SSE, Equinor sign PPA for UK Dogger Bank offshore wind farm first phases

By Reuters Staff: NOVEMBER 24, 2020

LONDON (Reuters) – SSE and Equinor have agreed 15-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) for the first two phases of the Dogger Bank offshore wind farm they are developing off the coast of Britain, the companies said on Tuesday.

Separate PPA’s totalling 2.4 gigawatts of capacity for power from Dogger Bank A and B have been reached with Orsted, Shell Energy Europe Ltd, Danske Commodities and SSE’s energy supply business, SSE and Equinor said in a statement. read more

Royal Dutch Shell paid no corporation tax in Britain

“Fossil fuel companies, like tobacco companies before them, have allowed governments to pay for the harms caused by their products“…

5 legal tactics environmentalists are using to fight climate change

Activists are increasingly using litigation as a tool to influence climate action worldwide. Here’s a look at some of the main tactics they’re wielding to force change on fossil fuel firms and weak government policies.

More than 700 climate lawsuits have been filed around the world since 2015, according to the Climate Change Litigation Databases. That’s a huge increase, considering there have only been about 1,700 of these types of cases since the late 1980s, most of them in the US. read more

Shell Cracker Plant Has 39 Cases Of Coronavirus

CBS Pittsburgh KDKA TV•November 13, 2020

Thirty-nine workers at the Shell Cracker Plant in Beaver County have tested positive for the coronavirus.

SOURCE

Shell Canada gives customers option to offset their carbon emissions for two cents per litre

Bloomberg: Shell Wants Biden to Reverse Methane Emissions Rollback

David Wethe: Tue, November 10, 2020, 9:08 PM GMT

(Bloomberg) — Royal Dutch Shell Plc will push for the reversal of President Donald Trump’s rollback of methane emissions rules and the introduction of carbon pricing when Joe Biden moves into the White House next year.

“Some of the regulatory rollbacks that we’ve seen under the current administration haven’t actually benefited our industry,” Shell U.S. President Gretchen Watkins said Tuesday on a webcast hosted by the Greater Houston Partnership. read more

Shell: Regaining Dividend Respectability And Shifting Toward Green Hydrogen

The Daily Drilling Report: 10 November 2020

• Shell is taking a healthy approach toward energy transition and balancing capital projects in terms of energy source.
• It’s also forging a leadership position in two key fuels that have been identified as being crucial to meeting Paris Climate goals – natural gas and hydrogen.
• Shell is back in our good grades with its recent dividend raise and strong earnings prospects going forward.
• At its recent price in the mid-$20s it represents a nice risk reward profile.

The question is, is the dividend safe? The answer here is yes, as it has just been raised. It seems Uncle Ben has heard the hue and cry of outraged shareholders, and is restoring some of what he took away just last quarter.

Ben Van Beurden, CEO Shell:

So we are announcing an increase of 4% in our dividends this quarter. But we’re also announcing a target milestone for our net debt of $65 billion for the near term. And once we have achieved this milestone, we target to further increase shareholder distribution. So we are not offering the promise of future growth, but also increasing shareholder distributions for the near term. read more

Shell Singapore to cut 500 jobs in next three years as it downsizes Pulau Bukom operations

Ovais Subhani: NOVEMBER 10, 2020

The transition at Bukom has been planned in consultation with all the stakeholders including the Government and the trade union.

SINGAPORE – Royal Dutch Shell’s pivot away from crude oil towards a low-carbon slate of fuels will cost Singapore 500 jobs and half of the processing capacity on Pulau Bukom in the next three years. read more

Environmental groups want Shell air permit denied

Environmental groups are urging the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to deny Shell Pennsylvania Chemical’s air quality permits on the basis of what they say will be too much pollution into the Pittsburgh region.

Beaver County Marcellus Awareness Community’s letter is the latest volley in environmentalists’ battle against the Potter Township project, costing in excess of $6 billion, that has remade a portion of the Ohio River coastline and brought thousands of construction jobs into the region. They’ve asked for a 30-day extension for more information about the permits as well. read more

Twitter Roasts Shell for “Gaslighting” Consumers With Emissions Poll

BY SOPHIE HIRSH

Sometimes, you just need to take a good, hard look at yourself in the mirror. We’re talking to you, Shell.

