Relieved: Neither Watts, nor vd Veer nor Voser had the good fortune to spend a few years in Cambridge with Lord Madingley of Boots and Coots fame. I think Moody Stuart might have done…
I have not absconded John, just do not have time to waste or breath to waste on folks with a clear biased agenda. Folks who take any data and use it to build their already determined conlcusion. Later – much too busy trying to get my retirement paid for by contractors taking me to lunch twice a year, man these perks are awesome!! Again – get a life.
Maybe we ought to start calling RDS and BP management the ‘Cambridge Boys Club’ or perhaps the ‘Cambridge Mafia’. No ?? Just a thought. Anybody else have any ideas, aside from the usual obscenities.
It seems reasonable to speculate that if the CEO’s of these companies reached a deal on oil prices, then the executive committees of both companies were also involved. Members of their boards of directors may also have been involved. Given that RDS had executives from the US on the exec. committee and on the board I would guess those individuals (retired or not) are also subjects of a wider criminal investigation. Involvement of the US DOJ therefore seems to be inevitable. And who knows, maybe we shall get to the bottom of these ‘damnable and viscous lies and rumors’ about price fixing. Afterall, RDS management is governed by well established corporate ‘business principles’ and would never stoop to such conduct. Dream on, my children, dream on. Don’t you just love the arrogance of power.
LondonLad: While it is true that oil is traded as a commodity on various markets it is also true that the oil companies have been heavy speculators in those markets. That fact has been know for a long time.
The biggest oil price fixers in the UK in order of “fixing” are:
1. UK Government (at a healthy 60%) – FACT
2. New York and London Stock Market traders (non-oil company traders) – FACT
3. Companies that buy up cargo loads of oil and store it offshore for the price to rise then sell at vast profits – FACT
4. Shell, BP, Statoil et. al. – ALLEDGEDLY
Lets face it, as with the LIBOR scandal, it takes more than one or two companies to fix the price of a product.
LondonLad: Correct me if I am wrong, but I seem to recall RDS having the same problem over price fixing in the Phillipines.
In the States this alleged price fixing activity could be prosecuted under Federal conspiracy and Racketeering statutes (i.e., engaging in organized crime), among others. People would/could go to jail for a very, very long time if convicted of such activity.
Interesting to see on the ITV website that they state : “The price of petrol at UK pumps has increased significantly since 2004, but the majority of that is down to tax.” Most people should be aware the biggest thieves with regard to oil price “fixing” are the UK Government – 60% tax at the pump AND that does not include the tax at the wellhead of the North Sea. Cameron et al are hiding nicely behind this tabloid story. REPLY BY JOHN: Musaint, you are bunching ITN, BBC News, Channel4News, Sky News, Bloomberg, Dow Jones, The Telegraph, The Guardian, USA Today, The New York Times etc all under the your “tabloid” banner. Seems rather unfair to me. You are right about UK governments, past and present.
Well here we go again!! Oil price fixing and all the little add-ons and innuendos again by the Donovans. Strongly recommend that it’s best to read some of the UK newspapers for a more sensible write up and debate on the oil price fixing. Biggest price fixers? – the London and NY (non-oil company) traders. Why do you have to interweave so many aspects on Shell that you’ve been discussing over the last month or so, most of which are conjecture or alleged? “Royal Dutch Shell was built on price fixing” – bit of a sweeping and unfounded statement I would say. Well “Relieved” I thought you knew all there is to know about Shell as your ingrained negativeness must be based on knowledge of the company, i.e. its Business Principles. Clearly not. REPLY BY JOHN: Hello Musaint, I can recommend some reading material to you so you know the facts. Start off with A HISTORY OF ROYAL DUTCH SHELL, volumes 1, 2 & 3. This vast work was written by eminent historians paid by Shell. When you have read it all, as I have, let me know and I will direct you to further credible, verifiable, reference source information providing more proof confirming what I have stated. The whole evil enterprise was built on price-fixing.
In the same way that LIBOR is used to set interest rates around the world, the price of crude set by Platts is used to determine the value of oil globally. No surprise if oil companies were using similar tactics to their friends in the banking sector.
LondonLad: Given that you agree that RDS management is responsible for their conduct and decisions, then I take it you agree they should be held responsible for what appears to be (according to ‘Washington Observer’) a not so subtle attempt at espionage (under USA law and perhaps the Official State Secrets Act – UK). Correct ?
To LondonLad: Someday you may know my story, but for now it is not appropriate for me to comment. FYI – I did not retire from Shell. I was not so foolish as to hang around that long. Better opportunities beckoned, and there are better opportunities in this world than working for RDS. Believe me, it is a big wide world out there, with lots of better opportunities than working for RDS.
Dear Voser, You have made an impact to Shell. However there are still lots to be done. Put an Asian in the Excom. The old Western business model and management style is outdated. So do Shell a favor before you leave.
Yes “Relieved” one of the objectives of this website is to encourage discussion – and for that I genuinely salute the Donovan’s for inserting comments on the Blog from the likes of myself. Yes I was a good company man for many years – were you? I very much doubt that as the chip on your shoulder from enforced early retirement appears to blinker your thought process. I do love your comment that “RDS management IS responsible for everything it does” – YET AGAIN I ask, did you (YES YOU “RELIEVED”) voice/email/write about your concerns when you were “working” for Shell??
LondonLad: I think that the historical legal precedent that you and RDS are looking with regards to your ‘Donovan Problem’ can be found in the quote: ‘Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest ?’
To LondonLad: I do believe one of the objectives of this blog is to encourage discussion about the way RDS does business. From time to time it manages to do just that.
Just for grins – Being the good ‘company man’ that you obviously are, do you wear underwear adorned with little red and yellow Shell logo’s ?? We breathlessly await your reply.
Not quite the same as the major golf event or large office building. In this instance there is no need to smuggle in a huge bomb or hijack a plane. All that is needed is a relatively small explosive device, or a speedboat suicide attack, as per the USS Cole, to ignite a ready-made gigantic potential bomb. All that’s missing from the billion dollar Prelude vessel is a large target painted on each side. As to your self-appointed role on this website, you are as always very welcome, especially as US Citizen has absconded.
There are far too many “add-ons” and innuendos trying to pull Shell into a story (the tabloid approach as I’ve stated on many occasions). A very good example is that of this terrorist story viz offshore facilities. Hey, what about a refinery viz terrorists in the UK or USA; hey what about a large office in the world viz terrorists; hey what about a major golfing event viz terrorists – the list goes on and on. All can be woven into the name of Shell (and other oil companies for that matter). Get my point yet? No probably not as the Donovans and “Relieved” are fixated with trying to sling mud at Shell at every opportunity. By the way “Relieved” you still refuse to answer some of my basic questions, which are simple to answer. As Donovan has stated many times he merely wants to hold Shell to its Business Principles etc. – a very noble cause indeed; all I want to do is make sure these attacks on this website are based on fact NOT innuendos and half-baked stories.
With Cambridge graduates filling three positions on Shell’s executive committee (Andy Brown, Simon Henry, and Peter Rees) how did anyone get approval to set up a research facility with Oxford??
LondonLad: Me thinks you were an ex-Shell manager. Your lack of objectivity (i.e., brain washing) and immaturity give you away. This discussion about potential terrorist activity directed towards RDS’s proposed floating processing plants is
not irrelevant given the concern of RDS’s investors and insurers.
FYI – a 1 tonne charge of high explosive detonated under the keel of such a ship would undoubtedly break its back, causing it to tear apart and sink. That is how modern torpedoes work. Like it or not these ships are going to be very vulnerable targets, and RDS will need to plan and prepare for ‘hostile activity’ directed at them. It is only prudent. RDS should consult with the RN and SAS about such matters.
One last comment about Shell’s proposed designe for a gas processing vessel of ‘vast size and proportions’. That darned thin has one hell of a freeboard and will be extremely difficult to handle in any kind of a wind. In a ‘big blow’ it may be impossible to handle unless it has very powerful engines.
To the Donovans and “Maura” I think you miss the point. No oil company can fully protect any offshore facility for 100% security and safety. This tabloid story merely highlights what I have said about this website on many occasions – yes, many facts quoted BUT far too much fiction for my liking (perhaps not for the anti-Shell brigade though). And, if Shell did have the SAS to protect a facility? Then guess what this website would no doubt blame Shell for an overkill etc. etc. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t. The Bonga comparison is fact Maura not fiction as you attempt to make out. As for your comments “Relieved” they merely highlight your attempt to blame Shell for everything they do. As stated and asked many times to you : (1) were you given early retirement from Shell ? hence your “problem” with the company; (2) did you complain upwards within Shell with all these negative comments / concerns which you state Shell had when you were working for them? The old “Twaddle Master” seems to have reinvented himself under the guise of “Relieved” – welcome back!
LondonLad: You complain about me drawing attention to what will be an obvious, but until now, unspoken prime (almost sitting) target for a terrorist attack, but then add to the highlighting of this hugely expensive, gigantic floating LNG facility – a ready-made gigantic bomb, by posting your own inflammatory comment. This in turn has drawn further attention to a sensitive subject and generated yet more comment and more attention. Guess this is going to be another situation like the Arctic, where Shell will have to self-insure because it will be impossible to obtain contingency risk insurance? In conclusion, you are guilty of exactly what you accuse me of doing – drawing attention to a highly vulnerable potential target for terrorist attack. (Surprised you have not mentioned the retirement of Fergie?)
LondonLad – to include ‘The same action was taken by SNEPCO fro their Bonga platform and so far (apart from one incident) it has worked’ in a comment can only be described as either pathetic or hilarious! Ever hear the maxim that some only have to get ‘lucky’ once …
LondonLad: One final comment – Do you remember what a couple of thugs in zodiacs filled with several hundred kilo’s of high explosives did to the USS Cole about 10 years ago ?? As I recall, it cost the USN about $500 million to repair that ship, and they were lucky it didn’t sink. Think about it, buddy. Convince Shell’s investors they have nothing to be concerned about.
LondonLad: My, but you have a nasty attitude towards bearers of unpleasant news. Were you one of those ‘shoot the messenger’ types when you worked for RDS ?? If investors are worried then the issue is something RD Shell management needs to address, not ignored. Investors aren’t experts in the offshore oil business and if they aren’t convinced those facilities are secure investments they won’t back them. So, RD Shell needs to do some convincing and educating. But just between you, me and the fencepost, those big 500,000 tonne proposed ships are going to be inviting targets. Perhaps too inviting. Don’t want to get surprised, do we ?? And we most certainly don’t want to have any industrial accidents either. Remember RDS has the worst industrial safety record of all the majors. I think RDS investors have a right to question policy and ask questions. It is their money, after all, not yours that is at risk.
Don’t know who the idiot trouble-stirrer is who you have given highlight to viz his/her story about terrorists with zodiac boats blowing up offshore activities, but, I think he/she needs to get realistic. No, I doubt very much that RDS design for such terrorist activities – they will however plan with local authorities to help protect their installations (AS OTHER COMPANIES DO). Structural design and security for terrorists are completely different. The same action was taken by SNEPCO for their Bonga platform and so far (apart from one incident) it has worked. If companies designed for terrorist activities then the $/bbl price would be almost unaffordable, even for the subsidized Yanks. As a shareholder I am completely happy with RDS present approach. I think the unnamed contributor needs to understand the offshore business.
For those interested in Shell’s saga with US DoD and DoN you might google ‘DRPM SSP’. These are the folks Shell apparently thinks they can bamboozle. Unfortunately, these people take their mission VERY seriously, they have no sense of humor, they don’t forget or forgive, and they take no prisoners and give no quarter. Shell management would do well to keep that it mind.
Everyone seems to have a comment about Peter Voser’s departure. How about he may just have had it. RD Shell is clearly a difficult company to manage, in large part because of the mediocrity of senior level management. Good old Peter may have simply had enough and decided to hang it up and go do something worthwhile. The cat fight over his successor has already begun and Peter is quickly being forgotten.
For those interested, I would also recommend googling ‘us uk mutual defense agreement.’ It would seem that RD Shell decided to target weapons technologies that are probably shared between the US and the UK. Not the most brilliant idea Shell management has ever had.
For those interested in RD Shell’s taste for US DOD classified technologies I would suggest googling on ‘PEOSUBS’. These are the guys RD Shell has apparently decided (foolishly) to take on and tangle with. RD Shell’s target of interest was apparently, in part, classified acoustics technology. Not a wise decision.
I would like to repeat a warning I have made before about postings on this blog. Websites allowing aliases to be used are especially vulnerable to manipulation. That includes Wikipedia and blogs, such as this one. It follows that I can only vouch for the bona fides of postings made in my name or by contributors such as Paddy Briggs, who choose not to use an alias. Some contributors using an alias have built up credibility over the years e.g. “Outsider”
If a CHEIF SUPER in the Irish police doesn’t respond to that OSSL email it’s because he can’t break the link between what’s being said and what happened the dogs in the street in Mayo know whats going on but even they won’t bark about it
John ,when that black boot comes down on you that should be it but OSSL have had the balls to speak up there is no integrity whatsoever in the Shell team I applaud OSSL but think they are screwed as Shell required to silence the matter
Hi Relieved, as far as I know all gas comes from the same tank. Go to any fuel loading point and you will see all different branded trucks lining up for the same delivery point. With a bit of luck the additive added to the tank makes the difference. The marketing boys have to do something, but as far as I could/can tell 99.9% of all gasoline is the same.
Oh, and I didn’t know Shell had the poorest safety record of the industry, I thought BP carried that flag. More info welcome. REPLY BY JOHN: You requested more information.
LondonLad: Are you a trout fisherman by chance ?? Rumor has it that Scotland has great brown trout fishing. So does Montana (the USA). If you like to trout fish go to Google Images and search on Montana Brown Trout. You will see what I mean. Cheers.
LondonLad: Glad to have you and your sense of humor back. You have been missed. I guess I will have to come up with some witty reply to your comments, or I might just let them go. Shell loyalists annoy me. While Shell was once a good company, that is no longer the case. Time to wake up buddy.
For someone who moans repeatedly about Shell, and is like a nodding donkey when it comes to agreeing with negative comments about Shell, I am absolutely amazed “Relieved” worked for Shell for so long. Are your present day gripes because you were given early retirement? – I ask this as it would help in understanding your negativity. As I have said before – did YOU complain to management/team leader etc. about your reservations/concerns about Shell’s working practices when you were actually working for Shell? “My buddies told me Shell gasoline had shortcomings” – did you/they raise the issue upwards or was this merely a moan that couldn’t be substantiated?
P.S. I assume that your term “Gas” means “Petrol” for the rest of this planet?
To anonymous Deltaic. No, Shell don’t hide their brand but they do their damnedest to hide the rottenness behind that brand – bribery, corruption and what is widely perceived as their involvement in the judicial hanging of the Ogoni Nine.
When I worked for Shell I NEVER bought Shell gasoline. Never. I had buddies who worked in Shell’s downstream division who clued me in on the shortcomings of Shell gasoline. I still won’t buy Shell gas. I buy Chevron gas whenever possible because Chevron has the in-industry reputation of best quality control and best product. Motor away America, but be careful about what you put in your tank. Come to think of it, you need avoid Jiffy – Lube as well. That is another sterling Shell operation.
Hope Shell’s planned new floating LNG facility is built to better standards than BP’s ThunderHorse. Remember that fiasco ?? However,given Shell’s sterling record of performance on other major projects I wouldn’t count on it, and neither should Shell’s shareholders.
Just love the drawing that heads up the story “Rage against the boring machine”. Person on the left typifies the demonstrator of these times – hoody and with a scarf round the face to conceal their identity. When in the wrong and fearful of being caught …………….. At least Shell doesn’t attempt to hide its brand. COMMENT BY JOHN: In normal circumstances I would agree with what you say. Unfortunately normal circumstances may not apply in Ireland if the police force is not impartial, but instead acts as a militant offshoot of Shell security, as a result of widespread corruption by Shell.
Wonder what sort of nut jobs this Greenpeace “Whistleblower” site is going to attract? Guess we should all accept that the “revelations” will be non-factual and work from that point.
To “Outsider” : Shell is NOT an American company so why should the corporate entity (RDS) be liable to US law for its actions in Nigeria? Americans should remember that the US arm of RDS (aka Shell Oil) was bought out in the 90’s by RDS. Shareholder numbers in the US have no legal standing for such cases either. The development team for Bonga was situated in the US merely because of certain (GoM) deepwater skills judged to then be present in the US. It also allowed many Nigerians to be cross posted to the US to gain certain skills.
Faceless identity- terrified “Londonboy or lad,” my rant is lengthy and yours short. All are rants pointing to a court decision with lots of question marks (treating Ogonis different because they’re different?) that may open up more suits. Also, Ben Ikari is different from Londonboy; why then must we write or talk the same way? Do you really hate human diversity like your master or precursor $hell hate Ogoni and its environment; and hating her more because it can no longer return to kill her children and pollute her land, air and water, yet fears more suits will come from Ogoni?
“Londonlad” or is it Londonboy? Well, Lengthy or short is ranting, if you know the meaning. There are different kinds and shapes of writing, so length will differ as I’ve motioned to you previously. More importantly,I’m one person no one, especially Western media can threaten or abridge my rights to free speech and expression. These among others are natural rights no one gave me, thus shall exercise to the fullest-orally and written. Note also that Ben Ikari isn’t a faceless Londonboy or lad. I will not be you or like you; will not change for you or anyone, period! Lastly, you’d have been right about the Kiobel’s decision if the minority justices didn’t place several question marks on the position of the majority conservative justices, which is the entire decision. Other legal luminaries are also asking questions, which points to the fact that Ogonis are treated differently because they’re different and it’s about $hell and other Western corporations. No matter how long $hell and its cronies such as your faceless self will have their day in a court of moral standing.
In Kiobel et al vs Shell, the US has shown that sense at long last prevails. There, I said that in just a few words rather than a lengthy rant aka Ikari.
I find it amazing that Shell uses the reasoning that it has insufficient connections with the US to make it subject to US law. Why was the development team for the Bonga project based in Houston? How much of RDS stock is held by US citizens or funds? How many times has Shell claimed support from the US taxpayer or authorities as an “American” company?
In Kiobel et al v. $hell, the US has shown that oil is thicker than blood, as was also represented in ’95. This was when former Pres. Bill Clinton chose the so-called diplomatic sanctions, yet buying Niger delta oil misnamed Nigeria’s instead of insisting with economic sanctions that Nigeria/Abacha shouldn’t kill the Ogoni Nine. Having said the above, I thank the US Supreme Court for entertaining the Ogoni case. It’s been interesting to see the court open its door to listen to arguments and address the fabric of the case.
The outcome though, shows a betrayal of the original intent of the ATS, international Covenants, proceedings, other US legal precedents, including Sosa, that was set by the Supreme Court. The deal is simple: corporate influence used by mostly conservatives to protect their interests. It’s such influence that made the Pres. Obama government pretend its foreign interest or policy will be in jeopardy should $hell, which is a US company by adoption face trial in America. The same American government claims human rights is a serious component of its foreign policies, and it supports and fights with victims of these rights. Obama also reiterated this human rights policy position in his Oct. 25, 2012 reply to my protest letter of August 31, 2012.
This foreign interest reverberated severally in the court’s decision as a huge premise for corporate protection. The Justices are respectfully entitled to their opinions, but the disagreement on “reasoning” shown by the minority (liberal) justices and written by Breyer exposes the legal inconsistency or selective justice and hypocrisy brought about by such corporate, commerce/so-called conservative influence. Therefore, this decision is a device to protect $hell, USA and other Western corporations and empowering them to further torture and kill. As with the conservative Justices, what the Republican Party is doing in Congress currently as they struggle to protect corporations and the rich points to why this decision isn’t new to me.
In short, though had little hope, I saw the national interest/commerce dimension from the outset and refused to vote for Obama in Nov. 2012, therefore my protest letter cited above. Finally, in the decision, the over all argument that $hell has little presence in New York and being a public trading company on the New York Stock Exchange is inconsequential. No matter how small its presence, $hell is $hell and it’s been doing billions of dollar business in US and with the government (the failed Arctic Mission, for instance) for years. It’s investing in the communities and floating educational and social incentives. It’s also creates jobs for thousands of Americans despite its so-called small presence in New York. Indeed America is benefiting huge from $hell like it also benefited from Ogoni oil and still benefiting from Niger delta oil. The company has huge presence in USA, making it a local company by adoption, even though originally foreign in the books.
In any case, however, Ogonis will have to cheer up for making this bold statement of fact regarding natural, human rights or justice and exposing American hypocrisy on its commitment to internationally protected rights such as rights against torture,other crimes against humanity and genocide, which this case was/is about. There is hope to explore other legal options to seeking justice against $hell, and making oil exploitation in Ogoni harder. Ogonis will not give up despite the fact that the court and US government have approved and protected corporate torture instead of denouncing and providing remedies for victims and punishing the torturer (s) as their books orders.
