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May, 2016:

Shell cutting back manpower sharply at Iraq’s Majnoon oilfield

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Anthony McAuleyMay 21, 2016

Royal Dutch Shell is cutting its workforce sharply at the Majnoon oilfield near Basra in southern Iraq as the government’s financial woes deepen.

Majnoon is one of the five “supergiant” (containing more than 5 billion barrels) oilfields located in southern Iraq, with estimated recoverable reserves of nearly 13 billion barrels, and it has been a major provider of additional funds for the Iraqi government since it started exporting two years ago.

The field employed more than 3,000 at peak construction – three-quarters of whom were Iraqis. But the expatriate workforce had dwindled to 400 amid cutbacks as the government has struggled with both the collapse in oil prices over the past 18 months and the costs of the war with militants in the west of the country. read more

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Royal Dutch Shell Merger Completion Results in Serious Debt Woes

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By Micheal KaufmanMay 20, 2016 at 2:09 pm EST

The energy sector has been badly affected due to substantial decline in oil and gas price. This has forced companies to implement counter steps such as capital expenditure reduction and asset disposals.

Royal Dutch Shell plc (ADR) (NYSE:RDS.A), a major oil company, is reportedly looking for buyers for its North Sea assets. The assets had been mainly bought during its multibillion takeover of BG Group.

According to a report by Bloomberg, the company is in talks with chemical producers including privately owned Neptune Oil and Gas and Ineos Group AG, established by former CEO of Centrica Sam Laidlaw. Shell could look to sell a package of assets and want to gauge buyers’ sentiments before formal assets disposals process is launched. With no final decision been made yet, there is also a possibility that the assets might be retained. 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.

Buhari to Niger Delta militants: Don’t confront my govt.

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Friday, May 20, 2016

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday urged militants in the Niger Delta to drop their confrontational stance and work with his government to review the Amnesty Programme initiated by the Yar’Adua Administration.

Mr. Buhari assured oil companies operating in the Niger Delta that the Federal Government is taking all necessary actions to protect strategic assets in the region from vandals and criminals.

Speaking at a meeting with the Global Director (Upstream) of the Royal Dutch Shell Group, Andrew Brown, President Buhari said that he had directed the Chief of Naval Staff to reorganise and strengthen the military Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta to deal effectively with the resurgence of militancy and the sabotage of oil installations. 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, Exxon Seen as Oil Majors Most Exposed to Nigeria Violence

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Shell may be losing almost 50,000 barrels of oil a day: Rystad

Exxon fields linked to Qua Iboe terminal also vulnerable

By Angelina Rascouet: May 20, 2016

Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Exxon Mobil Corp. are the international oil companies most exposed to the explosion of violence in the Niger River delta that has cut Nigeria’s output and fueled a rally in global crude prices, according to Rystad Energy.

Shell and Exxon have the most production in vulnerable parts of the oil-rich region — onshore or near the coast, according to Per Magnus Nysveen, senior partner and head of analysis at the Oslo-based consultant. Shell is losing almost all of the 50,000 barrels a day it pumped in the delta last year, he said. That’s about a quarter of its output in the country. Exxon pumped 145,000 barrels a day last year — about half its Nigeria total — from shallow-water fields that could also be targeted, Nysveen 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.

Inaccurate predictions of when oil production won’t meet demand

Screen Shot 2016-05-20 at 13.11.39By John Donovan

Retired Shell Oil President John Hofmeister (right) will say practically anything to get quoted in the news media, presumably in the hope of raising his public profile. 

CNBC is today reporting his prediction that oil production won’t meet demand in 5 yearsFor some reason, he consistently tries to talk up the price of oil. 

Those of us with good memories may recall a similar reckless prediction made by his former Shell boss, Jeroen van der Veer. 

As reported in the Times newspaper article below (published in January 2008), Mr. van der Veer said that oil and gas demand would outstrip supply within 7 years. In other words, by 2015.  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 Under Pressure As It Seeks To Divest North Sea Assets

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Summary

Royal Dutch Shell reportedly testing the waters for its $30 billion divestiture plan.

Most of the assets are located in the North Sea.

What will potential buyers be looking at?

