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Shell says Kulluk left Dutch Harbor to avoid taxes

May 26th, 2013
by John Donovan.
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Screen Shot 2012-12-07 at 01.26.25A Royal Dutch Shell official testified Saturday that tax avoidance was the main reason for having the Kulluk oil drilling rig leave Dutch Harbor in December — 10 days before its grounding off a remote Alaska island.

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Saturday May 25, 2013

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A Royal Dutch Shell official testified Saturday that tax avoidance was the main reason for having the Kulluk oil drilling rig leave Dutch Harbor in December — 10 days before its grounding off a remote Alaska island.

“Our preference for the timing was to be gone before the end of the year, driven by the economic factors,” Sean Churchfield, operations manager for Royal Dutch Shell in Alaska, told a Coast Guard panel that’s investigating the incident. read more

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Kulluk grounding: Shell Oil testimony opens Coast Guard hearing in Anchorage

May 21st, 2013
by John Donovan.
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Screen Shot 2013-01-11 at 20.09.51Suzanna Caldwell:May 20, 2013

A subdued Anchorage Assembly chambers turned into a federal courtroom of sorts Monday as members of the U.S. Coast Guard questioned Royal Dutch Shell officials over the grounding of one of its prized Arctic drilling vessels in stormy Gulf of Alaska winter weather.

The Coast Guard’s formal marine casualty investigation hearings began by recounting events leading to the New Year’s Eve grounding of the Kulluk conical drilling unit off the shores of Sitkalidak Island, near Kodiak Island. read more

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Coast Guard hearing on Shell drill-rig grounding set to start May 20

May 14th, 2013
by John Donovan.
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 The Coast Guard already has referred possible pollution violations involving the Kulluk and safety and environmental issues with Shell’s other drilling rig, the Noble Discoverer, to the Justice Department.

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Published 13 May 2013

A formal Coast Guard hearing investigating the circumstances of the grounding of Royal Dutch Shell’s drilling rig, the Kulluk, begins at noon May 20 in Anchorage.

The hearing will take place in the Anchorage Assembly chambers at Loussac Library and is scheduled for 10 days, though it could wrap up sooner or go longer, said Chief Petty Officer Kip Wadlow.

Rear Adm. Thomas Ostebo, who is the commander of the Coast Guard in Alaska, ordered a marine casualty investigation days after the Dec. 31 grounding off Sitkalidak Island, on the southern end of Kodiak Island. The investigation is a fact-finding effort to see if actions need to be taken to prevent such failures in the future, Wadlow said. It is not a criminal proceeding. The Coast Guard already has referred possible pollution violations involving the Kulluk and safety and environmental issues with Shell’s other drilling rig, the Noble Discoverer, to the Justice Department. read more

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Selection of Shell related article 26 April 2013

Apr 26th, 2013
by John Donovan.
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Selection of Shell related article links kindly supplied by a regular contributor

What If Oil Lasts Forever?: National Journal-Apr 25, 2013: Shell Oil Company’s Deer Park refinery and petrochemical facility by Highway 225 in Deer Park, Texas, Nov. 21, 2007. (AP Photo/David J.

Oil Giants Eschew Arctic Drilling: Indian Country Today Media Network-Shell Oil’s drilling unit the Kulluk ran aground, battered by waves, on an island south of Anchorage, Alaska, after breaking free of its moorings.

Fmr. Shell CEO: Keystone will loosen OPEC’s grip: Washington Post-Former Shell Oil President John Hofmeister says the Obama … cars en masse on the road, and says exporting liquefied natural gas might be … read more

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Deluded and or ignorant, no, Roland Spuij is just reading from a script

Apr 25th, 2013
by John Donovan.
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Screen Shot 2013-04-24 at 00.00.30“…why spoil a good story by the introduction of facts including the facts about Shell’s great Alaskan misadventure for example…”

COMMENT RECEIVED FROM MR BILL CAMPBELL, RETIRED HSE GROUP AUDITOR, SHELL INTERNATIONAL RE OUR ARTICLE ABOUT SHELL EXPLORATION MANAGER ROLAND SPUIJ (PERSON ON RIGHT)

TALKING THE TALK

Re your article: Shell exploration manager Roland Spuij – deluded or ignorant?

Deluded and or ignorant, no, Mr Spuij is just reading from the script, repeating the standard Shell propaganda that Safety is our No 1 priority and will never be compromised, despite any facts to the contrary.

Although as he says Shell were not involved in the Transocean Deepwater Horizon disaster – according to Peter R Voser a disaster that Shell in any case would have avoided due to its superior standards – he fails to mention the Transocean SEDCO 711 incident when this mobile drilling unit had a near blowout whilst operating in the North Sea on behalf of Shell – you covered all this in detail at the time on your web pages. read more

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The danger of getting into bed with Shell

Mar 31st, 2013
by John Donovan.
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Screen Shot 2013-03-31 at 09.24.40Screen Shot 2013-01-23 at 13.17.19

By John Donovan

Marvin Odum, the President of Shell Oil Company, has said that “Royal Dutch Shell is making a significant push into venture capital investing and collaboration with early-stage startups in the energy space.”