This week, oil and gas corporation, Shell, took a break from polluting the planet to ask people on Twitter how they were willing to change their individual habits to help reduce emissions. As one might expect, Shell’s Twitter poll regarding emission reduction did not go over well. read more

BP And Shell’s Renewables Plans – Go Woke Go Broke

Summary

• No, I’m not suggesting that BP and Shell are about to go broke as a result of their plans in to renewables – that’s rhetorical use of a current trope.
• The move does though entirely change the way we should be viewing those stocks. They become as with other companies, things to evaluate on single year horizons.
• They used to be known as “widows and orphans” stocks, regular dividend payers safe to be held for decades – this is what has changed.

Going green is just fine

The idea of the world going green is just fine. Climate change is a real problem, we’re causing it, we need to do something about it. I’m one of the few on that free market right who has been saying this for the past decade or so and don’t I get stick for it too.

The idea of companies investing in doing that going green is just fine too. As someone on that free market right I would insist that this is the only way we will go green too. The capitalist way, people making a buck out of what people desire to be done. read more

Shell Explores Plans for North Slope Development

01 November 2020

Dutch oil major Shell is looking to further develop its North Slope oil position in Alaska. The company’s offshore unit applied to form the West Harrison Bay Unit offshore from the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska with plans for drilling and exploration.

The proposed West Harrison Bay Unit comprises 18 leases in West ­Harrison Bay approximately 34 miles northwest of the Colville River Unit. Shell holds 100% working interest in those 18 leases, covering more than 78,000 acres in the proposed unit. read more

Shell to axe refining plants and focus on dividends and debt reduction

Philip Whiterow: 07:31 Thu 29 Oct 2020

Royal Dutch Shell PLC (LON:RDSB) has unveiled a huge restructuring of its refining and chemical operations as part of a strategic overhaul that places dividends at its centre.

The Anglo-Dutch giant said its fourteen refining sites will be reduced to six integrated chemical parks, with a switch in focus to performance chemicals and recycled feedstocks.

Shell’s marketing arm will also be strengthened with the development of the integrated power business and hydrogen and biofuels. read more

Published on: Sunday, October 25, 2020

SHELL announced on Oct 15, 2020 that the Plaza Shell Office in Kota Kinabalu will be closed with a relocation of all Sabah staff to Miri new Headquarters in 2021.

The Kota Kinabalu office was set up in November 2015 with promises of Shell’s significance presence, strategic partnership and offer of measurable progress for Sabah. This change of commitments, a sad truth on change of event draws much reservation, suspicion and unveils unprecedented break of promises from Shell to Sabah, its people and communities. read more

OPL 245: Nigeria hires London-based firm to lead dispute with Eni

Nigeria has hired the services of Franklin Wyatt, a London-based consultancy company, to provide legal advice in a dispute with Eni, an Italian oil and gas company.

Franklin Wyatt, according to information on its website, specialises in dispute consultancy by providing advise beyond legal perspectives.

There is an age-long dispute between Eni and Nigeria over oil prospecting licence (OPL) 245 deal.

The oil deal dates back to 2011, when Shell and Eni acquired the massively rich OPL 245 for over $1.3 billion — paying $1.1 billion to take over 100 percent of Malabu’s interest and $210 million to the federal government as signature bonus. read more

Surprise package Shell eyes Post Office broadband deal

By Mark Kleinman, City editor: Thursday 22 October 2020 15:48, UK

Shell is vying with Sky and TalkTalk to buy the Post Office’s broadband and telecoms customer base, Sky News learns.

Shell, the FTSE-100 oil behemoth, is among the bidders vying to gain control of the Post Office’s telecoms arm in a deal that would transform the size of its broadband customer base.

Sky News has learnt that Shell, which took control of the retail energy and broadband supplier First Utility in 2018, is one of three remaining bidders for the Post Office business. read more

Shell hires Orsted’s Brostrom to lead global renewables unit

By Reuters Staff: October 23, 2020 read more

The Big Oil Side Hustle: Where ‘Renewable’ Money Is Really Going

By Alex Kimani – Oct 20, 2020, 6:00 PM CDT

In 2016, Shell set an ambitious goal to invest $4bn to $6bn in clean energy projects by 2020, though the Guardian recently reported that it was unlikely to meet that target. So, why is Big Oil still dragging its feet…

Every time an oil and gas major announces a major foray into renewable energy, the skeptics come out like clockwork and lambast the sector for merely trying to burnish its green credentials. read more

Nigeria Repays Dues To Oil Majors

By Tsvetana Paraskova – Oct 20, 2020, 12:30 PM CDT

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has repaid most of the arrears it owes to international oil companies for joint venture operating expenses, recently repaying US$3 billion to Exxon and Shell, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday, citing a statement from the Nigerian state oil firm.