Well done to the US courts for throwing out the ridiculous attempts by Nigerians to fleece yet another international company, in this case Shell. Why don’t they try Pyongyang next?
To RDS Employee: I am ‘assuming’ nothing. However, from my experience at Shell exploration staff rarely, if ever, indulged in the wholesale G&C production dept. staff loved so much. So, you are correct, not everyone at Shell is tainted.
To Deltaic: I was describing G&C in the US. In fact, it got so bad that one sr. VP of a services vendor had the audacity to complaint to one of Shell’s VP’s that they were getting their fair share of ‘the business’ relative to what they were spending on gratuities, etc. The reaction of the Shell VP was to ‘forbid’ the acceptance of such gratuities by the engineering staff. Not a popular move with the staff, and it only lasted only until the VP retired. Then it was business as usual.
Excellent observation “RDS employee” – I wonder if “Relieved” joined in with all this alleged corruption, bribery and ignoring of Shell’s business principles? Probably did if he knows so much about it – or did he report it to the management or authorities of the country?
RDS man you are correct re integrity however on Corrib I can claim to fill a mini bus of Shell management past and present who are complete strangers to the truth and devoid of any real integrity
Voser is going to act in cleaning up that team watch this space
Relieved, that’s $hell against Ogoni people for you! The crazy and greedy,corrupt and environmentally racist, terroristic company has a standard in Ogoni/Niger delta of Nigeria that is completely different from its Western/American standard. To be fair though, the corrupt, incompetent and deadly Nigerian government, $hell’s partner in crime allows such unhealthy and backward measures. The company may have been is convinced that Ogonis mean business vowing it can’t return to their (our) land. Like you said, the case at the U.S. Supreme Court may also have added to its fear of the seriousness of Ogoni people resisting and exposing her to the world. Ogonis know they can’t trust $hell, and know one should.
Relieved, don’t judge others by your own admitted poor standards. You incorrectly assume that Shell Employees have no integrity yet have no proof apart from your own self admission.
Saw your comments about ‘code of conduct’ etc. Of particular note was the definition of ‘bribery’. when I worked for Shell vendors would trade free season tickets, etc, in return for ‘favorable consideration’ on well drilling, logging, completion, workover, etc. contracts. The vendors were quite successful with this form of G&C (graft and corruption) and Shell’s staff participated in it willingly. It was a petty, back-handed form of bribery, of course. As far as I know, these business practices continue to this day. My point here is that for decades, and on day to day basis, Shell staff have routinely ignored Shell’s vaunted ‘business practices’. And everyone knows about it. This sort of thing goes on at the jr. engineer level to senior management. Shell’s business practices guidelines are a joke.
Is this alledged OSSL invoice genuine or what. Perhaps it’s indeed a fake in order that the likes of anti-Shell folk will eventually look idiots when the truth comes out? That would be such a shame.
Police alcohol . John you will hear no denials because the details you have are exactly correct the garda locally and nationally are disgusted by Shells handling of this matter they feel for the people caught in the middle but can’t afford to speak
So, 20 years after walking away from their oil fields in Oganiland Shell is NOW going to go back in and decommission those facilities ??? Maybe the case before the US Supreme Court has finally gotten their attention. Those folks at Royal Dutch are such a responsible lot.
Any company behaving like that in the US would find itself saddled with hefty criminal sanctions and fines, and senior level management would be facing jail time. In this country (the USA) that kind of conduct is clearly criminal.
The ‘special relationship’ between Putin and the Dutch reminds me of another ‘special relationship’ the Dutch had with a fellow named Hitler. As Yogi Beara once said: ‘This is deja vu all over again.’ Well almost. time will tell.
To Deltaic: Thank you for your vote of confidence, even though it was meant ‘tongue-in-cheek’. FYI, I have spent over 25 years in the industry so I have learned a thing or two, in operations, engineering, and R&D. I would remind you that it was ‘bean counters’ placed in high level executive positions that decided Shell USA should surrender its lease holding on the Alaskan North Slope in the 60′s and early 70′s because ‘there was no way to get the oil to market’. Yep, Shell gave away the Alaskan North Slope to those ‘idiots’ at ARCO, SOHIO, and EXXON, et al. In the end the ‘bean counters’ always make the major strategic blunders because they don’t really have a fundamental understanding of the business and how to mitigate risk. Running an oil company is a card game to these guys. Eventually, they lose big-time.
Do we know what the criteria is for a person to win this Petroleum Executive of the Year? Why wasn’t Relieved given this award – he seems to know so much about Shell and the oil industry?
reading the list of Petroleum Executive of the year reminds me of the list of Nobel Peace prize winners. There are some good people on, the rest is politically correct and/or has paid a lot for the election. Voser is a very poor choice, he does not know petroleum has been involved in screwed up projects and cheating banks. And then I saw a picture of that idiot no-brain Maria van Hoeven, the ultimate token woman on whatever organisation needs token women, and I knew enough….
In reading articles about PV’s failures, TP’s screw-ups and some more local fails by certain individuals, i’ll just say, come-on-karma! The damage done to individual’s lives by the cold-bean-counter-self-serving recklessness of this leadership may only end up being repaid by their own suffering. Perhaps JF may also want to understand the natural laws of causation that is sometimes called karma. No belief in a supreme being is required. COMMENT BY JOHN DONOVAN: I am guessing that “PV” is Peter Voser, “TP” is Tom Purves, not sure “JF”?
With regard to those loans Shell made available to its senior level management for legal defense. I presume they were all paid back in full ??? If not, I presume they were declared as ‘income’ and those individuals payed the appropriate level of income tax ??? Does anyone have any insight to how these loans were closed out by Shell ???
Shell anti-Semitic ? Oh, please say it ain’t so !!! Of course Shell is anti-Semitic, but in a low key manner these days. It pays to be anti-Semitic, big time. So that is the way Shell shall do business. Money is money, after all. And Shell is in the business to make money. Given Shell’s well known corporate history does anyone think that Shell is not anti-Semitic ?? Come on, get real.
My comment on tabloid writing refers to your usual “Shell add-on” to any article even remotely linked to Shell. In this case to the article from that well known and read paper “The Epoch Times”. Sorry, but I prefer to believe what I read in journals from the Royal Horticultural Society. REPLY BY JOHN: You are spinning again. This is not an article remotely linked to Shell, but one that directly names Shell. The conclusions are categorical in relation to Shell chemicals.
I did not realize you were such an expert in entomology and beekeeping, etc. A retirement passtime perhaps ?? If so, with all that honey apparently at your disposal one would think you would have a sweeter disposition.
I am sure (at least I hope so) that the article about Shell killing off the bees is tongue in cheek, however, having seen some of the twaddle recently on this site I am not so sure. Would suggest you read the article from the Royal Horticultural Society (somewhat more reliable than tree hugging articles you have published) to give a more balanced summary of the problem. http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=528
Indeed if you “spray it directly onto the bees they may be harmed” which together with “incorrect application by farmers” of pesticides will potentially harm bees. Bottom line here is that if the people who use pesticides don’t read the instructions then it is their fault, not the likes of Shell. Reading in depth (for example as mentioned on such “reliable” left wing channels as the BBC, e.g. Bill Turnbull who is an avid beekeeper) THE main problem is the parasitic mite “Varroa”.
Once again tabloid writing on this website helps it to loose a great deal of credibility. (You should have issued this stupid story yesterday on 1st April !!) REPLY BY JOHN: MUSAINT/LondonLad, You seem to forget that the article was published not by a tabloid, but by The Epoch Times, which publishes in 35 countries and in 21 languages. Extract from their mission statement: “The Epoch Times is an independent voice in print and on the web. We report news responsibly and truthfully…” With regards to the other “tree hugging” articles, are you referring to the one about Shell’s toxic contamination in Curacao or killing off workers in Brazil? In the latter case, Shell/BASF have agreed to pay $316 MILLION in compensation to workers exposed over three decades to toxic chemicals. Unfortunately you are making an April fool of yourself. Might be an appropriate time to buzz off and switch to a new unblemished alias, again.
T from L regarding your last comments a trust was broken threats were made a world class company responded like an ally cat OSSL challenged them and should be applauded for their courage in doing so . On a difficult project sometimes moves are made to ease the passage and advance the progress we all in the industry know that however you don’t leave a shitty mess in the corner like this you tidy it .
The invoice is correct as were the previous police alcohol invoices .
To George Hamilton: you confirm exactly what I assumed – the “invoice” is not an invoice but some half-baked attempt of one-sided Minutes of meeting. As you so eloquently say: I am not aware of the details – and I don’t claim to – I am just challenging the authenticity of the “invoice”. In fact, by this OSSl, if the whole booze story is true, admits to being involved in fraud and corruption, which is something any lawyer/legal department for any company would advise against strongly…. And please, don’t start with the “small very honest company loses it’s virginity due to the big bad Shell bear”… If this whole story is true and what is stated on the “invoice” is true, OSSL, if they employ anyone with more 2 brain cells, knowingly agreed to be involved in corruption….
The invoice is correct Shell have been aware of the debt since they organised the booze for the police in Dec 2007 instructions on alternative wording for the invoice were promised by Shell Senior personnel on the Corrib Project but failed to materialise the last straw for OSSL was to raise an invoice clearly stating exactly what was supplied and how it was supplied READ THE INVOICE ALL PARTIES INVOLVED ARE NAMED . Also in an attempt to sort things out MICHAEL CROTHERS CEO SHELL Ireland informed OSSL he did not know how to Pay for the alcohol .. Then went on to explain that it was OSSLs problem HOW ? The two previous years alcohol was also supplied at Christmas to the police and paid by SHELL in a disguised invoice at their insistence
To Outsider: No. But in order to avoid such an event Shell’s 2nd rate safety record needs to be made public so that everyone knows what kind of ‘Touch F* All’ attitude Shell has not only towards the safety of its staff and contractors, but obviously toward the magnitude of environmental damage they could do if they had a major incident. I think that Shell management thinks they can ‘put in the fix’ politically should their be a major incident by greasing the palms of the appropriate politicians in Washington.
John, you had your own business – have you ever come across an invoice like the one OSSL claims is authentic? I can tell I never have… It’s so obvious a fake that your own credibility and of this site will suffer from it. I understand your long standing quarrel with Shell, but let’s avoid moving into la-la land and making a caricature out of ourselves… REPLY BY JOHN: I made it clear that we do not know if the invoice is authentic. If Shell or the Garda says that the invoice is fake, then we will remove it and publish nothing further about the OSSL/Shell dispute. I can say that the invoice was supplied by our regular contact with OSSL. When this company first contacted us in Sept 2012, we took up the allegations directly with Shell, but Shell did not respond. This was before we published a single word on this matter. The invoice was supplied to us along with a covering email dated 27 March 2013 purportedly sent by OSSL to senior people at Shell (including Peter Voser) and to a senior Garda police officer. In my view the whole situation is bizarre. In normal circumstances the police should step in to investigate, except that they are accused of being a main beneficiary of the alleged corruption. Irish Shell was a regular client of ours. Lovely people to deal with at that time, 30 years ago.
John – The Shell Alumni News is probably intended to be an “in house” publication. However, it is included in the public website for Shell Canada and US. I was made aware of the article by a retiree who received the printed copy of the publication at her home. I went to the Shell Canada and US website and found the article. So – while probably intended to be “in house”, the publication is in the public domain free for all to see.
Told you so OSSL complied with Shells requests then when thought the better of what was going on crushed them like a bit of shit to cover their tracks sound familiar any one ?
Deep poo is also on the cards for Shell Corrib outrage at treatment of small vendor is growing partners Statoil and Vermillon Oil demanding answers on police alcohol claims
Relieved: In Norway, they don’t use rigs that are 40 years old, they have a regulator with teeth, and they have employees who refuse to undertake tasks they consider to be unsafe. The Norwegians learned the hard way after the Alexander Kielland and other incidents. Do we need an event on the scale of the Ocean Ranger/Piper Alpha/Alexander Kielland in the US before somebody wakes up?
In the 1980′s Shell drilled in Alaska, from manmade islands and from drillships and had no unusual difficulties like those that they have experienced this year. So, what gives ?? Are complete incompetents running the management shop ??? Shell USA clearly needs a housecleaning at the top because it is apparent those people have no real idea what they are doing. Shell doesn’t have these kinds of problems in Norway. Maybe there is a lesson to be learned there.
Don’t tell me I always support Shell and their staff/ex-staff/principles/methodologies etc. Seems like an ex-exploration manager of Shell (Nigeria) has been a bit of a naughty boy :
Maybe Marvin Odum will next blame those elusive but pesky Arctic winged monkeys for Shell’s problems. Shell afterall is a zero-defect company. What ???
Maybe this island nation of Curacao can bring a suit in US Federal Court for clean-up costs and other damages under the Alien Tort Statute after we find out how the US Supreme Court rules this spring ??? After all, the pollution at this site was done deliberately an knowingly, and quite maliciously. Shell knew what kind of problem it had on its hands, but the locals didn’t. Shell snookered them.
Aaagh back from almost 3 weeks escape from our lousy cold winter (yes Greenpeace, cold, despite your pontification about these “bad” oil companies) and I find myself agreeing with “Relieved” (well almost). Shell is indeed run by bean counters – has been for the last 20 odd years. The lack of someone like Roel Murris to tell these bean counters to eff off has clearly come back to haunt the explorers of the company. Not sure that I agree with the statement that there is more potential in the America’s oil/gas shales than the Arctic – the Americans appear to be able to screw up the development of both (physically and politically).
P.S. Pity about Dave Lawrence falling on his sword, but, it was always said that he was like Mathius Bichsel but without Bichsel’s sense of humour (which is no advert when comparing to an inbred Swiss).
Shell’s failure were engineering and operational failures, not exploration failures. Shell should be doing major housecleaning in operations and drilling dept.’s. And by the way, the resource that is changing the energy picture of the America’s are the oil and gas shales just now being exploited. There is more potential in those that in the Arctic.
I recently read the following comment from Marvin Odum regarding the Alaska fiasco: ” this was a marine transit issue that occurred after completion of our exploration program and well outside our theater of operations”. Give me a break ! This is a classic example of Shell trying to assign blame and responsibility to other parties. It was Shell who decided to use very old and outdated equipment, as well as attempt to move this equipment during horrible weather conditions. Shell has to take full responsibility for its’ operations, regardless of whether it is “drilling”, “marine transport”, etc.
I have finished reading through the US Dept of the Interior Report “Review of Shell’s 2012 Alaska Offshore Oil & Gas Exploration Program” dated March 8, 2013. One observation contained in Section E “Shell’s Operational Oversight and Management Systems” caught my eye.
Quote:Shell’s focus appeared to be on compliance with prescriptive
safety and environmental regulations required for approvals and authorizations, rather than on a holistic approach to managing and monitoring risks identified during operational planning.Unquote
What has happened to the development of the full safety case approach and its subsequent challenge & review which Shell insists is the norm before embarking on such an operation? How often do senior people take it upon themselves to “have a good look” once in a while? Or are we witnessing the inevitable consequence of having a Swiss bean counter in overall charge of the company compounded by Technology, Projects and Safety run by a Swiss “my way or the highway” explorer? Of course it may be that the US arm of EP or “Odum Shell” does things its own way, free at last from the pesky RoyalDutch strictures (re)developed in the 2000s in the pursuit of technical and Operational Excellence.
The company was once a byword for technical and operational proficiency but that was consigned to the dustbin of history by a previous bean counting Chief Executive Cor Herkstroter. Sadly, the question does remain:
“Shell, waar ben jij nu?”
A worker is killed at a Motiva refinery, and then there is the story about Brinded. Ah yes, Shell has an impeccable culture of safety in the workplace that begins at the top and works on down through the system. Ya, Right.
Very surprise that Peter Voser pay and bonus has gone up because of US and China growth. US operation is bleeding with high overhead and low gas price while China Gas is still alot of hot air. Get real man.
I wonder what Marvin Odum and Pete Slaiby made off with. They did such a beautiful job in managing Shell’s Alaskan operations this year. Well done !!! What ????
Fraud, theft, blackmail, bribery, extortion, blackmail, espionage, and what else. Oh, yes – kidnapping, torture and murder in Nigeria. These are the sort of activities RD Shell engages in when it suits their purpose. I say this in all seriousness because Shell is routinely prosecuted for these types of transgressions.What a great company to work for.
To Washington Oberver: I was simply responding to Relieved’s comment that it was a case of Americans spying on Americans. Shell Oil (the US affiliate) is wholly owned by Royal Dutch Shell plc.
Royal Dutch Shell plc is a British company, headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands. The majority of its employees are non-US citizens
#122Washington Observer on Mar 10th, 2013 at 18:07
To Outsider: That point is irrelevant to this discussion. As I understand the matter from what information is available, apparently Shell USA decided to engage in the equivalent of a legal mugging to obtain title to proprietary IP for which they had no legitmate legal claim. Nothing new here, they steal IP all the time. As I read the situation, they weren’t even sure what this fellow actually had, otherwise they could have taken him into court. That did not occur, and for a number of reasons. My guess is the biggest hurdle is they couldn’t say what he had and, equally important, all statutes of limitations had probably expired for Shell to make any legitimate claims against this fellow. In short, it looks like Shell didn’t have a case to make. I do believe Shell only had 4 years max. to press their case in court.
There is clearly more to this story, and I am certain Shell was walking on extremely thin ice in matter at best. The security issues mean they stepped in a pile of legal horses**t, big time. NCIS does not initiate criminal investigations of large corporations without just cause. Trust me. Where there is smoke there is fire.
Relieved: you seem to have overlooked the fact that Shell’s US technical and research functions have a very large contingent of non-US nationals from all over the world.
John, I read your ‘Spooky Affair …’ article. Not your usual fare on this site. Normally I wouldn’t bother to spend any further time on such nonsense but I decided to educate myself a little bit. Anyone with better knowledge is free to correct me if I am incorrect. As I understand the situation and US law (from what is available online) this proprietary IP and classified ‘Restricted Data’ that Shell was supposedly trying to lay their hot, corrupt little hands on is by nature considered so sensitive that only those people with a legitimate ‘need to know’ can get access to it. In fact, as I read the law, even the President of the US cannot gain access to that information if it has been determined he has no ‘need to know’. As I read the law information is classified SECRET if release would do ‘serious’ harm to US national security interests. It is classified ‘Top Secret’ if release would do ‘GRAVE’ harm to US national security interests. As I further understand the situation, those with access to ‘Restricted Data’ are required to have a DoE ‘Q’ level security clearance. This is apparently equivalent to a Top Secret level DoD security clearance. Furthermore, ‘Restricted Data’ is apparently classified at the Secret level, at a minimum.
So, as this story goes Shell was apparently trying to obtain access and ownership of proprietary IP that was classified as
‘Restricted Data’ and was related to what? Nuclear weapons design!? This is information the President of the US cannot get access to if he has no ‘need’. Furthermore Shell clearly had/has no legal right to have access to this material or to own it. Obviously, the release of said information to Shell could possible cause ‘serious’ or ‘grave’ harm to US national security interests, which is why they cannot get access to it on their own. Am I on track here ? My question is: Who the F*** sam hell is running Shell USA!! Are these retarded pea-brained jackasses out of their F*** minds !! The arrogance, hubris and incompetence displayed by this kind of conduct by senior Shell USA (obviously) management is utterly mind boggling. If this story is true, and the media takes it up and runs with it Shell’s brand name in the US is history. Toast. Trash. And Shell can expect a serious consumer and political backlash. All Shell pensioners and shareholders should take RD Shell management to task over this kind of (obviously) criminal misconduct on the part of Shell USA management. Through the damned S.O.B.’s out and hire someone competent for heavens sake. Their performance in Alaska is cause enough for that, but now we learn about this little ‘espionage’ caper as well ?? Americans spying against Americans. Give me a break. Make the bastards walk the plank.
I would like to repeat a warning I have mentioned before about postings on this blog. Websites allowing aliases to be used are especially vulnerable to manipulation. That includes Wikipedia and blogs, such as this one. It follows that I can only vouch for the bona fides of postings made in my name or by contributors such as Paddy Briggs, who choose not to use an alias.
Landowners demanding answers from Shell in Mayo and getting none so shareholders don’t hold your breath very poor management situation on the Corrib Project
Can we take it that SHELL will take a close look at the
MAN IN THE SHELL HAT
Situation before the AGM some response required I think what’s going on over there ?
Read the article about Shell’s crystal ball into the future. What utter crap. 10 years ago their crystal ball has nothing to reveal about the revolution in the drilling and fracturing of source rocks. And I am certain their crystal ball had nothing to say about how their Arctic (mis)adventures were going to proceed. If we go back to 1910 I am certain Shell’s crystal ball had no inkling of WW1, WW2, the great depression, the cold war, atomic energy and the atom bomb, etc., etc., etc. That Shell document is absolutely worthless. If Utter BS. If Shell is lucky the might be able to sort of gauge events 5 years into the future. Beyond that they are playing games.
