Royal Dutch Shell Group .com Rotating Header Image

February, 2012:

Shell CEO Peter Voser warns Brussels on flood of regulations

Tuesday 21 February 2012

Anglo-Dutch oil giant Royal Dutch Shell has warned the European Commission that Europe’s competitiveness will be ‘paralysed’ by the flood of new financial regulations currently being introduced.

CEO Peter Voser told the Financieele Dagblad he has sent a warning letter to Brussels with a copy to the parliament in The Hague.

Voser decided to raise the matter now because he is concerned the new regulations for the financial market will be widened to include other industries. 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.

Inspection report on spill pipeline ‘overdue by three years’

THE PRESS AND JOURNAL: PAGE 6. MONDAY, February 20, 2012

BY ROSS DAVIDSON

An inspection report on the safety of a pipeline at the centre of the UK’s biggest oil leak in a decade was overdue by three years, officials revealed.

Operator Shell was supposed to assess the integrity of pipelines at Gannet Alpha every four years, but the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said the audit had not been carried out since 2004.

HSE has issued SheIl with two improvement notices after the firm did not keep the report up-to-date. 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.

Shell’s Gannet Alpha leak pipeline audit three years overdue

An audit of a pipeline which leaked more than 200 tonnes of oil into the North Sea was three years overdue, an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive has shown.

20 February 2012

An audit of a pipeline which leaked more than 200 tonnes of oil into the North Sea was three years overdue, an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive has shown.

The incident at Shell’s Gannet Alpha oil platform, 113 miles (180km) off Aberdeen, happened in August last year.

The HSE said an audit of the safety management system due in 2008 had not been carried out before the accident.

The leak was discovered about 300ft (91m) below the surface.

A joint investigation into the leak by the UK’s regulatory authorities is currently ongoing. 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.

Royal Dutch Shell attempt to undermine anti-corruption initiative

Royal Dutch Shell has taken action in an attempt to neutralize planned anti-corruption transparency rules that would force Shell, and other natural resource companies, to disclose all payments to foreign regimes.

By John Donovan

The Financial Times reports that Royal Dutch Shell has taken action in an attempt to neutralize planned anti-corruption transparency rules that would force Shell, and other natural resource companies, to disclose all payments to foreign regimes.

The new rules are intended to cover EU and US quoted businesses.

Their purpose is to identify corrupt regimes receiving major income from extractive industries, including oil and gas, who siphon off the proceeds.

According to the FT, Shell CFO Simon Henry has written to the UK business minister, Norman Lamb, setting out the oil giants concerns and pushing a series of alternative proposals, which would dilute the anti-corruption rules. 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.

Shell employees sterilized by dibromochloropropane – DBCP

Shell and Dow were aware for more than 20 years that DBCP caused sterility in animals and the shrinking of testicles… A Shell official had instructed that speculation about possible harmful conditions to man should be omitted from registration of the product with the United States Department of Agriculture.

By John Donovan

On 11 February, we published an article about current litigation underway in the USA courts against Shell Oil Company and Dow Chemicals relating to the extremely hazardous chemical pesticide, dibromochloropropane (“DBCP”).

We have carried out some research into the background history of Shell’s association with DBCP, which stretches back almost 60 years.

In August 1977, an Associated Press syndicated article described DBCP as A pest-controlling chemical suspected of causing sterility in men and cancer in animals…” It said that The Washington Post had revealed that Shell and Dow were aware for more than 20 years that DBCP caused sterility in animals and the shrinking of testicles. Laboratory tests were carried out in 1952 and the findings reported to Shell in 1954. 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.

City of Carson to sue Shell Oil over contamination

The city of Carson has decided to sue Shell Oil more than two years after hundreds of residents brought a suit against the company, alleging health hazards from widespread contamination…

Carson to sue Shell Oil over contamination in Carousel tract

By Sandy Mazza Staff Writer
Posted:   02/18/2012 06:16:14 AM PST
Updated:   02/18/2012 03:10:17 PM PST

The city of Carson has decided to sue Shell Oil more than two years after hundreds of residents brought a suit against the company, alleging health hazards from widespread contamination in their Carousel tract neighborhood.

The City Council has authorized Girardi & Keese, the law firm for residents in the 285-home community, to represent the city in a new suit alleging that Shell created a public nuisance by leaving contaminants at the site. 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.

