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November, 2012:

Shell to Start Chinese Shale Gas Project Development From 2014

By Eduard Gismatullin on November 15, 2012

Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA), Europe’s largest oil company, said its shale gas project in China will require billions of dollars in investment from 2014 before it can supply the domestic market.

Along with China National Petroleum Corp., Shell plans to take a final investment decision by the end of next year after carrying out exploration work at the Fushun-Yongchuan block in the Sichuan basin. The partners have so far drilled 24 wells and plan a further 14 next year, said Maarten Wetselaar, executive vice president of Shell Upstream International. 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.

Why Shell Is Making a Big Bet on Natural Gas

By: Sharon Epperson, Judy Gee: Published: Thursday, 15 Nov 2012 | 1:23 PM ET With natural gas trading near a one-year high, Royal Dutch Shell, one of the world’s largest integrated oil and gas companies, is making a big bet on the future of the cleanest of all fossil fuels. In an exclusive interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Shell CEO Peter Voser said his company [RDSA  2075.50    -24.50  (-1.17%)   ] plans to invest $20 billion in natural gas products globally over the next three years. (Read More: Can the Natural Gas Sector Save the US Economy?)“We are pursuing four options here in the U.S. to do something with the natural gas,” Voser said. “First, is to go into chemicals which then can be used for manufacturing industries. Second, using gas to go into liquids, generating synthetic diesel, base oils. Third, gas into transports for trucks and shipping industries. And finally, LNG (liquefied natural gas) exports out of the U.S.”

For Shell, which began its investment in natural gas in 2005 when oil was a mere $40 a barrel and natural gas skyrocketed to $13, the advantages of gas are very clear.

Natural gas futures rallied to the highest level of the year for a front-month contract before slipping slightly Thursday after the U.S. Energy Department reported the first winter heating season gas storage withdrawals. Forecasts for much colder temperatures across the East over the next week helped spur a three-day rally this week. 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.

Unit Upset At Shell Oil Company Refinery In Deer Park, Texas

November 15, 2012

A refining unit was “upset” and flaring ensued at Shell Oil Company’s 327,000 barrel-a-day refinery in Deep Park, Texas, on Nov. 12, according to the U.S. National Response Center.

A Nov. 14 power outage hit the 255,000 barrel-a-day refinery owned and operated by Motiva, a Shell/Saudi Refining joint venture, in Convent, Louisiana, according to the U.S. National Response Center. An unknown amount of emission resulted, but it wasn’t known which unit was affected. 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.

Editorial Integrity of “A History of Royal Dutch Shell”

In fact all three Shell members of the editorial committee, Watts, Van der Veer and Munsiff, had form in the culture of corporate cover-up and were therefore ideal from the standpoint of Shell to have editorial influence over inclusion (or non-inclusion) of the dark side of Shell’s history and how that information was treated (spun?)

By John Donovan

The official history of Royal Dutch Shell published in three volumes in 2007 was commissioned by the company and authored by historians associated with Utrecht University who were given unrestricted access to Royal Dutch Shell archives.

The relevant historians, who describe themselves as the researchers and authors of the work, say that none of them are Shell employees and claim that the work is “the fruit of our independent research” with their progress “monitored by an editorial committee, with an equal number of economic historians and company representatives.” 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.

Keri Huston calls for a boycott of Shell stations in the USA

By John Donovan

Operating, as we do, under the .com domain name for Royal Dutch Shell Plc inevitably creates some confusion.

For several years, we have been receiving job applications, business proposals and even terrorist threats, all meant for Shell. I have written permission from RDS Plc Company Secretary Michiel Brandjes to deal with such mail on Shell’s behalf.

From time to time, we also receive angry complaints meant for Shell, as per this email from an irate American motorist accusing Shell of corporate greed: 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.

Selection of Shell related articles Wednesday 14 November 2012

Selection of Shell related articles Wednesday 14 November 2012

John,

A few Shell related articles which may be of interest to your visitors:

Feds: More Arctic oil spill research is needed: Macon Telegraph (blog): The report comes as Shell Oil pursues Arctic exploratory drilling in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas. Environmental groups and some Alaska …

Innovation and technology at Shell top the Adipec Excellence Awards: AME Info: The CSR Award was given to the Shell operated Majnoon project for their submission ‘More than an Oil Field Project’. This highlighted the way … 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 Expects to Invest More Than $20 Billion in Gas by 2015

By Eduard Gismatullin on November 14, 2012

Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA), Europe’s largest oil company, has earmarked more than $20 billion to spend on natural-gas projects through 2015 as profit from extracting, processing and selling the fuel soars.

“Our integrated-gas earnings have more than trebled in the last five years, reaching $9 billion over the last year,” Chief Executive Officer Peter Voser said today. “We see growth opportunities to invest over $20 billion here for 2012-15.” 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.