Hello “LondonLad,” I noticed you mentioned me in your recent post and got it wrong on the issues I speak to. Be informed for the last time that I am Ogoni. I speak for Ogoni or to Ogoni issues, which borders around Nigeria and $hell, your precursor. I don’t speak for Nigeria. Therefore, I don’t know what you claim $hell has done for or in Nigeria that is positive. What I know for sure is that, $hell hasn’t done anything positive in Ogoni but stole ( may be stealing more currently) Ogoni oil, collaborating with the Nigerian government to bribe some feeble and greedy Ogonis. The joint-venture holders have also been trying to intimidate those who speak out against $hell’s terrorist and devilish acts. They’ve invaded, destroyed Ogoni communities, killed the people and degrade our environment as attested by UNEP report. Ogonis whose sources of livelihood have been fishing and farming are completely deprived of their close to heart lifestyle by $hell and Nigeria both of whom I dislike for their criminal behavior and speak against. Ogoni is an environmental time-bomb waiting to explode, courtesy Royal Dutch $hell’s greed and incompetence.
John – why do you bother responding to the ramblings of LondonLad / Musaint? In a sense you are giving his contributions a form of “credibility” by taking the trouble to respond. I believe the majority read what he has to say (if we bother reading at all) and just go “ho hum”! REPLY BY JOHN: Fair comment.
REPLY TO LONDONLAD/MUSAINT: Note that you are unable to provide a single example of anything stated as fact by us that is untrue. Your latest comments are just a rehash of what you have stated before under various aliases. You did once tell me in email correspondence under yet another name (presumably another alias) that you have a grievance against Shell yourself and will probably one day reveal what it is. I am still waiting. I would be a bit worried about visiting South Africa bearing in mind recent events. Hope you have a good flight and a safe return.
Heh ho I had better sit on the naughty boys chair for a while. However before I go there, as I have stated so many times before, if you don’t like criticism or defence of Shell against some of the stupid comments on this website by people that have a huge chip on their shoulder then either : (1) try and understand why they are defending Shell (yes hard I know for some) against the likes of Greenpeace who have just one agenda – to put us back in the dark ages, (2) actually go to a place like Nigeria and genuinely understand why people like Ben “is that your real name” Ikari blows a great deal of hot air in attempting to blame all and sundry about Nigeria’s woes and totally ignores the huge benefits Shell (and other oil companies) bring to that woeful country, (3) properly educate yourself about the E&P business (don’t try and extrapolate just from a knowledge of sales) and realize that it is a far more complicated business than many try to make out on this website. The main gripe that gets my goat on this site? – the tabloid innuendos that titillate idiots that have no idea about the E&P business. Shame I cannot wait for the lengthy response I’ll get from this, I’m off tomorrow to the outback’s of South Africa for 3 weeks and will even miss the Real Madrid match (ooooo what a give-away!!).
To Texvette: Shell rarely if ever holds it senior management accountable. The only time I know of a senior manager getting sacked was when one was caught banging his secretary in his office during working hours. Shell managers are NEVER responsible for failure. It is their staff that has let them down, either through direct screw-ups or because they ‘gave poor advise’ and caused the manager to screw-up. It is always the worker-bees that are at fault for performance failings. After all, Shell only promotes the best and the brightest to “lead” the company. Ha!! Ha!! Most of those people could ‘Lead’ their way down a dark alley.
#136Golden Triangle Watchman on Mar 1st, 2013 at 11:59
John is 100% spot on re Shell’s senior mgt, including their HR cronies, watching this website. It is a joke how much attention they pay to this, looking for the truth among the smoke. Ask Uncle Tom Purves if they read this or not. Oh yea, he is stuck up in the cold north, by Santa Claus. Might be hard to get a question him until the thaw comes. You bet your dollar they read this…
REPLY TO LONDONLAD: I have evidence in the form of Shell internal communications and documents proving this website is closely monitored by Shell management and its lawyers both in the USA and in Europe. In addition, Shell has mounted a global operation monitoring all traffic to this website from Shell premises. All part of an attempt by Shell spooks to trace our insider sources and stop the leakage of highly confidential internal information to us e.g. a database containing contact information for 177,000 Shell employees and contractors. That incident made news headlines around the world. Since 1995, Shell has been publicly complaining about our activities highlighting Shell management misdeeds. Shell has put posters on display at Shell HQ buildings about our campaigning activities, handed out leaflets about us at reception areas at Shell HQ’s, including Shell Centre and The Hague, issued press statements about us and even published an article about us in a Shell internal magazine authored by a Shell Legal Director. Shell is even more fixated by our activities than you are. As to your allegation, made while hiding behind your current alias, suggesting that we sometimes publish fiction, not fact, please provide an example? Should not be a problem if we are as lacking in integrity as your cowardly comment suggests. You have been attacking us for a long time, always hiding behind an alias, sneakily moving to a new one when you deem it necessary. As MUsaint, with theatrical gusto, you promised never to visit this website again, such was your claimed disgust, but soon popped up again using a new alias. Not the behavior of a person of integrity. We never hide behind an alias. Shell, Peter Voser, Simon Henry, Matthias Bichsel, Chris Finlayson, David Pirret, Tim Hannagan, Mark Moody-Stuart, Tom Purves, Keith Ruddock, Malcolm Brinded, the Rev. Phil Watts and all of the other scandal tainted current and former Shell executives and lawyers featured on this website know our names and where we are located. No hiding or deception on our part. I am sure my solicitor, Richard Woodman of Royds, will happily accept service on my behalf of any defamation writs. Richard has successfully represented me in six high court actions involving Shell, two of them libel actions we brought against Shell.
Wake up and smell the coffee “it4us” the RDS senior management have far more important things to do than read articles or blogs on this website. Do you honestly think they want to waste their time reading some of the drivel stated as fact on this website!! Before anyone comments, I do read some of the shorter blogs/articles out of historical interest and in the hope that I can see fact rather than fiction. Rare as hens teeth. I do however, strongly support the comments from “Texvette”. Unfortunately Teflon Bichsel will have had very little input on this venture (this should stir the stirrers), I really wish he had/has however.
Amongst their other shortcomings, RDS senior management have evidently not been reading this site closely enough. Problems with the Noble Discoverer were being pointed out in these columns (by ‘Outsider’ in particular) over a year ago. Another example of the RDS hierarchy being trained to suppress bad news ?
Shell has a history of not holding its’ leaders accountable. In spite of this, I am still amazed that no one in an executive leadership position has not been sacked as a result of the horrendous mismanagement of the Alaska operations.
BP is currently going through a criminal trial over its actions in the Gulf of Mexico. Given that RD Shell is now under criminal investigation for its, and its contractors, obviously deliberate failure to abide by US law, it makes one wonder what sort of criminal action Shell would have faced IF there had been some sort of ‘incident’ last summer. The company could have faced HUGE fines, as BP now faces. Furthermore, it is clear that management decided to take those risks, not with their own money, but with the shareholders money. There really needs to be a major change in RD Shell senior leadership (and I use that term loosely).
Having chugged through inches, closer to feet actually, (for the yanks that’s tabloid speak) of “Shell in the Arctic”, I finally came across an article on Matthias Bichsel that basically stated some mud would be thrown in his direction on this website. When can we expect to read some of this (promised for a “few days”). Yes, even I who will defend Shell on many fronts have a very sour taste in my mouth for this guy.
REPLY TO LondonLad: Posting using a single alias is one thing. I would not do so myself, but it is common practice on the Internet. Posting under multiple aliases is something else. I note there is no denial by you in this regard. I have nothing further to add to the other comments I have made.
A very waffled response Donovan to my straightforward comment that I want to have a profitable return on my investment, in this case my Shell shares. Again you use the tabloid expression of “implication” as to what my comment meant. You got that wrong! Do you not want a return on your investments? (N.B. I said nothing about profit or otherwise about this website so don’t give the usual rant about that!) Finally, if you don’t like people using aliases to argue against some of the attacks against Shell then change your methodology for people using this blog.
REPLY TO LONDONLAD: You discussed several issues mainly relating to the Shell AGM and then closed your comments with a sentence saying: “As a Shell shareholder all I want is a nice return on my investment.” The implication being that this is your priority in holding Shell shares above all other considerations. As Musaint and LondonLad you have regularly defended Shell’s indefensible record of plunder and pollution in Nigeria, despite all of its broken promises to end gas flaring; planting spies throughout the Nigerian government; engaging in corruption; conspiring with the leaders of militants attacking Shell infrastructure; dealing with murderous regimes and colluding in the murder of legitimate protestors. All okay as long as you get a nice dividend. I have operated this website and its previous incarnations, all focused on Shell, all on an entirely non commercial basis, declining all donations and all paid advertising. We hold, but have never sold, a variety of Shell domain names, including three Shell unsuccessfully attempted to seize. In short, we have never received a single penny income from operating this or any other website. We put principle first and money last. You do the exact opposite and that includes hiding behind a number of aliases when posting on this website. In addition to the aliases Musaint and LondonLad, you have corresponded with me by email using a third name, no doubt also made up. Says a great deal about you. In contrast I have never used an alias. So yes, compared with you, I do claim to be noble.
So, wanting a return on your investment is now classified as greedy!! I suppose that when you (Donovan’s) invest or were working with Shell you don’t / didn’t want any return / profit. How very noble of you. Actually I would say stupid. Most normal people who need to live in retirement want some form of return on capital invested – are all these to be classified as greedy or just those that comment positively on Shell?
Contrary to what LondonLad says, many UK based Shell shareholders, especially the elderly, are unlikely to attend the AGM when it means traveling to Holland, with all that entails. Some have held Shell shares for several decades. The last sentence in LondonLads comments speaks volumes. Many other Shell shareholders and executives have the same No.1 priority. Pure greed.
So, no audio-visual link this year. Just means that some of the UK shareholders (particularly those with burning questions) will have take a trip across the Channel to The Hague in May – I can thoroughly recommend going as the weather is normally great then. Air fares can be quite cheap, else there’s always the ferry. So no great hardship. May even stroll across myself. As for your “well informed source”, I am afraid that the majority of the company is (and has been) Dutch – so no change there!! And yet again there is the tabloid hype with “they won’t return to Shell Centre” / “they’ll move to a single centre in The Hague”. The first is untrue according to my Shell source and the second (as a shareholder) I would have no problem with, but again very very unlikely unless the lefties such as Clegg & Cable get their way on corporate and personal taxation. As a Shell shareholder all I want is a nice return on my investment.
My name is Liza Mecklenburg, representing the advertising department of the JPP Consulting company. We are interested to place an ad (banner), of your choice, on your website.
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If you are interested please let me hear from you.
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REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN: Liza, we receive many approaches to feature paid advertising on this website, normally via private email rather than open correspondence on our Shell blog. We also receive offers of donations to support our activities. All are turned down. We have always operated all of our websites solely on a non-commercial totally independent basis and that will continue to be our policy. Shell first publicly commented on our internet activities in March 1995. Shell subsequently settled all of the claims it described as being false paying £100,000 per claim, plus all of our legal costs. There was litigation before and after the claims mentioned in Shell’s press statement. The last in 2005, when Shell attempted to seize our domain name royaldutchshellplc.com. Eight bouts of litigation in all. Shell has yet to win any case and wisely decided years ago never to sue us again. Hence Shell is reduced to making empty threats, while we are free to speak out without fear or favor.
Comment by Iain Percival is fairly made. Speaks with considerable authority as the retired Group Chief Petroleum Engineer of Royal Dutch Shell. AllAfrica.com report may have been misled by some news reports of Shell fourth-quarter of 2011 earnings. The following is an extract from an article by The New York Times under the headline: Shell Profit Rises 15%, but Disappoints Investors: “Still, there are reasons to worry about Shell. The fourth-quarter letdown was largely due to lower earnings in Shell’s core exploration and production business, mainly because of weak performance in the Americas. Shell’s high-profile, multibillion-dollar Alaska drilling program has encountered several snags and delays, including the running aground of the Kulluk drilling vessel on an uninhabited island in late December. Mr. Voser said that the Kulluk had been damaged and that another drilling vessel required upgrades. Shell is still weighing its next steps in Alaska, he said. Shell is also being hurt by natural gas prices in the United States that have been pushed down by the boom in shale gas production. Declining prices have led it to switch strategies and drill for gas deposits that are rich in liquids, which bring in more money than gas.” The implication from the way this was written was that there was a linkage between Shell’s problems in Alaska and lower production earnings. Although referring to production earnings, perhaps this caused some confusion to those responsible for the AllAfrica article?
Any delay to Shell’s Arctic exploration drilling programme will have absolutely no impact on hydrocarbon production output in 2013 as reported by AllAfrica. This is just a load of rubbish and I am very surprised it has been posted with associated “oh my goodness” red heading. It indicates a total lack of understanding of the EP business.
About the article regarding Shell and BASF: Shell management knew what it was doing when it relocated its pesticide operations from the US (Rocky Flats, Colorado) to Brazil. Shell management knew many of their workers would contact cancer and that they were condemning them to early and painful deaths. Shell didn’t give a s*** about those workers in Brazil and still doesn’t. Shell’s only concern was profit. Today it only concern is limiting the damage settlement. In 1976, when Shell was forced to shut down its US operation, roughly 96% of all Americans had traces of Shell’s ‘miracle’ pesticides in their blood. And the cancer issue was well known at the time. A $20 million settlement offer for those poor folks in Brazil is chicken feed. Shell should be force to pay billions in punitive damages for the deliberate harm they caused in their quest to extend the life of a very, very profitable, albeit dangerous, line of chemical pesticides.
Can anyone tell me how Shell planned to handle a spill of diesel fuel, etc., from the Kulluk if its tanks had ruptured ? It appears to me that Shell blew off that problem because of weather and simply opted to deal with the problem after the fact. Obviously, they did not mobilize their spill response team because of hazardous weather conditions. Did Shell have a contingency plan ?? I mean, they were supposedly capable of handling any type of spill in any type of weather, correct ?? Right ?? Or maybe their response plan is a lot of smoke and mirrors and hot air.
Dry 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!
Despite new paint jobs and some remedial work it is clear that Shell’s Arctic fleet is still a collection of refurbished rust-buckets that should have been sent to the breakers long ago.
Definition of “punkahwallah”: “the wallah (boy, servant) who operates a punkah, large cloth fan suspended from the ceiling” (The slang usage is derogatory, of course)
John: All of the information you are publishing about the reserve scandal is interesting, but was ‘known’ about within the greater Shell organization for years. Going back as far as the mid-late 1980′s there was at Shell USA real ‘concern’ about the acceleration in rate of supposed reserve replacement and reserve bookings even though crude production kept declining. These ‘new’ reserve numbers were known to be suspect, but people kept their knowledge and ‘suspicions’ to themselves lest they anger the higher powers. Most alarming at the time was the very real and marked decrease in the production of light crude mirrored by the marked increase in heavy crude production. Shell was getting roughed up badly (financially) by the price differential between light and heavy crudes. In fact, in the mid-1980′s, after the fall in oil prices, it was costing Shell more to produce their heavy crudes (by $4-$5/bbl) in California than they could get for the stuff. This led to the serious financial crisis for Shell USA in the late 1980′s and early 1990′s. Needless to say, many the reserve bookings were fictional. While it was easy for managers to get new reserves booked it was almost impossible to get downward adjustments to early ‘over optimisn’ or ‘pre-mature’ bookings. The end result was a bloated reserve portfolio that needed some serious deflation. Unfortunately, it took until 2004 to get the job done. The real problem for Shell was, and probably still is, a corporate culture that tolerates and accepts misrepresentation and fraud on the part of management, both middle and upper level management. Middle level management lies to upper level management and upper level management lies to the board of directors and the shareholders. The shareholders would be prudent in expecting future ‘surprises’, like the 2004 reserve scandal, from Shell management.
“an old EP hand” : If you read my comment about Aidan McKay properly you will see I call him a prat for his email to Bob Sprague which comes across somewhat badly for McKay as far as I am concerned. I can also say I have no idea what you infer with “Punkahwallah” – I never worked in India or been on any area desk in The Hague working on that part of the world. I’m afraid you’ll have try much harder Sherlock!!
I was surprised to see Alf Thorkildsen in the reserves article, he was until recently CEO of Seadrill and it might have been a problem to lead a major listed company, depending on what his role was (unclear to me). Now he is partner in private equity firm Hitecvision so none of this will matter anymore as his job is to maximise profit and nothing else. Seems he has the experience.
Londonlad, you call Aidan a prat when he worked for you. I know him very well and your remark reflects some deep frustration on your side. If you are who I think you are, this remark: you were once a very good project manager, you appear to have imploded in frustration. Would it be appropriate to change your name from Londonlad to Punkahwallah?
I am hearing that Andrei Galaev has got the chop as CEO of Sakhalin Energy. Not sure if it’s because of incompetence or a move to strengthen Gazprom’s hold.
To “Relieved” : (1) I never said that you and “Texvette” were the same person – that’s like saying Sir Alex Ferguson is the same as Arsen Wenger (yes, I know you people beyond the pond have no idea who these people are – the rest of the world does however), (2) For your latest posting, I would say that BP has led the way and others will follow (oooops got that wrong, you Yanks started the ball rolling with Exxon “Valdiz” !!
According to Voser Shell’s strategy is one that ‘others can’t easily repeat.’ Given the events of the last few years the question is: Who would want to do so ??? Name a few candidates please.
With regard to the Kulluk saga and incident does the old saying: ‘Penny wise and pound foolish’ come to mind ?? You got to love those bean counters at Shell. Who is running this company anyway ?
LondonLad,I agree with you that most African govts are greedy, corrupt and incompetent; they’re deranged, but not without Western influence for their interest. Africans should know and do better than the stooges statuses in their land. The continent is old enough to think and act for itself despite the maneuvers from the west. More importantly, bigotry is the last thing on my mind when dealing with the Niger delta/Ogoni or overall African situations linking the west. I fight racism, inequality and oppression, repression of all forms. Also, I live in the west, see what Africans mean to most Westerners:subhumans/beasts good mostly for exploitation. So know the issues I speak to, even though some Westerners and courts are clear minded, humane and credible. The facts are: $hell Intl. makes the rules alongside Nigeria’s subsidiary and supplies necessary tools/advice to so-called $hell Nigeria or SPDC. Also $hell intl gets profit from activities by $hell Nigeria. Remember, it’s $hell intl which organized the monitoring of Ken Saro-Wiwa, whom it saw as a threat to its business and intl image. Brain Anderson (European) was the person in charge of Nigeria’s $hell then. When Saro-Wiwa couldn’t be stopped, $hell intl in collaboration with Nigeria planned with the military govt to kill him. First, $hell denied there was any environmental pollution in Ogoni where it started business in 1958 to 1993 when it said it’s stopped due to agitation against pollution, etc. Not even an iota of sabotage was raised by $hell at the start of Saro-Wiwa-Ogoni struggle in ’93. Then $hell asked Saro-Wiwa to withdraw his campaign that was hurting her. He refused and was trumped up by $hell and govt, using their media power, mostly Western. Anderson asked Owens Wiwa to tell his brother Saro-Wiwa to recount the environmental problems in Ogoni and he will regain his freedom. Saro-Wiwa turned the offer down. Finally, the so-called $hell Nigeria is just a name aimed at shelving responsibility; Nigerians don’t own $hell Nigeria, though locals are hugely employed up to MD. It’s common sense that localization doesn’t expressly mean ownership. $hell Nigeria isn’t a national oil company. These are the facts and the Hague court know this. Where then does bigotry come in, other than that the court is protecting the interest of its govt and corporation such as $hell? The court dropped all cases against the home office in Netherlands, where it sat and agree with $hell that Niger deltans are the polluters as though are corporations such as $hell, which pollutes and kills to make profit. $hell’s profit go to its home government, which runs the court, and help the development of Netherlands, Britain, etc?
Relieved, you’re right. And also I understand the issues of plaintiffs’ onus to prove their case. Evidence and the truth haven’t mattered so much where huge govt and corporate interest lies against foreigners as in this case. The courts have mostly considered national interests, especially when dealing with this kind of case. Obviously, there could be some problems for $hell, but to what degree, and how could this problem help or truly solve the Niger delta problems when the Nigerian govt is foreign govts and $hell’s stooge? The probable in-road created by this decision will be harder to follow, just as redeeming fines or penalties against $hell as clear in the Bodo-$hell case in London. So the court knows what it did and especially accepting $hell’s blame on citizens and dropping charges against $hell Intl, which makes the rules and collects the profit from Nigeria.