Shell Clears Major Hurdle in Its Bid for New Arctic Drilling

By JOHN M. BRODER and CLIFFORD KRAUSS

A version of this article appeared in print on February 18, 2012, on page A15 of the New York edition

In a crucial step toward the ultimate approval of new oil drilling off the North Slope of Alaska, the Interior Department on Friday tentatively approved Shell’s plans for responding to a potential spill in the frigid Arctic waters.

Shell still needs to cross several more regulatory barriers before it will be permitted to begin drilling as many as six exploratory wells in the Chukchi Sea in July. But the green light from the Interior Department on the company’s oil spill response plan is a clear sign that the Obama administration is disposed toward allowing the drilling despite the dogged opposition of many environmentalists. 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.

Shell Wins Approval for Oil-Spill Response Plan in Arctic

By Katarzyna Klimasinska – Feb 17, 2012 5:29 PM GMT

Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA) won U.S. approval for its oil-spill response plan in the Chukchi Sea, bringing the company closer to winding up a five-year quest to drill off the north coast of Alaska.

Shell must obtain drilling permits from the Interior Department’s Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement to start work as early as July. The company also needs U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service permission for “incidental” disruption of polar bears, walrus, whales and seals. 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.

Royal Dutch Shell still furtively buying Iranian oil

…Shell has avoided public comment on its position… The Anglo-Dutch major is one of the biggest consumers of Iranian crude worldwide… Shell Chief Executive Peter Voser declined to elaborate on how much Iranian crude the company was still buying…

Exclusive: Europe’s big buyers cut ties with Iran oil

By Alex Lawler and Peg Mackey

LONDON | Thu Feb 16, 2012 12:50pm EST

(Reuters) – Iran’s top oil buyers in Europe are making substantial cuts in supply months in advance of European Union sanctions, reducing flows to the continent in March by more than a third – or over 300,000 barrels daily, industry sources said on Thursday.

France’s Total (TOTF.PA) has already stopped buying the crude, which is subject to European Union sanctions from July 1 and market sources say Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) has scaled back sharply. 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.

Whistleblower accuses Shell Executive Director, Malcolm Brinded

“Van de Veer was in a tricky situation. The Shell reputation was already in the gutter after the reserves debacle and Brinded was the white knight in shining armour who was to help in the recovery process.”

Introduction by John Donovan

Former Shell International HSE Group Auditor, Bill Campbell (above right), provides more information about the background to his career with Shell and why he blew the whistle on the Brent Bravo scandal.

By Bill Campbell

I left Shell in 2002 for health reasons and was granted VS on grounds of partial incapacity. During my 24 years with Shell I was promoted regularly and held senior positions. During that career I was never subject to any disciplinary action for wrongdoing or poor performance. 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.

Showa Shell Sekiyu to decide on Iranian oil after Japan-U.S. talks

Shell (Showa Shell) petrol station in Japan

(Mainichi Japan) February 15, 2012

TOKYO (Kyodo) — Major Japanese oil company Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. said Tuesday it will decide on whether to cut oil imports from Iran after seeing the outcome of bilateral talks between Japan and the United States.

Showa Shell Sekiyu is the largest Japanese importer of oil from Iran with 100,000 barrels per day.

In the face of a U.S.-led sanctions drive over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Jun Arai, president of the company, told a press conference, ‘We will closely follow the bilateral talks and respond after an announcement is made (on the outcome).” 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.

Scottish Police focus on Bill Campbell challenge to Scottish Prosecutor

By John Donovan

Interesting to see that the article “Retired Shell HSE Group Auditor challenges Scottish Prosecutor” is currently featured on the Scottish Police website…

http://www.scottishpolice.info/category/grampian/

Retired Shell HSE Group Auditor challenges Scottish Prosecutor – Royal Dutch Shell plc .com

RELATED SHELL BLOG POSTING TODAY BY “an observer of Shell”:

I have no proof nor will I ever find that proof, but this reprehensible conduct of the legal authorities smells to high heaven of masonic lodges. It is commonly known that a great many employees of Shell Expro are freemasons. The police forces all over the world are well presented in the various lodges. I would not be surprised if Brinded himself is a member. Bill Campbell is a very courageous man taking on these evil forces. We in Shell all knew him to be a completely honest and competent Maintenance manager and HSE auditor. But he loses against all the parasites and sycophants whose sole job is to protect the directors. And then live well on the spoils of their abhorrent activities. Top marks for the Donovans who keep this festering sore in the spotlight. To some it maybe a lot of repeating old stories, but those that want to hide and bury their bad actions know that time is on their side. And Shell has deep pockets and knows how to procrastinate. 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.