NNPC works in joint ventures with the major international oil producers in Nigeria, including ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, Total, and Eni. However, the stretched finances of the Nigerian company has led to arrears in its payments for contributions to the operating expenses of those joint ventures. read more

Oil Majors Stuck Between A Rock And A Hard Place

By Andreas De Vries – Oct 18, 2020, 6:00 PM CDT

Extracts

The past few years have been historic for as far as crude oil forecasts are concerned. Back in 2015 the view that crude oil demand could peak during the 2020s or 2030s was still met with disbelief (and some ridicule…). Economic growth had been pushing crude oil demand up ever year for decades already, so why would things become different, so the reasoning went. Today, however, essentially all major energy forecasters, including BP, Shell, Total, DNV-GL, the IEA and even OPEC, have come round and acknowledge Peak Oil Demand as a realistic possibility. read more

Shell takes Sarnia Manufacturing Centre off the market

By Melanie Irwin October 15, 2020 1:44pm

Shell Canada is no longer actively pursuing the sale of its Sarnia Manufacturing Centre.

Media Relations Manager Tara Lemay made the announcement in a news release Thursday.

“We have decided to stop actively marketing the Sarnia Manufacturing Centre and its associated infrastructure which includes the refinery, chemicals plant, Sarnia and Hamilton Distribution terminals and Shell’s 45 per cent interest in Sun-Canadian Pipeline” said Lemay. “Shell will continue to operate these assets while maintaining our marketing presence in Ontario and continuing to honour branded supply and wholesale agreements.” read more

Gas company NAM to cut hundreds of jobs as prices drop and production is squeezed

October 15, 2020

Dutch gas company NAM is cutting its workforce by hundreds of jobs as gas prices fall and production is cut back.

Over the next six months, 200 to 300 of the permanent workforce of 1,300 will be able to take advantage of a voluntary redundancy scheme and a further 300 contract workers will be let go, regional paper Dagblad van het Noorden said.

Director Johan Atema told the paper that the company had been hit by falling gas prices. ‘We are supplying almost as much gas as last year, but our income has halved,’ he said. ‘Then you are talking about a crisis situation.’ read more

Workers removed from North Sea platform after colleague tests positive for Covid-19

by Hamish Penman:13/10/2020, 11:55 am

More than a dozen workers have been removed from a North Sea platform after a colleague tested positive for Covid-19.

Energy giant Shell confirmed that a crew member, who was demobilised from the Nelson platform on Friday, subsequently tested positive for the virus.

Contact tracing then found another 14 people had come into close contact with the individual, who were all removed from the installation on Sunday as a precaution. read more

Shell says Pennsylvania ethane cracker about 70% complete

By Reuters Staff: October 9, 2020

Oct 9 (Reuters) – Royal Dutch Shell Plc said on Friday its multibillion-dollar petrochemical complex near Pittsburgh was about 70% complete and remains on track to enter service in the early 2020s.

After temporarily suspending construction activities on the ethane cracker in March to limit the spread of coronavirus, Shell said it has been re-introducing workers at a measured pace – bringing the total number of workers on site to about 6,500. read more

TIMELINE-Twists and turns in Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany

By Reuters Staff: OCTOBER 7, 2020

Oct 7 (Reuters) – Poland has fined Russia’s Gazprom more than $7.6 billion for building the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline without Warsaw’s approval, its watchdog said on Wednesday.

Russia’s bid to double its gas export capacity across the Baltic Sea has prompted opposition, including U.S. sanctions, stalling completion of the $11 billion pipeline.

In addition to Europe’s increased reliance on Russian gas, opponents are wary of Moscow’s motives as the pipeline will allow it to curb gas transit via Ukraine, cutting off a source of revenue for Kiev. read more

Shell adopts new commercialisation and generation structure in Brazil

October 7 (Renewables Now) – Oil and gas major Royal Dutch Shell Plc (AMS:RDSA) has adopted a new structure in Commercialisation and Electric Generation in Brazil.

