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October 11th, 2007:

ktuu.com (Alaska): Government lawyers fight for Shell drilling plan

Associated Press – October 11, 2007 3:04 PM ET

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – Shell Oil has found a friend in the federal government.

Government lawyers this week filed papers arguing that the court challenges should be thrown out preventing the Dutch oil company from going forward with its exploratory drilling plan in the Beaufort Sea.

A court in San Francisco has blocked Shell’s exploratory drilling plan in the Beaufort at the request of the North Slope Borough, environmental groups and other organizations. 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.

Bangkok Post: Shell hands control of stations to dealers

Company hopes move will cut operating cost

ARANEE JAIIMSIN

The Shell Company of Thailand Ltd will hand over the operation of all of its company-owned retail stations to dealers by the end of this year. Simon Hirst, general manager retail sales and operations for Shell in Thailand, said there were 550 Shell petrol stations in the country at present.

Of the total, 330 stations are owned by the company and operated through retail business agreements with dealers and 200 are dealer-owned stations. The remainder are company-owned and operated. 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.

Bloomberg: Shell’s Director on Woodside Petroleum Board Resigns (Update1)

By Alexander Kwiatkowski

Oct. 11 (Bloomberg) — Royal Dutch Shell Plc’s nominated director on the board of Woodside Petroleum Ltd., Australia’s second-largest oil and natural-gas producer, resigned with immediate effect.

Shell, which has a 34 percent stake in Woodside, expects to nominate a replacement for Russell Caplan in coming weeks, Perth- based Woodside said today in an e-mailed statement. Caplan, who is chairman of Shell in Australia, stepped down to focus on the company’s operations in the region, Shell said in a separate statement. 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.

Vladivostok Times: Gazprom will not have to seek financing for Sakhalin II project independently

Thursday, October 11 2007, 08 PM

The Sakhalin II operator is holding talks with foreign state and private banks

VLADIVOSTOK, October 10, vladivostoktimes.com Sakhalin Energy operator is negotiating to borrow up to 6 billion USD in loans from foreign state and commercial banks, the Kommersant – Far East newspaper reports. This is the amount the Company needs to accomplish the second stage of the Sakhalin II project. The total amount of investment is approved at 19.4 billion USD.

Among creditors of the project will be private banks, but most of the money will come from customers for the ecology report. In 2005 the Japan Bank of International Cooperation (the country is the biggest customer in the project) considered granting a 4 bln USD loan to Sakhalin Energy. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The Wall Street Journal: CEO Hayward to Streamline

BP, Cut Headquarters Jobs
By GUY CHAZAN
October 11, 2007 1:31 p.m.

LONDON – BP PLC is set for a “step-by-step” recovery after years of underperformance, said the oil major’s new chief executive Tony Hayward as he launched a broad restructuring that will include big job losses at company’s London headquarters.

In an interview, Mr. Hayward said BP’s revenues, which have lagged behind those of its rivals, should surge in the fourth quarter as big production projects come on-stream and BP’s two big U.S. refineries return to full capacity. 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.

Financial Times: Hayward unveils radical shake-up at BP

By Ed Crooks, Energy Editor
Published: October 11 2007 13:37 | Last updated: October 11 2007 13:37

BP, Europe’s second-biggest oil company, on Thursday announced a wide-ranging restructuring designed to close the gap with its competitors.

The company’s operations are to be reorganised to reduce organisational complexity and improve consistency.

Thousands of jobs could go over the next two years as the restructuring takes effect. Tony Hayward, who took over as chief executive in May, described the company’s overhead costs as ”unacceptably high”. 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.

Forbes: Investors Applaud BP Plan

Vidya Ram, 10.11.07, 11:40 AM ET

LONDON – BP soared on the stock market after the new chief executive Tony Hayward announced the restructuring plan that was promised in September.

Shares in the energy company soared by 11 pence (22 cents), or 1.9%, to £5.91 ($12.02), in morning trading in London after Hayward said the company would simplify its operational structure by dividing the company into two main divisions – one focusing on exploration and production — the upstream part of the business, in the industry jargon — and the other on refining and marketing, known as downstream. 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.

Bloomberg: Nigerian Oil Workers Call Off Strike Against Chevron (Update2)

By Julie Ziegler

Oct. 11 (Bloomberg) — Oil workers in Nigeria will resume work today after calling off a two-day strike against Chevron Corp., the country’s third-biggest oil producer.