I found the emails interesting and indicative of the deception Shell management was clearly engaged in. They were trying to exploit the events of 9/11 to their benefit. What these emails could have done at the time they were written is cause Shell’s stock to drop significantly. I don’t think they will have any impact now. However, the emails do give a clear indication of the attitude Shell management has for Wall Street’s superficial approach to investment strategies.I do know Bob Sprague, but not well. He was a typical Shell USA manager. It is obvious from these emails that Shell management was not telling the investment community the truth about reserves, rate of reserve replacement, real rate of return on investment (ROR), and so on. It is also obvious that they really didn’t care if they were being factual or not. Their primary concern seems to be about getting caught in ‘a big lie’ about all the above. They were also clearly trying to use the events of 9/11 to their advantage if investor ‘expectations’ were not met, and as a means of ‘covering their tracks’ regarding previous deceptions. It is an interesting set of emails and clearly indicates that Shell management deliberately misled their institutional investors. It seems they were trying to keep stock prices from taking a tumble if the investors knew things were as they had been told. These emails clearly indicate deliberate fraud on the part of Shell management.
So, Ben “if that’s your real name” Ikari, it really seems that you are a bigoted African who cannot accept that independent Africa (yes, independent) cannot look after itself and merely wants to blame everybody else for its failings. Sub-Saharan Africa remains a joke on the world stage because it acts like an immature child who always wants to blame others and not admit to its own failings. As I have stated so many times, Shell is NOT to blame – please look to yourself and your corrupt, bankrupt, government for the problems that your country is in.
BBC website today : “Detective jailed for News of the World leak” – I just wonder if and when we will read “Shell staff jailed for leaks to tabloid website”? Note : Shell staff have / had signed contract obligations that are / were in place……. However, I must say that these leaks do make for lovely tabloid reading / titillation – i.e. how much can you really trust them? Have to say that I am disappointed with Aidan McKay (who used to work for me when he was in New Orleans) for being such a prat.
To Mr. Ikari: The verdict against Shell is clearly not what you would have liked to have seen, but it is significant none-the-less. It tells those who would bring such suits in the future how they need to approach the legal problem and the manner in which they need to press their claims in court. The burden of proof was on the plaintiffs, and if they did not present a convincing case then the court was right in rejecting their claims. Personally, I think this verdict poses a serious potential problem for Shell in the future. The door for future suits has been opened, and those suits, if properly prepared and presented, could represent a serious financial liability for Shell.
The interest of most Western courts, which includes The Netherlands and governments is to protect capitalism and Africa’s exploitation and oppression. Why then should I nor anyone who understand corporate influence in government and courts be surprised at the decision of the Netherlands or Hague’s court? How can a court agree the people are responsible for their own pollution, knowing that $hell accepting about 40% spill means 89 to 99%? What we know is that these courts and governments pay lip-service to the protection of international human rights and especially when their companies are in violation of the rights of Africans. Meanwhile, the Hague’s court allowing fines against Nigeria’s $hell subsidiary is only a means to diffusing public outcry or criticism. If not what’s the difference between a tenant working for a landlord and collecting rents, other profits to him and a landlord benefiting from these actions based on his policies? $hell Nigeria is nothing but a name…key decisions are made by the home office in the Hague and Britain, likewise the profit shipped to these headquarters. Unfortunately, Niger delta of Nigeria like other Africans shall remain the victim of global greed, exploitation and all that come with capitalism and ingrained racism. Its citizens are part of the problems, because they have refused to unite and stop the flow of oil once and for all. Betraying themselves for messes of pottage from governments and $hell, etc. doesn’t help the charade. Imagine the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger delta (MEND) and how close it’s to stop the oil flow madness in Nigeria, but now President Goodluck Jonathan was allegedly used to penetrate them. With government/$hell’s peanuts and threats by US and British government to help Nigeria crush them so that oil will continue to flow, they stop the just agitation and reclaiming of what’s rightly theirs. Greed, lack of vision and intellectual dimension, disunity have thwarted that bold and holistic effort at freedom. Many of them have now been killed by Nigerian government, some in jail and others awaiting sentencing. Why then will the Netherlands’ court controlled by $hell and its baby govt not hand down such ruling, knowing that Nigeria is in their hands and the victims are feeble? What a pity!
Good to see that the court in The Hague showed some common sense for all but one of the cases bought against SPDC in Nigeria. Even the one that they were charged for was somewhat weak in that “breach of care of duty” to stop saboteurs opening up a wellhead and subsequently they, the saboteurs, polluting the surrounds, must be open up for debate. I suppose Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, the Ogonis and other Delta tribes will have to look for other courts around the world to try and attack Shell. The problem remains in Nigeria with pollution primarily being caused by saboteurs and corruption endemic throughout the system. The Delta tribes do not seem to be able to accept this fact and merely continue to drag Shell, and others, through the courts in order to fill their own fat bank accounts via court fines. It would be very interesting to see the world-wide bank accounts of these tribal leaders. No doubt Ben “if thats your real name” Ikari will comment on this.
Yes, “Relieved” / “Texvette” I do have a major problem with the arrogance of many American bully-boys who have become the modern day (economic) colonialists. If you would have read my posting properly you would see that I used the past tense about the SEC rules, which were subsequently upgraded for modern technological advances in 2009. Another case of it taking Americans several years to realise and accept they made a mistake. I had to use the past tense about the (outdated) SEC rules as I was referring to the historical article on Shell’s reserves reporting from the Donovans, that had once again been regurgitated.
LondonLad: It amazes my how you insert your “Ant1-American” sentiments in almost all your posts. Regardless if the SEC’s reserves reporting guidelines are good or bad, they are the rules for any company wanting to be listed on a US stock exchange. If the company desires to be listed, they need to follow the rules as written. The SEC rules are designed to protect all investors from all countries. The responsibility for developing the reserves estimates belong the business unit and they are held accountable. The Financial function – on top of the reserves audit group, provides an additional measure of due diligence only. The financial function does not develop the numbers; they attempt to provide assurance that the rules, guidelines and procedures are followed.
LondonLad: You seem to have a burr up your backside when it comes to Americans. That is too bad, because like it or not you are stuck with us. Cheers, pal.
I am sure that (most) of what you have printed regarding Simon Henry’s “contribution”, to your tabloid article on the HISTORICAL (i.e. almost 10 years old story!!) reserves problems of Shell, may be correct. However, as we all know the reserves reporting (aka requirements of the SEC) was grossly outdated for modern day technological advances. Yet again it was the case that the Americans wanted to “rule the world” with their outdated methodology of reserves reporting and impose it on the rest of the world. Nevertheless, I do agree that Shell “minions” were under pressure to report reserves to help scorecards/end-of-year reviews. My PRESENT issue with reserves reporting is that it is the Financial Manager (at operating company level) that signs off the reserves reporting sheet – why? Surely this should be the Exploration Manager and Petroleum Engineering Manager that should do this? The knowledge of a Financial Manager (i.e. accountant) and several levels upwards, Simon Henry, cannot challenge or understand what the reserves numbers mean or the back-up data behind them! The buck should have stopped at the likes of Mathius Bixel then head of global exploration (and his PE counterpart in The Hague). Bottom line is that Shell AND every other company that is tied to these outdated American reserves reporting methodologies should have the scientists and NOT the accountants sign off the numbers.
Mr. Donovan, £3.2b? This is a lot of money. Wonder whether this has been provided as post balance sheet contingent adjustment. Hopefully it does not impact on share price.
John, Of course RD Shell is behind those cyber attacks. Nobody else has the motivation and the resources necessary. Any protestations by RD Shell management to the contrary are so much ‘piss in the wind’.
#183Golden Triangle Watchman on Jan 19th, 2013 at 14:53
Someone should get OSHA in here at Port Arthur and review our plans for start-up on this crude unit. Management just keeps hacking away at the last problem pipe and trying to get back to start-up versus spending the right amount of time proving that the unit can startup safely. How long is our company going to continue to try and start up this problem before we dop back and systematically fix the problem? Motiva’s leadership at this plant is weak.
In all honesty can the Donovan’s kindly list some of the past and present senior executives of Royal Dutch Shell that they would support for their good work, honesty, ability to abide by country HSE requirements, etc. etc. More and more it seems that if you work for RDS at a (very) senior level they’ll get shafted via real AND tabloid reporting on this website, Greenpeace (dick-heads), and other tree hugging websites. We (the countries around the world) need to advance, risks need to be taken as a result ………… JOHN DONOVAN REPLY TO LONDONLAD:
Supply a list of past and present praiseworthy senior Shell executives? That is an ask too far. I can think of one example. Sir John Jennings. We had dealings with him on a face to face basis when he was Chairman of Shell Transport & Trading and a Group Managing Director of Royal Dutch Shell Group. He demonstrated his integrity and his support for Shell’s Statement of General Business Principles in an unprecedented way. If he had not retired, this website would almost certainly not be in existence. Moody-Stuart took over and hid behind Shell’s army of lawyers, supporting a thoroughly dishonest Shell executive who, in addition to repeatedly stealing intellectual property, not only from us, rigged a contract tender in a conspiracy involving a number of high level people at Shell, of whom one at least, Tim Hannigan, is still a Shell executive. Next came Sir Philip Watts who inherited the hydrocarbon value creation teams set up under Moody-Stuart and fraudulently conjured up some much needed proven reserves. After he was forced to resign, Jeroen van der Veer was given the top job and was soon engulfed in the TOUCH FUCK ALL scandal and cover-up, and then the Sakhalin 2 debacle when he surrendered Shell’s majority stake to Putin in the most humiliating circumstances. Now we have his equally scandal tainted successor, Peter Voser, Chairman of the UBS Audit Committee at the time when UBS was engaged in all kinds of criminal activity.
As for taking risks, we may have already caused irreversible calamitous damage to the environment and the future of humanity by flouting the dire warnings about climate change.
It would help if we could at least have confidence in the integrity and competence of senior management of multinational giants such as Shell who want to run risks for commercial gain. Unfortunately we know that the overriding driving motivation behind most fat cat business moguls appears to be pure personal greed. And they end up with millions even when the risk-taking ends in disaster. Sir Philip Watts walked off with a reported severance/pension package worth $18.5 million after defrauding Shell shareholders and bringing to an end the 100 year old partnership between Royal Dutch Petroleum and Shell Transport & Trading.
Mr Donovan, it’s very insightful testimony of Simon Henry of both Phil and Walter, both his bosses. The fault seems to be always with his bosses not him. Wonder what he has to say about Mr. Voser?
Shell is taking a pounding about the judgement exercised by senior management over Shell’s Alaskan adventure – from the decision to tow the Kulluk through a winter cyclone to avoid millions in property taxes, to their decision to rehabilitate a small fleet of rust buckets in order to save (maybe)significant amounts of money in drilling costs, etc., etc., etc. We won’t mention Shell management’s decision to assume HUGE the financial risks associated with any type of major environmental ‘event’. Are we surprised ? Nobody should be surprised. The management team of this company (presumably Shell USA) also made a decision not to many years ago to engage in what appears to be espionage, targeting technologies classified by the US Dept.of Defense. What ‘responsible’ senior Shell management idiot decided to assume the risks associated with that type of activity?? I think it is time Shell’s institutional shareholders insisted on a major housecleaning in the upper levels of Shell management before this gang’s luck runs out.
Outsider and Dutchdude – yes, a tsunami was to blame, one of incompetence, inexperience,insouciance and insincerity (with respect to the tax question). These four elements are a lethal brew to be avoided when embarking on a risk assessment.
BP’s Regional President for the North Sea Mr Trevor Garlick in a recent communication to staff confirmed the BP North Sea region had not achieved 2012 production targets stating that the production short fall was circa 35mboed of lost production.
The note also confirmed the BP operation is continuing to see increasing costs. The communication goes on to confirm the major 2013 focus for the BP North Sea business will be actively managing its cost base in line with its now much smaller North Sea portfolio following the recent divestment of the Harding fields and Southern North Sea fields and facilities.
Does this statement indicate a reduction of the bulging headcount in the North Sea HQ is finally to start.
DutchDude: agree 100% – no amount of paperwork can prevent accidents (or Tsunamis). But a critical review of potential hazards by an external party (not subject to management pressure) can often identify risks and hazards before they lead to accidents. Are you suggesting that a tsunami was responsible for the Kulluk ending up on the rocks?
LL and Outsider, you both make a very common mistake, seen all over the EP industry. The unwarrented believe in paper (i.e Safety cases and bowties). Nice docs, nice exercises, but they almost always skip the core of the matter. Which is understanding your risks. I do not subscribe to the phase “act of God”. Which is also very popular with insurance companies. If Shell really wanted they could do in depth and accurate risk assessments, and only than can the decision be made how to act on thse risks. Having a bowtie or safety case is not going to stop or reduce the risk of or the consequences of a Tsunami (or senior management short sightedness for that matter).
LondonLad: I’m sure Shell performed all kinds of QRA’s and prepared Safety Cases for Alaska for internal use. But outside the US these documents are then critically reviewed by the authorities, who must agree to them before operations can start.
“Outsider” I very much doubt that Shell (even the US arm of RDS) did not perform several “Safety Cases” (with it’s “Bow-Ties” and all) regarding the whole Alaskan operation, including chopper operations, rig-tow etc. etc. Most governments now have this, or an equivalent, as a requirement to operate in their territory. That said they sure missed something viz the rig tow. However, some acts of god (e.g. tsunami’s) are somewhat hard to predict and at least in this case nobody was killed and the environment remains intact, despite hysteria whipped up by some who have an agenda against the likes of Shell and the oil industry in general. Unless you have definitive proof that Shell only applied their GoM knowledge to the Alaskan operation I think your comment is very wide of the mark as RDS input will certainly have been applied to this project not just limited Shell Oil knowledge/experience.
Not only has Royal Dutch Shell embarrassed itself with it misadventures in the Arctic, the US Dept. of the Interior has also embarrassed itself for failure to provide competent oversight of Shell’s operations. Shell and the USD both appear to be run by the less than competent, leading to a ‘blind leading the blind’ situation. Thankfully, the only real damage has been to reputations.
From the information on this site, the need for a “Safety Case” approach for Shell’s Alaskan operations seems to be overwhelming. Helicopters that couldn’t fly in ice and fog, two vessels aground, and the failure of the containment dome are all examples of how the prescriptive approach used in the US does not work when circumstances change. Shell has experience of operations all over the world, but apparently applied only their knowledge of operations in the Gulf of Mexico to their Alaskan fiasco.
P.S. Happy New Year to you and your father. REPLY BY JOHN: Glad you are in a better mood than before the Christmas/New Year period. With regards to those concerned about the series of mishaps to which you refer, you can add many major newspapers including the FT, the NYT, The Washington Post, The Sunday Telegraph etc and now the U.S. Government. They are rightly bothered. Best wishes to you for 2013.
Good job the tanker “Overseas Reymar” wasn’t owned by Shell otherwise this website, “Relieved”, and every other Neanderthal who doesn’t want to progress with living in the 21st century, and all that this entails with the risks involved, would be up in arms. I reckon the rig that ran aground in Alaska (and has been released without any panic – apart from contributors to this noble website + a few left wingers with an agenda) should have been left there, as was, so that the fishes could have colonized the structure and helped mother nature propagate their species. Not “colonized” as we Brits did in the 19th century Ben “is that your real name” Ikari!!
Lady Godiva: It is very hard to understand how Marvin Odum has kept his job in light of safety performance and the what has happened in Alaska. Oh, nevermind, I understand – Shell does not hold any of its’ leaders accountable.
Shell got lucky, this time, with a canceled tsunami warning. Imagine a 100 ft. wave parking Shell’s rig high up on that volcanic shore line. They would have had to haul the wreck off piece by tiny piece.
I wonder if RDS drilling call for requesting assistance from the US Army and/or US Navy in the event of a major incident. And Who is going to pay for all of this Federal assistance ??? I presume the Army is going to send Shell a big bill for renting their helicopters. Surely, RD Shell does not expect the US taxpayer to foot the bill for their incompetence. Or do they ??
We concur with DutchDude and Relieved. There are still lots of NATO ( No Action Talk Only ) in top layers in Shell. Recommendation to place Asia leaders in top position fall into deaf ears. No wonder, more have left in the Transition 09 and more will be leaving in the Strategy alignment. It is based on who can talk and who you know. EM
Sad to see the mishap in Alaska. Many reasons why, but in my mind the foremost one is the relentless cutting of competent technical staff in favour of politicians. Transition 09 has done so much damage to this company, and has only propelled the quick talkers to the top. These managers are afraid of technical knowledge, and believe they are super anyway!
Shell should go back to being technical first, and demonstrate a job can be done safely without all the pre PR. Voser and Henry have done tremendous damage to this company with their short term, quick gain plans.
Mr Voser , $4billion+ Arctic lesson learned is a lot of money. Which Superbucket EVP is accountable ? Comment by John: The Arctic gamble seems to have already cost over $7 billion!!! According to a Washington Post article, “Royal Dutch Shell PLC in 2008 spent $2.1 billion on Chukchi Sea leases and estimates it has spent a total of nearly $5 billion on drilling efforts there and in the Beaufort.”
John and I are most grateful for the support and encouragement received from our Shell insider sources and contributors. Thanks also to our numerous visitors, the vast majority of whom are regulars here. Our best wishes to you all for 2013.
Shell never misses an opportunity to tell the world that they have spent $4 billion on the Arctic, but if a small fraction of this amount had been spent on fit for purpose drilling units, rather than using mothballed vessels otherwise destined for the breaker’s yard, we would not have seen the Discoverer beached a few months ago, nor the Kulluk on the rocks today being pounded by heavy seas. As a shareholder, I would expect some clarity as to how $4 billion was spent on the project before a well had even been drilled – the money was evidently not spent where it was needed.
I don’t think Royal Dutch Shell has the sort of trouble with it Norwegian operations it has with its Alaskan operations. I would suggest that Shell USA’s personnel are not up to the job of operating in the Arctic. The Gulf of Mexico perhaps, but the Arctic – no. RDS needs to transplant some managerial and technical competence to supervise the less than competent US staff.
interesting article on Voser and UBS. you may wish to cover his time with ABB as well, a period during which ABB was deeply involved in bribery and corrupt practices (google ABB + corruption).
Dearest John and Alfred Donovan, lion-hearts’ son and father. As the year ends, I say, congrats; you’re the best, so stay the best…no one does this like you do! Confronting monsters such as $hell with the truth, especially their own hidden truth/document isn’t easy. Meanwhile, the trickery and hidings, gaming of cats and dogs we find of $hell in the Arctic and other fronts points to the terrible pains Ogonis and others of Niger delta suffered/still suffering in Nigeria, where $hell operate under no binding laws or rule. Where any law or rule exist $hell bribes all those saddled with implementation, maneuvers state power to shut everyone,especially the victims off. Finally, Ogoni and Niger delta need help from the world to breathe fresher air as $hell-Nigerian government toxicity is suffocating the people with speed. Ogoni is poisoned (as UNEP report shows) that $hell and Nigerian government may live and reel in petrodollars. Sadly the international community looks on the same way it did when Ken Saro-Wiwa and others were about to be hanged unjustly in 1995. Why? We live in a world that is oil-drunk, thus prefers oil to live. This attitude must change so we can be more humanistic and proactive to also save the global environment. Happy 2013 to you, family and readers of this wonderful blog!
Well, well. We now know how prepared Royal Dutch Shell is to handle the unforeseen. And when it comes to preventing drilling ‘accidents’ it is the ‘unforeseen’ that bites you in the arse every time. And to make matters worse the ‘unforeseen’ usually comes in the form of bumbling, poorly or untrained personnel that are not properly supervised. It is RDS’s responsibility to see to it that not only are its personnel properly trained, equipped, and competent but that the personnel of their contractors are likewise properly trained, equipped and competent to do the job they were hired to do. This latest installment in Shell’s Arctic soap opera makes one wonder how prepared RD Shell is to handle any kind of ‘incident’ associated with their drilling operations.
There is an old saying that goes something like: “The flag and the Bible are common last refuges for scoundrels”. Sir Phillip has demonstrated that there is great wisdom in this old saying.
Mr Donovan, what is the address of the BG incubator as there will be more strays after Shell strategic super bucket realignment exercise
#218FROM AN OLD EP HAND on Dec 22nd, 2012 at 12:02
LondonLad, I am one of those retired Shell people and I do not feel offended at all by Donovan. On the contrary. On many occasions he has stated that the vast majority of Shell workers are fine. He merely is holding the top of Shell accountable for not living up to the standards they themselves have signed off to and pretend to impose on the staff. It is very much a ‘don’t do as I do but do as I tell you to do’. That is not sustainable, Shell staff is far to clever to not understand this. And since staff is unable to remove bad management, they will copy the standards as lived by management. And the result is clear. A bad top in a company will quickly transform that company to a lower standard. And putting in a good top will then take many years to get things right again.