How Shell’s Move To Revamp Culture Ended in Scandal

FROM OUR NOVEMBER 2004 SHELL NEWS ARCHIVE

How Shell’s Move To Revamp Culture Ended in Scandal: “The root of the problem, however, goes significantly further back than Sir Philip’s reign, which began in 2001”: “These deeper roots are significant because the company has yet to make a full break with its past. Mr. van der Veer is a longtime Shell executive who sat on the committee that received — and dallied over — warnings about the accounting problems.”: “In addition to its ambitious plans to discover new oil and gas cheaply, Shell under Sir Mark was redefining how it counted existing reserves.”: “Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, chairman from 1998 to 2001, remains on the board of Shell’s English parent… He declined to comment about reserves issues. And Shell still can’t seem to get a handle on its reserves.”

As New-Age Style Came In,
Geology Skills Lost Out;
Imitating Jerry Springer
Oilmen at a Rainy Playground

By CHIP CUMMINS and ALMAR LATOUR Staff Reporters of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

November 2, 2004; Page A1

In late 2000, the head of the Dutch exploration unit at Royal Dutch/Shell Group asked his planners to deliver five-minute skits pitching ideas for discovering oil and gas.

In one skit, a naked employee ran on stage to catch the boss’s attention, say two people who attended. Another featured a mock episode of the Jerry Springer show, the incendiary daytime TV talk program. A third, after a bit of fun and games, promised to extract large quantities of natural gas cheaply from seemingly declining Dutch fields. 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 News 12 November 2012

EXTRACTS FROM ARTICLE PUBLISHED 12 NOVEMBER 2012

In a message circulated to all Ogoni villages, the Kingdom Coordinators have called for a sit at home protest on November 10 alleging Shell-sponsored attacks on their meetings and some secret communication between the Chairman of MOSOP Caretaker Committee and Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria.

The MOSOP Coordinators have condemned the silence of the Caretaker Committee over the recent killings of Ogoni people in Sogho communities by the Rivers State Government. 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.

Selection of Shell related articles Tuesday 13 November 2012

Selection of Shell related articles Tuesday 13 November 2012

John,

A few articles which may be of interest to your visitors:

Shell’s Arctic challenges just beginning: Anchorage Daily News-6 hours ago: Shell Oil photoThe Noble Discoverer prepares for its initial Chukchi Sea … BARROW — Even if Shell strikes oil in the Beaufort and Chukchi …

Shell Bets on a Colossal Floating Liquefied Natural Gas Factory Off …: New York Times-14 hours ago: The thought was that they could be built and financed by third parties and rented out to oil companies. But the creation that Shell is finally … 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.

Disgraced former Shell Group Chairman ‘The Reverend Sir Philip Watts’

ITS NOT A HOAX. I’M NOT MAKING IT UP. THE MAN IN THE DOG COLLAR IS WHO YOU THINK IT IS: DISGRACED FORMER ROYAL DUTCH SHELL GROUP CHAIRMAN SIR PHILIP WATTS, THE RESERVES FRAUDSTER ESCORTED FROM THE SHELL CENTRE BY SECURITY GUARDS. I WELL REMEMBER THE TRANSFORMATION PROCESS, BUT THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE!

FROM A FORMER EP HAND WHO WORKED CLOSELY WITH WATTS

John
 
Perhaps you see fit to publish this unbelievable story. I nearly had a fit when I read it and was convinced it was a hoax. But apparently it is all true, proving that real life is more strange than the most far fetched fiction that Hollywood (or nowadays the BBC) can dream up.
 
Look at these links:
 
http://www.walthamstlawrence.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=341:appointment-of-priest-in-charge&catid=43:news-articles&Itemid=58

(The churchwardens are delighted to announce that the Rev. Sir Philip Watts has been appointed to be Priest in Charge at Waltham St. Lawrence.) For some reason forgot to mention in his CV the name of the energy company of which he was Chairman. 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.

US food giant accused over biofuel ‘tainted with Indian blood’

Earlier this year, Raizen, a biofuels company set up by Shell and COSAN scrapped controversial plans to source sugarcane from land stolen from the Guarani after a sustained campaign by the Indians and Survival.

A Guarani man in front of sugarcane crops, grown where the tribe’s forests once stood. © Survival

A US food giant has been implicated in a sugarcane scandal in Brazil that has kept an entire indigenous community off its land, polluted streams and inflicted illness and death on Guarani Indians.

Headquartered in the US, global grain trader Bunge is deeply involved in Brazil’s burgeoning biofuels market, and sources sugarcane from farmers who have taken over the ancestral land of the Guarani.

A community of 225 Guarani in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, whose land was taken from them to make way for the plantations, says the invasion of sugarcane, associated machinery and pesticides has ruined their lives over the past four 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.

Shell, Eni Nigeria oil deal may violate UK laws -Global Witness

ABUJA | Mon Nov 12, 2012 10:02am EST

Nov 12 (Reuters) – Royal Dutch Shell and Eni could “fall foul of anti-corruption legislation” in Britain over a $1.1 billion Nigerian offshore oil block the companies bought last year, campaign group Global Witness said on Monday.

