In 2004, the oil and gas industry faced one of its most embarrassing scandals. After whistle-blowers reported concerns about the size of Royal Dutch/Shells reserves, the company surprised investors by slashing reserve estimates. I am becoming sick and tired about lying, Walter van de Vijver, a senior executive at Royal Dutch/Shell, wrote in a November 2003 e-mail made public shortly after his companys problems came to light. The episode led to the ouster of several of the companys top executives and an investor lawsuit worth more than $350 million, and helped propel the S.E.C. rule change.