlier, in between the announcement of Peter Voser’s early retirement and the announcement of the Q3 results.

By John Donovan

Shell shareholders have been faced with a series of shocks, one stunning announcement by Royal Dutch Shell Plc after another.

All rather mysterious and without any credible explanation.

Started with the announcement of Voser’s decision to take early retirement from Shell at the age of 55, as a lifestyle change. It was said at the time to have “stunned investors.”

Next came the surprise announce of Ben van Beurden as his replacement. No one guessed that he was even in the race for the top job at 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.

Royal Dutch Shell appoints Donny Ching as its new legal director

Screen Shot 2014-02-10 at 16.29.29The Lawyer: Royal Dutch Shell has appointed Donny Ching as its new legal director with immediate effect. Former-barrister Ching has been based in Rijswijk in the western Netherlands as general counsel for Shell’s project and technology group…

FULL ARTICLE

RELATED

Shell names HR chief as interim head of legal: 6 February 2014

Exclusive: Shell legal boss Rees in shock departure: 10 January 2014

Exclusive: Energy giant Shell names UK legal chief in top level reshuffle: 9 September 2013 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’s grubby deal

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Screen Shot 2013-10-01 at 07.56.54Natural Environment Research Council inks controversial research partnership with Shell read more

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Royal Dutch Shell completely whiffed in the U.S. and North America

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Screen Shot 2013-10-01 at 07.56.54Oil prices in the United States hover near $100 per barrel and overall domestic production of oil and natural gas is soaring. With all this in mind, you’d assume the environment would be ripe for Big Oil to produce gushing profits.

Royal Dutch Shell completely whiffed in the U.S. and North America. Its Americas segment posted a $1.4 billion net loss in the fourth quarter and a $3.7 billion net loss for all of 2013.

FULL ARTICLE

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Will Shell’s Prelude FLNG project be another white elephant?

It is to me an example where common sense has been put aside and the herd followed the leader ‘we need elephants’. I sincerely hope for Shell that Prelude does not turn out to be yet another white elephant. …this spirit of ‘Olympic targets, Moonshots, if you can think it you can do it’ has also led to disasters for Shell USA in Alaska, huge write offs in the USA on shaleoil, a nonfunctional EP Europe when it was launched, the reserves crisis of Shell, the cost overruns in Sakhalin, Pearl and Kashagan by a factor 3-8 etc etc.

Introduction by John Donovan

On 10 January we published an article under the headline: Royal Dutch Shell Prelude to disaster?

It was based on information received from a Prelude insider source voicing deep concern over the safety of the construction of Shell’s Prelude FLNG flagship vessel, said to be the biggest ship in the world.

Since then, further information has been obtained, including more information from the same whistleblower.

Shell has to a large extent staked it future on this mega 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.

Russia’s Bashneft to buy oil from Shell worth $1.4 bln

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Feb 7 (Reuters) – Russia‘s Bashneft said on Friday its board had approved a deal to buy oil from Shell worth up to $1.4 billion before February 2016.

Bashneft also said in a regulatory filing that it agreed to sell oil products worth up to $2.4 billion to oil trader Septo Trading, registered in the British Virgin Islands, before January 2015.

Bashneft, owned by Sistema oil-to-telecoms conglomerate, needs to buy oil to feed its refineries located in the Urals mountains region.

SOURCE 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.

Fixing the fix

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The European Union wants to change how commodity benchmarks are set

BRUSSELS: Feb 8th 2014

Screen Shot 2013-05-17 at 01.06.41“THE oil price” has a comforting ring of clarity about it. But in reality many benchmark prices for oil and other commodities are merely estimates based on incomplete information from unregulated, illiquid markets. …the European Commission last year raided BP, Royal Dutch Shell, Statoil (all oil firms) and Platts (the biggest PRA) in an investigation of possible market-rigging. An American regulator, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, is investigating price-fixing by trading houses and oil companies. Many see similarities to scandals involving financial benchmarks such as LIBOR, which purported to track the price of loans between banks in London, but turns out to have been manipulated with gusto. 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.