Block OPL 245, which holds an estimated 9 billion barrels of oil, had been owned by former Nigerian oil minister Dan Etete’s company Malabu Oil and Gas. It was later awarded to Shell, starting a decade-long legal dispute that ended last 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.

Betting on Gas, Shell Floats Plan on High Seas

By STANLEY REED: 12 November 2012

A version of this special report appeared in print on November 13, 2012, in The International Herald Tribune.

THE HAGUE — At a shipyard on a South Korean island called Geoje, an army of welders and metal cutters are beginning to assemble what is by many measures the largest ship ever made.

It will span 488 meters, or about 1,600 feet — about one-third longer than some U.S. aircraft carriers. The vessel, the first of its type, will spend much of its time in one place, over a natural-gas field called Prelude, about 200 kilometers, or 120 miles, off the coast of Australia. The gargantuan craft’s majority owner is Shell. Minority partners include Korea 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.

US seen overtaking Saudis as biggest oil producer

By PABLO GORONDI Associated Press /  November 12, 2012

The United States will become the world’s largest oil producer by around 2020, temporarily overtaking Saudi Arabia, as new exploration technologies help find more resources, the International Energy Agency forecast on Monday.

In its World Energy Outlook, the energy watchdog also predicted that greater oil and natural gas production — thanks partly to a boom in shale gas output — as well as more efficient use of energy will allow the U.S., which now imports some 20 percent of its energy needs, to become nearly self-sufficient around 2035. 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 China Shale Size May Be Equal to U.S. Gas, Bichsel Says

By Anthony DiPaola – Nov 12, 2012 6:33 AM GMT

Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA)’s joint venture shale gas developments in China may contain resources on a par with similar developments in the U.S.

“The geology is akin to what we have experienced in the U.S.,” Matthias Bichsel, the company’s global director of projects and technology, said in an interview in Abu Dhabi yesterday. “In the U.S. we have lots of variability and that variability is what we need to explore.”

Energy companies are tapping shale gas trapped deep below layers of rock under the earth’s surface to develop new sources of the fuel used in power plants and petrochemicals facilities. Growing output of the fuel in the U.S., where Shell produces at several areas, may spur use of the fuel for transportation. 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 cuts Nigeria production over pipeline damage

12 November 2012

LAGOS — Oil giant Shell said Sunday it had shut down a pipeline in southern Nigeria due to damage from oil thieves, causing a 25,000 barrel-per-day cut in crude production.

Shell’s Nigerian arm “has shut down the Imo River Trunkline in its eastern operations after it found several crude theft points on the facility. Production of some 25,000 barrels of oil per day is deferred,” a statement said.

The line was originally isolated on October 31 when the first set of leaking points was discovered, it said, adding that unknown persons installed more crude theft connections days later, bringing the total to six. 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.

Ogonis: Coming Together for the Common Good

MOSOP President /Spokesman, Dr. Goodluck Diigbo has asked his fellow Ogoni citizens to become more forward looking; beyond the confines of selfish individual gains, hopes and desires.”

In a speech to mark the 17th Anniversary Remembrance of the November 10, 1995 hanging of the Ogoni Nine, which was observed at Ken Saro-Wiwa Peace and Freedom Center, Bori, he said that Ogonis were no longer second and third class citizens in their homeland.

Diigbo, who spoke via phone from New York, said that he was very optimistic about progress, saying “the dreams of our long struggle are at hand; and urging Ogonis to stick together to embrace steps forward for the common good.” 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.

Corrib Gas Project Engulfed in Corruption Allegations

The latest allegation is that the local Irish Police involved in the Corrib Gas Project were supplied with alcohol by Shell EP Ireland.

By John Donovan

Printed below is a self-explanatory email I sent on 11 November 2012 to Mr Michiel Brandjes, Company Secretary & General Counsel Corporate, Royal Dutch Shell Plc.

I sent him further information earlier today including a related email sent to RDS Plc Chief Executive Mr Peter Voser.

I also made reference to the copy of a letter from a solicitor that has been supplied to me.

The solicitor acts for clients in County Mayo concerned by any implication that they have been involved in any corrupt activity allegedly sponsored by Shell.
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 and ENI’s billion dollar payment for Nigerian oil project could fall foul of anti-corruption laws

Screen Shot 2014-05-20 at 19.01.01

Screen Shot 2014-12-06 at 14.08.2712 November 2012

New information suggests that the US$1.1 billion paid by Shell and the Italian energy company ENI for a Nigerian oil block could fall foul of anti-corruption legislation and highlights the urgent need for strong disclosure laws across the EU. A directive being discussed by the EU Council and Parliament must require full “project-by-project” disclosure to ensure such payments are publicly reported.

