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March 1st, 2013:

Shell seers who failed to predict Arctic debacle offer latest scenarios

Screen Shot 2013-03-01 at 22.08.52By John Donovan

Shell seers who failed to predict the reserves scandal and Shell’s Arctic meltdown, now offer their latest peek into the future. Past performance does not inspire confidence in their prophecies… The famed corporate crystal ball never revealed a world in which its so-called No.1 Enemy would be operating globally under the Royal Dutch Shell Plc top level domain name, dealing on Shell’s behalf with job applications, business proposals, complaints, invitations to speak at conferences, and even terrorist threats. This was a scenario apparently deemed too far beyond the realms of possibility to be contemplated, but it is nonetheless the incredible reality and has been for getting on to a decade. How on earth did such a supposedly far-sighted management end up in such a humiliating situation?

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With the world’s population headed toward 9 billion at mid-century and millions of people climbing out of poverty, global energy demand could increase by as much as 80% by 2050. That’s according to Shell’s latest , which look at trends in the economy, politics and energy in considering developments over the next half a century.

What might lie ahead 50 years from now… or even in 2100? We consider two possible scenarios of the future, taking a number of pressing global trends and issues and using them as “lenses” through which to view the world.

The scenarios provide a detailed analysis of current trends and their likely trajectory into the future. They dive into the implications for the pace of global economic development, the types of energy we use to power our lives and the growth in greenhouse gas emissions. 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 Buckets, Superbuckets and Rustbuckets

Screen Shot 2013-01-11 at 20.09.51How come that nobody dared say what everyone in the world saw (thanks to the Donovans) that you simply cannot go to this most sensitive area in the world with a couple of old rustbuckets? The timing of the most recent Shell reorganisation to buckets and superbuckets was very opportune. I wonder if there now exists also a rustbucket? Not many other outfits (apart from the political world) would allow such incompetence without consequence.

From ‘an old EP hand’

Shell has suspended Alaska drilling operations. We knew that project management had gone down the drain over the years (by being over budget by a factor 2-6, delays of many years and under-performance) when political correctness and nice promises became more important than honesty and good delivery. Now it is also clear that technical competence has gone or at least is silenced and stopped from making itself heard.
 
Processes (the love baby of bearded Brinded) replaced skills. Technical know-how which had been carefully built up over many years was removed as less important and ‘the contractor would do it all’. I bet that all the boxes for the various VARs (Value Assurance Reviews) and other process controls were ticked off as necessary. No-one apparently dared mention ‘there is a moose on the table’. How similar to the reserves crisis of 9 years ago.
 
We have seen the disasters of these policies (all carefully hidden behind the correct words spoken by eloquent ‘leaders’, usually of British and American background, yes I am a Dutchman). The last ‘real’ drilling man in charge of Shell worldwide drilling (good old Coen) had his hand on the brake of all 125 rigs and nothing escaped his attention. He had a jobgroup of A. There simply is no way he would have allowed the crap in Alaska we have seen. And yes, we used to have more blow-outs than nowadays and safety standards have gone up as have the costs per foot drilled. But basic mistakes like the Alaska stuff would not have happened. This was the era where one could speak out as a professional and not be afraid to be fired.
 
I have lost count but in order to attract the right bullshitters in drilling, substantial promotions were handed out and now there are presumably at least 5-6 guys at the level of jg-B. About time to put a head honcho to manage this little group at an even more elevated position? It reeks of jobs for the boys. How come that nobody dared say what everyone in the world saw (thanks to the Donovans) that you simply cannot go to this most sensitive area in the world with a couple of old rustbuckets? The timing of the most recent Shell reorganisation to buckets and superbuckets was very opportune. I wonder if there now exists also a rustbucket?
 
Not many other outfits (apart from the political world) would allow such incompetence without consequence. It looks as if Shell has turned into a political party. The problem is that they operate in a highly technological world that politicians do not understand. 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 Arctic Failure

Screen Shot 2013-01-18 at 10.08.58Shell, a company with one of the worst human rights and environmental records in history, has cancelled its plans to drill this summer in the Alaskan Arctic. A fitting end to a year-long tragicomedy of errors. A year that began with boasting and bravado and ended in a series of accidents and outright safety violations that proved Shell is far from Arctic ready.

Shell’s Arctic Failure Is Obama’s Chance to Act

Kumi NaidooExecutive Director, Greenpeace International: Posted 28 February 2013

An unexpected thing happened last night: One of the biggest oil companies in the world — Shell — made a big decision acknowledging that the oil industry cannot operate safely in the Arctic. A decision that means one year of relief for the people and wildlife of the Arctic.

Shell, a company with one of the worst human rights and environmental records in history, has cancelled its plans to drill this summer in the Alaskan Arctic. A fitting end to a year-long tragicomedy of errors. A year that began with boasting and bravado and ended in a series of accidents and outright safety violations that proved Shell is far from Arctic ready. The bottom line is that no one is or will ever be ready, given the risks involved. 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.