Shell Oil Company Invests Nearly $4 Million in The University of Texas at Austin

Feb. 14, 2012

AUSTIN, Texas — Shell Oil Company executives visited The University of Texas at Austin on Friday, Feb. 10, to present a check in the amount of $3,963,250, representing the company’s investment in the university for the year.

About $3.5 million of the total was designated for sponsored research. Shell has active research partnerships with the university’s Cockrell School of Engineering, Jackson School of Geosciences and Marine Science Institute. Those partnerships include the Shell-UT Unconventional Research (SUTUR) initiative. 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.

Retired Shell HSE Group Auditor challenges Scottish Prosecutor

I do not speak for Mr Campbell, but the impression I have is that he believes that Shell has influence in high places within the Scottish establishment. It was extraordinary that after an investigation lasting over two years, the notification of your decision not to prosecute was first conveyed to the whistleblower who sparked the investigation, Mr Campbell, by a General Counsel representing the accused company, Shell. That was an unfortunate development.

By John Donovan

I received the email below from Bill Campbell, the retired HSE Group Auditor of Shell International in response to my recent article:

Mystery of how Shell escaped Brent Bravo criminal prosecution: 7 Feb 2012

In 2005, Shell was fined a record £900,000 at Stonehaven Sheriff Court, for a series of safety failings on the Brent Bravo platform, which led to a gas leak inside the giant platform’s utility leg and the tragic deaths of two workers, Keith Moncrieff and Sean McCue. Prior to the explosion Mr Campbell had informed Shell senior management that a safety audit he led had revealed a “Touch F*** All” safety culture on the Brent Bravo platform and that safety records had been routinely falsified. Shell management’s failure to take appropriate remedial action led to the subsequent explosion.
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.

Shell claims majority of local community supports Corrib Gas project

By John Donovan

An interesting Financial Times article was published this evening under the headline: €800m pumped into Irish pipeline project

Referring to the hugely controversial Shell led Corrib Gas consortium, Michael Crothers, the new MD of Shell E&P Ireland, concedes that Shell could have done a better job of engaging with the local community when it started working on the project a decade ago. He says it has done a much better job in the past five years and claims that the community is now “largely behind the project…” 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.

Shell says Corrib to provide 60% of gas needs

Monday, 13 February 2012

The partnership behind the Corrib Gas project is to invest another €800m to bring it to completion between now and late 2014.

Shell E&P Ireland claims the investment will sustain 700 direct jobs and 750 indirect jobs in that period. It says when complete the project will supply 60% of Ireland’s gas needs.

The controversial project has been under construction since 2004 and trenchant opposition from groups opposed to the project has kept it in the headlines since. 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.

Toxic legacy of Shell in Ecuador, Panama, and Costa Rica?

Screen Shot 2015-06-28 at 23.35.36Decades later, when American factory workers producing DBCP were found to be sterile and doctors in Costa Rica began to diagnose sterility in hundreds of banana plantation workers, health officials would question why Dow and Shell continued to sell a product knowing that “testicular atrophy may result from prolonged, repeated exposure.”

By John Donovan

Shell Oil Company is one of the defendant’s, along with Dole Food Company, Dow Chemical Company and others, in a current lawsuit in the U. S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana (New Orleans).

The Plaintiffs – plantation workers from Ecuador, Panama, and Costa Rica – allege that their health, welfare, and lives have been damaged from exposure to an extremely hazardous chemical pesticide, dibromochloropropane (“DBCP”)  manufactured and sold under various trade names, including Nemagon. 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.

Clovis sues Dow, Shell Oil over fouled water

Clovis is suing two chemical manufacturing giants over the toxic remains of a farm fumigant found in drinking-water wells around the community of nearly 100,000 people. This is not the first time Dow Chemical and Shell Oil have been sued in the Valley over contamination from fumigants. Fresno, Sanger and Livingston won multimillion-dollar settlements from Dow and Shell in the 1990s over the chemical dibromochloropropane, or DBCP.

City takes on companies after farm fumigant found in wells.