The payments made by Shell and ENI in 2011 relate to a disputed Nigerian oil block, OPL-245.[i] Though Shell and ENI paid the Nigerian government, funds were then transferred shortly after to a company controlled by ex-Oil Minister, Dan Etete, who in 2007 was convicted in France of money laundering. According to the current Nigerian Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Adoke, Shell and ENI were fully aware and in agreement that the money would then be transferred to Etete’s company, Malabu Oil & Gas. Earlier this year he stated, “SNUD [a subsidiary of Shell] and ENI agreed to pay Malabu through the Federal Government acting as an obligor the sum of US$1,092,040,000…”[ii] Malabu first obtained the oil block in 1998, in controversial circumstances when Etete himself was the Nigerian Oil Minister under the country’s then-leader General Abacha. 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.

Constant attacks on the website royaldutchshellplc.com

For over a year we have received attacks on the site in the form of massive numbers of blog entries being received. They have recently reached a level whereby legitimate blogs are crowded out, effectively blocking criticism against Shell.

EMAIL SENT 11 NOVEMBER 2012 BY JOHN DONOVAN TO MR MICHIEL BRANDJES, COMPANY SECRETARY & GENERAL COUNSEL CORPORATE, ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC

From: John Donovan <[email protected]>
Subject: Constant attacks on the website royaldutchshellplc.com
Date: 11 November 2012 15:29:54 GMT
To: [email protected]

Dear Mr Brandjes

I would like to bring another serious matter to your attention.

I refer to the constant attacks on our website royaldutchshellplc.com.

There are three strands to the activity.

DENIAL OF SERVICE ATTACKS

The first is denial of service attacks where the site is flooded with traffic. We have upgraded our server a number of times in an effort to deal with these attacks, but the scale is such that even our latest high capacity dedicated server has crashed due to massive spikes in traffic, which cannot be due to normal activity. 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.

Residents of former Shell Oil tank farm site in Carson live amid backhoes, trenches

Soil excavation began this week at Carson’s Carousel Tract, where much of the neighborhood sits above soil drenched in petroleum from a former oil tank farm that used to inhabit the land. (Chuck Bennett/Staff Photographer)

By Sandy Mazza, Staff Writer 9 November 2012

Sharon and Bill Ogden moved into a brand-new two-bedroom home in Carson in 1968, the same year they were married.

Bill worked as a plumber for Boeing and the couple raised two children in the neatly laid-out neighborhood of 285 single-family houses called the Carousel Tract.

This week, Shell Oil contract workers used backhoes to dig up the Ogdens 20-foot-long front yard in three 10-foot deep trenches that stunk of oil when a breeze passed. Noise-dampening blankets nearly as tall as the house buffered the construction sounds on either side. The water fountain that Sharon Ogden had installed in the front yard was placed in storage. 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.

Former Shell Oil site: Tests for toxic contamination under homes in Carson

Until the mid-1960s, Shell stored more than three million gallons of oil in three huge open pits on a field in Carson. Then, Shell covered them up and sold the land to a developer, who built 285 homes on the old industrial site. Oil and cancer-causing chemicals ooze in the soil under those homes.

By Molly Peterson |

People living in the city of Carson have seen a lot of activity on Neptune Avenue this week. Shell Oil company has brought in construction equipment to the residential street to test ways to clean up oil and chemical contamination under Carson’s Carousel neighborhood.

Until the mid-1960s, Shell stored more than three million gallons of oil in three huge open pits on a field in Carson. Then, Shell covered them up and sold the land to a developer, who built 285 homes on the old industrial site. Oil and cancer-causing chemicals ooze in the soil under those homes. 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.

Selection of Shell related articles Friday 9 November 2012

Selection of Shell related articles Friday 9 November 2012

John,

More Shell related articles that may be of interest. Some remind me of Shell USA’s pesticide scandals.

Former Shell Oil site: Tests for toxic contamination under homes in …

89.3 KPCC-1 hour ago: Shell Oil company has brought in construction equipment to the residential street to test ways to clean up oil and chemical contamination under …

Because Of North Slope Oil Spill In 2006, BP Ordered To Pay Alaska …

Huffington Post-57 minutes ago: Royal Dutch Shell, which operates the Gannet Alpha oil rig, initially reported that 54,600 gallons of oil were spilled. A second leak soon … 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 Unit Sells Interest in Nigerian Oil Mining Lease for $567

“Shell are a bunch of cowards to walk away from 35,000 bopd. It would be better to optimise the fields and squeeze more out”: “Thank you Donovans for your site, it reminds me how good we were and how deep Shell has sunk.”

Dow Jones Newswires:Published November 09, 2012

Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSA.LN) Friday said its unit Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) has completed the assignment of its 30% interest in Oil Mining Lease 30 (OML30) in the Niger Delta to Shoreline Natural Resources Limited for a total cash proceeds of 567 million dollars.

MAIN FACTS:

-Divestment is part of the re-shaping of SPDC’s onshore portfolio and is in line with the Federal Government of Nigeria’s aim of developing Nigerian companies in the country’s upstream oil and gas business. 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 and Sunoco settle groundwater contamination lawsuit for $35 million

Shell, Sunoco Settle Groundwater Suit With New Hampshire

By Don Jeffrey – Nov 8, 2012 6:14 PM GMT

New Hampshire reached a $35 million settlement with Shell Oil Co. and Sunoco Inc. of a lawsuit over claims that the gasoline refiners and manufacturers used chemicals that contaminated groundwater.