Weak selling environment could result in company retaining some assets.

Gary BourgeaultMay 19, 2016 5:35 PM ET

After its $54 billion acquisition of BG Group, Royal Dutch Shell Plc (NYSE:RDS.A) (NYSE:RDS.B) had its credit rating cut after the huge increase in debt. Now it has reportedly entered into talks with interested parties in order to raise about $30 billion from the sale of assets, according to Bloomberg, citing sources not wanting to be identified.

The report said the bulk of the assets in question are from the BG acquisition, with the majority of the assets located in the high-cost North Sea region. In March, other unidentified people said Shell was also shopping assets in India and Trinidad and Tobago, along with the U.S. pipelines. 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.

Shareholders Outraged At BP, Shell CEO Pay Packages

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Screen Shot 2016-05-12 at 11.17.55…investors will be left holding underperforming oil stocks, whereas oil company CEOs will continue to reward themselves with fat paychecks, disregarding shareholder’s sentiments.

By RAKESH UPADHYAY: May 19, 2016

The massive revolt against the pay of BP’s chief executive, Bob Dudley, where almost 60 percent of the shareholders rejected the £14m (US$20 million) pay package is a stern warning to oil companies that investors aren’t pleased with the gaping disconnect between performance and pay structure.

Similarly, Royal Dutch Shell CEO Ben Van Beurden’s 2015 pay package, including pension and tax equalization of 5.576 million euros (US$6.1 million), is likely to face resistance from shareholders as two shareholder-advisory firms have urged them to oppose the CEO’s pay. 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.

Could Royal Dutch Shell plc drop to 1,000p?

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By Prabhat Sakya – Thursday, 19 May, 2016

Change is an unavoidable part of business. Schlumpeter’s concept of “creative destruction” means that no company can afford to stand still.

For example, the photographic industry, which had always been based on film, made the move to electronic CCD technology, and people now take photos not just using digital cameras but also phones and tablets.

And the television was based on the clunky and expensive cathode ray tube (CRT) for around a century, but now LCD and LED flat screens have transformed this sector. 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 Said to Start Talks With Buyers for North Sea Asset Sales

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Screen Shot 2016-04-20 at 13.50.03By Dinesh Nair and Rakteem Katakey: May 19, 2016 – 1.24PM BST

Royal Dutch Shell Plc is in talks with potential buyers for some North Sea assets, mostly fields it got this year as part of the record acquisition of BG Group Plc, according to people familiar with the matter.

The Anglo-Dutch energy giant has been in talks with companies including privately held chemical producer Ineos Group AG and Neptune Oil & Gas, set up by former Centrica Plc chief Sam Laidlaw, the people said, asking not to be identified as the information is private. Shell is seeking to sell a package of assets and is talking with companies to gauge their interest before a formal sale process is launched, the people said. No final decision has been made and Shell may decide to retain the properties, they 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.

Has Royal Dutch Shell Plc lost its blue chip status?

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Blue chips are stocks that are considered more reliable than most of their peers. This could be because they operate in an industry that has been relatively stable in the past, or because they have an advantage over their peers, which makes their financial performance more consistent and robust than sector rivals.

With Shell’s (LSE: RDSB) share price having fallen by almost a third since its 2014 high and its bottom line forecast to decline by 35% in the current year, it appears at first glance as though Shell is not a blue-chip share. Yet despite this it still features as a core stock in a wide range of portfolios, with investors having historically viewed it as being a safe, secure and reliable investment for the long 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.

Royal Dutch Shell Clings To Its Dividend

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Casey Hoerth: May 18, 2016 

Summary

  • Management decreased operating expenses 20% year on year in the first quarter.
  • However, record low oil and gas prices have caused a large cash flow gap in Q1.
  • Results should improve in coming quarters, but I still do not expect Shell to become cash flow neutral.
  • I believe the dividend’s days are numbered, even with crude at $49 per barrel.

Upstream energy companies have taken quite a beating over the first quarter of 2016, thanks to record low crude oil prices. Brent Crude hit its $31 low back in January, and as earnings results came in over the last couple weeks, it became readily obvious to me that the carnage was widespread. Even the big integrated names took it on the chin, financially.

Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE:RDS.A) is no exception. Shell has adamantly clung to its dividend since the downturn started, and the company’s balance sheet has suffered as a result. On April 15th Moody’s downgraded Shell from Aa1 to Aa2, and outlook remains negative. It’s not too hard to see why that is. 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.

Dutch Take On Gazprom in Battle Over Europe’s Oil-Linked Gas

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Screen Shot 2016-05-13 at 10.52.28The legal action coincides with government curbs on output after earthquakes in the Netherlands…

By Kelly Gilblom: May 18, 2016

In its new role as a natural gas importer, the Netherlands wants to make sure it doesn’t overpay.

GasTerra BV, the nation’s biggest buyer and seller of gas, initiated arbitration against Gazprom PJSC’s export unit, the Russian company said Monday. It is seeking a price review for fuel purchased from Europe’s largest supplier under a long-term contract linked to oil, which has rallied this year as the price on gas hubs extended declines.

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The legal action coincides with government curbs on output after earthquakes in the Netherlands, home to the European Union’s largest gas field, which turned it into a net importer of the fuel. Utilities from Germany’s RWE AG to Turkey’s Botas Boru Hatlari Ile Petrol Tasima AS filed arbitration claims against Gazprom PJSC’s export unit after market prices fell below contract rates, with EON SE and Engie SA settling cases with Europe’s biggest gas supplier this 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.

Houma woman to stage protest at Shell AGM

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Screen Shot 2016-04-20 at 13.50.03Written by Keith Findlay – 18/05/2016 6:32 am

A representative of the native American Houma Nation Council will attend Shell’s annual general meeting next week to call on the board and investors to put an end to new offshore leases in the Gulf of Mexico.

Monique Verdin, who lives on the Louisiana coast, is travelling to Tuesday’s gathering in the Netherlands with the support of both the Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN) and UK Tar Sands Network (UKTSN).

IEN and UKTSN are pressure groups opposed to new drilling in the Gulf, claiming fossil fuel exploitation is causing major environmental damage in the region. 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 Faces Opposition on CEO’s Pay as Bonus Seen as Excessive

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Screen Shot 2016-05-12 at 11.17.55Rakteem Katakey: May 17, 2016

Two shareholder-advisory firms recommended investors vote against the Royal Dutch Shell Plc Chief Executive Officer Ben Van Beurden’s pay, saying his bonus is “excessive.” A third adviser said shareholders should give “qualified support.”

Van Beurden’s annual bonus, equivalent to 245 percent of his salary last year, was not acceptable, Pensions & Investment Research Consultants Ltd. said in an e-mail on Tuesday. Advisory firm Glass Lewis also said shareholders should oppose the pay deal. 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 Looks to Offload $40B In Non-Core Assets

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May 17, 2016

Royal Dutch Shell plc (NYSE:RDS.A) is divesting US$40 billion in non-core assets in its attempt to cut capital expenditures and raise cash in a desperate attempt to right its balance sheet wrongs after its takeover of BG Group plc earlier this year left it strapped for cash and laden with nearly US$81 billion worth of debt.

The costly merger at a time of depressed oil prices has rendered Shell the largest publicly owned company in the UK and the largest producer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the world. 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 shareholders advised to oppose CEO’s pay

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Screen Shot 2016-05-12 at 11.17.55LONDON | BY RON BOUSSO: Tue May 17, 2016

Two investor advisory firms have recommended Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) shareholders oppose the CEO’s 2015 remuneration, in the latest sign of rising discontent over pay amid falling oil prices.

Shell Chief Executive Ben van Beurden’s 2015 remuneration fell 8 percent to 5.135 million euros (£4 million) last year, when the company’s revenue dropped sharply due to low oil prices.

Proxy adviser Glass Lewis said in a report it remains “concerned by the disconnect between bonus payouts and financial performance, and the bonus scheme structure more generally”. 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 working on repairs after Gulf of Mexico spill

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NEW ORLEANS, May 17 (UPI) — A fleet of vessels was deployed in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and repair work is underway in response to the spill of 2,100 barrels of oil, Shell said.