By Mark Grossi – The Fresno Bee Friday, Feb. 10, 2012 | 10:22 PM

Clovis is suing two chemical manufacturing giants over the toxic remains of a farm fumigant found in drinking-water wells around the community of nearly 100,000 people.

The case will be watched closely by other San Joaquin Valley cities also suing over the same contamination. Clean-water advocates fear this powerful and unregulated chemical, which has been linked to cancer, has been in wells throughout the region for years. 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.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST: The Corrib Gas controversy

EXTRACTS FROM “ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST” BY LORNA SIGGINS

FROM THE FOREWORD (BY FINTAN O’TOOLE)

Though theoretically citizens in a liberal democracy, those who have stood in the way of the exploitation of the Corrib gas field by a consortium led by Shell found themselves with very little protection from their own government. Instead of seeking to negotiate a settlement on behalf of these citizens, Irish governments aligned themselves to an overwhelming extent with Shell, putting the resources of the state behind the acquisition of land and, when locals objected, mounting a policing operation that at one point included the deployment of the navy.
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.

Shell Gannet Alpha platform in trouble again

By John Donovan

It seems that Shell’s Gannet Alpha platform has had another close call.

On Monday workers were evacuated and production shut down after natural gas began seeping out from under the platform.

All of the ingredients for a disastrous explosion, of the kind that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico, which almost brought about the demise of BP and the explosion on Shell Brent Bravo, resulting from Shell management (Malcolm Brinded) failing to take adequate action after a safety audit exposed a “Touch F*** All” safety culture and falsification of safety records.
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.

Shell Gannet Alpha platform evacuated over gas leak

9 February 2012

Nearly 50 workers had to be evacuated from a North Sea oil platform after natural gas began seeping out beneath it, it has emerged.

Shell said staff were taken off the Gannet Alpha installation on Monday as a precaution. Production was shut down.

The oil giant said the incident was not linked to last August’s leak of more than 200 tonnes of oil from a pipeline beneath the Gannet Alpha.

The Health and Safety Executive is investigating.

The Gannet Alpha oil platform is 113 miles (180km) off Aberdeen.

SOURCE ARTICLE

Gas work at leak pipe completed 04 NOVEMBER 2011 ‘No more oil’ from leak pipeline 24 AUGUST 2011

Shell defends safety after leak 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.

Royal Dutch Shell Gets Comfortable in Papua New Guinea

FEBRUARY 9, 2012

By David Winning

Royal Dutch Shell is getting serious in its pursuit of a piece of Papua New Guinea’s oil and gas wealth.

Around six months after signing a strategic alliance with Papua New Guinea’s state oil company, the Anglo-Dutch oil major is setting up a representative office in the impoverished Southeast Asian nation.

Shell’s strategic alliance with Petromin, signed Aug. 18, includes a joint study of major basins in Papua New Guinea with the potential to contain big oil and gas deposits. The study is due to be completed this year, and could be a springboard for Petromin and Shell to participate in projects together. 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.

Motiva Port Arthur FCC, Alky, HCU back in production -sources

HOUSTON | Wed Feb 8, 2012 8:58pm EST

Feb 8 (Reuters) – Motiva Enterprises’ 285,000 barrel per day (bpd) Port Arthur, Texas, refinery returned a gasoline-producing fluidic catalytic cracking unit, an alkylation unit and a hydrocracking unit to production on Wednesday following a Tuesday power outage, said sources familiar with refinery operations.

The units were ramping up to full production rates on Wednesday night, the sources said. A brief power outage on Tuesday morning knocked the units out of production, according to a notice the refinery filed with Texas pollution regulators. 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.

Shell Corrib Gas project controversies continue

James Gill is the Garda Sergeant who allegedly made a bizarre threat relating to a Shell Corrib protestor: “Give me your name and address or I’ll rape you.”

The Irish Times – Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Protester to appeal defamation ruling

ÁINE RYAN

A CORRIB gas protester who was recently successfully pursued for defamation by a retired garda has appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court.

Fisherman Pat O’Donnell, known locally as The Chief, claims Circuit Court Judge Margaret Heneghan “could be perceived to be biased” in her ruling, because she attended a Co Mayo secondary school for a time in the 1970s with retired Garda sergeant James Gill.

Mr Gill policed the Corrib protests for a number of years and sat on its monitoring committee. 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.