The state sued a number of oil companies in 2003, charging that they knew the gasoline additive methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) would pollute water supplies, state Attorney General Michael Delaney said today in a statement.

“My office will continue to hold oil companies responsible for their role in causing groundwater contamination in this state,” Delaney said. “This is a substantial recovery that will be used to clean up contaminated groundwaters throughout New Hampshire.” 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 trying to get out of Arctic after ending drilling season

“…the company’s Sikorsky S-92 helicopters had not been prepared with de-icing equipment, and the pilots I spoke with lacked experience flying on the North Slope.”

Alaska Dispatch | Nov 07, 2012

More than a week after completing its preliminary oil and gas drilling operations, Royal Dutch Shell is trying to get its equipment out of the rapidly freezing Alaska Arctic.

Popular Mechanics reports that as of Tuesday, ” some of the oil giant’s vessels are still in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas north of the Alaska coast — and the winter ice is forming.” The magazine website adds: “While the ice doesn’t pose any near-term danger, the delay highlights the logistical challenges facing Shell as it launches the first offshore Arctic drilling to take place in U.S. waters since the 1990s.” 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 Set Up Global Technology Hub in Bangalore

By Rakesh Sharma: Published November 08, 2012: Dow Jones Newswires 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.

Examples of Shell’s Environmental Track Record

Examples of Shell’s Environmental Track Record

Environmental Leader: Shell Catches Flak Over Green Ad, Releases Sustainability Report: 8 May 2007

New York Times: Shell and ‘Flower Power’: 31 May 2007

The Independent: Inside Story: Advertising environmentalism – Is it just greenwash?: 31 March 2008 (GREENWASH)

HEADLINE ON SHELL ADVERT POSTER: DON’T THROW ANYTHING AWAY THERE IS NO WAY

They say: Shell’s “Don’t throw anything away – there is no away” campaign features an ad with a cartoon oil refinery emitting flowers, accompanied by the claim that Shell uses its waste CO2 to grow flowers, and waste sulphur to make concrete. 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.

Selection of Shell related article links published 8 November 2012

INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY A FORMER SHELL OIL CO EMPLOYEE

John,

Here are a few Shell articles for you and your viewers:

Shell Oil Delayed in Arctic Departure

Popular Mechanics-17 hours ago: Shell Oil Delayed in Arctic Departure. The company ended its drilling operation in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas more than a week ago but is …

COMMENT: This article is very interesting because it addresses directly an allegation I made some time ago, i.e., that Shell was abandoning oil production wells without plugging them. As such these wells represent an ongoing pollution hazard and wellhead equipment slowly corrodes away. Eventually many of these wells could begin to leak oil and gas, polluting the surrounding environment. Shell clearly has no intention of re-entering these wells and putting them back on production. The reason they were not plugged is that management didn’t want to spend the money to do so, and really didn’t give a flying **** about the future environement and health problems these wells posed for the local populace. I suspect that there are hundreds of old Shell well that have been abandoned but not plugged, and I suspect that many of these wells are now leaking both gas and oil into the surrounding 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.

Britain is sitting on a £1.5 trillion gas goldmine

Pilot wells caused two earthquakes in Lancashire last year and green campaigners warn the method could contaminate the water supply.

By Tom Mcghie and Nick Craven

Britain is sitting on a £1.5 trillion shale gas bonanza that could be worth more than the remaining North Sea gas.

The amount is bigger than previously thought and would potentially bring energy price stability and independence from imports for decades.

Although only about ten per cent  of the gas is in unpopulated areas suitable for extraction, it would still be worth £150 billion.

The level of untapped shale gas will be confirmed next month in a study by the British Geological Survey, commissioned by the Department  of Energy and Climate Change, according to industry sources. 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 is Trending: Here’s Why That’s Not a Good Thing

By : November 07, 2012

Worldwide concern regarding a 2011 leak at one of Royal Dutch Shell’s (NYSE:RDSA)(NYSE:RDSB) oil fields in Nigeria has gained critical mass; so far this week, the company has been trending on Twitter.

Short phrases like “Payback time for Big Oil,” “Justice for the people,” and “Tell parliament to end oil impunity” have littered the company’s feed over the past few days.

Many of the tweets include a link to a petition sponsored by the advocacy group Avaaz, urging the Nigerian Parliament to fine Shell $5 billion for the 2011 Bonga Oil Spill. In the petition, Avaaz describes Shell as a “giant oil polluter” responsible for a spill that “devastated the lives of millions of people.” read more

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Shell says still interested in Libya oil exploration

VIENNA | Wed Nov 7, 2012 4:27pm GMT

Reuters) – Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) said on Wednesday that it remained interested in oil and gas exploration opportunities in Libya after abandoning drilling in two blocks earlier this year.