3 Reasons Why Royal Dutch Shell plc Could Be Set To Tank

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Screen Shot 2013-12-22 at 19.09.52Royston Wild has “picked out a handful of reasons why Royal Dutch Shell (LSE: RDSB) (NYSE: RDS-B.US) could be ready to dive lower.” He says the acceleration in asset disposals across the group and the attempt to curtail spiralling capital expenditure threaten to derail the firm’s long-term earnings prospects. He also points out that the oil price outlook looks murky and explains why there is a question-mark over long-term dividends.  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.

UK environmental science: In association with Shell

The Natural Environment Research Council signed a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ with Shell. You should be disturbed by this

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Workers subcontracted by Shell clean up an oil spill from an abandoned well in Oloibiri Town, Nigeria. Photograph: Ed Kashi/Corbis

Posted by Friday 7 February 2014 15.19 GMT theguardian.com

Today, the Natural Environment Research Council (Nerc) signed a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ with Shell. My thanks to Greenpeace for the tip.

From what I can make out, the memo doesn’t contain specific details of joint activities; it’s more a formal expression of shared interests and desire to interact more. A few eyebrows were raised when a similar agreement was signed with Arup in November, but such memos are not common and tend to be reserved for building relationships with similar public institutions in other countries. 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.

Health & Safety Executive feared ‘catastrophe’ on Shell North Sea Platform

Screen Shot 2013-07-15 at 07.03.50Extract from an article published today: The incident was stood down later that morning, but inspectors have accused Shell of failing to have systems in place that would see equipment which is exposed to the elements checked regularly for rust. The notice – which was made public yesterday – stated: “You (Shell) failed to have effective arrangements to ensure work equipment exposed to conditions causing deterioration which is liable to result in dangerous situations is inspected at suitable intervals, and an adequate record of that inspection kept, to ensure that health and safety conditions are maintained and that any deterioration can be detected and remedied in good time.”

By John Donovan

In 2005, Shell received a record breaking fine of £900,000 at Stonehaven Sheriff Court, for a series of safety failings on the Brent Bravo platform, which led to a gas leak inside the giant platform’s utility leg and the tragic avoidable deaths of offshore workers. 

A safety audit on the Brent Bravo platform in 1999 led by Bill Campbell exposed a “Touch F*** All” culture with safety records routinely falsified. 

His report was passed to Shell EP director Malcolm Brinded, who made promises to remedy the situation that were not kept. Instead Brinded decided to put profits before safety. Hence the subsequent deadly explosion followed by a cover-up at the highest level of Royal Dutch 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.

Shell seeks positives as Arctic tab nears $6B

Screen Shot 2014-02-07 at 00.43.49 By Tim Bradner, Alaska Journal of Commerce: Published: 2014.02.06 Screen Shot 2014-02-07 at 00.44.48

Screen Shot 2013-01-11 at 20.09.51Shell’s investment in its Arctic Alaska offshore exploration is approaching $6 billion after eight years. For all that, the company has two test wells partly drilled in 2012, one in the Chukchi Sea and one in the Beaufort Sea. The decision not to proceed with 2014 drilling was a tough one for Shell, the company’s Alaska president, Pete Slaiby, said in a Jan. 30 interview. Shell doesn’t expect the cancellation will have any immediate effort on the company’s workforce in Anchorage. However, had the exploration gone ahead this summer it would have employed about 2,000 people in total… 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.

Hugh Mitchell named as Shell interim legal boss

Screen Shot 2013-12-22 at 19.09.52We can only speculate about the sudden resignation of Peter Rees QC days after Ben van Beurden took up his new role as Chief Executive Officer of the company. Since then, Shell’s image and reputation has undergone a transformation from a successful multinational to a company in crisis, having issued a profits warning, abandoned mega projects and embarked on a massive fire sale of assets. The temporary appointment of a non lawyer to be head of Shell’s legal department, as announced today, further undermines confidence in the stability of Royal Dutch Shell Plc.