Shell reported the release from its Glider field about 100 miles south of the coast of Louisiana last week. The company said about 2,100 barrels of oil spilled and crews so far have recovered about 2,000 barrels of an oil-water mixture from the water’s surface.

In its latest update, Shell said there are five vessels on site working with Shell and the U.S. Coast Guard to recover oil from the surface. One vessel is designated specifically to asses any potential environmental impact from the release. 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 Looks for a Hedge Against Climate Change

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Screen Shot 2016-04-20 at 13.50.03BGeoffrey Smith: MAY 16, 2016

Royal Dutch Shell is creating a new unit specially for renewables and alternative energy, but it continues to insist that its current business of burning hydrocarbons is under no threat from global policies to mitigate climate change.

The company told investors last week that it will combine its modest operations in green energy—biofuels, wind and solar technologies—into a business unit called “new energies” under its natural gas business. It will go public with the idea in June, according to The Guardian. 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.

Scientists head out to study Shell spill in the Gulf

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NEW ORLEANS

Researchers are heading out to study the effects of a Shell leak of about 88,200 gallons of oil off the Louisiana coast in the Gulf of Mexico, a scientist said on Monday.

Last Thursday, a leak from a pipeline at the Shell oil production field was spotted and cleanup vessels began to skim oil off the Gulf on Friday.

The cleanup ended Monday evening. The leak was contained after wells flowing into the pipeline were shut in.

Ian MacDonald, an oceanographer at Florida State University, said the scientists should reach the oil slick by Wednesday. 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 Jim Chanos is Shorting the Oil Majors

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Screen Shot 2016-05-06 at 15.37.54By RAKESH UPADHYAY: May 16, 2016

Famous short seller Jim Chanos is shorting oil majors Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Chevron Corp, according to Bloomberg. He is operating under the belief that the negative cash flows and dividend payments using borrowed money by both the companies is an unsustainable move in the long-term.

He also believes that a preference for electric cars and trucks can seriously dent the demand for crude oil in the near future.

Shell’s current cost of supplies earnings tanked in the latest quarter from $4.8 billion to $0.8 billion. The worrying point was the $4.6 billion in cash flow against an expenditure of $6.1 billion in Capex. $3.7 billion of dividends were distributed to the shareholders, of which the company managed to settle $1.5 billion in payouts by issuing 65.7 million A shares under the scrip dividend program. 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 brutal and unfair approach to reducing staff numbers

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UPDATED WITH MORE COMMENTS

BY “FRUSTRATEDATSHELL”

Interested to know if any current Shell employees have picked up on the unfair approach to the current reorganisation.

Management in Netherlands are seeking RFA’s and operating to a different timeline to the UK and Australia, with Australia being able to steam ahead with their reorg plans as they do not have the same constraints. So much so, that impacted employees are being asked to second guess whether they need to apply for jobs in their base countries or to stick tight and see out the brutal and unfair approach to reducing staff numbers in their current host countries. 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 Nigerian pipeline repair ‘not straightforward’ – paper

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Sun May 15, 2016 5:07pm BST

Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) does not know when its Nigerian Forcados oil terminal will reopen as the repairs to an underwater pipeline damaged by a blast are not straightforward, its country head was quoted as saying on Sunday.

Shell shut the 250,000 barrel a day terminal in February after an attack on an underwater pipeline claimed by a militant group, part of a wave of attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta in the past three months.

Shell had initially declined to give details about the incident. 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 creates green energy division to invest in wind power

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Terry Macalister Energy editor: Sunday 15 May 2016 16.08 BST

Shell, Europe’s largest oil company, has established a separate division, New Energies, to invest in renewable and low-carbon power.

The move emerged days after experts at Chatham House warned international oil companies they must transform their business or face a “short, brutal” end within 10 years.

Shell’s new division brings together its existing hydrogen, biofuels and electrical activities but will also be used as a base for a new drive into wind power, according to an internal announcement to company staff. 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.

Party time over for Nigeria’s oil billionaires

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Screen Shot 2016-03-30 at 13.04.33By Danny Fortson in IBIZA: SUNDAY 15 May 2016

Extracts

The new president estimated that more than $lbn a month was being I funnelled out of Nigeria’s public accounts, mostly through dodgy deals in the oil and gas industry. He has declared it his mission to track down the worst offenders and force them to give back their ill-gotten gains.