Shell told Reuters in May that it planned to exit from the LNGDA and area 89 after disappointing results, prompting concerns that the OPEC country would struggle to reach future production targets.

“That was just a project exit. We did not exit Libya,” said Nureddin Wefati, head of media relations for Shell’s upstream activities in the Middle East and North Africa, at the North Africa Oil and Gas Summit. read more

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Shell’s Arctic Farce: helicopter de-icing controversy

Phi helicopter from the article: Phi Helicopter Crash Kills 8

POSTINGS ON OUR SHELL BLOG

LondonLad:

I wonder if “Outsider” can supply his source (newspaper article / date) of the rumour about Shell flying helicopters without de-icing equipment? Of course with all this hot air about the Arctic warming up etc. maybe the temperatures at the time of the helicopters flying were above that when de-icing equipment was legally required? OR, maybe this is just another piece of rumour-mongering by an individual who has a problem with Shell? Still, “Relieved” seems to believe in the tabloid rubbish. Talking of tabloids – I see that 40% of the articles published on this site are from 7 or 8 years ago!! read more

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Watchdog’s bark far worse than its bite

From our November 2005 Shell News Archive

The Times: Watchdog’s bark far worse than its bite

“In the Shell case, the FSA had plenty of evidence of a conspiracy at the highest level against the interests of shareholders. The company’s own investigation unearthed compelling e-mail evidence, not least former exploration director Walter van de Vijver’s infamous complaint that he was “becoming sick and tired about lying about the extent of our reserves issues”.: “…it looks downright embarrassing that the FSA official who fought Sir Philip, former acting enforcement head David Mayhew, will later this month wave goodbye to the FSA and walk straight into a highly paid job at Herbert Smith — the firm advising Sir Philip.”

Posted Friday 11 Nov 2005

SHELL, we were told by the Financial Services Authority last summer, was guilty of “unprecedented misconduct”. For five years, from 1998 to 2003, the company had repeatedly misled shareholders over its oil and gas reserves. It was so culpable that the regulator felt it had no choice but to fine it a then-record £17 million.

Yet we are now asked to believe that no one running the company at the time was actually to blame. The FSA yesterday dropped its investigation into and proceedings against the former chairman, Sir Philip Watts, and other unnamed individuals. After an 18-month inquiry the regulator’s enforcement arm had assembled a case against the individuals. But its Regulatory Decisions Committee, which makes the final judgment, was unconvinced. Or was it simply unwilling? For years the FSA has banged the drum about how it would hold senior figures to account when companies broke the rules. Yet time and again, the FSA finds companies guilty of serious offences while failing to secure individual scalps. The Citigroup bond trading scandal ended with all the traders who had been involved reinstated and no senior figure so much as formally reprimanded by the authorities. read more

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Shell’s ‘hands off’ approach pushes up costs

From our November 2005 Shell News Archive

Financial Times: Shell’s ‘hands off’ approach pushes up costs

“Shell’s dependence on contractors may help explain why it has lost control over costs at some of its largest projects. This summer, the company said the price tag of Sakhalin-2, a giant natural gas project in eastern Russia, had doubled to $20bn.”: “Shell has conceded it has a problem.”

Monday 7 November 2005

Shell projects ‘over-reliant’ on contractors

By Carola Hoyos and Thomas Catan in London
Published: November 7 2005

* Concern that handing over critical exploration and production functions is linked to spiralling costs

Royal Dutch Shell is over-reliant on outside contractors to manage its large exploration and production projects, a confidential internal analysis has found.

Ed Merrow, an outside consultant commissioned by Shell to evaluate project management, found the company was almost wholly dependent on contractors for critical functions, including scheduling and cost control. Shell took a “distinctly hands-off approach”, Mr Merrow found. A copy of the presentation, which evaluated 13 projects, was obtained by the Financial Times. read more

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Shell plays a blinder

From our November 2004 Shell News Archive

Once again, you have to hand it to Shell for foresight, intuition and perspicacity. Alone among the world’s big oil companies, Shell managed to end up on the losing side of the American election, giving more to the Democrats than it did the (winning) Republicans, according to the US Centre for Responsive Politics. But then again, not very surprising for a company that manage to lose billions of dollars of its own oil reserves. read more

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Shell Expands its JWT Relationship

Atlanta office adds Quaker State, Pennzoil

By Andrew McMains: November 5, 2012

JWT’s share of Shell brands just grew.

The WPP Group agency, which already creates corporate image, fuel and lubricant ads for the oil giant and ads for its Jiffy Lube chain, has added creative responsibilities for both Quaker State and Pennzoil.

Collectively, Quaker State and Pennzoil spent about $46 million in media last year and more than $22 million in the first half of 2012, according to Kantar Media.