Shell Brasil will follow a business strategy that focuses on the generation and storage of renewable energies and natural gas, as well as on the commercialisation and optimisation, and sales to end consumers of company-branded integrated energy solutions. The director of New Energies of Shell Brasil, Guilherme Perdigao Nascimento, will lead this business. read more

Shell backs hydrogen for shipping’s decarbonization

• Author Britt Russell-Webster     Jeffrey McDonald     Piers De Wilde 
• Editor Jonathan Loades-Carter 
• 02 Oct 2020

London — Energy group Shell has revealed plans to back hydrogen fuel cells on the road to shipping’s 2050 decarbonization goals, tagging LNG bunkers as the bridging fuel between that and conventional oil-based bunker fuels.

“We believe liquid hydrogen to be advantaged over other potential zero-emissions fuels for shipping, therefore giving a higher likelihood of success,” it said in its latest report, ‘Decarbonising Shipping: Setting Shell’s Course.’ read more

LNG Canada construction delay creates cost uncertainty, clouds world supply

Corey Paul: 2 Oct, 2020

Two years after a Royal Dutch Shell PLC-led consortium gave the commercial go-ahead for the massive LNG Canada export terminal in British Columbia — dubbed the single largest private sector investment in Canadian history — construction delays have clouded the LNG supply picture and raised the prospect of cost overruns.

The project was likely about four months behind schedule in February because of factors that included delays in engineering and making equipment for the terminal off-site, according to analysts at the investment research firm Webber Research & Advisory. Now the project is probably around six months behind, which is enough to suggest the potential for significant cost overruns and pressure on a planned expansion, the firm said. read more

Big Oil’s $110 billion asset sale target could prove big ask

By Ron Bousso: October 1, 2020

LONDON (Reuters) – Leading energy companies are hoping to sell dozens of oil and gas fields and refineries worth more than $110 billion to curb both their ballooning debt and their carbon footprints.

But with the outlook for oil and gas prices uncertain because of the coronavirus pandemic and a shift to cleaner energy, finding buyers and striking deals might prove tricky.

“This is not a very good time to sell assets,” Total CEO Patrick Pouyanne said while presenting the French giant’s strategy to switch to renewables on Wednesday. read more

FINANCIAL TIMES

Shell slims down to shape up for the energy transition

Anjli Raval, Senior Energy Correspondent

…the Anglo-Dutch group has been forced into previously unthinkable moves, change and scrutiny of its capital allocation plans mount, is scrambling to come up with an updated plan. In the meantime, it is cutting costs and streamlining.

On Wednesday it offered a glimpse into Project Reshape, its organisational restructuring in which up to 9,000 jobs will be cut from its 83,000-strong workforce to save $2.5bn a year.

All Shell is thinking about is how do we maintain our position as a market leader in every sense — from climate action to staying competitive in the oil and gas space,”one company insider said. “The fear is that we go from being a leader to a laggard. read more

Australia trims 2020-21 LNG export forecasts on COVID-19, production issues

• AuthorNathan Richardson 
• EditorAastha Agnihotri 
• CommodityNatural Gas

Sydney — Australia has cut forecasts for the country’s LNG exports for 2020-2021 (July-June) by some 6% to 75.6 million mt, citing the expected impacts of both the COVID-19 pandemic and domestic technical issues.

If realized, the forecast for the current fiscal would see volumes fall by 3.7 million mt year on year. They are expected to recover in 2021-2022 to 80.1 million mt, the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources said Sept. 28 in a report. read more

Shell Plans to Divest Oil Drilling Rights off North Alaska Coast

Shell Oil is planning to divest — not drill — an oil prospect in shallow state waters off Alaska’s northern coast, despite a recent filing with regulators, spokesman Curtis Smith said.

Shell Offshore Inc. had asked state regulators to combine 18 shallow-water leases and create the West Harrison Bay Unit “in order to pursue a commercial agreement with an alternative operator,” Smith said by email

“Shell has no intention to operate these leases, which were originally purchased in 2012 and are due to expire in 2022” read more

U.S. and European Oil Giants Go Different Ways on Climate Change

While BP and other European companies invest billions in renewable energy, Exxon and Chevron are committed to fossil fuels and betting on moonshots.

HOUSTON — As oil prices plunge and concerns about climate change grow, BP, Royal Dutch Shell and other European energy companies are selling off oil fields, planning a sharp reduction in emissions and investing billions in renewable energy.

The American oil giants Chevron and Exxon Mobil are going in a far different direction. They are doubling down on oil and natural gas and investing what amounts to pocket change in innovative climate-oriented efforts like small nuclear power plants and devices that suck carbon out of the air. read more

Shell files offshore drilling plans for Alaska’s North Slope

17 Sept 2020

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Shell Offshore Inc. has submitted plans to plans to drill for oil in the waters along the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska in the coming years.