See Wall Street Journal article “Shell Looks for Startup, Tech Partnerships Now More than Ever“.

This initiative is designed to find and exploit good ideas created by start-up companies.

But can such companies trust Shell management not to steal their intellectual property?  read more

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Report Says Shell Unprepared for Arctic Drilling

Mar 15th, 2013
by John Donovan.
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska March 15, 2013 (AP)

Shell was not fully prepared when it launched its trouble-plagued Arctic offshore drilling program last year, and the oil company also fell short in overseeing key contractors in the effort, according to a federal report released Thursday.

The report follows a 60-day review by the Interior Department that focused on problems Royal Dutch Shell PLC experienced with its drilling vessels and a spill containment vessel. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said the company will have to submit more comprehensive plans before it would be allowed to operate in the Arctic again. read more

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Tugs towing Shell drill vessel to Dutch Harbor

Feb 27th, 2013
by John Donovan.
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A Royal Dutch Shell PLC drilling barge that ran aground New Year’s Eve is on the move from near Kodiak Island in Alaska to Dutch Harbor.

The Associated Press: Originally published February 26, 2013 at 7:18 PM | Page modified February 26, 2013 at 7:21 PM

ANCHORAGE, Alaska —

A Royal Dutch Shell PLC drilling barge that ran aground New Year’s Eve is on the move from near Kodiak Island in Alaska to Dutch Harbor.

Shell spokesman Curtis Smith says in an email to The Associated Press that the Kulluk left the bay Tuesday afternoon. Three tugs are towing the barge in a journey expecteKd to take about 10 days.

The Kulluk drilled in the Beaufort (BOH’-fort) Sea last year and was being towed to Seattle when it broke loose from its towing vessel. The round drilling barge ran aground New Year’s Eve. read more

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Shell comedy continues: Tugs collide while maneuvering around Kulluk

Feb 21st, 2013
by John Donovan.
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By LISA DEMER — [email protected]: Published: February 19, 2013

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“The Coast Guard is reviewing Shell’s tow plan and evaluating whether the vessel is seaworthy for a tow…”

Two tugboats maneuvering around Royal Dutch Shell’s oil drilling rig, the Kulluk, collided Friday afternoon, but the damage was minimal, the Coast Guard said Tuesday.

The Corbin Foss, one of Seattle-based Foss Maritimes’ tugboats, hit the port side of the Ocean Wave, a Crowley Marine Services tug, around 5:30 p.m. Friday in Killiuida Bay on the eastern side of Kodiak Island, where the Kulluk is anchored while awaiting Coast Guard approval to leave, said Petty Officer David Mosley.

No one was injured, no pollution occurred, and the damage to the Ocean Wave was minor, Mosely said. The tugs sailed to the harbor in Kodiak where they were met by inspectors from Kodiak’s Coast Guard marine safety detachment, Mosley said. read more

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Setback for Shell’s Arctic oil ambitions as rigs require repair in Asia

Feb 13th, 2013
by John Donovan.
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Royal Dutch Shell’s hopes of resuming drilling for oil off Alaska this summer have suffered a further setback after it revealed both its Arctic drilling rigs would now need to be taken to Asia for repairs.

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Kulluk, the oil drilling rig owned by Royal Dutch Shell ran aground in Alaska after drifting in stormy weather. Photo: AFP

Emily GosdenBy : 13 Feb 2013

The oil giant has admitted it does not know whether it will be able to continue its controversial campaign this year after a series of setbacks in 2012, including the grounding of its Kulluk drilling rig on New Year’s Eve and problems with its second rig, the Noble Discoverer.

However its exploration plans for 2013, set out a fortnight ago, showed it still was still intending to resume the work. It has so far spent nearly $5bn on its Arctic campaign without being allowed to drill into potentially oil-bearing rocks. read more

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Shell To Face Challenges Replacing Damaged Arctic Rigs

Feb 13th, 2013
by John Donovan.
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Royal Dutch Shell PLC’s plans to send its two offshore drilling rigs to Asia for extensive repairs will likely mean the cancellation of its second summer of drilling in the U.S. Arctic Ocean, unless it can find replacements fit to do the work – something that may prove to be a challenge.

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By Tom Fowler Published February 12, 2013 Dow Jones Newswires

Royal Dutch Shell PLC’s (RDSA) plans to send its two offshore drilling rigs to Asia for extensive repairs will likely mean the cancellation of its second summer of drilling in the U.S. Arctic Ocean, unless it can find replacements fit to do the work – something that may prove to be a challenge.

Rigs able to operate in harsh Arctic conditions are rare and even if found, would have to be modified and receive U.S. government blessing to operate in a remote and environmentally sensitive area in less than five months. read more

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Royal Dutch Shell Kulluk Cover-up?