The recent Panama papers leak laid bare London’s role at the heart of the global money-laundering industry.

Much of the cash that has disappeared from Nigeria’s coffers over the years has been recycled into sports cars, country piles and mansions in west London. 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.

Argentina’s Energy Minister is stealing for the Crown

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By Eduardo J. Vior

While Royal Dutch Shell PLC has announced ten days ago an annual drop of its global sales in the first quarter by 83%, its Argentine subsidiary is filling the pockets of its mother company and the Dutch crown with the help of Energy Minister José Luis Aranguren. Since his appointment by President Mauricio Macri at last 10th December, Mr. Aranguren, Shell Argentina CEO from 2003 to 2015, and 2009-15 with downstream responsibility for the whole of South America, pursuits a policy which extremely benefits his company, and sows hatred and resentment. 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.

Protesters block train tracks to 2 Washington refineries near Anacortes

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Protesters walk north along West March Point Road Saturday past the Tesoro Refinery rail yard near Anacortes. About 1,000 people walked the six-mile round trip to the tip of March Point, home to two refineries. (Scott Terrell)

By PHUONG LE: The Associated Press: May 14, 2016

Hundreds of climate activists on Saturday marched to the site of two refineries in northwest Washington state to call for a break from fossil fuels, while a smaller group continued to block railroad tracks leading to the facilities for a second day. read more

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Work begins on massive cleanup of contaminated Carousel tract yards in Carson

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By Sandy Mazza, Daily Breeze: 13 May 2016

They had been waiting for this day for eight years. But it was still wrenching for the Ancheta family when it finally came this week.

Their house in Carson’s infamous Carousel tract was the first of hundreds slated for cleanup of tons of soil contaminated with hazardous waste from old oil storage tanks. Beginning a five-year clean-up process across the 50-acre community, workers ripped out carefully manicured plants and lawns and dug up trees.

Teresa Ancheta winced at the sight of her trees being uprooted in front of the home where she’s lived for 26 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 is not leaving Nigeria, despite attacks — MD

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Screen Shot 2016-04-20 at 13.50.03Shell is not leaving Nigeria, despite attacks — MD

Screen Shot 2016-05-15 at 09.06.11May 15, 2016

Amid renewed attacks on infrastructure in the Niger Delta, the Managing Director of The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, speaks with ‘FEMI ASU about the Nigerian oil and gas industry and the company’s operations and plans in Nigeria

As the oldest and largest oil producer in Nigeria, how do you currently see the country’s oil and gas industry and the business climate?

You are right; we have been around for some time. Shell has a history of over 50 years in Nigeria and the largest footprint of all the international oil and gas companies operating here. I’m pleased to say that Shell companies and investments in Nigeria have played a pioneering role in onshore, shallow and deep water oil exploration and production. Shell has also been at the forefront of gas development, producing and delivering gas to domestic consumers and export markets for more than 40 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 eyes $40bn non-core asset spin-off to cut its huge debt pile

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By Tara Cunningham, business reporter: 14 MAY 2016

Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell is eyeing a possible $40bn spin-off of non-core assets around the globe as it grapples with a $70bn debt pile following a takeover of BG Group earlier this year. 

Chief financial officer Simon Henry told analysts last week that a float of Shell’s non-core assets is “very much on the agenda”.  

The comments were made after the Anglo-Dutch multinational announced its intention to sell off assets totalling $30bn over the next three years in an attempt to protect its dividend, after the merger with BG left it with a stretched balance sheet. 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.

Protestors to march following Shell oil spill in Gulf of Mexico

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AAPWorldSaturday, 14 May 2016

US environmental activists are preparing to march against offshore drilling as the clean-up of another Gulf of Mexico oil spill gets under way.

Five vessels are working on the spill off the coast of Louisiana after about 334-thousand litres of oil poured out of a Shell flow line.

Green groups say the disaster is another example of why offshore drilling should be banned, and will demand an end to the practice at a protest in Washington, DC, tomorrow.

SOURCE

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.