Motiva Port Arthur refinery hit by power outage -sources

Tue Feb 7, 2012 6:27pm GMT

HOUSTON Feb 7 (Reuters) – Motiva Enterprises’ 285,000 barrel per day (bpd) Port Arthur, Texas, refinery was hit by a brief power interruption on Tuesday morning, according to sources familiar with refinery operations.

Among the units affected by the power interruption was the refinery’s gasoline-producing fluidic catalytic cracking unit, the sources said.

The Motiva Port Arthur refinery is a 50-50 joint venture between Saudi Refining and Shell Oil Co, Royal Dutch Shell Plc’s U.S. unit. 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.

Sakhalin Energy’s 2011 Sales Rose by $1 Billion, Vedomosti Says

By Yuliya Fedorinova – Feb 8, 2012 4:53 AM GMT

Sakhalin Energy, Russia’s liquefied natural-gas producer, increased its revenue by $1 billion last year after raising prices, Vedomosti reported today, citing Chief Executive Officer Andrey Galayev.

The project may break even as soon as this spring rather than in 2013 or 2014, as initially planned, Galayev told the Moscow-based newspaper.

OAO Gazprom has a 50 percent stake in Sakhalin Energy.

To contact the reporter on this story: Yuliya Fedorinova in Moscow at [email protected] 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.

Debate continues on Big Oil’s big profits

latimes.com February 7, 2012, 2:23 p.m

The five so-called “super major” oil companies — Exxon Mobil, Royal Dutch Shell, ConocoPhillips, Chevron and BP— have just wrapped up their fourth quarter earnings reports, but not without inspiring disdain over how they made those billions in profits and over what they were doing with them.

Under the title “Big Oil’s Banner Year,” the Washington-based Center for American Progress on Tuesday, for example, pointed out that the five firms made a fourth-quarter record $137 billion in profits while producing less oil than they did the previous 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.

Rise In Oil Thefts Threatens Nigerian Output

Published February 07, 2012 Dow Jones Newswires

IBADAN, Nigeria — Royal Dutch Shell PLC’s (RDSA) unit in Nigeria has said a rise in thefts of crude from its new Nembe Creek pipeline is jeopardizing the production and export of oil in Nigeria’s Niger Delta.

Currently 140,000 barrels of oil per day is transported along the pipeline that takes most of the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd.’s and third party crude oil production in Eastern Swamp operations to the Bonny Terminal in the Niger Delta. 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.

Mystery of how Shell escaped Brent Bravo criminal prosecution

The Sunday Times article may go some way to illuminating the mystery of how Shell miraculously escaped criminal prosecution.

By John Donovan

An article published in Scotland by The Sunday Times may help to explain why the health and safety division of the Crown office and Procurator Fiscal Service decided not to prosecute Royal Dutch Shell for alleged criminal offences arising from an explosion on the Brent Bravo platform.

In 2005, Shell was fined a record £900,000 at Stonehaven Sheriff Court, for a series of safety failings on the platform which led to a gas leak inside the giant platform’s utility leg and the tragic deaths of two workers, Keith Moncrieff and Sean McCue. 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.

Shell CEO Peter Voser €6.75 million salary plus €3.5 million bonus

I doubt that Mr. Voser will emulate Network Rail bosses in the face of a widespread public backlash against Fat Cat bonuses and waive his Fat Cat bonus, as they have, to improve safety? Fat chance.

By John Donovan

According to a report filed on Monday with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission, Peter Voser, the Swiss Chief Executive of Royal Dutch Shell Plc received €6.75 million in salary for 2011 plus a bonus of €3.5 million, a combined total of over €10 million.

Voser wants half of his bonus (€1.75 million) paid in shares. The full details of the bonuses at the top of Shell will not be known until publication of the annual report of the company.

Peter Voser was in 2010 the highest paid director of any Dutch listed company. 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.

Shell raises alarm over oil theft

FEBRUARY 6, 2012

LAGOS (AFP) – Shell raised the alarm on Monday over repeated damage to a key pipeline in southern Nigeria by what it said were thieves seeking to siphon off crude for sale on the lucrative black market.

The Anglo-Dutch oil giant said the Nembe Creek Trunkline had been hit by an increased number of attacks by thieves “barely 16 months after the old line was replaced due to repeated sabotage attacks.”

While highly organised crude theft — locally called “bunkering” — has long been a major problem in Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, authorities have warned that the practice has been on the rise. 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.