The Dutch oil industry giant applied to form the West Harrison Bay Unit to explore in state waters off the North Slope region, The Alaska Journal of Commerce reported Wednesday.

Documents submitted to the state Division of Oil and Gas said Shell has attempted to find a partner to work on the West Harrison Bay leases for at least a year. read more

Nigeria Government Lawyer Accuses Jonathan, Adoke And Diezani Of Receiving Bribes To Facilitate Malabu Deal

He informed the court that Nigeria wanted to take action because of this fact, which it considers to be of very serious prejudice to the nation.

BY SAHARA REPORTERS, NEW YORK: SEP 10, 2020

The lawyer representing Nigeria at the ongoing trial of the Malabu OPL245 scandal, Lucio Lucia, has indicted ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, at the hearing of the case in Milan court on Wednesday. read more

COMMODITIES

Kosmos Energy to sell some exploration assets to Shell

(Reuters) – Oil and gas producer Kosmos Energy said on Wednesday it agreed to sell certain exploration assets in Africa and South America to a unit of Royal Dutch Shell for up to $200 million.

Shell will acquire the company’s participating interest in blocks offshore São Tomé and Príncipe, Suriname, Namibia and South Africa, Kosmos said in a statement.

Kosmos said it plans to use up to one-third of the initial sale proceeds of $100 million to test two high-quality infrastructure-led exploration prospects in the Gulf of Mexico. read more

Shell begins restart of Prelude FLNG after seven-month suspension

Malabu Oil Deal: Canadian judge dismisses suit challenging Nigeria’s grounding of Etete’s jet

September 4, 2020: Oladeinde Olawoyin

A Canadian judge on Thursday dismissed an application seeking leave to appeal the judgement that confirmed the grounding of a luxury private jet purchased by a former Nigerian oil minister, Dan Etete, with some of the alleged proceeds of the controversial $1.3 billion Malabu OPL245 oil deal.

The suit was filed before the court by Tibit Limited, an anonymously owned company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), claiming ownership of the jet. read more

A Glut of Refineries Is the Oil Industry’s Next Problem

New capacity in the developing world is making European plants that turn oil into gasoline and other products obsolete

By Rochelle Toplensky: Sept. 3, 2020 5:03 am ET

This year’s oil glut is already receding. It is a shame that can’t be said of the global glut of oil refineries, which is only getting worse.

Europe in particular has long had too many oil refineries, but the pandemic-induced fall in energy demand has ramped up pressure to resolve the problem. For the region’s big oil producers—already reeling after a flood of excess oil pushed some prices below zero in April—a few aging assets are likely in line for a makeover. Others could be destined for the scrap heap. read more

Kazakh gas station chain scraps Shell/Gulf franchise plans -sources

SEPTEMBER 1, 2020

MOSCOW/NUR-SULTAN, Sept 1 (Reuters) – PetroRetail, operator of Kazakhstan’s biggest gas station network, has scrapped plans to switch to either Shell or a Gulf brand and will instead revive its own Qazaq Oil brand, sources familiar with the plans told Reuters.

PetroRetail in a statement to Reuters confirmed plans to use its own brand but declined to disclose details.

The company, which purchased hundreds of gas stations from state energy firm KazMunayGaz in 2018, has moved to cut costs, including spending on brands, in the wake of a sharp drop in fuel demand due to the pandemic, market players say. read more

Shell to raise investment plan for Mexican ultra-deepwater field to $345M

Mexico’s National Hydrocarbons Commission approves Royal Dutch Shell’s (RDS.A, RDS.B) request to carry out all permitted activities in its exploration plan for the ultra-deepwater Xochicalco oilfield in the Gulf of Mexico.

Shell will drill a well at depths of five miles trying to reach a Wilcox formation, with prospective reserves of as much as 562M boe, boosting its investment in the play to $345.8M from $104M in the original exploration plan, which was first approved in June 2019. read more

Libra Consortium takes final investment decision on Mero-3 FPSO in Brazil’s pre-salt

RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Shell announced today a final investment decision taken by the Libra Consortium, operated by Petrobras, to contract the Mero-3 floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel to be deployed at the Mero field within the offshore Santos Basin in Brazil.