The agency’s Atlanta office won the latest assignments after a review against Doner, the incumbent on each brand. Doner had handled Quaker State since 2004 and Pennzoil since 2007. Media planning and buying responsibilities were not in play and remain at WPP’s MediaCom. read more

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Shell: Tax not Scottish independence is the key issue

Royal Dutch Shell is not planning for the prospect of Scotland gaining independence, according to the company’s finance chief who said any Government that controls the North Sea has to get the tax regime right or risk frightening off investors.

Asked what the oil and gas giant is doing to plan for the possibility of Scotland becoming independent, chief financial officer Simon Henry said: “The answer is we are not planning.”

Talking after the Anglo-Dutch firm announced a 15% drop in third-quarter profits, Mr Henry said he would not comment on the independence debate from a political perspective.

He noted Shell has underlined its enthusiasm for the UK North Sea by announcing plans to make bumper investments.

While companies face a long wait for the planned independence referendum in autumn 2014, Shell announced earlier this month it would invest in the giant Fram field. It also agreed to pay $525 million (£325m) to increase its interest in the Beryl area fields. read more

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Shell’s Arctic Farce

Comment posted on our Shell Blog by a long term contributor: “Outsider”

Comment relates to the article: Shell learning about the Arctic the hard way

Shell sent helicopters to the Arctic that were not equipped with de-icing equipment? Presumably because de-icing equipment is not needed in the Gulf of Mexico? Maybe someone should have told them that the Arctic is a little colder. Aircraft icing is a problem anywhere the temperatures approach freezing, and helicopters are particularly vulnerable in icing conditions. Maybe Shell could have spoken to their colleagues in the North Sea? read more

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Shell learning about the Arctic the hard way

Published: November 4, 2012

By JENNIFER A. DLOUHY — Hearst Newspapers

CHUKCHI SEA, OFF THE COAST OF NORTHERN ALASKA — On an all-but-invisible horizon, light gray mist meets dark gray water. Tiny, dry snowflakes and ice crystals swirl across the deck of the drill ship Noble Discoverer, driven by a wind that whips through the warmest coveralls.

Just another day at the office, 400 miles above the Arctic Circle.

“It is a challenging environment,” conceded Shell Alaska Vice President Pete Slaiby, watching the waves that rocked the rig as it bored the first 1,500 feet of an exploratory well in the Chukchi Sea. “You have to plan every day, every operation.” read more

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Selection of links published 4 November 2012

Selection of links to articles of potential interest, kindly provided by a regular contributor

Former Shell CEO Urges Gasoline Rationing Plan

CNBC.com (blog)-Nov 1, 2012: A system to limit gasoline purchases should be considered to curb long lines at service stations for future natural disasters, former Shell Oil

Shell Oil continues cleanup near Wood River Refinery
KSDK-by Kevin Held-Oct 29, 2012: Roxana, IL (KSDK) – Cleanup efforts are continuing at the Wood River Refinery, as Shell Oil plans to demolish and remove houses near the …

I Vote 4 Oil Mafia Kleptocrats

OpEdNews: The oil Don’s ( Bob Dudley – BP, Marvin Odum – Royal Dutch Shell, Rex W. Tillerson — Exxon Mobil, John S. Watson — Chevron and Ryan M. read more

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Shell News Archive 3 November 2005

From Our Shell News Archive 3 November 2005

openprovider.co.uk: The EU domain battle

“A recent example of an expensive lawsuit is the Shell case for royaldutchshellplc.com and royaldutchshellgroup.com. Shell lost this case. So far the lawsuit has cost millions and the domain still doesn’t belong to them.

(Comment by John Donovan on 3 November 2012: We have no idea how much Shell paid out in legal costs for an action served in the USA with Shell paying all costs incurred by the World Intellectual Property Organisation. We do know how much it cost us in legal costs. Not one penny. We represented ourselves and vanquished Shell and its army of lawyers. We still own all of the Shell related domain names Shell unsuccessfully tried to seize.)

Forbes/AFX News Limited: Shell and unions reach compromise, work at Dutch refineries to resume today: “…the CNV Chemie union confirmed that Shell has agreed to continue to allow its workers to retire at the age of 60.”: Thursday 3 November 2005 read more

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Shell Arctic season ends

Shell Arctic season ends; top holes drilled at Burger, Sivulliq

Shell has ended its 2012 drilling season in Alaska’s Beaufort and Chukchi seas, company spokesman Curtis Smith said Oct. 31, the last day that the company was permitted to drill under the terms of its approved exploration plans. Smith said that the company has drilled the top sections of the Burger-A well in the Chukchi Sea and the Sivulliq well in the Beaufort Sea, and that these top holes will position Shell for a successful drilling program in 2013.

“In support of 2012 drilling, Shell deployed numerous assets and rotated thousands of employees to the Arctic for the first time in 20 years,” Smith said. “We are very pleased with the work we accomplished this year and look forward to picking up where we left off when the sea ice retreats in 2013.” read more

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How Shell’s Move To Revamp Culture Ended in Scandal

FROM OUR NOVEMBER 2004 SHELL NEWS ARCHIVE

How Shell’s Move To Revamp Culture Ended in Scandal

Paddy Briggs, a retired Shell communications executive, recalls one event where he and about 40 executives were issued shovels and pick-axes and dispatched to a Dutch village to help it restore an old playground. The oilmen gave up around lunchtime amid heavy rain. Such gimmicks became the butt of jokes, “but nobody said, ‘Hey, have we lost our minds here?’ “says Mr. Briggs.