Shell, UOP Among Companies Put on Blacklist by Iran, Mehr Says

By Ladane Nasseri – Feb 6, 2012 4:10 PM GMT

Iranian Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi has ordered five European companies, including Royal Dutch Shell Plc, to be put on a blacklist for failing to meet their commitments in the nation’s refinery projects, Mehr reported.

Shell and UOP LLC, a unit of U.S.-based Honeywell International Inc., were among the companies named in the report published today by the state-run news agency.

Qasemi “ordered the National Iranian Oil Products Refining and Distribution Co. to halt foreign purchases of license in the country’s refinery projects at a time of increasing sanctions and lack of commitment of foreign companies,” according to the news agency. 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.

Shell, Cosan’s Sugar Venture Will Expand Output 9% in New Season

FEBRUARY 06, 2012

By Isis Almeida

Feb. 6 (Bloomberg) — Raizen, a joint venture of Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Cosan Industria & Comercio SA in Brazil, will process 9 percent more sugar cane in the season starting in April than a year earlier, commercial director Ivan Melo said.

Raizen’s cane processing in the 2012-13 season will be 57.6 million metric tons, with sugar output up about 15 percent to 4.3 million tons and ethanol supply about 10 percent higher at 2.4 billion liters (634 million gallons), Melo said in an interview at the Kingsman conference in Dubai today. Sweetener content will also rise, he said. 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.

Royal Dutch Shell downgraded

Extract from “Today’s Top Equity Ratings Changes”

By Andrea Tryphonides

Another week begins and we are here to guide you through the top rating changes in Europe Monday:

• Firstly Credit Suisse has downgraded Royal Dutch Shell to neutral from outperform following the company’s fourth quarter results released on Feb. 2. The brokerage highlights lower 2012-15 free cash flow estimates, cut by 22% due to higher capital expenditure. Also, it sees little potential for Shell to re-rate on multiples given sector-average free cash and dividend growth in the medium term. 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.

OGONI HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH BUREAU INAUGURATED

Human Rights Watch Bureau Director – Chief Superintendent of Police, Chief Yaesu Neebee.

As part of a broader civil society mechanism to protect and defend every Ogoni person – child, man and woman against doctrines, policies and practices that infringe human rights and fundamental freedoms in Nigeria, MOSOP President/Spokesman, Dr. Goodluck Diigbo today February 3, 2012 inaugurated the Ogoni Human Rights Watch Bureau in Bori, Ogoni.

Headed by a retired Chief Superintendent of the Nigeria Police Force, Chief Yaesu Neebee as Bureau Director, and assisted by a retired Assistant Superintendent of Nigeria Police, ASP Lucky Nuataa, the body collaborating with two law firms in Nigeria, is to independently document human rights situation at the village or city level in a fair, impartial and competent manner. 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 Interview: Shell hopeful for Arctic drilling

By DAN JOLING
Associated Press

Published: February 5th, 2012 08:59 AM
Last Modified: February 5th, 2012 09:04 AM

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – It’s the billion-dollar question in Alaska for 2012: Will this be the year Shell Oil begins large-scale offshore exploratory drilling in Arctic waters?

Two months into 2012, the oil giant is beyond the lead time it said it needed to assemble the flotilla of support vessels that must accompany drill ships to leases in the to the remote Chukchi and Beaufort seas. But Shell Alaska Vice President Pete Slaiby remains hopeful drilling can begin when Arctic Ocean ice melts this summer, even as he awaits a green light from regulators. 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.

Pemex Seeks to Add Conoco, Shell Subsidiaries to Suit

By LAURENCE ILIFF

MEXICO CITY—Mexican oil company Petroleos Mexicanos has filed a motion to add ConocoPhillips and subsidiaries of Royal Dutch Shell PLC to a 2010 suit in U.S. federal court that seeks damages against companies that had allegedly purchased natural-gas condensate that Pemex said was stolen from its operations in northern Mexico.

In a proposed amended suit that was attached to the motion, Pemex, as the state-owned company is known, said it doesn’t allege that either company “acted with intent or knowledge or that it was part of any conspiracy,” but it does allege that they are liable for “transactions involving the stolen property of Mexico.” 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.

Royal Dutch Shell CEO Peter Voser on a Swiss roll…

Introduction by John Donovan

It seems timely, in view of recent postings on our Shell Blog, to republish an article about Shell CEO Peter Voser authored by retired Royal Dutch Shell Executive, Paddy Briggs (right). It was first published on 27 July 2009. Paddy is currently a Member Nominated Trustee of the Shell Contributory Pension Fund.