By John Donovan

The Lawyer reports today that Hugh Mitchell, the head of Shell HR (an executive director of Royal Dutch Shell Plc) is now in temporary charge of Shell legal assisted by Michiel Brandjes, Company Secretary and General Counsel Corporate.

Sounds like desperation stakes bearing in mind that Mitchell is not even a lawyer and is also a member of the executive committee responsible for the current meltdown at Shell.

He also  has ultimate responsibility for Shell internal and external communications, Shell real estate, Shell global security, Shell health and Shell aircraft. Now head of legal without any legal qualifications. Jack of all trades… 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 defends handling of evacuation from Corrib gas tunnel

Shell E&P Ireland has defended its contractors’ handling of an emergency evacuation last week from the Corrib gas tunnel which is under construction in north Mayo.

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A section of the Corrib gas line: Shell E & P said tunnelling work on the last section of the Corrib gas pipeline was immediately suspended, as is “normal procedure” when an alarm sounds

By Lorna Siggins: Thu, Feb 6, 2014

Shell E&P Ireland has defended its contractors’ handling of an emergency evacuation last week from the Corrib gas tunnel which is under construction in north Mayo.

No one was injured in the incident, which occurred when an alarm was activated, indicating a presence of gas. However, the local fire service was not notified for another 106 minutes. Its staff undertook a safety inspection of the tunnel with Shell contractors and confirmed it was safe to enter. 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.

Why Royal Dutch Shell’s Fire Sale May be Cause for Concern

Screen Shot 2013-12-22 at 19.09.52…both BP’s and ConocoPhillips’ asset sales look downright modest in comparison to the outright fire sale Royal Dutch Shell will soon embark on. Royal Dutch Shell unloaded billions last year, with even greater amounts to be sold off over the next two years. That’s why investors may have legitimate cause for concern about the fate of Shell’s future growth trajectory.

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by Bob Ciura

Royal Dutch Shell plans to sell off several billion dollars worth of assets over the next two years. Should investors be worried?

The last year was a tough one for integrated oil majors. Thinning refining margins put a serious dent in downstream earnings, and upstream profitability failed to impress despite cooperative energy prices. As a result, it’s not entirely surprising to see members of Big Oil such as (NYSE: BP) sell off non-critical assets.

Even independent exploration and production major ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP), which isn’t nearly as integrated as its peers after spinning off its downstream and midstream business, got in on the asset sale game last year. 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.

Melting Sea Ice And Arctic Drilling: A Risky Combination

Screen Shot 2013-11-01 at 09.31.18Shell, which has spent billions on buying leases in Alaska’s Chukchi and Beaufort seas, announced that the drilling program there has been suspended amid a legal battle with environmentalists over whether Shell’s leases were legally granted by the federal government. “Right now, they don’t have the technology, the wherewithal and the capital to put into that…”

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From Climate Central’s Bobby Magill:

Posted:

Sea ice melting partly because of human-caused climate change could open previously inaccessible Arctic Ocean waters to expanded oil drilling, but the risks of drilling there will be extremely high.

As sea ice melts in the Arctic, the oil and gas industry has expressed new interest in drilling offshore and is expected to invest roughly $100 billion there by 2023, according to a new paper from the Woodrow Wilson Center, a Washington-based think tank. The paper highlights an agreement between ExxonMobil and Russian oil company Rosneft, which have planned to jointly explore for oil in the Kara Sea off the Arctic coast of Siberia. read more

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Shell starts first post-Macondo Gulf of Mexico platform

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By Kristen Hays

HOUSTON, Feb 4 (Reuters) – Royal Dutch Shell said on Tuesday it is ramping up production at its newest Gulf of Mexico oil and gas platform, its first to start up after BP Plc’s 2010 Macondo oil spill fouled the basin and stopped drilling for months.

