Royal Dutch Shell Group .com Rotating Header Image

December 27th, 2007:

Financial Times: Microscopic alternative to biofuels

By Cristina Jimenez
Published: Friday December 28 2007

Oil from algae, the microscopic plants that produce a green covering on the surfaces of ponds and neglected outdoor swimming pools, may soon be filling diesel pumps.

As crude oil has moved towards $100 (€70, £50) a barrel and sustainable alternatives are sought in a bid to reduce carbon emissions, researchers are investigating “second- generation” biofuels – those not made from food crops such as soya or corn. Scientists have found that, in terms of oil yield, algae could be the most efficient source of biofuel. 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.

AP: Oil Rises on Inventory Shortfalls

Thursday December 27, 3:31 pm ET
By John Wilen, AP Business Writer 

Oil Prices Jump After Government Reports Crude and Heating Oil Supplies Fell Last Week

NEW YORK (AP) — Oil futures rose Thursday after the government reported larger-than-expected declines in crude and heating oil inventories.

In its weekly inventory report, the Energy Department’s Energy Information Administration said oil inventories fell by 3.3 million barrels last week, more than double the 1.3 million barrel decline analysts expected. Inventories of distillates, which include heating oil and diesel fuel, fell by 2.8 million barrels, much more than the expected drop of 800,000 barrels. 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: Natural resources

ENRC, the London-listed Kazakh mining and metals group, said that it plans to offer shares on the Kazakh stock exchange in 2008. ENRC is the world’s sixth-biggest iron ore exporter by volume and produces about 16 per cent of Kazakhstan’s electricity.

Regency Mines, which is quoted on London’s junior Alternative Investment Market and focuses on exploring for copper and nickel in Western Australia and Queensland, reported a wider full-year pre-tax loss of £742,265, compared with a loss of £169,453 a year earlier, on lower turnover and increased exploration costs. 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: Shell beds into Chinese market with 30-year coal methane production deal

December 28, 2007
Carl Mortished, World Business Editor

Shell is investing in Chinese coal, buying a controlling stake in a coalbed methane project, an alternative resource that China’s Government is keen to promote as it seeks to diversify its country’s energy supplies.

Shell is buying an interest in a 30-year production-sharing contract that covers 1,015 sq km in Shanxi, a northern province bordering Inner Mongolia. Verona Development Corporation, an American company, is selling 55 per cent of the North Shilou block to Shell for an undisclosed sum. It will retain 5 per cent and China United Coalbed Methane Company will hold the remaining 40 per cent. 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: Gazprom clears record $20 bln capex plan for 2008

Thu Dec 27, 2007 12:56pm EST 

MOSCOW, Dec 27 (Reuters) – Russia’s gas export monopoly Gazprom (GAZP.MM: Quote, Profile, Research) will increase capital investment by 43 percent in 2008 to a record level of almost $20 billion as it speeds up development of Arctic fields and new pipelines.

Gazprom has prioritised equity investment over capital expenditures for several years because of massive new asset purchases despite investor criticism over inadequate new -production investment amid stagnant mature-field output in Siberia. On Thursday the world’s largest gas producer said its state-controlled board had approved its capital investments, which will rise to a record of 479.4 billion roubles ($19.41 billion) in 2008 from 335.5 billion roubles in 2007 and 324.9 billion in 2006. 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.

Guardian Unlimited: Shell taps into coal methane in China

Royal Dutch Shell HQ The Hague

The Royal Dutch Shell headquarters in The Hague. Photo: Robin Utrecht/EPA

Terry Macalister , Thursday December 27 2007 

Shell has expanded its interests in China by taking control of a pioneering project to meet some of the country’s burgeoning demand for energy using methane gas from underground coal seams.

The Anglo-Dutch group has bought a 55% equity stake from Verona Development Corporation and will operate the North Shilou project, 150km south-east of Changbei gas field, where Shell is also active in a conventional gas production scheme with PetroChina. 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.

Statement by Royal Dutch Shell Plc: Shell joins China coalbed methane project

27 Dec 2007 

Shell China Exploration and Production Company Limited has acquired a 55% equity interest in a coalbed methane venture in Shanxi Province and will take over as operator.  

China’s Ministry of Commerce recently approved an agreement for Shell to acquire Verona Development Corporation’s majority equity position in a 30-year production sharing contract covering the North Shilou block, an area of 1,015 square kilometres in the eastern part of the Ordos Basin.

Verona maintains a 5% interest in the venture with China United Coalbed Methane Company (CUCBM) holding the remaining 40% equity. 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: Gazprom Takes On Exxon

Vidya Ram, 12.27.07, 7:45 AM ET

LONDON – If the foreign operators of Russia’s Sakhalin-1 natural gas field weren’t concerned enough after BP was ousted from a major venture over the summer, then Thursday’s comments by a senior Gazprom executive should certainly have them reaching for the vodka.

Gazprom Deputy Chairman Alexander Ananenkov lambasted the operators of Sakhalin-1, arguing that a handover of control to them had led to an “infringement of Russia’s national interests,” and had turned Russian consumers into “poor relations who see their gas siphoned off.” 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.

Gulf-Times: Sudden Oman futures spike puts pricing risks in focus

Published: Thursday, 27 December, 2007, 03:37 AM Doha Time
 
SINGAPORE: Oman crude oil futures on the Dubai Mercantile Exchange surged last week, regardless of market fundamentals and movements in other benchmark crude oil futures, which highlights old risks involved in the pricing of Middle East crude oil.

The unusual movements on DME show how a handful of big players can affect prices on the exchange, and less influential participants, such as end-users, can be hit as a result.

The problem is by no means unique to the six-month old exchange – Middle East crude oil traders have long voiced similar concerns about Platts’ trading window, through which Dubai crude prices are set. 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: Managers search for a grain of good sense

EXTRACT: The authors quote approvingly the candid thoughts of an ex-CEO of Shell, Lo van Wachem: “The actual revenue I realise today is grossly dependent on the energy reserves acquired and explored by the two CEOs before me, and CEOs two generations after me will reap the rewards of my efforts.”

THE ARTICLE

By Stefan Stern
Published: December 27 2007 02:00 | Last updated: December 27 2007 02:00

There is no such thing as a growth industry. No, this is not the latest doom-laden forecast for 2008. It is the penetrating insight offered by three management consultants – two from McKinsey, the other a former McKinsey partner – in this thought-provoking new book. 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 Buys 55% in Coalbed Methane Venture in Shanxi, China

By Wang Ying

Dec. 27 (Bloomberg) — Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Europe’s largest oil company, said it bought a 55 percent stake in a coal-bed methane venture in the northern province of Shanxi.

China’s Ministry of Commerce approved an agreement for Shell to acquire the stake in Verona Development Corp. in a 30- year production sharing contract, the company said in an emailed statement today. read more

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