December 2nd, 2006:

Vol. 11, No. 49  Week of December 03, 2006

Russian regulators have given a unit of BP PLC’s Russian oil and gas joint venture six months to fix licensing and environmental violations or face losing key production licenses, the company said Nov. 27.

The state subsoil agency, Rosnedra, decided to give Rospan International a grace period during a meeting Nov. 24, TNK-BP said. Dow Jones Newswires, citing an unidentified Rosnedra official, confirmed that Rospan was indeed given six months to fix the violations. Regulators have requested the annulment of licenses for the Novo-Urengoyskoye and Vostochno-Urengoyskoye gas fields, which combined produce about 1.5 billion cubic meters of gas annually. read more

EXTRACT: At the same time, companies like BP PLC, Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Exxon Mobil Corp. and Total SA are fighting back-tax bills or threatened license annulments — apparently another reflection of the Kremlin’s push to ensure that the state has a major role in all key energy projects.

THE ARTICLE

Vol. 11, No. 49  Week of December 03, 2006

Russia largest natural gas exporter, energy clout generates concern in West; NATO to discuss energy security at Latvian meeting

George Jahn
Associated Press Writer read more

Week of December 03, 2006

Calgary-based company has aggressive capital spending plan for 2007, talking about building Canada’s first refinery since 1984

Gary Park
For Petroleum News

Shell Canada doesn’t operate like a company that may be on the verge of losing its Canadian identity if parent company Royal Dutch Shell concludes its offer to buy the 22 percent it doesn’t already own.

Whatever the outcome of that proposal, the Calgary-based company has unfurled an aggressive capital spending plan for 2007 and is talking about building Canada’s first refinery since Shell Canada opened its Edmonton refinery in 1984 to upgrade synthetic crude from its Alberta oil sands operations. read more

Saturday 02/12/2006 – 08:31:52

Dublin Shell to Sea is planning to stage a ‘major’ protest outside Shell Headquarters in Dublin today.

The group says it wants to demonstrate solidarity with protestors at Bellanaboy in Mayo where Shell has been building its gas terminal since October 2.

It also wants to step up pressure on Minister Noel Dempsey to re-open negotiations between Shell and the people of Rossport in an effort to move the gas pipe-line off-shore.

Member of Dublin Shell to Sea, Tadgh Mc Grath said protests will continue indefinitely. read more

12/02/2006

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Bolivian President Evo Morales met with Dutch executives at oil company Shell to try to persuade them to invest in his country despite his recent legislation nationalizing the oil and gas industry.

“We hope Shell will want to invest in Bolivia,” Morales said through a translator after talks with Dutch Foreign Minister Ben Bot.

Morales said Bolivia “needs partners, but not owners” in its moves to exploit the country’s vast natural gas reserves. read more

Crude-oil futures extended their gains into a fifth straight session Friday, settling at a two-month high of more than $63 on New York Mercantile Exchange, partly on supportive comments from OPEC officials. Here is Friday’s roundup of oil and energy news:

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OFFSHORE DRILLING BILL MOVES: Abandoning months of opposition, House Republicans agreed to move an offshore drilling bill that would open new territory in the Gulf Coast to oil rigs, but would not ease restrictions on coastal waters elsewhere. House leaders had blocked the bill, wanting more-ambitious legislation that would allow drilling in coastal waters across the country. But with time running out on the party’s majority rule, GOP leaders will send the compromise bill to the House floor on Tuesday. read more