Shell’s Olympus platform, towed out to sea last summer, is the first of seven new state-of-the-art platforms slated to start pumping Gulf crude to shore through 2016, reversing a decline in output and supplementing the U.S. onshore shale oil boom. read more

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US To Stay Tough On Iran Sanctions Despite Deal

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By Scott Flaherty

Law360, New York (February 04, 2014, 4:27 PM ET) — The U.S. will continue stiff enforcement of existing economic sanctions against Iran despite an interim deal offering some sanctions relief in exchange for commitments from the Middle Eastern country regarding its nuclear program, top Obama administration officials told Congress Tuesday.

ACCESS TO FULL ARTICLE SUBJECT TO SUBSCRIPTION

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Is It Finally Time To Dump Royal Dutch Shell Stock?

Screen Shot 2014-02-05 at 20.12.14 By Aaron Levitt, InvestorPlace Contributor

Screen Shot 2013-12-22 at 19.09.52Sometimes you just have to say goodbye to a stock, even when it has been good to you over the years. RDS.A was willing to go the extra mile into some pretty ambitious energy sources. From Australian natural gas to drilling in the Arctic Circle, Shell could be seen as the “growth” orientated major. Unfortunately, those go-getting plans haven’t gone according to plan, and now RDS.A is the process of closing up shop in several of these locations and selling the assets. And with many years of underperformance behind it, it may just be time to sell Royal Dutch Shell stock out of your portfolio. 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.

Shrinking Giants: Royal Dutch Shell long list of abandoned projects

Screen Shot 2013-12-22 at 19.09.52A total of $15 billion worth of assets are expected to be sold this year and next, including petrol stations in Australia, offshore production capacity shares in Brazil, pipelines and a host of other assets (link). Problem is that many of the projects were meant to boost production both upstream and downstream, which means that most likely Shell will not be able to stem a steady long-term production decline.

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Zoltan Ban: February 5, 2014

Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A) (RDS.B):

While in 2012 total production of oil and gas increased by about 47,000 barrels of oil equivalent, it seems that Shell production declined for 2013 by 1.8% compared to 2012 and fourth quarter decline was 4.7%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2012. This decline will probably continue into 2014 and perhaps beyond as Shell actually tries to divest from many projects which were hoped to bring more production online (link). 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.

Price-rigging probes jammed by oil industry bid to protect its secrets

Screen Shot 2013-05-17 at 01.06.41The case alleges collusion to manipulate spot prices among Shell, BP, Statoil, Morgan Stanley, Vitol, the Dutch trading giant Trafigura Beheer BV and others since 2002…

Joel Kirkland, E&E reporter:

A U.S. investigation into whether the world’s biggest crude oil traders fix prices has sparked an escalating and high-stakes court battle over the disclosure of records.

Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Vitol Group and Plains All American Pipeline LP have joined Morgan Stanley in a federal court case that aims to stop mounds of trading data given to U.S. regulators from being used in civil cases alleging market manipulation by a trading house controlled by Norwegian shipping magnate John Fredriksen. read more

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Shell’s fall from grace

Screen Shot 2014-01-03 at 14.32.05In May 2013, when Voser’s retirement was announced, he was described by Reuters as having been Shell’s “renaissance CEO”. Fast-forward eight months and Voser’s successor stunned the market with a profits warning. It was a remarkably quick fall from grace for both the former chief and the company… …the company’s misstatement of its proven reserves early in the century landed it with a multi-million dollar fine from stock market regulators and forced the departure of its chairman as well as shocking investors. Shell has had its own environmental problems in Nigeria. Now it is being severely criticised for overspending.

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By John Kemp

Feb 4 (Reuters) – “All political lives, unless they are cut off in midstream at a happy juncture, end in failure,” wrote Enoch Powell, a former member of Britain’s parliament who held controversial views on immigration and national identity.

Much the same could be said of business careers, as Shell’s former chief executive Peter Voser has learned the hard way. His strategy of continuing to invest in complex megaprojects through the oil industry cycle is now blamed for the company’s recent profit warning and underperformance. read more

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Shell starts production from second Mars platform in deep water Gulf of Mexico

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Shell starts production from second Mars platform in deep water Gulf of Mexico

04 Feb 2014 Shell today announces it has begun production from the Mars B development through Olympus – the company’s seventh, and largest, floating deep-water platform in the Gulf of Mexico. It is the first deep-water project in the Gulf to expand an existing oil and gas field with significant new infrastructure, which should extend the life of the greater Mars basin to 2050 or beyond. Combined future production from Olympus and the original Mars platform is expected to deliver an estimated resource base of 1 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe).