On a Swiss roll…

By Paddy Briggs

Here’s the story. You are a Swiss accountant with a proven record of ruthlessness and synthetic business acumen. You are comfortable with numbers – that’s what you do – but you know little about the minutiae of the oil business. How can you be – you are not an “oil man” you are a “dollars man”. By guile, good fortune and the Peter Principle you find yourself at the helm of one of the world’s biggest oil and gas companies. You know that you will struggle with the difficult things – like creating an organisation that finds, develops, transports, refines and markets hydrocarbons. You know nothing at all about the oil and gas chain from exploration to consumption. You’ve never really worked in it – other than seeing spreadsheets which show you how much it costs. But you are now in charge. So what you do is retreat to the familiar world of numbers. That world where there is certainty – where something that costs “$100m” is only supportable if an adequate ROACE is assured. And where, even though future earnings are always, by definition, unpredictable you find a way of getting bogus certainty where there is none. By appointing more accountants and listening to them.null 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.

Shell pledges to spend, spend, spend – but gamble leaves City cold

The Times: 3 February 2012

Tim Webb Energy Editor

Ambitious plans to boost growth will cost too much and knock Shell off its top spot, the City warned yesterday. Unveiling disappointing results, the Anglo-Dutch oil group further unnerved investors when it said it planned to spend even more heavily on new oil and gas projects.

Analysts said that Shell would make lower returns from the huge outlays, leaving less room to raise its dividend significantly. The company, which has outperformed its rivals over the past 18 months, would struggle to maintain its position at the front of the pack, they added. 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.

Europe is too emotional about fracking, says Shell chief

Tom Bawden: Friday 03 February 2012

Shell’s chief executive, Peter Voser, called on Europe for a less “emotional” response to fracking, as he outlined plans to accelerate the oil giant’s use of the controversial technology used to release hydrocarbons from rocks.

Mr Voser said Shell would invest $6bn (£3.8bn) to appraise, explore and develop gas and oil reserves contained in rocks this year, as it looked to significantly expand the volume of hydrocarbons it produces. 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.

Shell reminds us of the moral bankruptcy of the corporate elite

By STEVE HAWKES, Business Editor: Published: 3 February 2012

SHELL is coining it as pump prices soar — after yesterday unveiling an £18BILLION profits bonanza.

The oil giant sparked outrage by boasting it raked in almost £2.2million an HOUR last year.

Hard-up motorists — now facing forecourt prices that are almost back to record levels — were left fuming.

Almost all of the 54 per cent surge in profits was down to the rocketing price of crude.

Shell, which also benefited from rising gas prices, insisted it barely made a penny at the pumps. But the RAC’s Adrian Tink raged: “Motorists understandably feel they are being taken for a ride when they see figures like these. We understand they don’t make a large amount at the pump but they make a lot of money when the oil price is going up. 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.

Shell fears it could be driven out of the UK over North Sea taxes

Shell warned the government not to tax it out of the UK, as it sketched out ambitious growth plans alongside an underwhelming set of results.

Chief executive Peter Voser said the Anglo-Dutch oil company was aiming to pump 4bn barrels of oil per day (bpd) by 2017, compared to 3.2bn today.

Net spending will rise from £15bn to £19bn this year as it chases its goal, although most of the difference will come from fewer asset sales, with actual investment set to rise by a more modest £1bn to £21bn.
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.

Oil price could fall to $70 in 2012 amid volatility, Shell warns

Oil prices could fall to $70 a barrel during 2012, from current levels above $110, as high volatility in the economy and energy markets becomes “a fact of life”, Royal Dutch Shell executives said.

By Emily Gosden: 3 February 2012

The oil giant unveiled its 2011 results on Thursday, with a 54pc jump in full-year profits to $28.6bn (£18.1bn).

High oil prices helped to compensate for a tough fourth quarter in which Shell reported a loss in its ‘downstream’ refining and marketing division.

Shell’s chief executive, Peter Voser, outlined an aggressive long-term growth strategy, focused on ‘upstream’ exploration and production. He said the strategy would help Shell ride out volatility and increase cash flow by up to 50pc over the next four years. It would spend $30bn in 2012, with more than 60 projects under construction and in design. 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.