Does everyone / anyone who has been working for Shell in ANY sort of capacity get corralled into the same “box” that seems to have appeared here on this website as a “Nazi”, a “Touch F*** All” wimp, an “incompetent reserves specialist” etc. etc. How about the Donovan’s who were in cahoots with Shell selling “their” product some years back, and which kicked off this humorous site? Role on March 5th!! JOHN DONOVAN REPLY TO LONDON LAD. Very disappointed by your comment. The only person who has implied any such nasty connection is you under the cloak of an alias. What I say is in my name and supported by evidence. Thus anyone can take legal action if they believe they have legitimate grounds to do so. None of the articles in question have anything to do with the Nazis. I have already supplied Shell internal documents proving Chris Finlayson was notified about reserves issues two years before shareholders were informed. I will also supply evidence in relation to his association with the TOUCH FUCK ALL scandal and the debacle on the Sakhalin II project. Your allegations of us being in “cahoots with Shell” are of course also made while you hide behind an alias. We acted at all times with absolute integrity. Unfortunately cannot say the same for Shell. Hence the six high court actions settled by Shell. You may find the site amusing; don’t think Shell shares that view.
John: Saw the article about RDS’s abuse of independent station owners. This is so classic of Shell. The company will break its contracts whenever it feels it can get away with it if there is money to made doing so. What ever happened to their much lauded ‘business principles’. It is all BS, of course. You are a fool to do business with Royal Dutch Shell. They are shameless thugs, frauds, and cheats.
Whilst Shell may have had dodgy tax practices in the decades before any of its current staff were either born or out of daipers….2011 accounts seems to show that they paid 24 Million on an income of 55 Million, which isn’t bad going, and hardly worse than Stabucks et al
Well “Relieved” your last posting really does exemplify why Yanks are some of the most despised people on this planet. Just see any international news channel or newspapers to see this is a fact with the demonstrations that abound. Arrogance and lack of historical and geographical knowledge remains a problem with the U.S. – also highlighted in the run up to your presidential elections. Take your so called Baseball “World Series” – world indeed !!! Your facts are as reliable as a Mickey Mouse watch or those of Greenpeace. My historical knowledge is not selective it’s just that the Brits have a history, unlike those across the pond. Additionally it was you and not I that raised the subject about America entering both WW’s (late I have to add) etc. etc. I am glad that RDS gobbled up Shell Oil, just a pity that so many of their staff came over with their / your type of arrogance. Can’t wait for you repetitive response, unfortunately I will now be away for 3 weeks and no doubt “Ikari” will fill up the blog long before I return so that I miss your reply.
To LondonLad: As long as you brought up the subject let me remind you that we Americans got into those two world wars ‘late’ because you Brits made such a cock-up of the operation you were in serious danger of being thoroughly whipped. You fools started those wars, we had to finish them for you. Fortunately, WWII finally bankrupted your morally bankrupt empire. And if we Yanks had not been around to cover your stiff British butts you would have been calling one another ‘Comrade’ long ago. I won’t discuss Vietnam with you because I served in the US Army during that war and you don’t have a clue as to what you are talking about. Fortunately, we Americans had the good sense not to help the Dutch try to regain their lost oil rich colonies in Indonesia (the Dutch East Indies). And as for RD Shell, if it hadn’t been for the rich dividends Shell USA paid out on the stock RDS held in Shell USA during the 1950′s and 1960′s you folks wouldn’t have been able to rebuild RDS, Nigeria not withstanding. I find your view of history to be somewhat selective, as it is with a good many older Brits. The sun set on the British Empire and its outdated notions of class, privilege and race a long time ago, and thank god it did. Have a good day.
My prime gripe “Relieved” is with Nigerians who pontificate about their present situation and in doing so blame all and anybody for their own begotten ills. This includes the British and international oil companies like Shell. Stupid comments from yourself regarding various wars add up to naught. Yanks being LATE on the scene in both World Wars does not really help in this discussion, neither does your failed attempt in Vietnam. Still you want to go that route. Thank goodness we beat the All Blacks – something you girls could not do!!
To LondonLad: Some of you ignorant retrograde ‘Redcoats’ never have gotten over having your sorry butts kicked by a bunch of uncultured colonists. Get a life laddy, that war was over a very, very long time ago. In fact, that war became pretty much a world war with the French and Spanish involved as well. And you Brits lost it, and with it the entire North America continent. I Say, good show, old Chap. What? And don’t forget we Americans bailed your sorry Imperial colonizing butts out of two very ill considered world wars in the last century, not to mention the Falklands conflict. Your most glorious moment in those four wars was the evacuation at Dunkirk. Hail Britannia. Cheers, pal.
Well Ben “if-that’s-your-real-name” Ikari, it would seem that you and “Yankie-doodle-dandy” Relieved have solved the world’s problems!! I for one am proud to be British and proud to have worked for Shell for 30+ years. The American’s are the modern day colonialists for whom corrupt Nigerians would appear to have found an affinity. Wonder why?!?! Nigerians have destroyed Nigeria, NOT shell, NOT the British. Shell has spent so much money on trying to help communities (at times I wonder why) and all they can do (like you Ikari) is attempt to bite the hand that feeds you. God help Nigeria if it was left to the Nigerians to run the country. I await your one thousand word response.
Dearest Brother “Relieved,” my pleasure. Meanwhile, facts or evidence, argument without counter-argument (like knowledge without test and expansion based on proven evidence and persuasion wrapped in honesty and the truth)is no argument. I have enjoyed and shall always enjoy every minute spared for the truth to be tested and known. Thanks so very much!
A Brit; what is this thing with hiding your names,or is this your real name? Well, true that when the British left there might have been organized infrastructures. It’s also true that, the infrastructures in place today despite the craziness of African/Nigerian leadership have surpassed what the British might have left. Again, why did the British went there to terrorize our people and territories in the first place? Please tell us why. If you couldn’t then the answer is the legacy that has become commonplace today-force, power exhibition,fraudulent acts other illegalities, exploitation and usurpation of resources of others for the betterment of the powerful(the British first and now so-called leaders of Nigeria/Africa) to the detriment of the weak and disadvantaged poor. Why has the British government/companies continued to manipulate and sometimes impose rulership there; do you forget $hell,a British blood-sucking company? Finally, if we take all the blames of African problems from Britain and overall Western exploitation,imposition and maneuvers, we must not be honest to ourselves. Why? Because legacies stays, even though positive things may emerge thereof. It’s like a child’s upbringing. Though the child may evolve and find him or herself when grown, the experiences or lessons from childhood aren’t lost. They, for the most part form important aspects of adulthood, therefore the issues we speak to.
Thats right Ikari, blame the British for your current problems. classic deflection mentality. When the British left Nigeria it was prosperous and had a well maintained infrastructure. Pity that can’t be said right now.
Dear “Relieved,” you have spoken very well. I agree with you and I am glad you have seen the effects of colonialism first-hand in Africa. Also glad to note you said you are American. There is no difference between both countries: they are like father like son! Meanwhile, the future of Africans/Nigerians is in the hands of the peoples like you said. If we be honest, we will also agree that the British colonial lumping of different groups, which have distinct territories and have no cultural similarities, thus speaks different languages (we know that language binds than not) as represented in Nigeria and other African states play important role in the lingering African problem. Therefore, the continent’s problems and backwardness can not be completely divorced from British colonialism as the intended colonial gains have continued to trickle down to the masters. The British legacy of violent, forceful and illegal intrusion and fraudulent manner of land and property confiscation has been imprinted on ethnic groups and politicians/leaders who wield power in Africa,Nigeria in particular. Yet we demand that The Africans must move forward, learn from the past to avoid colonial mentality and the implications of oppressive, violent and corrupt acts introduced by colonialism. We can attest how difficult it seems to move away from such acts, because telling people who have been drunk and become intoxicated eating where they do not sow like colonialism to stop. Stopping is, however possible with collective grassroots enlightenment and action by the people. Help is also needed from the international community, if foreign governments and groups can for once put aside the benefit they get from the African nuisance or lunatic leadership, which some help to impose.
To Mr. Ikari: FYI I am NOT British. I am American. But I have worked with a good many Brits, Aussies, Kanooks, etc., over the years, and have picked up a few of their manners of expression. I do not take issue with what you have to say about colonialism. RDS has a terrible neo-colonial attitude amongst the staff. It is quite obvious to us Americans. And I have worked the West African oil fields, so I have seen the legacy of past colonialism. It is not a pretty picture. That being said, I will again say that the future of Nigeria and of Africa is in the hands of Nigerians and Africans. Nothing can be done about the past. You folks need to take command of your own countries and futures. Nobody can do that for you. In my opinion you folks are your own worst enemies.
Hello Relieved,are you British? That is, assuming your name is real. Well, it isn’t unfashionable to see people who have so much to answer for their destruction of others to select issues or points that touched on their nefarious acts. So I’m not shocked. Now, I’m not arguing that the British colonial ship according to you didn’t sail long ago. I’m also not completely blaming colonialism/Britain, etc. I have written pieces asking Africans, especially Nigerians to move on and stop allowing strangers such as $hell to come to their home and dictate how o run their family. We should also agree that colonial mentality or hands forcing what doesn’t belong to them still affects colonies such as ethnic nationalities that make up Nigeria, like slavery. Example, $hell (then BP) came as colonial British economic vehicle. It’s still in Nigeria terrorizing Ogoni and other Niger delta communities, and helping to deepen the corruption pits. Britain and America, others of the west still provide Nigerian leaders arms and advice to kill their own people for oil to flow unabated. Yet, Nigerian leaders (if real leaders exist) should by now know better to send such advice and arms, including $hell, the colonial tape-worm packing and making better the lives of their people. Hope you wouldn’t be surprised to learn that colonial mentality has eaten deep into Nigerian politicians/leaders therefore, their violent and corrupt attitude.
To Mr.Ikari: I sympathize with your allegations and contentions about British colonialism, etc., etc., ad nauseum. They are well based in fact. The history is not disputed. However, that ship sailed long ago. The simple truth is that the fate and future of Nigeria is in the hands of Nigerians these days. Unfortunately, you folks are buggering up very badly. You now have no one to blame but yourselves. It is not RD Shell’s fault, although they clearly contribute to the corruption within the country. You can always run the SOB’s out of town if you wish, it is your country. You folks need to take charge of your own country. Peacefully, if you can, by force of arms if you cannot. But it is time to stop the complaining and get on with it, already.
Good “Londonlad!” If you aren’t “deltastic,” who are you,since Londonlad isn’t your real name and if you aren’t wobbling and confused with different names? Let me be clear once more. I haven’t disputed and will not dispute the fact that Nigeria is corrupt. For me, Nigeria is the most corrupt nation on earth; it’s an illegal country founded via fraudulent means by British colonialists. This is, of course a fact. That is how about 350 diferrent ethnic nationalities were forced at gun point to form the union for the economic benefit of Britain which continue to date. I have indeed criticized and accused Nigerian leaders/politicians of hyper-corruption and went further to do an article that says European,American and other governments, their health facilities should stop allowing Nigerian politicians/leaders to their clinics so that they may develop the death-traps called hospitals at home. I can’t even count how many articles I have written on the ills of Nigeria. I went on to write that sovereign national conference is the true cure for the nation’s problems and also advocated its disintegration between now and 25 years years. You may have searched Ben Ikari and Ben Wuloo Ikari, respectively. If not just do yourself a favor to know my stand on issues affecting Nigeria and the world. More importantly, what I want you and other $hell’s surrogates to know, if you truly don’t is that, Ogoni isn’t Niger delta, though considered aspect of the latter because it’s an oil producing nationality. Also Ogoni struggle isn’t Ijaw or Niger Delta militants: Movement for the Emancipation of Niger delta (MEND)struggle. Ogoni struggle is only a microcosm or an expression of what other oil producing communities in Nigeria (Niger delta) are experiencing. Also, Ogonis are one group of people who have continued to demand openness,honesty, competence and accountability among other veritable traits from their leaders. We’ve refused to cover them up (even though we might not know everything happening)like others do. Ogonis understand that he who goes to equity must do so with an open hand. Lastly, Ogonis are known for their (our) nonviolent principles and we’ve used and will continue to use constitutional, civil cum legal means to seek redress from Nigeria and $hell, etc. If you have any case/evidence of Ogoni leaders extorting money from $hell and other companies please expose it since neither I nor some other Ogonis may not know everything happening.
Well Ikari, yet another waffled rant from you. It’s often said that to hide the truth say 1000 words rather than 10 – you have proved the point. Ogoni’s need to look at themselves AND their dishonest leaders, not just try and blame Shell for their own ills. Nigeria is corrupt – fact. P.S. I have no idea who deltastic is, seems yet another who can see through your waffle.
John: Read your article about Shell management not being concerned about the safety of floating LNG facilities. I think they should reconsider the consequences of some disgruntled Muslim type sending a few well aimed RPG’s their direction. Such a facility is a very inviting target for those wishing to ‘make a statement’.
“Deltastic,” because some of you $hell guys have chosen the fake names, your name makes me curious as to its originality or credible and legal status. Or you just change from “LondonLad” which is another fake name to Deltalic?
Well, you have to research and understand the Ogoni people and their (our) issues before writing publicly about or against them. I noticed you are ignorant of the Ogoni issues, therefore confusing the Ijaw militants or so-called Niger delta militants (MEND, etc.) and Iaw struggle with Ogoni. Ogoni has a record of its nonviolent struggle, thus we are known for using constitutional/civil means to seek redress or remedies. Other than Chevron that is another company, which had presence in Ogoni (less presence), $hell, your precursor has been that monster company Ogonis have issues of human rights and the environment with. There is no record of Ogonis or the elders, chiefs or politicians/leaders scheming money from $hell and other companies that could be found in Swiss bank as you claimed.
Ogonis have taken $hell to court and will continue to do so until justice is satisfactorily served. Legal resolution of issues or conflict is a constitutional or civil approach any civilized people,including the British people, Americans, Chinese, Australians and others will apply (and have been applying) if in our shoes. Ogonis going to court to seek human rights violations and environmental damages caused by $hell can not be tantamount to extortion or illegal means to reaping where we did not sow.$hell knows Ogonis are honest about the charges against her, but will stop at nothing to give us a fight as mostly corporations do in developing countries especially. You can attest that neither $hell nor BP fought the American government or people in the reserve scandal and Gulf of Mexico spills, respectively. They obeyed, accepted guilt and paid all penalties to avoid negative consequences.
Meanwhile, if you have evidence to show Ogonis extorting money from companies please show it to make your case or continue your lies like your master, $hell. Also note that before January 4, 1993 when Ogonis formerly took their case to the public or world, we asked $hell to pay accrued royalty and rent and that it also clean our environment and pay us for the deprivation of our sources of livelihood, which are fishing and farming its operations destroyed, $hell refused. It only asked for a shopping list that was sent and nothing has been heard from her to date.
Even when $hell settled the Wiwa et al out of court because it could not withstand the evidence against her and other backlash, Ogoni plaintiffs did not approach the company, rather the company approached plaintiffs’ attorneys and the case was settled one day or more after the first trial date $hell did not appear because it was seriously pushing for settlement. If $hell choose to lure and pay some Ogoni chiefs, leaders or politicians as a way of disrupting the Ogoni grassroots movement (MOSOP), thus dividing and ruling (can not conquer Ogoni), that is its own volition. Finally, in English language repetition comes with emphasis and depends especially on the kind of writing or issues. If at all there were repetitions in my response below they were for emphasis. More pertinently, all you need worry about is to write your own response based on what you know. That is with facts or evidence to make the truth known, and not worry about the length of my response because you have no control over my thought nor right to freedom of speech and expression. You would agree with me if honest that everyone’s post on Shellnews.net or other blogs are not same in length.
Common sense that is not too common dictates that, when one see a message or writeup he/she do not like, maybe due to length or content (or the byline), such could be ignored and deleted. I hope you have common sense; or you just lost it like the killer company $hell?
John: A year or so ago one of your contributors wrote an editorial suggesting that Royal Dutch Shell was at its core a racist company. I saw it on the web. I think we now have an answer.
John: Read your article about Shell Oil’s (USA) support of the apartheid regime in S. Africa during the 1980′s. This was during the tenures of CEO’s John Bookout and Frank Richardson. This story does not surprise me one bit. I do believe John Bookout was knighted by the Dutch Queen shortly after retiring from the Shell USA CEO position in 1988. It was also during this time period that Shell USA was fighting the USG over the cleanup costs of their Rocky Flats pesticide (their ‘drins facility) production facility. Shell tried to shift the costs to their insurance companies but lost on the grounds that the pollution of that site was done knowingly and deliberately. The 1980′s were not a proud period in the history of Shell USA. I know because I worked for Shell at that time.
Forgot to add – how much of the money screwed out of various companies by the Ogoni “elders/leaders” has actually been received at the coal face? Very,very little I would imagine. Most has no doubt been put in some fat Nigerian’s Swiss/UK bank account. All these guys do is to aggitate the youths to cause problems (aka the “area boys”) and then reap the rewards from the aftermath.
Ikari, you need to shorten your response!! Way too much waffle & repetition. Bottom line remains as others have already stated – Nigeria is rotten to the core and the Ogonis aren’t much different.
LondonLad? again with Ogoni in your mouth. Well,if you have an iota of the truth in you, you’d agree Ogonis have a solid record of championing a just and nonviolent struggle against the nigerian govt/$hell. Your anacondic precursor, $hell has a principle and teaching in Ogoni/Niger delta that says people can lie, destroy their very existence to be able to eat. This is because $hell has exploits and siphons the peoples’ resources in conspiracy with the nigerian govt, thus destroyed the peoples’ livelihoods by degrading the environment to making poverty and diseases endemic. This sad development permits weakness and gullibility. To say the least you’ve continued to be prevaricatious with frivolous or spurious assertions about my Ogoni people. I bet you will fail like $hell has continued to fail! When I asked you how many percentage of oil spill $hell has caused in 46 years (1958 to 2004) before the issues of oil theft, which $hell and the govt are reportedly involved and sabotage find their way into Nigeria’s lexicon you couldn’t reply to date. Saro-Wiwa’s work will stand the test of time to show how he stood up to the Nigerian govt I have numerously lambasted for its incompetence, corruption and deadliness among other ills. $hell, which designs most of nigeria’s oil industry legislation that favors not Ogonis and other oil bearing communities was also exposed by Saro-Wiwa due to the unholy alliances between the govt and her. Saro-Wiwa died because he refused $hell’s overtures and didn’t bow to its threats. Some Ogoni politicians and $hell lured/groomed leaders are susceptible to $hell’s bribery and corrupt practices and so could parley with your master. What do you expect in a country where $hell rules; a place where $hell’s-led corruption and violence for profit-making is an epidemic? Notwithstanding the corruption practices enshrined and instilled by $hell, Ogonis, which include myself have continued to demand openness, honesty, direct and competent communication, accountability from Ogoni politicians and leaders. The record is obvious. Therefore, stop lying against the Ogoni people,even though we aren’t perfect people,and no group or people have been nor will be perfect. $hell’s influence is corrupt and violent influence, but where there is a government as the current Obama government corporations such as $hell,BP are made to cough some of their blood money from Ogoni/Africa out, though they still use most Republican party lawmakers to seek legislation that may protect them from doing the right things.
Absolutely correct and well stated “old EP hand”, I have often stated such facts before on this website, particularly to those such as the Ogoni’s who cannot vent their anger & frustrations with their own dreadful government and therefore rely on attacking the likes of Shell. Another clear objective is to take Shell, and others, to court in order to make as much money from them by attempting to sue on often fictitious facts. Most notable is the pollution in the Delta region (which I admit is awful) that is now caused primarily by the locals who attempt oil theft and vandalism of the pipelines. Corruption, corruption, corruption is the cancer of Nigeria, but, as you say, Nigerians will blame anybody but themselves. Having spent time in Lagos over many years it is awful how a large majority of Nigerians are just out for the quick (now-now) fast buck and are totally unwilling to help their fellow Nigerian. I remember helping out at the “Friends of the Disabled” for a number of years and if it wasn’t for external help (e.g. Shell, the occasional foreign volunteer) these people would have been totally discarded by the state and local community.
John: I read the recent exchange between Nigeria Laddy and Old EP Hand with some interest. Having worked for Shell for years, and having worked the exploration plays of West Africa, I think that I have some knowledge about the problems in that terribly screwed up part of the world. The truth is that both of these parties are correct. Nigeria is in every sense a failed country. But Africa is in every sense a failed continent. However, the past is water under the bridge and nothing can be done about it. Life is not fair, if you have not yet noticed. Nigerians and Africans cannot go on forever blaming the white man for their failure to get their act together, take charge of their futures, and put together functional governments that serve the needs of the people. Nobody is going to do this for them. So, these people indeed need to quit ‘whining and whimpering’ and get on with the business of building a future for themselves. The time for excuses for is long over.