This is the third production system to be deployed in the Mero field, with final investment decisions to contract the Mero-1 and Mero-2 FPSOs already taken.  Each unit has a daily operational capacity rate of 180,000 barrels of oil equivalent, with production coming online over the next four years. The Pioneiro de Libra FPSO (50,000 barrels of oil equivalent/day) has been producing at Mero since 2017 and is a key source of information for the consortium to aid further development and productivity of the field, reservoir and wells. read more

Shell to begin seismic work on North Sea gas discoveries next year

by Allister Thomas: 25/08/2020, 11:20 am

It comes as the energy giant took over operatorship of the licences from Egdon Resources, farming in with 70% interest in both.

Under the deal, Shell will pay 85% of the costs for acquiring and processing the 3D seismic survey, which needs to completed by May 31 2021 under the terms of the licenses.

Shell will meet these costs up to $5million, at which point Egdon will be responsible for 30% of survey. read more

INSIGHT- In the run-up to U.S. election, drilling lobby promotes natural gas as “clean”

By Valerie Volcovici, Andrew R.C. Marshall and Matthew Green: AUGUST 18, 2020

WASHINGTON/LONDON, Aug 18 (Reuters) – America’s biggest oil and gas lobby group is ramping up its advertising spending ahead of the November election to persuade voters that natural gas is a climate-friendly fuel, according to ad buying data.

The campaign by the American Petroleum Institute (API), targeted at younger voters and some tight congressional races, is part of a global battle by the drilling industry to assuage growing fears over the role of natural gas in driving climate change. read more

Unit failure at Shell’s Pernis oil refinery resolved

AUGUST 18, 2020

LONDON (Reuters) – A unit failure at Royal Dutch Shell’s 404,000 barrel per day Pernis oil refinery in Rotterdam on Aug. 17 has been resolved, the company said on Twitter on Tuesday

The oil major said on Monday that the unit failure had led to flaring at the refinery, without identifying the unit in question.

Reporting by Ahmad Ghaddar; Editing by David Goodman

SOURCE

FACTBOX-Oil refiners shut plants as demand losses seen continuing

AUGUST 17, 2020 / 6:01 AM

Aug 17 (Reuters) – Oil refiners are permanently closing processing plants in Asia and North America and facilities in Europe could be next as uncertain prospects for a recovery in fuel demand after the coronavirus pandemic triggered losses.

The pandemic initially cut global fuel demand 30% and refiners temporarily idled plants. But consumption has not returned to pre-pandemic levels and lower travel may be here to stay, leading to tough decisions for permanent shutdowns. Here are some of the plants involved: read more

LNG revenues smashed on price slump

Angela Macdonald-Smith, Senior resources writer:12 Aug 2020

Australia’s revenues from LNG exports slumped a massive 52 per cent in July compared with a year earlier as export prices followed crude oil prices into the basement, cementing prospects for a big dip in export earnings from the commodity this financial year.

LNG export revenues for the country were likely about $1.98 billion last month, sinking from north of $4 billion a year earlier, according to an analysis released on Wednesday by consultancy EnergyQuest. read more

Big Oil’s Most Profitable Business Is No Longer Oil

By Haley Zaremba – Aug 06, 2020, 4:00 PM CDT

It’s been a rough year for oil, to say that least. And the worst isn’t over yet. Even though oil demand, and therefore oil prices, have been slowly recovering, that upward trajectory is now running out of steam and we’re headed toward a slump amidst what will almost certainly be a yearslong recession in the wake of the economic fallout from the devastating spread of the novel coronavirus. read more

Shell to change-up FIFO roster at Australian operations

Paul Hunt: Senior Journalist: Oil & Gas, Policy. 07 August 2020

Currently FIFO staff work three weeks on, four weeks off, then three weeks on and five weeks off but under the new proposed agreement, employees would simply do a four week on, four week off roster.

In a power-point presentation leaked to Energy News this week, Shell Australia said a new roster was needed due to interstate travel restrictions, and the combined impact of a 14-day quarantine requirement for FIFO staff. read more

Shell gets green light for huge Crux backfill project

SHELL Australia has been granted approval by the national oil and gas regulator for development of its massive Crux field offshore Western Australia, though the company earlier flagged a delay to the development thanks to pandemic and oil price concerns.

Paul Hunt: Senior Journalist: Oil & Gas, Policy. 05 August 2020

The 2 trillion cubic feet Crux gas field project will be the source of backfill for the Prelude floating LNG vessel, which has not sent a cargo since February.

The development will consist of five subsea production wells tapping into the northern Browse Basin, which will then be tied back to an unmanned platform. read more