Shell to sell 24% stake in Woodside

The share price of oil and gas firm Woodside dipped on Friday after oil major Shell announced it would sell its stake in the Australian company.

By: Esmarie Swanepoel

3rd February 2012

PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The share price of oil and gas firm Woodside dipped on Friday after oil major Shell announced it would sell its stake in the Australian company.

Royal Dutch Shell CFO Simon Henry said overnight that its 24.27% stake in Woodside no longer fitted the company’s long-term plans, and would be sold when the time and price was right.

The oil and gas major said that divestments were expected to reach between $2-billion and $3-billion in 2012.

In its upstream portfolio, Shell was expecting some 250 000 barrels of oil equivalent a day of asset sales and licence expiries over the 2012/17 timeframe, and assuming that these impacts played out, oil and gas production was expected to average some four-million barrels of oil equivalent a day in 2017/18, an increase of some 25% from the 2011 levels of 3.2-mllion barrels of oil a day. 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.

Never Say Never Again

John

An incomplete but nonetheless informative summary of historic catastrophic offshore events…might be of interest to your readers…

LINK TO FILE: NeverSayNeverAgain

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.

Union fury as Shell closes pension scheme despite making £18bn profit

Fuel giant Shell has been accused of “moral bankruptcy” for announcing profits of £18billion – just a month after closing its final salary pension scheme for new recruits.

Fuel giant Shell has been accused of “moral bankruptcy” for announcing profits of £18billion – just a month after closing its final salary pension scheme for new recruits.

The multinational’s haul soared 54% last year thanks to sky-high oil prices caused largely by political tensions in the Middle East. But union leaders accused the firm of raking it in while hammering workers.

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: “Shell reminds us of the moral bankruptcy of the corporate elite. The company is needlessly closing its final salary scheme while posting colossal profits. 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.

BP should take a close look at Shell

There are two main differences between Royal Dutch Shell and BP.

By , Head of Business 11:17PM GMT 02 Feb 2012

Shell’s results on Thursday showed it was capable of mistakes, like any company. Hiccups in its production business and continued over capacity in refining meant it undershot market expectations and the share price ended 1.2pc down.

But the company’s dividend remains strong (in 2011 it was Europe’s biggest dividend payer, before special distributions, and probably the world’s biggest as a result) and it plans to start raising the payout on the back of continued investment. 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.

PetroChina Boosts Shell Ties With 20% Stake in Shale Project

February 02, 2012, 11:40 AM EST

By Bloomberg News

Feb. 3 (Bloomberg) — PetroChina Co., the country’s biggest energy producer, boosted ties with Royal Dutch Shell Plc after agreeing to buy a 20 percent stake in its Groundbirch shale-gas project in Canada.

Shell will remain the operator of the project, Mao Zefeng, the Beijing-based senior assistant secretary to PetroChina’s board, said by telephone yesterday. He declined to give the value of the transaction.

PetroChina plans to pay more than $1 billion for a stake in the Groundbirch property, Hong Kong-based FinanceAsia reported on its website, without saying where it got the information. Shell and PetroChina’s parent agreed in June 2011 to increase cooperation in energy exploration in China, estimated to hold the world’s largest reserves of shale gas. 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.

Shell Losing $1 Billion a Year on U.S. Gulf Drilling Delays

February 02, 2012, 1:20 PM EST

By Eduard Gismatullin

Feb. 2 (Bloomberg) — Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Europe’s largest oil company, is losing about $1 billion a year from drilling delays in the Gulf of Mexico since the 2010 Macondo disaster.

Shell’s production in the region will be curbed by about 50,000 barrels of oil equivalent this year, similar to 2011, Chief Financial Officer Simon Henry said. The company expects to return to planned operations off the Gulf coast by 2014.

“The cash flow implications are a billion dollars or more per year relative to where we want to be,” Henry said in London today. “We are catching up.” 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.

Shell Looking At Ways Ways To Improve US Gas Profits

FEBRUARY 2, 2012

— Shell aiming to exploit difference in price between U.S. gas and LNG, GTL

— Investment in U.S. gas exploration to be at lower end of planned spending

— Company to make further moves into oil-rich shales

By Alexis Flynn

Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

LONDON (Dow Jones)–Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSA) is actively looking at ways to improve the profits it gets from U.S. natural gas, including seeking out land for a potential gas-to-diesel plant, the company said Thursday. 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.