Nigerian Laddy, my brodder! How now, how de Madam? Eeh, my headengine, him go disappoint me big-oh how you be talking to your brodder. No peppersoup and goatstew wid de foo-foo for you today!
I cannot let your silly remark go like that. I have looked after many good Nigerians in my time. And I have looked (like many others) after the wellbeing of your country as much as possible. But you must admit that your country is about the most corrupt in the world and going down the drain rapidly. This is the root of all the problems. So, you go to your village and stop the extended family palaver and instead you go fix the big ogas in YOUR government. At all levels. And if it does not work via the democratic ballot box (which it won’t) you take up arms. Plenty arms around, just look at all the gangsters running Lagos. Area boys they call themselves.
No point looking at others to solve YOUR problems. Those problems are indeed very big. I wish you good luck. And don’t wait for my pension to be wasted on the Nigerian corruption. It could be the most beautiful and rich country in the world, but you people have chosen to screw it up and I can tell you, you have succeeded! And in good fashion you blame it on the white man, the Syrians, the Lebanese, the Ghanaians, slavery, other countries, churches, koran, bible, the Igbo, the Yoruba, the Haussa or whatever else and then you hold up your hand begging for a hand-out. It never appears to be you guys who are to be blamed yourself. I have no time for your whining. I read the book of Peter Enahoro ‘How to be a Nigerian’, I suggest you do the same. Enahoro was a decent man, who saw very clear what was wrong. And he had a great sense of humor!
So, Peter Voser think there is enough gas to largely replace petroleum and provide cheap fuel for at least 250 years. Hmmm…. At the rate climate warming is occurring we will need all that gas for air-conditioning.
John: Heavenly intervention ?? What does the Book of Revelations say about the form the Anti-Christ will take ?? Hmmm…Me thinks Sir Phillip is a wolf hiding in a sheepskin. Keep a close eye on your valuables.
Old EP Hand: It’s guys like you that screwed up Nigeria years ago – that is what my friends here tell me. Thank you very much. Don’t blame management of today – go look in the mirror. Perhaps giving back your pension would the decent thing to do instead of bad mouthing the current generation, incl. management.
To ‘Old EP Hand’: Amen, Brother. Shell is nowhere near the company it once was. And as a result I don’t think its future is anywhere as bright as senior management would like everyone to believe.
To LondonLad:
While you may not appreciate John’s ‘blasts from the past’ I find them interesting. They are an excellent source of information that allows one to compare current corporate conduct with past corporate conduct. As far as I can tell, not much has changed in the last ten years or so. At Royal Dutch Shell it is still ‘business as usual.
To LondonLad:
FYI – I too used to fly, although my license was limited to fixed wing aircraft. The notion that Shell would not specify that it contractors have aircraft equipped to fly in the adverse conditions routinely encountered is appalling. It clearly demonstrates a lack of regard for the welfare of not only contractor personnel, but also its own employees. As I said in a previous posting, conduct of the part of Shell management is not only grossly negligent, but close to being criminally negligent.
Inference remains from “Outsider” – no legal action taken by the authorities, nobody killed, more up-to-date conversation on this website. Job done. Off to watch Braga then to NY for some R&R – have a quiet week. XXX
Inference was made by “Outsider” – quote “Shell sent….” Would have been more honest to state that “the PHI operated choppers being used to transport Shell staff etc.” Again tabloid reporting. I am sure there is probably some 100 pages of requirements for flying in icy conditions let alone 10 pages. Point is that it would be great to have a clear statement from the authorities that PHI Inc. flew illegally – I do not think the newspaper article inferred this illegality. REPLY BY JOHN: As I said, you are trying to defend the indefensible. You seem to have about as much regard for the safety of Shell offshore employees as Shell does. Touch F*** All. Let other visitors be the judge.
Having now read that excellent article from that well known rag, the “Anchorage Daily News”, it would appear that the PHI Inc. operated choppers (NOT owned by Shell??) were working within the law. No mention is made of the legal requirement to have de-icing equipment in the area at that time of the year in those weather conditions. So I again believe that my comment about “Outsider” rumour mongering are correct. REPLY BY JOHN: No one said the helicopters were owned by Shell. They were however carrying Shell employees as passengers. “Outsider” is a pilot and has the expertise and experience to comment on such matters in an authoritative manner and in fact has kindly supplied me with a 10 page document by the Joint Aviation Authorities Europe entitled: “Operation of Helicopters Certified for Flight in Limited Icing Conditions.” “Outsider” has a personal interest having been on board a Shell helicopter in the North Sea when the crew lost control due to icing. Don’t you think that Shell has a responsibility for the safety of its employees when traveling on Shell’s business as helicopter passengers? Should Shell not have ensured that the helicopters were equipped with “critical deicing equipment.” With all due respect, I think that you are trying to defend the indefensible. “Outsider” has also made the following points: (1) Flight in icing conditions requires de-icing equipment, and additional certification of the aircraft/helicopter (2) Shell is responsible for specifying the level of de-icing equipment installed on the helicopters provided by a subcontractor (3) the fact that the helicopters contracted by Shell could not fly under the prevailing conditions suggests, yet again, that Shell’s planning was grossly inadequate (4) the absence of a “known band of positive temperature” in the Beaufort Sea precludes the use in icing conditions of helicopters certified for flight in “Limited Icing Conditions”
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!! REPLY BY JOHN: I can only guess that you did not read the linked Anchorage Daily News article. Here is the relevant extract: “All too often, fog socked in the helicopters Shell used to rotate workers on and off its vessels, stranding them for extra time at sea or onshore in Barrow and Prudhoe Bay. While the choppers, operated by PHI Inc., have instrument-flying capability, they weren’t equipped with critical deicing equipment that would allow them to soar into the clouds. And whenever fog rolled in — as it does roughly half the time in the summer — it was often impossible for the helicopters to stay below the clouds while still flying sufficiently above the water. The solution next year will be to put rotor heating on the equipment, allowing Shell to keep the helicopters flying on a more predictable schedule.” So no “rumour-mongering” but reported undisputed fact by a major title belong to Hearst Newspapers. As to the publication of archive material, it serves as an excellent reminder of Shell’s past exploits, including some that you have commented on and one occasion went as far as “welcoming“. Re-publication of past Royal Dutch Shell corporate sins hopefully makes it less likely that they will be repeated.
Read the comment about Shell’s Helo’s. Where the devil was the Coast Guard and FAA. Those things should not have been allowed to fly in Alaska. Helo’s don’t tolerate icing conditions very well. In fact, they don’t tolerate them at all. They simply drop from the sky if not properly equipped. Let’s hear it for Shell’s management team. They are operating on the edge of criminal negligence.
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?
Interested observer: your comment seems to refer to the Sakhalin article, but this is from 2005. In the meantime Shell has been through several transformations, so everything is now ok
Does anyone but me get the idea that Royal Dutch Shell management has a VERY serious lack of project skills ??? If Shell doesn’t get control of the cost over-run issue on big projects they are going to get a big kick in the a** on profitability in the not too distant future. This problem in scandalous, and it calls for a serious house-cleaning amongst the ranks of senior management.
With regard to the article about plans to export vast amounts of US natural gas in the form of LNG. Don’t bet on it. That gas will be needed in the future here in the US.
#269Golden Triangle Watchman on Oct 30th, 2012 at 11:05
Re the Motiva article, so true…..How prophetic that the picture of Voser and the senior execs are sitting there opening a valve at the ceremony…. and ultimately, a valve just like it allowed caustic to get into the unit. This project was terrible from the start…bad idea started by Tom Purves….. Bad project team, led by Tom’s buddy forrest Lauher, who had no idea how to run a project of this size, bad leadership throughout the project….. Tom decides to come save the project when in fact he has never worked on a major project and has no skills to actually deliver what he promised…. his cronies were dropped onto the project in various jobs…..Hartsock, Funkhouser, all with promises of making a difference…. meanwhile no one would speak up for fear of losing their job. The project finally falls on its face, only after Tom gets shipped out to Siberia. Everyone thought he would get paid a nice severance and retire but after this embarassment, the senior Shell execs couldn’t pay Tom a nice payday. Tom then had to move on to Canada where he is now head of mining….. laughable. And his buddy Funkhouser is working on the next mega project…laughable…. he will somehow work his way up to Canada to be with his daddy Tom…. I’m sure he will wait until it warms up…. and old Forrest is now off in El Paso working for a small refinery company after being run off from Shell….. This is Shell’s finest. Tom, you are a joke. I hope you enjoy your stroll to the bank. Everyone else will when you leave.
Seems like we can expect some good profit margins to be announced from Shell. Good news for us share holders eh!! Almost as good as Chelsea getting beat 3-2.
John, Your ‘blasts from the past’ are interesting. By way of comparison with todays news they show that not much has changed in the fundamental way RDS does business.
Engines and Super-buckets. Shell management and their consultants are not much for imagination. Me thinks the engine stalls and knocks a bit, and the buckets definitely leak.
Hmmmmm, LondonLad? Well, if you’d followed my thoughts or writings you’d agree I’m even more hard on the Nigerian government, politicians or cabal than $hell sometimes.
If a real government and not submerged in greed, corruption and especially incompetence of gross proportion. It will not allow $hell Oil, a foreign monster to overtake and dictate for her how it deals with its own people. $hell is most powerful in Nigeria than the federal government. And the government acknowledges this fact. $hell get the best of treatment and protection from Nigeria against its own population. The company takes advantage of ignorance and greed couple with the ethnic division and tension in the country.
Meanwhile, the corruption you pointed to and other ills are noted as common in the country.
But mountainous evidence also shows $hell is at the center of most corruption, bribery and violence. Lastly, your claim of locals involved in donkeys of years oil theft is vague. It’s only reminiscent of $hell’s attitude of scheming, spinning and tricking with a mischaracterization and misleading intention.
Can you honestly point to when your company, $hell started reporting oil theft or sabotage in Ogoni or Niger delta? This is, bearing in mind that these issues weren’t heard of during Ken Saro-Wiwa’s campaign that preceded the Ijaw-Niger delta militancy we saw emerged in 2004 due to $hell/government’s irresponsibility, greed and neglect.
Yep, Shell absolutely correct when it states that theft and sabotage BY LOCAL NIGERIANS is a prime cause of loss of production. This has been a problem for donkey’s years and will continue until NIGERIANS stop thieving and vandalizing private property/products. Additionally this is now the prime cause of pollution in the Delta region. Hey ho at the end of the day Nigerians deserve all they get – corrupt politicians, corrupt “chiefs”, corrupt State Governors, poor infrastructure, poor education etc etc. Such a shame when so much could have been made of the country by NIGERIANS. Of course they blame everybody but themselves for the shambles the country is in. Pity they don’t use their undoubted skills in working for the country rather than for the individual. At the end of the day I really wonder what will happen to all the money they no doubt will get (and have already got) from the US/Dutch courts from Shell. No doubt in some fat Nigerians bank account in Switzerland!!
$hell should stop lying and spinning because they will not stick.
It’s the same environmental pollution caused by $hell oil spills, unchecked 24 hours a day gas flares and other unprofessional practices Ken Saro-Wiwa exposed and he’s killed when he refused to withdraw his campaign at the request of $hell is that, which exist in Ogoni today. This high level and first of its kind pollution was confirmed by UNEP report and not the frivolous oil theft case the killer company makes of late. $hell’s claim about oil theft,thus calling on the Nigerian govt to help stop the act as reported herein, is a big ruse.
The company and the govt are the popular oil thieves. They stole Ogoni/Niger delta oil at gunpoint and with draconian laws made possible by $hell and other multinational/Euro-American corps since 1956/1958 to date.
$hell should honestly tell the world when oil theft started or when it first reported the incident. It claims between in the last 5 years less than 30% of oil spills were caused by its recklessness. Meanwhile, how many percent of such spills happened between 1956 and 2008 (last 5 years) or when militancy started for the company be blaming the locals for spills due to alleged theft? Also, is it not $hell’s greedy policies and the take-all syndrome of the company and govt (both in joint venture) that led to militancy; meaning poverty and hardship created by $hell while it rolled billions of the peasants money into its coffers?
There is no way $hell can truly and legally escape liability, but for its influence and connections. By the way reports have it that $hell staff, govt officials and politicians including officers of JTF $hell is praising are involved in organizing this theft since they no longer openly extract oil in Ogoni. In other parts of Niger delta their gang of govt-prone and corporate thieves have also engineered the elicit trade of stealing oil and then look for locals who are granted local implements to refine so as to have the premise of making such frivolous claims $hell makes. Finally, the same environmental pollution Ken Saro-Wiwa exposed and he’s killed by $hell and Nigeria exist in Ogoni today. These spills and gas flares took place between 1958 and when $hell began reporting oil theft recently,when Ijaw-Niger delta militants struck due to $hell and govt’s lackluster attitudes,greed and genocidal policies.
Ms Dilbert, It is half time for Voser. So he is putting on his thinking cap to change out some players who are not performing. Dont worry about the engines. It is all about people and delivery. We hope he got it right this time.
LondonLad: The ‘silly story’ about Jiffy Lube is not so silly. Many thousands of their customs have suffered serious damage to their auto’s because of the way these clowns do business. Humdreds of people have had their auto engines damaged beyond repair. Jiffy Lube is one of the worst ‘quick service’ outfits in business, and they should be put out of business as far many a State’s attorney is concerned.
#279Daughter of Dilbert on Oct 19th, 2012 at 17:35
Its been nearly 4 years since the last ‘transition’ I wonder if these superbuckets are just a way of preparing us for yet another org change
Why the “Fred the Red” picture associated with this silly story about Jiffy Lube? I think that if Mr. Donovan has invented this link between the two then that nice Sir Alex Ferguson, and many millions of MU supporters around the globe, will turn their backs on this website.
This “green” surcharge that was applied is getting to be more and more commonplace and would even appear to be an excuse for raising taxes for various Governments around the world, particularly here in the UK In the UK many garages are adding similar charges for “disposing” of old engine oil, old tyres etc. Some of these practices are probably fair enough as long as the punter is told upfront about such charges and if they have a legal foundation.
Shell super bucket? If Voser runs Shell like a business, then he should quickly revert to the Country buckets in most developing countries. By doing that, he will remove at least 30% of super overheads and super frustration of poor accountability.
Superbuckets, growth pipelines, funnel strength, capability focus, optionality, powering progress together, CVP, commercial mindset, core engines. Looks like someone has been reading Dilbert, Peter! What on earth happened to ESSA?
To LondonLad: Hmmm. Got up on the wrong side of the bed, did we? Or did YOU forget to take your Exlax last night? At least you have a sense of humor, on occasion. Have a good day.
Say “Relieved”, have you ever worked in Nigeria? I guess not by the way you pontificate erroneously about the problems in the country!! Keep taking the exlax as at the moment something is going in the wrong direction in your body.
BBC America just did a nice piece on Royal Dutch Shell and Nigeria. It was well worth watching. Needless to say, Shell took a big hit on the way they conduct business in Nigeria.
One thing this ‘bucket list’ does is reiterate Shell’s intention to continue operations in Nigeria for many years to come. This policy is key to understanding why Shell is trying so hard to limit litigation under the Alien Tort Statute. A Shell loss before the US Supreme Court would require Shell to clean up the way they do business in Nigeria or face further litigation in the future. It is obvious that Shell wants to continue to do ‘business as usual’ in Nigeria. They have gotten away with plundering the country, rape, murder, etc., and made 10′s of billions of US$$$’s in the process. Why would Shell want to change a business model that has been and continues to be so profitable ???
Is this ‘bucket list’ a list of wishful desires before something or someone ‘kicks the bucket’, or is it just a very poor choice of metaphors by mentally challenged HR types?
Looks like this article / leaked email has stirred up a hornets nest!! For one of the few times (and do not let this go to you head Mr. Donovan) I welcome this publication. It would be interesting to know if other majors (e.g. Exxon) or FTSE 100 companies are weighed down by this HR nonsense. Anyone know?
Read your blog about Mr. Voser’s message. Now you know why I left that company long ago. At times management suffers from collective mental incapacitation, runs amock and turns the organization into a ship of fools.
#290LONG STANDING SHELL SOURCE on Oct 9th, 2012 at 15:57
With the concept of buckets, Shell is preparing for the ever shrinking volume of production (despite the preachings of the former beloved Bearded Brinded to the opposite). If they continue on this reorganisation for reorganisation sake, they need only a few buckets to move all oil they produce.
The fact that Voser was prepared to put his signature under all this drivel shows he has lost it. If he has lost his marbles, perhaps those can be passed around, I am sure he can find a consultant to design a learning event on the theme of passing marbles.
Or is Voser shrewder than most and is this the start of another major upheaval that will see more americans in the key and high paying jobs?
“Superbucket” motivational message from Voser : Have to agree for the most part with the source of the leak that this once again highlights not only contractors attempting to show their worth, BUT, also Shell’s HR department trying to justify their vast numbers within the organization. It really is a continuing case of “Buzzword Bingo” – most of which remain from the time I was working for Shell. The main outcome will be that minions down the system will have most of these buzzwords engrained on their end-of-year scorecard and will therefore help the technical staff to take their eye off the ball for what should be their main driver – technical excellence. So, more meetings, brain storm sessions, camp fires etc. etc. and all for HR to pontificate the added value they (HR) have created!! It really is the case that 90%+ of these buzz words were being “discussed” ad nauseam 10 years ago – time to tell the Emperor that he has no clothes on.
Read your interesting piece of history about the power of protest. I also note that the Dutch courts recently reaffirmed that right in The Netherlands, despite the desires of Royal Dutch Shell.
I would note that Allseas is a Swiss based corporation. It is therefore no surprise that connections with the Nazis of a bygone era should crop up. The Swiss were heavily involved with Nazis. And truth is not slander. So, let the fact speak for themselves.
Great article in the Sunday Telegraph (by Christopher Booker) “The great Arctic ice scare melts away as Antarctic ice hits record highs”. Yet another piece of evidence that the likes of The Guardian, BBC and of course Greenpeace will attempt to refute. This time it’s satellite evidence from NASA that has shown : (1) a severe cyclone this August played a key role in the Arctic ice melt (i.e. not global warming), (2) the Arctic was far warmer in the 1930’s than today, (3) last week Antarctica’s sea ice area was only just short of the greatest extent ever recorded at either pole. Bottom line for Shell is that they had better get drilling before the next Ice Age appears.
To LondonLad: I do enjoy trading barbs with you, but all good things must end eventually. No I am not on Garden Leave, but I could use a good vacation. Unfortunately, I have too much work to do and not enough time to do it. So, it seems I must bid you a fond farewell. It has been interesting. Perhaps we shall do this again some time. Best of Health and Luck to you, even if you are a rabid RDS fan.
Seems like “Amused” has plenty of time to twaddle and block up Mr. Donovan’s blog – lost your job and on “Garden Leave” ? On a more serious note, I am glad that pump petrol prices in the UK are going to be investigated by the “powers-that-be”. Indeed they do not really appear to follow crude prices too well. Costs me a fortune to get up to Old Trafford now.
So Shell has decided to harass Greenpeace, and is all this lawsuit is about – harassment. While Dutch courts have jurisdiction in the Netherlands they have no jurisdiction in the US or US territorial waters. Shell needs to sue in the US. But the best way to handle this is the US is to obtain a temporary restraining order. IF RD Shell thinks they will intimidate Greenpeace leadership I think they are sadly mistaken. The PR angle on this is that Shell is opposed to freedom of speech and assembly. And given their stance with the US supreme court, is in favor of legally indemnifying corporations for criminal misconduct. Shell is making itself look like an organization run by thugs.
Read the article about Shell’s argument that corporations should have no liability for human rights violations. Is that so?? I thought this issue was dealt with at the end of WWII when I.G. Farben, and it management, was held liable for their participation in the wholesale extermination of Jews, Slave, and other forms of ‘sub-humans’. But then Shell ratted out its Jewish employees to the Waffen SS and they went to the slave-labor work camps and the ovens. I take Shell management doesn’t think there should be any criminal liability for that kind of behavior. Gee, what a great company to work for. Sieg Heil !!!!!
To Shell Veteran: Who I work for now is none of your business. However, you are clearly curious about my background so let me tell you something about myself. I did work for Shell for over a decade, and I did very well. I left Shell because of my dissatisfaction with the way the company was being managed, which in turn was leading the company into a financial crisis. I discussed my reasons for leaving with several GM’s and VP’s at Shell, because there were somewhat surprise at my decision to leave. To a man they wished me good fortune in my future endeavors and stated that if they were my age they would do that same thing. Within two years of my departure Shell USA did indeed have a serious financial crisis, resulting in annual operating losses and significant layoffs. None of this was necessary. A few years later Royal Dutch Shell went through its reserves scandal. I have absolutely no regrets about leaving Shell. I could never have accomplished, personally or professionally, what I have had I remained at Shell. I most certainly would never consider going to work for the company today. It was a far better company to work for when I left many years ago than it is today.