$1.1billion Malabu scam: Italian oil giant, Eni, admits wrongdoing

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Nicholas Ibekwe: Saturday 14 May 2016

After coming under intense questioning from its shareholders, the management of Italian oil giant, Eni has finally admitted to wrongdoing in the infamous Malabu Oil deal.

Eni, as well as Royal Dutch Shell, had previously insisted that it followed the law in the purchase of one of the most lucrative oil blocks in Nigeria, OPL-245, which belonged to Malabu Oil, a company owned by a convicted former minister, Dan Etete.

Mr. Etete was the petroleum minister under Sani Abacha. PREMIUM TIMES’ previous investigations had detailed how he fraudulently awarded the oil block to himself and friends, including Mohammed Abacha, Mr. Abacha’s son, in contravention of Nigerian laws. 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 manipulation in the spot market

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By Jonathan Crawford: May 13, 2016

Sixteen years after California experienced rolling blackouts and soaring power prices, two of the last companies accused of taking advantage of the shortage are facing a decision by federal regulators.

Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Iberdrola SA have until May 27 to respond to a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission judge’s initial ruling last month that they sold electricity at inflated prices during the California power crisis of 2000-2001. While other companies that sold power under long-term contracts in the state have long since settled charges, Shell and Iberdrola elected to fight the case. 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 Exxon secured ‘secret deal’ on Groningen gas production

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Friday 13 May 2016

Oil companies Shell and Exxon held secret talks with the economic affairs ministry in 2005 to set levels of production in the Groningen gas field up to and beyond 2020, according to documents obtained by NOS.

The documents show that the two companies exerted pressure on the ministry not to scale back gas extraction despite increasing concern over the increased frequency of earthquakes in the region.

The Dutch parliament was informed of the talks, which took place in 2005, but only knew of an agreement to set production levels for the next 10 years. The documents obtained under freedom of information legislation show that the deal also covered the years up to 2020, when the gas field is expected to go into decline, and afterwards. 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 Saudi Aramco Option

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Cheap oil crimping your spending plans? Sitting on a bunch of valuable upstream oil assets that could be monetized? How about a mammoth IPO? No, not Saudi Arabia. I’m talking about Royal Dutch Shell.

Shell is Europe’s third-biggest company by market value. But after the $54 billion acquisition of BG Group, its net debt is by far the largest: an eye-watering $70 billion.

Big Borrowers

Shell’s net debt is the largest of any company in western Europe

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

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The Anglo-Dutch company says debt is likely “to go up before it goes down” and its reduction is “priority number one”. With credit-rating agencies on its case, Shell has to deliver on a pledge to divest $30 billion of non-core assets within three 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 Oil Spill Dumps Thousands Of Barrels Of Crude Into Gulf Of Mexico

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The U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) said a 2 mile by 13 mile (about 3 km by 21 km) sheen was visible in the sea about 97 miles off the Louisiana coast.

The sheen is near Shell’s Glider Field, a group of four subsea wells whose production flows through a subsea manifold to the Brutus platform, which sits in water with a depth of 2,900 feet (884 m).

In a statement, Shell spokesman Curtis Smith said a company helicopter observed the sheen on Thursday, and that the wells were under control after it isolated the leak and shut in production. 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.

Halliburton-Baker Hughes deal ‘not fixable’

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 participates in bid for Dutch offshore wind farm

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Markets | Thu May 12, 2016 12:40pm EDT

By Toby Sterling and Thomas Escritt

May 12 Royal Dutch Shell is in a consortium bidding to build two 350 megawatt wind farms off the coast of the Netherlands, the oil company said on Thursday, delivering on a promise to invest more in wind energy.

Shell, bidding in the Dutch government tender together with energy company Eneco and contractor Van Oord NV, will use turbines built by Vestas if successful, the three companies in the consortium said in a statement. 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 Plans Oil-Asset Sale in Gabon, Says President

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By DREW HINSHAW in Kigali, Rwanda, and SARAH KENT in London: May 12, 2016

Royal Dutch Shell PLC is looking to sell oil blocks in Gabon, the country’s president said, as the company’s mammoth divestment plan threatens a Central African nation already hard hit by crashing crude prices.

