From a Regular Contributor
Cancellation of both the Browse and Masela FLNG developments on the same day suggests that the issues about which Bill Campbell has warned may finally have won the day.
If so, this is a huge climbdown for Shell, with several billion dollars in probable write-offs.
It’s perhaps not surprising, given the plethora of warnings from technical sources that there were serious risks involved.
Could Prelude be next to be axed? Parking a multi-billion dollar vessel in cyclone alley for 20 years never seemed like the most appropriate use of the pension funds invested in Shell…
Just in case it isn’t clear, Browse and Masela are two different projects (both involving Shell) in Australia and Indonesia respectively.
Cancellation of the two projects (whatever the official justification) simultaneously suggests that a common factor (Shell?) must be involved.
Of course, it might be that both projects are located off the north or north-west coast of Australia, and subject to very similar conditions.
But where does that leave Prelude?
COMMENT END
The links below are to a series of articles, many triggered by a well-placed whistleblower directly involved in the pioneering Royal Dutch Shell Prelude project. Includes articles by Mr Bill Campbell above, the retired distinguished HSE Group Auditor of Shell International and also from another retired Shell guru with a track record of spotting potential pitfalls in major Shell projects.
ARTICLE: Voser wisely abandons an unstable ship: 28 December 2013
ARTICLE: Royal Dutch Shell Prelude to disaster?: 10 Jan 2014
ARTICLE: Shell Prelude FLNG: loss of containment of hydrocarbons almost inevitable: 21 Feb 2014
ARTICLE: What should frighten stiff Royal Dutch Shell shareholders: 15 March 2014
ARTICLE: Tales of the Unexpected and Royal Dutch Shell Prelude FLNG: 28 March 2014
ARTICLE: Prelude FLNG: A case of all your eggs in the one basket: 10 July 2014
ARTICLE: Royal Dutch Shell Prelude Project ‘A Step Too Far’: 25 Sept 2014
ARTICLE: SpaceShip Two: Shell Prelude another pioneering venture fraught with risk: 2 November 2014
ARTICLE: WA turns spotlight on FLNG safety: 11 November 2014
ARTICLE: Prelude a giant production and processing barge masquerading as a ship: 11 November 2014
ARTICLE: Sunday Times Article: Prelude a potential white elephant: 11 November 2014
ARTICLE: Damning Verdict on Shell’s Prelude FLNG Propaganda: 12 November 2014
ARTICLE: Combustible pioneering behemoths – the Hindenburg and Shell Prelude: 21 November 2014
ARTICLE: Key role of Shell lawyers in pioneering Shell Prelude FLNG: 05 December 2014
ARTICLE: The Future of Natural Gas: LNG vs. FLNG: 26 Feb 2015
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