To Shell Veteran: I am doing very well, thank you. Long time Shell employees, and you appear to be no exception, are noted for their very limited perspective. I know and have known, many long time employees of Shell and your opinion is not universal shared. I would also say that the very high historical turnover rate amongst Shell employees, and I am now referring to professional staff, speaks volumes about the company.
I would like to repeat a warning I have mentioned before about postings on this blog. Websites allowing aliases to be used are especially vulnerable to manipulation. That includes Wikipedia and blogs, such as this one. It follows that I can only vouch for the bona fides of postings made in my name or by contributors such as Paddy Briggs, who choose not to use an alias. Some contributors using an alias have built up credibility over the years e.g. “Outsider” and “LondonLad/Musaint.”
REPLY TO USCitizen: There was 10 hours of filming at multiple locations in the UK and Russia involving several people, including my father. All edited down by the TV people to what you have seen. So far, there are two versions broadcast. A film crew from the USA have also spent several hours filming an interview with me. Still to be broadcast.
To the newcomer from Devon – sorry your time at Shell did not work out. It has worked out for many of us. Many friends who have worked here over 30 years and many people who came from elsewhere and appreciate Shell. To Amused – good luck to you – you need it.
John: Read the article about Shell’s containment vessel tests. One can only imagine what could possibly have happened if the Coast Guard was not involved in the certification process and that vessel had had to deal with a real problem. After 5 years you would think Shell could have done better than this.
Anyone know how to get the latest E&P organigram for senior Shell staff at Group level – surely this isn’t too much of a secret? REPLY BY JOHN: It is self-evidently not information entrusted to you. If you don’t think its too much of a secret, why not ask Shell? Though I wouldn’t bother doing so unless you use your real name.
For USCitizen: I used to work for Shell USA but now work for DEVON ENERGY. There is NO comparison. It would take a court order, a team of mules, and a gaggle of Sheriff’s deputies to drag me kicking and screaming back to Shell. Wake up Dude.
Amused – why do you make this so easy.? So you want to hold the folks who developed the global warming theories to the sames standard as you do Shell. Look up the data manipluation that London Lad referred to, quite ethical huh?? Geez, do your homework.
For USCitizen: There is an old saying that goes something like: ‘Ignorance is bliss.’ Cheers, pal.
For Amused – you would know huh?? LMAO. This is too easy. Come talk to some of our recent joiners who can Contrast Shell with others, they would never go back!
To “Amused” or perhaps that should be “Bemused” – global warming is indeed happening (although not today in the UK as it’s certainly a bit chilly), but, is not all down to the oil companies and those of us that burn/use fossil fuels – do you burn/use fossil fuels or perhaps you produce enough hot air yourself to keep warm!?. Historically global warming and global cooling have occurred – fact. Interesting to note that people have falsified the data to attempt to prove a point e.g. http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterferrara/2012/03/01/fakegate-the-obnoxious-fabrication-of-global-warming/
As I have stated many times previously, people like yourself and others that hug trees seem to want to put us back to the stone age and make us live in caves. The majority of us want to develop ourselves, travel, have some fun and to do this we require the use of fossil fuels and their by-products. This Corrib project is a good example of “green” idiots refusing to realize the vast benefits to the community & country if this project goes ahead. Now I hope that you breathe slowly when responding else you will burst your blood vessels. Breathe in one-two-three, breathe out one-two-three.
To LondonLad & USCitizen: I know you guys (rabid RD Shell fans both) probably don’t or refuse to believe the scientific data linking the burning of hydrocarbons to global warming. I have only one comment : Even little birds are smart enough to know that it is fatal to sh*t in your own nest. This fact seems to have escaped you two.(No, I most certainly did NOT infer that you guys are ‘bird brains’. No compliment was intended).
I just love the picture of 3 (yes THREE) people demonstrating outside “Corrio House” – just goes to show the amount of support these demonstrators have in Ireland over the Corrib project. Perhaps the sensible majority realize that developing a gas field close by to Ireland can bring jobs and wealth to a lot of people. Might even reduce the cost of gas to the consumer. REPLY BY JOHN: Hello LondonLad. Have added another photo, this time with 150 protestors according to RTE News Ireland. Anything to please you.
Prices in Europe are indeed much higher in the State because of government taxation. But here in the States it is much easier to manipulate markets because there is far less government control of them. Price gouging is not new here, and the BIG OIL companies are not at all bashfull about playing the trading game to their advantage.
To “Curious” : I also worked in the oil/gas sector (yes, “Amused” it is past tense!!) and the local market is indeed also a factor, BUT, this is driven by market traders, of the Stock Market variety primarily, and not by Shell or other oil companies. THE problem in pump prices remains the taxation rip off the customer has to pay to the tune of 60% of total cost in the UK.
P.S. Phew that was a close call at 24-21 ………….. worked it out yet!!
John: A short while ago you posted a series of articles about Shell’s deliberate theft of IP and an ongoing lawsuit between Shell USA and the owner of that IP. My guess is that in a Texas state court the owner of the IP would have no problem winning a case against Shell based on the expectation that Shell would abide by its publicly stated business principles. In the state of Texas your word is your ‘bond’, literally and legally. Texaco discovered this to their dismay in the 1980′s and it cost them something on the order of $6 billion (about $12 billion in todays $’s).
I read the letter from Mr. Wiseman with great interest. RD Shell and Shell USA might want to rethink their policy, particularly in the state of Texas. Texas is an unusual state in that for legal business purposed your ‘word’ is your ‘bond’ and is legally binding. Case in point, the legal dispute between Texaco and Pennzoil over Texaco buyout of Getty Oil way back in the 80′s. The CEO’s of Texaco and Pennzoil had agreed that Texaco would not interfer in the takeover/buyout of Getty Oil by Pennzoil. This was a ‘handshake’ agreement. Unfortunately for Texaco they decided to go after Getty, and eventually took over the company. Pennzoil sued for $6 billion for ‘breach of contract’ in Texas courts and won. Texaco had to fork over $6 billion in cash to Pennzoil. Joe Jamial was the attorney for Pennzoil. So, in the state of Texas Shell’s stated business principle can be taken as their ‘word’. i.e., a publically stated business contract, on how the company operates by any of their partners, suppliers, etc. Shell can be expected to follow those principles, otherwise they are engagin in deliberate fraud. Failure to follow thos stated principles could cost Shell very dearly. I don’t yet think anyone has yet challenged Shell on this concept, nor do I think it has been tested in Texas state courts, but the day is coming given the way Shell operates. And I expect that Shell could find itself on the wrong end of the legal stick. Fraud is fraud.
To LondonLad:
I worked in the Oil and Gas industry at one time. I know all about what you mentioned.
But you missed the point about local market manipulation. Try again.
To “Curious” : the ones who are (to use your words) “buggering the public” are the Governments at either end of the supply chain. Petrol costs in the UK comprise of more than 60% in taxation. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19489908) Sure Shell (AND other companies) make large profits from the sale of petrol/diesel and other petroleum products, but, the investments required for exploration and production requires eye-watering amounts of money. Drilling a dry exploration well offshore can amount to costs greater than $50m. At the end of the day these companies require these profits to : (1) keep shareholders happy and (2) discover & produce oil/gas to keep the consumer (such as yourself) happy and cosy in their little world. Big problem is the taxation rip-off.
For LondonLad: Back in the 80′s Shell USA had an unwritten policy of providing lifetime employment for anyone who was or had been in management. As a result they had former managers running log libraries, etc. Those promoted to management but whom proved to be failures were usually exiled to Shell’s Information Center, i.e., it computerized services center. That worked for awhile, but only until computer services became important to the functioning of the company. At that point Information Services became a drag on corporate performance. Shell management had a nasty habit of blaming failures on its technical staff when most of the time it was management policy and decisions that were to blame. The end result was bad long term investment strategy and a host of failed projects. That in turn led to the poor financial performance of the last 80′s and 90′s and the downsizing.
To Amused : Larger organizations do not necessarily mean better productivity. Smaller is often better (faster moving, less bureaucracy, less layers etc.) and is not always the result of poor management, as you are trying to imply with Shell in the U.S. during the 1980’s. Shell unfortunately had way too many staff (1980’s and beyond) with local staff often far too reliant on the expat performing the work. Recent reduction in Shell’s expat numbers, in order to increase the numbers of local staff (and thereby appease Governments, unions and local stirrers) has not always been successful unfortunately. In a similar vein the incorporation of Shell Oil staff over the last 20 odd years into the RDS Group has also often been painful with too many Americans believing they were God’s gift to the company. Some were indeed excellent and great contributors but there were far too many who were not. Really was a case of “over paid and over here”.
Great to see that Shell is reducing its onshore Niger Delta holdings for what appears a good amount of money. Who will the harbingers of doom start to blame for all the Nigerian woes if/when Shell reduces onshore acreage and becomes less of an operator?
John picked up that info thank you watch this space for Shell Corrib Gas Project
Halting bombshell just around the corner not content with jailing local farmers now threatening small local vendors with imprisonment if they reveal
Police alcohol supply details top man in KPMG sent to deliver the threat
I now note that Shell USA has somewhere on the order of 10,000 plus employees. Back in the 1980′s it had over 20,000 employees. Poor management (particularly in the 1980′s) has taken its toll on the company and it has contracted considerably.
With reference to the article on the lawsuit requesting the release of safety data: Someone is wasting time and money with this lawsuit and is completely unfamiliar with the way the US government operates. So, don’t hold your breath and bet on the courts siding with the plaintiffs regards a failure to respond within the statutory time limit for the release of information under FOIA (freedom of information act) requests. The courts routinely side with governmental agencies in failing to release data within the supposed statutory time limit. The courts are very lenient with governmental agencies in this regard. It is not uncommon for agencies to take 2 or 3 years to respond to FOIA requests although the law states they have 30 days to do so. All an agency is really required to do within the statutory time limit is to notify the requestor that they are working on the request and will forward the requested information as soon as they have time and resources to process the request. This is the reality of life in the BIG CITY.
I would like to repeat a warning I have made before about postings on this blog. Websites allowing aliases to be used are especially vulnerable to manipulation. That includes Wikipedia and blogs, such as this one. It follows that I can only vouch for the bona fides of postings made in my name or by contributors such as Paddy Briggs, who choose not to use an alias. Some contributors using an alias have built up credibility over the years e.g. “Outsider”, “LondonLad/Musaint” and our biggest fan, “USCitizen.”
To LondonLad: Nobody is forcing you to visit this website. If you find it so offensive why don’t you just quit visiting it ?? Or is that not an option ??
For once, well done to the Obama administration for backing Shell against these environmentalists who merely want a fight because they see mileage in it and thus allow themselves to justify their own existence. There are far far too many examples of these idiots, and Nigerians, attempting to make money from US courts. Earth Rights group really need to look at themselves seriously and be honest as to how much time (and tax payers money) they are wasting with some of their nonsense. They complain about Shell (and no doubt other companies) trying to influence governments, but, what do they ALSO try and do!! Assume “Relieved” is still taking the exlax and that “Amused” is still attempting to connect all contributors to this website who attempt to defend / argue for Shell as conspirators. Finally, why are so many articles continuing to be from 7 or 8 years ago – so very repetitive and I fear show that there aren’t enough negative articles in the press to attempt to slag off Shell. REPLY BY JOHN: You are of course entitled to your opinion. I have already explained the circumstances behind the archive material being republished. It is in my view a good thing to remind Shell senior management of past sins and I will continue to do so. Anyone who visits this site regularly knows there is no shortage of negative news emerging about Shell. We also publish or provide links to ALL positive news stories about Shell.
#334Curious Ex-Shell Hand on Aug 25th, 2012 at 15:35
To Wck Waldo: Way back in the late 1980′s Shell USA was facing the embarrassing prospect of posting the first annual operating loss in the history of the company. To avoid that problem Shell sold its facility at Woodcreek (which was originally named Turkey Creek, but the PR guys didn’t think that name appropriate). This sale was not announced to the staff but the information leaked anyway. So, my question is this: Did Shell buy back this piece of property, or are they simply leasing it ?? I suspect it is still being leased.
So it appears Shell Real Estate didn’t get the email about saving money. Only weeks after spending millions on landscaping at Woodcreek they announce they are going to dig it up to make way for roads and walkways to Woodcreek Alcatraz Blocks E and F along with the long awaited basketball court. Amazing planning !
#336Washington Observer on Aug 24th, 2012 at 17:59
John: I would pursue whatever legal action is appropriate with regard to any threats you have received. The issuance of such threats is meant to intimidate you. Without any direct knowledge of this situation it is my educated guess that they are motivated by Royal Dutch Shell. REPLY BY JOHN: I don’t think Shell has anything to do with particular matter.
Sgayoyo: There is a program beging aired on American television (through the PBS system I believe )that documents on film the environmental damage done by Shell in Ogoniland. What I found to be particularly interesting was the large number of abandoned oil wells that have never been plugged. The wells still have tubing in them and the well heads are so old they suffer from severe corrosion. The corrosion is so bad the wells leak both gas and oil. The gas pollutes the air and the oil pollutes the well sites, soaking the soil and running off into streams. Shell apparently didn’t want to bother with the expense of plugging these wells, so they just walked away from them. This is completely irresponsible conduct of course, but who is going to hold Shell responsible ?? Not the Nigerian government. It will cost millions to plug these wells properly, and millions more to clean up the damage, but Shell isn’t going to spend a dime doing so unless the government forces them to do so. That is not likely to happen in the near future. So, the uncontained release of gas and oil into the delta environment continues. If Shell were to pull this stunt in the States they would be fined billions and put out of business.
Relieved
on Aug 22nd, 2012 at 15:38
USCitizen: You are back! The world of Shell loyalists has missed you terribly. Where oh where have you been? Vacation? Finishing school? Oh, well, it doesn’t matter. LondonLad needs help fending of the anti-Shell barbarians that clutter this blog with their anti-Shell propaganda. You two should team up. Come to think of it, I bet you guys already know one another.
You would know if you bother to ask pal, there are many many Shell folks who are very proud to work for this company. Many have come from other companies and are very pleased with the choice they made, I do not blame them. Have no idea who he is, could be one of thousands bud. I check this site once in a while and the need to comment on repeat drivel is not worth it, just like your bashings. Enjoy your life, I do!!
I find it indicative of Shell leadership’s understanding (or lack thereof) of their financial responsibilities to their shareholders, etc., to operate safely in a very high risk Arctic environment that senior management decides to resurrect (on the cheap) three beat-up and rotting derelicts ready for the breakers to form their Arctic drilling and spill containment fleet. And now, after 7 years of work and what – 4.5 billion ??, They still don’t have their rusting bird roost barge/spill containment barge refitted for Arctic service. Who planned this operation ??? So, guess what ??? Shell might not be able to drill this year. How much will this cost the company ??? Great going guys !! Let’s hear it for the water-walking management team running this show. Is anyone really surprised ??? Time to promote these people to positions where they can do no harm. All I can say is that I am glad I own Exxon stock and not Royal Dutch Shell stock.
USCitizen: You are back! The world of Shell loyalists has missed you terribly. Where oh where have you been? Vacation? Finishing school? Oh, well, it doesn’t matter. LondonLad needs help fending of the anti-Shell barbarians that clutter this blog with their anti-Shell propaganda. You two should team up. Come to think of it, I bet you guys already know one another.
Oh yeah , the advertisement with Shell name and the Nazi emblem is copyright infringement. Our lawyers will be calling you, oh never mind you talk to them every day!!
Whew – I sure am glad we were able to hold off that Total hostile takeover, had me nervous. Sure am glad this weakened company has survived!! And I am distraught to hear that we spent a lot of money on security in Nigeria, wow, never would have guessed. Keep up the good work!! These 10 year old news flashes are keeping me current!! PS – Why are you advertising for the Nazis gas company on your web page??
Jeeeez this website and more particularly the likes of the Guardian / tree hugging societies need to get realistic. So what if Shell (and many other oil companies in Nigeria) spend vast sums of money trying to protect their (AND shareholder) property/facilities from trouble makers and activists / thieves. I am sure that most law abiding people on this planet would like to do the same to defend their investment / prpoerty. Bottom line is that the Delta region is uncontrollable at the moment due to corruption and inept Governmental control (local and country). At the end of the day, even if the likes of the Ogoni’s and other tribes got what they wanted (i.e. independence from Abuja), the Delta tribes would continue to bicker, argue and “fight” each other. It’s just a continuation of past history. Yes, Ben Akari, this has nothing to do with “colonialism” but is a typical African tribal problem where everybody else is to blame but themselves. Seeing people killed by whoever is NOT acceptable. However, people AND companies have the right to defend their livelihood from thugs and thieves (be they politically motivated or otherwise).
P.S. I do NOT like this guy Fellaini. REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN: “This website” is not responsible for any of the articles relating to Nigeria. We publish or provide links to all articles, positive or negative about Shell. Since you have raised the subject again, I would make the following points. A Shell VP Ann Pickard, bragged to American officials that Shell had embedded spies throughout the Nigerian government. A confidential independent report prepared for Shell by experts admitted that Shell activities have “inadvertently” fueled corruption and feeds the violence in Nigeria. It is also a matter of record that Shell has broken pledges to end gas flaring in Nigeria. Of course it is tough to do business in Nigeria. You have cited some of the reasons. Is it not right, under the circumstances, that Shell should have announced long ago that its business principles, pledging ethical trading, including respect for people, and environmental impact, do not apply in Nigeria. That would be a more honest approach. Shell cannot have it both ways.
Dear LondonLad : I read your note to Jim Footner of GreenPeace. Tsk, Tsk. Life is too short for this sort on nonsense. I would suggest that perhaps you need some anger management counseling. Peace, brother.
To Jim Footner, Head of Greenpeace climate & energy campaign, can you please confirm if you spend time, energy and money liaising/meeting/campaigning with governments and various “powers-that-be” over various “green” issues in order to try and persuade these governments and organizations to believe some of the ideology and clap trap you pontificate about? If you do, how do you do this? Walk? Bicycle? Of course not, you fly / wine & dine like everyone else on this planet who wants to put across their case. Bottom line is that once again Greenpeace / Guardian advocates one rule for themselves and one for others.
Got to end there as it’s so hot here (climate change and all that) and switch on the aircon.
P.S. Saints won yesterday and hopefully Utd. do the same tomorrow – these are THE important aspects of life not Green peace & Alaska
That was a nice article about Shell’s ‘guano’
barge. I could suggest some appropriate names for this resurrected ‘bird poop’ derelict, but I am certain Shell wouldn’t appreciate the humor.
Who would have thought the Girl Scout’s involvement with Greenpeace would have aroused such passionate reactions. Give it a break people. Go eat some of their cookies. They are pretty good. I buy them every year.
To compare Greenpeace to ruthless dictators is a little bit over the top, even for rabid Shell fans like yourself. That is like saying it was Little Red Riding Hood who ate Grandma, not the Big Bad Wolf. I would remind you that it was Royal Dutch Shell that willingly jumped into bed with the Fascist regimes and funded their rise to power in the early part of the 20th century. The end result was the carnage of WII and the death camps. And Shell did rat out its Jewish employees. I wonder how many survived the slave labor and death camps.
Shell’s history of cavorting with thugs when such conduct is profitable is long. It continues today in countries like Nigeria, where millions of children suffer as a result. And let’s not forget how Shell knowingly poisoned workers in its pesticide plants in Brazil after they were force to close their plants in the US because of the well document environmental and worker health issue.
You should seek a job with Shell’s propaganda machine, if you don’t work there already.
I assume “Amused” that you realize that dictators use children in front of their tanks. Greenpeace seem to be no different then by using children in front of their political agenda and to defend their often violent ways. Bottom line is that people still need to use fossil fuels and their by products – even nutters such as Greenpeace. Nobody on Earth can guarantee anything for 100% and in the case of Shell’s Arctic activities I am sure (<100% of course) that they will explore, drill and produce safely and environmentally well. Mother Nature has generally been able to cope with past oil spills – far better than the tree huggers who can’t cope with the situation.
P.S. too many seals around anyway, particularly with this new strain of flu they are spreading.
Royal Dutch Shell vs the Girl Scouts (and Greenpeace). This is something I really want to see. RD Shell has already lost the PR battle. This be would something akin to the clubbing of baby fur seals to death just so you could sell their snowy white hides for a small fortune.
Delusion at Shell? Please say it ain’t so. I remember years back when Shell hired a consultant to give it advice on how to retain top staff and point management problems/failings. Well, guess what. Shell refused to accept the report because it was so blisteringly critical of the ‘Shell way’ of doing business. They paid for the report, of course. But they refused to accept the conclusions and recommendations. This is ‘so Shell’.