Feb 13th, 2013
by John Donovan.
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POSTING ON SHELL BLOG BY “OUTSIDER”

Screen Shot 2013-02-13 at 19.35.08Dry towing a drillship? Something must be very seriously wrong. And when the Kulluk comes out of the water the damage to the hull will be clear for all to see – look forward to seeing the photographs!

RELATED COMMENT

The practice of dry towing is used when a vessel is transported on the deck of a heavy lift vessel.
 
For the Kulluk, this will expose the damaged underside for all to see. Dry towing of the Kulluk makes sense because the speed of the heavy lift vessel is 2-3 times faster than could be achieved with a conventional tow.
 
Dry towing of the Discoverer is somewhat unusual because the drillship should have been capable of sailing under its own steam at about the same speed as a heavy lift transport vessel. The use of a dry tow implies that the vessel is unseaworthy. Perhaps the Discoverer was more seriously damaged when it went aground last summer than Shell admitted? Or perhaps the recent explosion was more than just a “backfire”?
 
It’s a pity the exclusion zone will prevent anyone taking photographs when the vessels are lifted out of the water.
 
If you look at Google images, you’ll find plenty of examples of heavy lift dry tows. There are comparatively few examples of large ships being dry towed, but a well-publicised case was the USS Cole (heading photo above) after it was attacked in harbour. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Cole_bombing for example. read more

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Shell Vessels Sidelined, Imperiling Arctic Plans

Feb 12th, 2013
by John Donovan.
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In another blow to its Alaskan Arctic drilling program, Royal Dutch Shell said on Monday that it had decided to tow its two drill vessels there to Asian ports for major repairs, jeopardizing its plans to begin drilling for oil in the icy northern seas next summer. Shell executives said the Kulluk had sustained damage to its hull…”; “The Noble Discoverer dragged its anchor last July and nearly ran aground on the Alaska coast, and four months later it was damaged by an explosion and fire…“

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By A version of this article appeared in print on February 12, 2013, on page B1 of the New York edition

HOUSTON — In another blow to its Alaskan Arctic drilling program, Royal Dutch Shell said on Monday that it had decided to tow its two drill vessels there to Asian ports for major repairs, jeopardizing its plans to begin drilling for oil in the icy northern seas next summer.

The new potential delay in drilling does not necessarily doom Shell’s seven-year, $4.5 billion quest to open a new oil frontier in the far north, but it may strengthen the position of environmentalists who have repeatedly sued to stop or postpone exploration that they claim carries the risks of a spill nearly impossible to clean up. read more

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Selection of Shell related articles 8 February 2013

Feb 9th, 2013
by John Donovan.
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Selection of Shell related article links kindly supplied by a regular contributor

Stranded Shell drill vessel won’t face state tax: FuelFix (blog)-State oil and gas attorney Martin Schultz said the policy covers the Kulluk. “It’s a pretty straightforward interpretation as it applies to the Shell …

G8 and Nigeria’s Oil Wealth: Corruption and Wealth of a Nation: GroundReport-The discovery of oil in 1950s by Shell BP has complicated Nigerian project and the realization of a true nationhood. The ruling class was not …

Letter: You should be outraged at how this oil giant pollutes our …: River Falls Journal-Feb 7, 2013: The Royal Dutch Shell Oil Company, the most carbon-intensive oil company in the world, will contribute more to global warming than any other … read more

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Shell vows to tame Arctic

Feb 2nd, 2013
by John Donovan.
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Shell’s chief executive has vowed that a string of embarrassing mishaps will not derail its controversial $5 billion Arctic drilling campaign. He said: “We will not be distracted by being in the crossfire.

THE TIMES

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 1 2013: Page 45

Tim Webb. Katherine Griffiths

Shell’s chief executive has vowed that a string of embarrassing mishaps will not derail its controversial $5 billion Arctic drilling campaign.

Dismissing the grounding of its Kulluk drilling rig in Alaska on New Year’s Eve as a “marine incident”, Peter Voser said that he was convinced that Shell would eventually exploit the Arctic region’s vast deposits.

He said: “We will not be distracted by being in the crossfire. We are quite used to that I’m convinced that Alaska in general will be developed and by companies who have the tech- nology and operating procedures like we have. I see Shell operating in Alaska in the future.” read more

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Will the shale-oil revolution sink Shell’s Arctic ambitions?

Jan 21st, 2013
by John Donovan.
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Alex DeMarban | Jan 20, 2013

Perhaps more important than the clamor of environmentalists, the grandstanding of politicians, or the blunders of Royal Dutch Shell‘s own making is how long oil prices will remain high enough to support Arctic exploration in northern Alaska’s Beaufort and Chukchi seas.

Not long, believes one analyst watching the clouds gather over the Lower 48, where a shale-oil boom and new railroad projects are expected to push more oil toward the same West Coast refineries where Alaska crude is processed. read more

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