As New-Age Style Came In,
Geology Skills Lost Out;
Imitating Jerry Springer
Oilmen at a Rainy Playground

By CHIP CUMMINS and ALMAR LATOUR

Staff Reporters of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

November 2, 2004; Page A1

In late 2000, the head of the Dutch exploration unit at Royal Dutch/Shell Group asked his planners to deliver five-minute skits pitching ideas for discovering oil and gas.

In one skit, a naked employee ran on stage to catch the boss’s attention, say two people who attended. Another featured a mock episode of the Jerry Springer show, the incendiary daytime TV talk program. A third, after a bit of fun and games, promised to extract large quantities of natural gas cheaply from seemingly declining Dutch fields. read more

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Shell wins rights to five Canada offshore exploration blocks

CALGARY, Alberta | Fri Nov 2, 2012 2:01pm EDT

Nov 2 (Reuters) – Royal Dutch Shell Plc won exploration rights in five areas of the Laurentian Sub-basin offshore Newfoundland and Labrador, making a C$97 million ($97.35 million) commitment to secure the properties, the province’s offshore regulator said on Friday.

Shell was the sole bidder on the properties, which total more than 5,000 square miles (13,000 square kilometers, the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board said. read more

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Selection of article links 2 November 2012

Selection of article links provided by a regular contributor

John

These articles may be of interest to your visitors:

Sandy causes 300000 gallon oil spill on U.S. East Coast

Motiva, a joint venture of Shell Oil and Saudi Refining, said the spill occurred earlier this week when Sandy damaged two diesel storage tanks …

Shell’s Natural Gas Marketing Aiming Squarely at Nuclear Energy …

Energy Collective: While browsing this morning, I ran across a well-designed, and probably well-funded ad campaign from Shell Oil touting natural gas as a …

Seeing Through the Smoke: Oil, Security, and the Environment in … read more

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Putin slams Shell’s Sakhalin costs – paper

From our Shell News Archive 2 November 2005

Reuters: Putin slams Shell’s Sakhalin costs – paper

“President Vladimir Putin told executives of major oil company Royal Dutch Shell Russia would not approve Shell’s request to let it double costs at its huge Sakhalin project to $20 billion”: “…Putin had spent more than 30 minutes criticising the cost overruns at the Shell-led Sakhalin-2. Putin’s criticisms come as a big blow for Shell…”

“…the oil company’s chief executive was harangued by President Putin…”

Wednesday Nov 2, 2005 7:20 AM GMT

MOSCOW (Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin told executives of major oil company Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L: Quote, Profile, Research) Russia would not approve Shell’s request to let it double costs at its huge Sakhalin project to $20 billion (11 billion pounds), a newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Kommersant business daily quoted sources, who attended a meeting between Dutch businessmen and Putin during his visit to Amsterdam, as saying Putin had spent more than 30 minutes criticising the cost overruns at the Shell-led Sakhalin-2. 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 $450 Billion in U.S. LNG Exports Is ‘Optimistic’

By Eduard Gismatullin on November 01, 2012

Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA) Chief Financial Officer Simon Henry said total pledges from the energy industry to invest $350 billion to $450 billion in projects for U.S. liquefied natural gas exports are “a little bit optimistic.”

Shell, the largest LNG supplier, has held exclusive talks to take a stake in the Freeport LNG project. The producer faces rival projects led by companies including Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM), Cheniere Energy Inc. (LNG), Sempra Energy (SRE) and BG Group Plc. (BG/)

“If that’s all going to happen without inflation and with the support of the American people to export all that American gas to industrial competitors and it’s all going to happen by 2020, I think it’s a little bit optimistic,” Henry told reporters today on a conference call. “Today’s headlines usually become tomorrow’s challenged projects.” read more

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Black Gold In Ireland? MindThe Eco Warriors, Though.

Big Oil has watched the Irish scene and its public protests and court cases with trepidation. John O’Sullivan, technical director with Providence Resources, told the Financial Times, “We’ve definitely seen a Corrib ripple effect…. [Potential investors] go through the technical assessment, it gets to their main board and then someone who has worked at Shell or read about Corrib says they are not going to touch Ireland.”

11 November 2012

Ireland’s troubled economy received a jolt of hope last month with the news that an oil field off the achingly beautiful coast of West Cork may contain as much as 1.7 billion barrels of oil, with 280 million barrels of that recoverable in the short term at a rate of 100,000 barrels a day, That’s more than the entire country consumes and you would think “Eureka!” is the word. But few are doing cartwheels just yet, given the legacy of futility that has plagued Irish offshore resource exploration for decades. read more

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