“With two large platforms now producing from the deep-water Mars field, this project demonstrates our deep-water project delivery and leadership,” said John Hollowell, Executive Vice President for Deep Water, Shell Upstream Americas. “We safely completed construction and installation of the Olympus platform more than six months ahead of schedule, allowing us to begin production early from the development’s first well. Olympus is the latest, successful start-up of our strong portfolio of deep-water projects, which we expect to generate substantial value in the coming years. Deep water will continue to be a core growth opportunity for Shell.” read more

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BP versus Shell

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Screen Shot 2013-10-01 at 07.56.54In the wake of this month’s profits warning from Royal Dutch Shell and its problems in Nigeria, its upstream and downstream problems and the failure of its massive capital expenditure program to yield any meaningful benefits in the short term, investors appear to be asking themselves whether a move back to BP might be in order. Shell’s new CEO Ben van Beurden in his new role as CEO appears to be clearing the decks for some form of company reorganisation as the company struggles with falling revenues and lower oil prices. read more

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Royal Dutch Shell and Mad Dog Gaddafi

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The compilation of articles accessible below provide the answer to why Tony Blair and Royal Dutch Shell executive director Malcolm Brinded (above left), sucked up to the Libyan dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi, the monster ultimately responsible for the Pan-Am 103 bombing and other terrorist atrocities. They include the murder of a British police constable Yvonne Fletcher shot outside the Libyan Embassy in London while policing an anti-Gaddafi demonstration.

By John Donovan

Last night a remarkable 90 minute documentary was aired on BBC FOUR TV under the title: Mad Dog: Gaddafi’s Secret World

Part of the documentary covered the bombing of Pan Am 103 and the subsequent release of the convicted bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi in a deal involving oil.

Shell is the only oil company named in the documentary. It claims to operate under strict business principles, but in fact has no scruples at all.

The following are extracts from a related Daily Mail article published under the headline: Shell wrote letter Tony Blair used in £325m Libyan oil deal read more

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Chris Finlayson’s dreadful first year as chief executive at BG

Screen Shot 2014-02-04 at 13.42.40LONDON EVENING STANDARD TODAY:

Chris Finlayson’s dreadful first year as chief executive at BG Group was today capped by the news that profits slumped 37% to $4.16 billion (£2.54 billion) in 2013. The former Royal Dutch Shell executive said he shared shareholders’ “disappointment” at the oil producer’s many problems, which have included four profit warnings in little more than 12 months. Garry White, chief investment commentator at broker Charles Stanley, said: “I reckon it’s time for BG Group to be broken up.”

By John Donovan

WE REPEATEDLY WARNED BG SHAREHOLDERS AND EMPLOYEES ABOUT CHRIS FINLAYSON…

HE IS NOT THE ONLY COMMON DENOMINATOR BETWEEN ROYAL DUTCH SHELL AND BG GROUP.

BOTH COMPANIES HAVE JUST ISSUED PROFIT WARNINGS

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THE DEVASTATING ARTICLE PUBLISHED TODAY BY THE LONDON EVENING STANDARD IS SELF-EXPLANATORY

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Gloom continues for new BG boss amid profits slide

4 February 2014

Chris Finlayson’s dreadful first year as chief executive at BG Group was today capped by the news that profits slumped 37% to $4.16 billion (£2.54 billion) in 2013.

The former Royal Dutch Shell executive said he shared shareholders’ “disappointment” at the oil producer’s many problems, which have included four profit warnings in little more than 12 months. read more

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BP Fourth-Quarter Profit Drops

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February 04, 2014

Screen Shot 2014-01-30 at 00.47.49BP follows Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA) and Exxon Mobil Corp., the two biggest oil companies by market value, in reporting lower earnings as the cost of drilling rises, refining profits slump and oil prices stagnate.