Peter Akpatason, president of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, or Nupeng, said the strike was initiated on Oct. 9 after Chevron’s Nigeria unit allegedly changed some pay-related policies that had been agreed to in 2005. Akpatason said the issues were resolved during meetings last night. 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.

International Herald Tribune: EU to fund project to build hydrogen-powered autos

By James Kanter Published: October 10, 2007

PARIS: The European Union on Wednesday proposed a project worth as much as €1 billion to fund development of hydrogen-powered cars. But environmental groups promptly criticized the plan as an ineffective way of promoting greener transportation systems.

Hydrogen produces no carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, when used in combustion engines or fuel-cell systems. EU officials said hydrogen technology should help Europe reduce emissions and shore up more secure supplies of energy. 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.

earthtimes.org: Australia leads CO2 capturing effort

Posted : Thu, 11 Oct 2007 02:45:06 GMT
Author : Science News Editor 
Category : Science (Technology) 
 
SYDNEY, Oct. 10 Australia is trying to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by capturing carbon dioxide and storing it in underground reservoirs.

The International Energy Agency says the technology could provide 15 percent to 20 percent of the total greenhouse gas cuts needed to stabilize the earth’s climate, the Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday.

The newspaper said Australia leads the world in the effort, with four of the largest proposed demonstration and commercial-scale storage projects. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The Wall Street Journal: Australia Approves Gorgon Gas Project

By RACHEL PANNETT
October 11, 2007; Page A14

CANBERRA, Australia — The government gave a long-awaited green light to the Gorgon gas project off the coast of northwestern Australia, clearing the way for the country’s biggest-ever resources project.

The approval allows oil giants Chevron Corp., Exxon Mobil Corp. and Royal Dutch Shell PLC to develop a liquefied-natural-gas plant on Barrow Island off the coast of Western Australia state, but it comes with strict conditions to protect the environment. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The Wall Street Journal: BP Readies for a Shake-Up

New CEO Hayward
Plans to Eliminate
Duplicated Efforts
By GUY CHAZAN
October 11, 2007; Page A14

LONDON — Five months into the job, BP PLC’s new boss, Tony Hayward, will attempt to put his stamp on the London-based oil company today with a restructuring intended to streamline management.

The move comes as BP attempts to recover from a string of mishaps and problems that some have blamed on an excessively complex organizational structure. Mr. Hayward told a staff meeting in Houston last month that BP’s operational performance in the third quarter was “dreadful.” read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The Guardian: Market forces

Nick Fletcher
Thursday October 11, 2007

Oil group Royal Dutch Shell was under early pressure on talk it might have been guiding down analysts’ forecasts for the third quarter. Something similar happened with rival BP a few days ago, but BP indicated at the time it was not giving out any information that was not already in the market.

Shell, which is due to report results later this month, saw its A shares fall as low as £19.47 at one point before recovering to close unchanged at £19.85. Part of the uncertain mood in the sector could be traced to the US oil group Chevron, which announced on Tuesday night its third quarter results would be lower than the second quarter because of a fall in refining margins. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The Times: Need to know: Natural resources

October 11, 2007

Natural resources

ExxonMobil and Shell, the oil and gas giants, have welcomed the formal environmental clearance given by Australia which will open the way for tens of millions of tonnes of liquefied natural gas to flow into China. The two companies are project partners who had signed a deal in principle last month to supply more than A$7 billion (£3 billion) worth of gas from the Gorgon project to PetroChina.

Total, the French oil group, said that it wants to to “build up” its partnership with Gazprom, the Russian energy giant, but refused to comment on whether it will acquire an equity stake in the Russian group. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The Times: Pressure mounting on BP chief as profit estimates are slashed

October 11, 2007
Carl Mortished, International Business Editor

A sudden collapse in profits from refining and a slowdown in US petrol consumption will put pressure on BP as its chief executive, Tony Hayward, today spells out his plans to streamline the oil company’s management.

Mr Hayward is expected to give more details of a drive to remove bureaucracy and management layers.