Shell is in the process of selling off $30 billion of assets in the wake of its roughly $50 billion acquisition of BG Group PLC earlier this year. The deal gives the Anglo-Dutch oil major a strong position in the fast-growing liquefied-natural-gas market and lucrative deep-water blocks offshore Brazil, but investments that don’t fit within those core areas are likely to come under serious scrutiny as the company looks for cash to bring down its debt level. 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.

Top Shell investor vents anger at boss pay

Screen Shot 2016-05-12 at 11.33.40“The peer group of four companies that Shell uses to benchmark its long-term incentive plans (L-tips) is too narrow and we remain concerned about the overly generous senior management pension plans.”

However, Royal London, which owns nearly £1bn of shares in Shell, said it acknowledged that the company had notched up several successes, including the completion of its £35bn takeover of BG.

Mr van Beurden stands to take home a salary of £1.4m, bonus of £3.5m, and pension of £441,000 for 2015. He also received shares worth £9.7m, which vest in three years if he hits a series of targets. 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 Faces Criticism From Glass Lewis on Payment Plans

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Royal Dutch Shell plc (ADR) (NYSE:RDS.A) has faced huge criticism from Glass Lewis, a shareholder advisory firm to award its CEO Ben Van Beurden with a huge bonus in 2015. The shareholder advisory firm further persuaded the shareholders of the oil giant to cast their vote against the payment plans of the company.

As reported by the Wall Street Journal, Glass Lewis said in a report: “We remain concerned by the disconnect between bonus payouts and financial performance. We find it troubling that the CEO continues to receive payouts at just short of maximum while the company’s financials deteriorate.” 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.

Niger Delta militants kill five people and oil companies evacuate

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Nigerian trade unions called for oil companies to evacuate workers on Tuesday, following two attacks in the Niger Delta which left five people dead. Armed men killed two police officers and three soldiers in separate attacks in a region that has seen a resurgence of militancy.

After coming under fire from militants, Royal Dutch Shell and Chevron have evacuated some of their workforce in high-risk areas. Last week, a group known as Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) attacked a Chevron oil facility in the Delta and succeeding in blowing up the platform. The NDA went on to claim responsibility for bombing an underwater Royal Dutch Shell pipeline in February. Consequently, Nigeria’s crude output has fallen to its lowest point in 22 years.In a country whose economy and foreign currency reserves are largely dependant on oil and gas, the destruction of its pipelines by such armed groups could be absolutely catastrophic,” strategic consultant Leke Adebayo told The World Weekly. “Bad enough in boom times but in the middle of a crippling recession, the results would be devastating. This provides yet another reason as to why Nigeria needs to diversify its economy as soon as is reasonably practicable.” 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.

Pipeline explosion in Nigeria’s Delta behind shutdown of Shell’s Bonny Light exports: community leader

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YENAGOA, Nigeria (Reuters) – An explosion has shut down an oil pipeline in Nigeria’s Delta, a community leader said on Wednesday, explaining why Shell has shut down its Bonny Light exports.

Shell said earlier a leak had shut down the exports, without giving details.

“There was a blast on the trunk line around Kalabari community of Rivers state,” said Nengi James, a community leader dealing with oil and gas companies operating in the region. “We don’t know the cause and who is behind the 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.

Pipeline Outage Adds to Nigerian Oil Disruptions

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BY SARAH KENT and MIRIAM MALEK:Updated May 11, 2016 

LONDON— Royal Dutch Shell PLC on Wednesday said its exports of Nigerian crude oil had been significantly disrupted, adding to a slew of stoppages that have knocked out around 500,000 barrels a day of oil output in the West African country.

It is the latest hit to oil exports across the world, leading to mounting concerns about the global crude supply. A series of output interruptions from Canada to Libya have illustrated how quickly the global glut of oil could be cleared out after nearly two years of weighing on prices. 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.

Nigeria oil output set to fall to 22-yr low on pipeline outage

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YENAGOA, NIGERIA: Wed May 11, 2016

(Reuters) – Nigeria’s oil production is set to fall to its lowest in more than two decades after Royal Dutch Shell’s local operation said it had shut a major pipeline.