Shell and BG Group Plc (BG/) both issued profit warnings for the fourth quarter. BG today reported the first loss since 2000 on output disruptions from Egypt and higher exploration costs. Shell said last week it will accelerate asset sales to offset investment after capital spending reached a record in 2013. read more

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BP share price: Oil giant’s earnings in focus after rivals’ gloomy results

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Screen Shot 2014-01-30 at 00.47.49by Alice Young, Feb 3 2014, 15:58 GMT

BP’s results follow that of European peer Shell, which last week posted a drop in its fourth-quarter and full-year earnings matching a shock profit warning issued earlier in January.

FULL ARTICLE

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Broker round-up: Shell

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February 03 2014, 1:00pm

Screen Shot 2013-10-01 at 07.56.54Royal Dutch Shell (LON:RDSB) has been downgraded by HSBC, despite the broker welcoming the actions taken by new chief executive Ben van Beurden.Shell’s new boss is right to focus on improving the Anglo-Dutch giant’s financial performance and its capital efficiency, says the broker, including a reduction in growth capex and the clear guidance on increased disposals. According to HSBC, however, the market has anticipated many of his changes already… 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.

Australian union accuses Shell, Caltex of lax tanker safety rules

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Joanna Mather: Tuesday 4 February 2014

Screen Shot 2013-10-01 at 07.56.54The Transport Workers’ Union has announced a national dispute in the oil, fuel and gas industry, claiming up to 45 per cent of petrol tankers have poor break maintenance.

The union is seeking to have the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal issue orders requiring that companies including Shell and Caltex enforce maintenance rules for fuel tankers.

There are an estimated 1500 tankers on Australian roads.

FULL ARTICLE

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Argentina Accuses Shell of Conspiracy After Price Increase

Screen Shot 2013-10-01 at 07.56.54Royal Dutch Shell Plc’s Argentine unit was accused of conspiring against the country’s interests by Cabinet Chief Jorge Capitanich after the oil producer increased fuel prices following a devaluation of the peso. “Shell’s attitude and the one from its highest executive is conspiratorial and against the interests of the country,” Capitanich told reporters this morning in Buenos Aires. “The only explanation for this behavior is greediness.”

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Feb 3, 2014 7:08 PM GMT

Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA)’s Argentine unit was accused of conspiring against the country’s interests by Cabinet Chief Jorge Capitanich after the oil producer increased fuel prices following a devaluation of the peso.

Shell boosted prices an average 12 percent at its service stations, which represent 18 percent of the Argentine market, the company said in an e-mailed statement published by local newspapers today. The company’s previous price increase of 6.8 percent was on Jan. 2, before Argentina moved to weaken the peso 15 percent from Jan. 22 to Jan. 23, the largest drop since 2002. read more

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Campaigners cheer a bad week for Shell

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Campaigners in Canada protesting proposed drilling in the Arctic. Tavis Ford under a Creative Commons Licence

By Kevin Smith

It’s been a bad week for Shell. On the international stage, a lawsuit from indigenous communities and environmental groups has scuppered their chances of drilling for oil in the Alaskan Arctic, while in London, it was announced that Shell was no longer going to be the sponsor for the 14/15 Classic Series at the Southbank Centre. Two events of a very different scale to each other, and on different sides of the world, but connected through the concept of the ‘social licence to operate’. read more

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Shell Sells 900 Australian Petrol Stations

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Screen Shot 2013-12-22 at 19.09.52By Athena Yenko | February 3, 2014 2:57 PM EST

As a result of the massive decline in its annual profit announced Thursday, Shell today confirmed that it is putting its 900 Australian petrol stations for sale to recover from the 39 per cent slump of its profit. Shell also announced its plan to sell its 32 Australian fuel terminals, including the Geelong refinery which had been in the market since the early quarter of 2013. Company Chief Executive Ben Van Beurden says he will not reveal the details. read more

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