BP is under pressure to improve performance after the disastrous fires at its Texas City refinery and delays in major oil projects in the Gulf of Mexico. However, a worsening climate for big oil companies is weighing down on efforts to raise its game. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The Times: In the know: Rumour of the day

October 11, 2007

Rumour of the day

Royal Dutch Shell shares edged down yesterday amid rumours that the oil group is trying to get analysts to lower forecasts for its third-quarter report, due at the end of the month. News that the group could report weak figures is a turnaround from last quarter’s 20 per cent rise in profits. The shares closed last night at £19.76, off 1p.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/markets/article2625980.ece

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The Times: Harnessing the sun

Jeremy Leggett started a company that specialises in tapping solar energy after his conscience got the better of him

October 11, 2007
Emily Ford

As a green entrepreneur, Jeremy Leggett has spent the past ten years fighting an enduring myth: solar panels don’t work in Britain. Granted, they work better in Spain. But at solarcentury’s office in London on a distinctly cloudy October day, the roof is gathering enough energy to power all the firm’s computers. “We could have zero-carbon buildings,” he says. read more

This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.

The Times: How to… be a responsible leader

The demand on business leaders is no longer ‘make money or else,’ social and ethical considerations are increasingly important

October 11, 2007
Emily Ford

Tell your employees to turn off their monitors, print fewer pages and arrange the odd company volunteering jaunt. If only being a responsible leader was that simple. In a climate of rising ethical expectations, sustainable business is not about token gestures – it is key to attracting the best talent, satisfying increasingly ethically aware customers and ensuring that you are still profitable in 20 years’ time. We asked three experts how to keep your leadership on the right rails. 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.

cnbc.com: Oil prices rise to mid-$81 a barrel on news of Nigeria strike, BP fire in Alaska

Updated: 12:43 a.m. ET Oct. 11, 2007

SINGAPORE – Oil prices rose Thursday in Asia, extending overnight gains on news of a surprise strike at Chevron Corp. facilities in Nigeria and another fire at BP PLC’s Alaskan oil field.

Light, sweet crude for November delivery climbed 20 cents to $81.50 a barrel in Asian electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange by midmorning in Singapore. The contract rose $1.04 to settle at $81.30 a barrel Wednesday in New York.

Oil prices often rise when oil supplies are threatened in Nigeria, Africa’s biggest oil producer and one of the top overseas suppliers to the United States. 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.

Reuters: Shell says S.F. refinery hydrotreater back on line

Wed Oct 10, 2007 4:13pm EDT  

HOUSTON, Oct 10 (Reuters) – Shell Oil Co (RDSa.L: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Wednesday a hydrotreater at its 156,000 barrel per day San Francisco Bay area refinery in Martinez, California, was back in operation.

All of the refinery’s units were “stable and running well,” said spokesman Steve Lesher.

The hydrotreater was shut on Tuesday morning due to a malfunction.

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.

Financial Times: Giant shows global ambition

By Dino Mahtani
Published: October 11 2007 03:00 | Last updated: October 11 2007 03:00

The suggestion that Sonangol may have its regulatory functions hived off is an indication that the Angolan national company may have ambitions to join a growing club of emerging national oil companies, Dino Mahtani writes in London.

Petrobras of Brazil and Petronas of Malaysia are just two examples of other national oil companies that have become competitors to the likes of BP, Royal Dutch Shell and ChevronTexacoworldwide. 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.

Financial Times: Providence in oil discovery near Irish coast

By Dino Mahtani
Published: October 11 2007 04:36 | Last updated: October 11 2007 04:36

Providence Resources has announced a “significant” find off the coast of Ireland, pushing shares in the oil and gas exploration company up almost 16 per cent on Wednesday.

The group, which has its roots in a company founded by Sir Anthony O’Reilly, the Irish billionaire, said a drilling campaign in its Celtic Sea Hook Head concession had exceeded expectations.

Providence shares rose 1p to 7.38p in London, giving it a £177m market value. 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.

Financial Times: Highland Gold wins licence extension

By Rebecca Bream
Published: October 11 2007 04:19 | Last updated: October 11 2007 04:19

Shares in Aim-listed Highland Gold rose 12 per cent on Wednesday after the group was granted a licence extension for the Mayskoye gold project in Russia, the group’s main growth prospect.

On Monday, Oleg Mitvol, deputy head of Rosprirodnadzor, the Russian environmental watchdog, accused Highland Gold of breaching its licence requirements by not being ready to start production at Mayskoye by the end of this 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.