Nigeria’s oil output fell close to a 22-year low this month due to attacks on oil pipelines in the southern Niger Delta, home to much of the country’s oil and gas wealth, compounding the impact of low oil prices on Africa’s largest economy.

On Wednesday, Shell Petroleum Development Co (SPDC) said it declared force majeure on Bonny Light crude exports on Tuesday after closing the Nembe Creek Trunk line (NCTL) for repairs after a leak. NCTL carries all the country’s Bonny Light. 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.

OPPOSITION TO BEN VAN BEURDEN BONUS

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Translation of an article published 10 May 2016 by the Dutch Telegraph.

LONDON – The leading consulting firm Glass Lewis has criticized the bonus being paid to Shell CEO Ben van Beurden.

Glass Lewis has recommended shareholders to vote against the remuneration of the Directors at the shareholders’ meeting, according to the business newspaper The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.

Van Beurden saw his salary drop by 8 percent over last year, but his bonus went up by 8 percent compared to 2014. 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 Canada reopens first oilsands mine shut down by Fort McMurray fires

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By DAN HEALING: The Canadian Press: Tues., May 10, 2016

CALGARY—The first oilsands mine shut down by wildfires in the Fort McMurray region a week ago has been restarted.

Shell Canada said Tuesday that it had resumed production at its Albian Sands mining operations about 95 kilometres north of Fort McMurray after a seven-day closure.

The operations, which include the Muskeg River and Jackpine oilsands mines, have the capacity to produce 255,000 barrels of oil a day, but Shell would say only that they were operating at a reduced rate. 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 forfeits Arctic leases once worth $2b

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Screen Shot 2016-05-10 at 08.42.36By Liz Ruskin, APRN: May 10, 2016

Shell is giving back all but one of its leases in the Chukchi Sea.

The announcement comes seven months after Shell said it was halting exploration in Alaska’s offshore Arctic for the foreseeable future.

Gov. Bill Walker calls the news “disappointing.”

Michael LeVine, Pacific senior counsel for the conservation group Oceana, says the lease-surrenders underscore Shell’s exit.

“They’re significant because they really call to an end this era of exploration, at least in the Chukchi Sea,” 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.

BG Group to leave its namesake tower downtown

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By Nancy SarnoffMay 10, 2016

About five years after signing on to be the lead tenant in a new downtown office tower, BG Group will be leaving its namesake building.

The British gas producer, recently acquired by Royal Dutch Shell, will move employees out of the building at 811 Main by year’s end, Shell spokeswoman Natalie Mazey said Tuesday.

Staff will be relocated into existing Shell space downtown and on the west side. Most of Shell’s downtown offices are in One Shell Plaza and 1000 Main.

The departure of BG from 811 Main comes as the latest in a series of hits to the city’s office market amid the oil bust. 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 fleet of ancient rust buckets fit only for the scrapyard

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By John Donovan

In June 2015, I published an article by a regular contributor about the notorious Noble Discoverer, one of two drill ships used by Shell in their notorious offshore Alaska drilling campaign.

The insider described Shell’s fleet of five vessels sent into Arctic waters as ancient rust buckets fit only for the scrapyard.  

Apparently an entirely appropriate assessment, as I understand from a different source that the Noble Discover may well be on her way now to the infamous Alang shipbreaker yards in India. 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.

Big Oil Abandons $2.5 Billion in U.S. Arctic Drilling Rights

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Screen Shot 2016-05-10 at 08.42.36Jennifer A Dlouhy: May 10, 2016

Drillers forfeit millions of acres amid slump in oil prices

Royal Dutch Shell still holding on to one lease in Chukchi Sea

After plunking down more than $2.5 billion for drilling rights in U.S. Arctic waters, Royal Dutch Shell, ConocoPhillips and other companies have quietly relinquished claims they once hoped would net the next big oil discovery.

The pullout comes as crude oil prices have plummeted to less than half their June 2014 levels, forcing oil companies to slash spending. For Shell and ConocoPhillips, the decision to abandon Arctic acreage was formalized just before a May 1 due date to pay the U.S. government millions of dollars in rent to keep holdings in the Chukchi Sea north of Alaska. 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.