Londonlad, well, thanks for your opinion, though Ogonis aren’t fighting any other tribe in Nigeria. You are not honest to have said that.
My honesty saying that there is faction in MOSOP doesn’t construe fighting against other tribes or ourselves. Ogonis disagree like the British,if you’re from there,and other people.
More importantly, Ogonis aren’t seeking independence via Goodluck Diigbo’s MOSOP faction Declaration,but local autonomy or self-rule that is popular in Nigeria and other parts of the world including USA.
If we seek independence we have what it takes to succeed, yet with human imperfections.
Note also that Ogonis have always peacefully and nonviolently demanded their rights; it’s the government and $hell,your seeming precursor which have over the years oppressed the Ogonis and have used communities such as the Andonis, Okrikas as proxies to kill us.
Currently, the many deaths recorded in Sogho,an Ogoni village is caused by the imposed activities of the illegal governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi, who didn’t contest any election but with long legs or “man know man “as synonymous with Nigeria, he’s declared governor by the court,which claimed he’s the one chosen by his party, same party (PDP),which dropped him and picked someone else as its candidate.
Meanwhile, Amaechi wants to construct a banana plantation Ogoni don’t want, even as he relocate universities and other people-based development projects to or near his village. Because Ogonis are resisting such imposition and disrespect they must die by the guns of local and foreign thugs he employs.
This is the story of the Ogoni people from when the British colonialists illegally and criminally invaded and conquered our people in early 1900, destroying all we have and handed things over to Nigeria,which makes things worse than under the British.
Same as for the Jocks in Scintland, I would really like to see the Ogonis get full independence and see how they progressed / survived ON THEIR OWN. In Scotland they failed centuries ago to retain independence because of continuous infighting and mistrust between the clans. Fast forwarding to present day I doubt very much that the Ogonis will progress as they are continually fighting other tribes AND themselves. Ben Ikari and his comments on Goodluck Diigbo highlight this problem as far as I am concerned. Once again I can only reiterate my opinion that indeed Shell (AND many other oil companies / NNPC) screwed up with oil spillages, but, THE major problem now with the Delta region is tribal infighting (i.e. finger pointing to everyone and anyone but themselves) and locals who want to steal oil from pipelines via sabotage (of course as with most Nigerians they will deny their illegal and dangerous actions). So to Ben Ikari I say go for independence and let’s see who you can blame for any problems that you encounter on the way.
Although Goodluck Diigbo and his MOSOP faction didn’t do this in good faith considering the ill-consultative and awareness creating methods and sharp division in MOSOP.
The Nigerian Tribune and other media should get it right and be accurate in their reporting, as baseless and trouble-shooting hot captions such as the above will take us nowhere.
What the Goodluck Diigbo MOSOP faction in Ogoni declared on August 2, wasn’t Ogoni Republic rather, as the declaration states, was/is self-rule or governance for Ogoni within Nigeria.
This is like the many ethnic groups such as Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo or the Ijaws and Ibibio which have self-rule by having multiple states created for their ethnic groups (the first three so-called majority especially).
The media and confused public must therefore get it right. Self-rule or self-determination within the framework of a sovereign state such as Nigeria isn’t an offense or treason and treasonable felony as the Rivers State governor Chibuike Amaechi,Ogoni oppressor and other Nigerians have ignorantly claimed.
Ogoni had self-rule in 1947 under the leadership of Timothy Naakuu Paul Birabi, and within the protectorate under colonial British rule, though it wasn’t the kind of free self-rule it had before colonial control.
Correct London Lad, its almost as sickening as Culpeppers email yesterday to all staff threatening “a more vibrant, engaging and productive workplace” What a joke, and once again so so wrong. People survey talks and Shell doesn’t listen. Chevron tried and failed, lets hope “open plan” goes the same way and takes Culpepper with it.
What sort of Shell HR crap is this “Empowering Innovation through Meditation”!! Hope it’s a joke….. Yet again HR come forth with some brainless idea to take technical staff eyes off the ball. Unfortunately I bet HR have again brainwashed some board member to have it implanted in his end-of-year scorecard so that it gets “forced” downwards through the system.
RD Shell does not nourish innovation. It encourages and promotes industrial espionage at any opportunity. Like all large companies, thinking outside the box and being a ‘non-conformist’ entails taking ‘risk’. Taking great calculated risk is what has made Silicon Valley so successful. This is a completely foreign concept to a company full of, fawning, posterior venerating managers whose only real skill is the politics of climbing the corporate ladder.
Well, what can we say about RD Shell’s barge problems ? To fracture a famous quote how about – ‘For the want of a functioning barge a kingdom was lost ? ‘ Perhaps not. But one does have to wonder about the future of a company whose ‘star’ management team cannot get their act together after how many years of planning ? 7 ? Or was it only 5? RD Shell’s poor project management skills clearly threaten the long term health of the company.
Can LondonLad or USCitizen or any other rabid fan of Royal Dutch Shell explain why RDS has failed to waive the $75 million limit on damages related to any oil spill in the US Arctic. Come to think of it, maybe Marvin Odum or Peter Voser would like to comment on this. Me thinks RDS wants to put the USG on the hook for cleanup costs in the Arctic if they should have a major problem. Am I not correct???
Royal Dutch Shell is going to sue Greenpeace where ? In the US. The US is NOT Nigeria. The courts and the law are not for sale in this country. Citizens and organizations do have the right of freedom of speech, and the right of freedom of assembly. That means the Greenpeace folks can run their little boats around Shell’s ships shouting slogans and waving banners, and so on. If Shell has to put up with walruses ‘disturbing the peace’ and making a nuisance of themselves then the same holds true for the Greenpeace folks. Like it or not in territorial US waters US law is the name of the game and Royal Dutch Shell has to put up with Greenpeace.
I see that Royal Dutch Shell is planning to challenge the $5 billion fine for an oil spill. I think Shell is getting off cheap given all the damage they have caused. And I suspect the Nigerians are using this spill to make up for past ‘oversights’. Eventually, the chickens do come home to roost.
for Texvette: you are completely right. But as an old cynic (realist?) I like to remind you of that nice english saying: None so deaf as those who will not hear. I fear this is applicable to most directors in the current world.
A good safety leader would coach Marvin and tell him where he is going wrong. The last two have been incapable of doing that. You are 100% correct though about it starting at the top.
Reply to LondonLad: The quoted statement does not mean that we are in possession of every conceivable item of information about Shell. We do not have the information you are seeking.
With the oft repeated advert that this site is the “Worlds leading source of information about Royal Dutch Shell”, can I again ask if J.D. could provide me with an updated organigram of the E&P organisation as the official Shell website no longer allows such information to be open to the public domain.
LondonLad: You have a sense of humor ! Who would have guessed. In case you are wondering, not being ‘full of it’ I have no need for EXLAX. Have a nice day.
I cannot speak to Saro-Wiwa’s case specifically, but I can address the Shell mindset from around 1990 when I worked for Shell Western E & P in Houston (one of literally dozens of Shell entities in Houston). I was commissioned to write event-tracking software for safety incidents and environmental incidents. One quantity to be tracked was exceedances (exceedences? no one was ever certain of the spelling), i.e., cases in which spills or upsets of dangerous substances exceeded legal thresholds for those substances. How did the project manager decide to handle exceedances? He created a number called “opportunities for exceedance,” the number and total amount of spills that could be committed without exceeding the law. For each relevant substance, my program was to report not just the number and quantity of spills, but the number and quantity that could have been committed without violating the threshold set in law. Of course the laws were lax, and always made Shell look good, however many spills there were.That was their corporate attitude, and my program was required to reflect it… I had no say in the matter. It does not surprise me that Saro-Wiwa’s life was regarded primarily as a business matter for Shell. That seems to be the nature of multinational corporations, and Saro-Wiwa paid with his life for fighting against one of the largest of them.
With an acronym like “Relieved” I assume you have great experience of Exlax??!! Whilst I’m at it, can John D. provide any update on the Shell E&P organigram? – used to be able to piece bits & pieces together when the Shell website (the real one that is) was more “open”, however, it seems impossible to find out who is where and doing what.
LondonLad: You need to take your EXLAX on a regular basis. It will do wonders for your overall disposition. Sorry, but I don’t have a remedy for intellectual constipation.
After the BP Oil Spill in 2010 Shell laid off people only over 40 at their IT office in Houston, TX (OST). Denied it was discrimination, denied it was because of the Oil Spill then implimented a policy in effect now, not to rehire any severanced employees. Shell Oil just needs to take it down hard and leave. I will never, ever buy Shell gasoline or any other product from Shell or one of their many Joint Ventures or sister companies.
To Also Relieved: You seem to imply that sacking the safety manager will improve safety. Safety has to be the focus of the top leader of the organization. I cannot understand how Marvin Odum continues to have one of the worst safety records in Shell (perhaps industry) and all he does is change safety managers and focus on the use of handrails on the stairs of the Woodcreek cafeteria. The “tone” for safety HAS to start at the top. This is not — and has not been happening in Americas EP
“or other fraudulent scheme” – covers a multitude of sins and thus legally will not allow any suing. Jeeeez Donovan what sort of journalism would allow you to encourage such actions?!?! AGAIN the chip on your shoulder appears to be very very large indeed!! You also use the words “over-excited” – you need to look at yourself in the mirror occasionally. At the end of the day I hope Shell sue these idiots who make fake videos and make a lot of bullshit statements. REPLY BY JOHN: Hello LondonLad/Musaint, you seem rather agitated. I have explained the precise grounds on which the people behind the fake adverts may have a legitimate claim for defamation against Shell. Since we have successfully sued Shell twice for libel, I have some credibility in such matters. What precisely are your suggested legal grounds for Shell being able to sue the perpetrators of the campaign? What credibility do you have. Have you ever sued anyone for libel? Are you a barrister? Or are you just an undeclared paid or unpaid Shell spokesperson defending the indefensible, as you often do here. You even attempt to defend its conduct in Nigeria when an independent 93 page report prepared and paid for by Shell, made a series of admissions about the companies dire impact on Nigeria. Yes, there are background problems in Nigeria in terms of endemic corruption and yes Shell does have to compete against its rivals. But it should drop the claim to operate within a set of business principles pledging honesty, integrity, openness etc when it actually engages in all kinds of unethical activity, including arming Nigerian police spies and conniving with Nigerian militants, embedding spies in the Nigerian government and repeatedly promising to end gas flaring, but failing to do so. As for operating in a country with endemic corruption, my guess is that Shell much prefers it that way. It has expertise in handing out big bribes e.g. to the Sultan of Brunei.
So Hurricane Denise finally blew itself out and ran out of energy. Such a shame it did so much damage by not listening to people. One year on and the Americas safety performance is worse and a lot of good people benched. At least Marvin did the right thing.
Assume “Relieved” that your last sentence applies to just the PR group of RDS? If not you are way, way, wide of the mark. That said, have you, or do you work for Shell? If that’s a no then how do you manage to make such a pontificated remark?
Londonlad: You need to face reality, boy. The fact of the matter is that RDS’s genius media guru’s got brilliantly stung, and big time, by GreenPeace. So, much for the ‘Let’s Go’ campaign. This is, of course, a huge embarassment for RDS. Face it, RDS doesn’t have the ‘best and brightest’ working for them in their PR group. Lot’s of shameless, groveling suckups YES. Talent NO.
Strange that if the idiots from Greenpeace conduct an elaborate (and illegal??) hoax against Shell it’s met with stupid comments from this Gabrielle Levy such as “yet another successful viral campaign” and “pranksters” – hardly madam. These people again act illegally and defend their actions as though once again (and incorrectly) they are defending the majority. Adding the word “brilliant” to the headline story is once again tabloid journalism!!
I love the sub-article in Wikipedia on Greenpeace : “They have worked to create awareness of important environmental issues since the 1970’s, but their methods, accuracy, and effectiveness have ranged from controversial to comical to scandalous. Greenpeace activism is based upon the simplification of complex issues into epic battles between good and evil. Rather than devoting a lot of resources into educating the public, Greenpeace, like most political activist groups, tries to create sensationalist drama to grab attention and put simplistic issues in the headlines.”
Better informed than Greenpeace and tree-huggers at times. I still chuckle when I think of the vast volumes of pollutants Greenpeace stated were in Brent Spar. Bottom line at the end of the day is that most normal people want / need fossil fuels to lead a life they desire. Even Greenpeace use it to fuel their ships, fly around the world to tree-hugging conferences and drive to Shell petrol stations to create havoc. As for being paranoid and intolerant, that should be levelled at the likes of Greenpeace and other “scruffy” organizations who, as a clear minority on this planet, seem to want to dictate to the majority that their views are the correct way ahead. Wonder how many votes a “Greenpeace” party would get in a countrywide vote – very few aka other UK Green parties.
P.S. well done to John in his speed of posting – pity it’s not an Olympic event!!
For LondonLad: Back again ! Great ! I do so enjoy your opinionated and ill informed posts. FYI – I am a hugger, but I am not into trees. You, my friend, are paranoid and intolerant, and appear to have been watching too many cheap and cheesy corporate propaganda flicks. Tree huggers are generally harmless folks, no matter what you may think of their views on politics or the environment.
LondonLad: I think you’ll find that many of the people contributing work in the oil industry, and simply resent the damage done to the reputation of all in the industry by the actions of a few unscrupulous incompetents.
Methinks that some of these “contributions” below concerning Shell drilling in the Arctic are from Greenpeace and “tree huggers” as they have suddenly / rapidly been posted (OR is someone asleep and not posting these quickly enough?). As far as I am concerned (yet again) these buffoons have to travel around the world to make their complaints so how do they travel? – by bicycle? All I can say is watch out Bradley Wiggins for these tree huggers – yellow jersey in the Tour de France for the uninitiated. REPLY BY JOHN TO MUSAINT/LondonLad: Your contribution was published within 9 minutes.
Ancient Mariner: fair point, although the published specs for the vessel show 10 identical anchors. If Dutch Harbor is known for poor holding, why were no suitable precautions taken? Why was no pre-laid mooring available? Was anyone on watch on either the Discoverer or the tugs? Even the cheapest marine GPS units have a facility to warn of a dragging anchor. And this all took place in broad daylight. It seems all too similar to the Exxon Valdez, albeit without the spill. Poor planning, and unprofessional execution.
#387Regular Contributor on Jul 16th, 2012 at 16:24
John,
It is clear from your article on the risk Shell is taking in its Arctic exploration program that investors and shareholders are being misled. This is no different than the ‘reserve fraud’ scandal that shook Shell 8 years ago. Shell management has a bad habit of engaging in deliberate deception when it suits their needs. A major spill in the Arctic could take the company down, but have investors and shareholders bought into this policy through informed discussion. No. Shell management is hiding the ‘downside’ potential of these activities.
This is for Shell’s propoganda organs regarding the grounding (yes the darn thing obiously was grounded) of the Noble Discoverer :
“Lier, Lier pants on fire …..’
Now, if this ship had been a US Navy ship, or a Royal Navy ship, the entire wardroom would have been relieved for gross incompetence. I presume Shell is going to insist on a change in the command structure for this vessel. Or am I p**** into the wind??
Presumably Shell will now prosecute everyone on the beach at Dutch Harbor for breaching the court ordered exclusion zone?
#390The ancient Mariner on Jul 16th, 2012 at 13:45
Insider, the Discovery was not using the same mooring system as it will use during drilling operations. The drilling operations are controlled by the use of a 8 anchor system not the single one used for mooring the vessel in Dutch Harbor. Many ships have problems anchoring in Dutch Harbor as it has very sandy bottom and as such does not have good holding.
You state Donovan that : “Some contributors using an alias have built up credibility over the years e.g. ‘Outsider’ “ – so only those who choose to bemoan Shell for this that and the other are credible. Hmmmm what about MUSaint who spoke such words of wisdom.
I am sorry, but, Paddy Briggs at times has got a very big chip on his shoulder against Shell – it would be of great interest to know why!! At the end of the day there are many who have worked for Shell or have a vested interest in Shell (shares) who support the work they are doing worldwide. The oil industry is, at times, unfortunately a “messy” business that requires oil companies to (including Shell) join in the necessary business approach. This includes the likes of Signature Bonuses, Corporate Boxes at sporting events and most importantly the giving of vast sums of money to countries to attempt alleviate the lack of funding by corrupt countries (e.g. Nigeria) on their own people for basics.
Gawsh, I wish I had a corporate box at Old Trafford…… REPLY BY JOHN: Paddy Briggs seems to be very well thought of by Shell colleagues bearing in mind that he was elected to his current function as a Trustee of the Shell Contributory Pension Fund. All of his postings here have been in his own name. That says a lot. He is prepared to take responsibility for what he says. I am perfectly happy to acknowledge you and MUSAINT as being examples of alias users who have built up credibility here. As previously mentioned, I have suspicions that you are one and the same. Certainly share many opinions including on Shell in Nigeria. Comments above would then amount to self-praise…
If the Discoverer’s mooring system cannot even hold position in a 35mph wind, what is this rig doing in the Arctic? Loss of position while drilling, and especially during a well control incident would create a very dangerous situation.
Shell bought the Discoverer through its subsidiary Frontier Drilling and operated the vessel for several years before selling the rig with Frontier Drilling to Noble in 2010. It is therefore somewhat disingenuous of Shell to blame Noble for the failure to meet the emissions standards. Does anyone really believe Shell’s comment that there are no generators on the market that meet the current emissions standards?
On April 27, I described as “a gushing farce” Shell’s supposed “impressive achievement” in managing to “clock up just shy of one million Facebook fans in under two months?” There is now a question mark over the possible manipulation of “Likes”in regards to brands featured on Facebook. Websites allowing aliases to be used are especially vulnerable to manipulation. That includes Wikipedia and blogs, such as this one. It follows that I can only vouch for the authenticity of postings made in my name or by contributors such as Paddy Briggs, who choose not to use an alias. Some contributors using an alias have built up credibility over the years e.g. “Outsider”.
Everyone working in the refining business (I have never worked for Shell) knows that refineries can be dangerous places if you don’t stay on your toes. So, can you Port Arthur Shell guys tell the rest of us non-Shell guys what happened to Shell’s process hazard reduction plan ? Surely, they have such a plan at that new $10bln facility ? Hello ? Can anyone in Shell management explain what the F*** happened ? Or perhaps simple, wonton, gross imcompetence on the part of senior management is the only and best answer.
Shell knew all along that their drilling ship couldn’t meet the required clean air standards and apparently made no effort to upgrade and meet those standards. Switch and Bait ???? This is way beyond that. This is utter contempt for the regulatory system and the pristine environment Shell will be working in. They are scaming the system and making the requlating proffesions look like ITS all their fault.
The Discoverer is a 1960′s era vessel – it should come as no surprise that it cannot meet current emission requirements (any more than a 1960′s vintage automobile would be able to pass a current emissions test)
#399amused (once again) on Jul 13th, 2012 at 16:38
This Shell porn thing is too good to let go by without making a few more comments. One can imagine how the terminology and slang of the oil field will fit into Shell’s new business. These terms take on a whole new meaning. For example, ‘dry hole’, T&A’d, ‘nipple up’, ‘gusher’, ‘exploratory test’, ‘blowout preventer’, and so on, and on. I better stop or John won’t print this. Sorry, folks but this was too good to pass up.
#400Port Arthur Insider on Jul 13th, 2012 at 03:30
Read the article on 5 years and $10b later…. this comment is made….
I’m really having a hard time wrapping my mind around what happened at this Motiva plant. A few things puzzle me. ….
This is not a puzzle to us that are here. This project was bad from the start…. Tom Purves put all of his old cronies on this project to allow them to end their career on a high note…. He was told repeatedly by people in the know that Bechtel was the wrong choice…. this issue with the caustic was missed in the PHA…. Also, his biggest crony, Jeff Funkhouser, a fundamental joke, was brought over here to get him out of Norco and apply his heavy hand on the leadership team who was here trying to make this project / plant run. Jeff has no clue and neither does Tom for that matter re how to run big projects. Yet they were the two leads at the end of the day on this project. This project flopped at the end of the day, is a big embarrassment to the owners….and where are Tom and Jeff now? Are they being held accountable for this mess? Nope. Tom is now in Upstream. He left as soon as they swept up the confetti from the celebration. Jeff is now in Global Solutions working on….Operational Excellence in project startup. This is so Shell. Jeff is such a part of the problem on this one and he rides out under the night cover to do it again in another part of the world….and we wonder why Shell has this big fiasco.
Tom and Jeff should both be fired…. Shell is not and will not change because of their terrible leadership at this point in time. A great company in the past but not anymore.
My comments on Bruce Culpepper were just my opinion, I respect that others may have different ones. Personally, I’ve seen him do the right thing on a couple of different occasions where there have been difficult individual & HR issues. Obviously not things i’d share on a website, but I assure you that when i’ve seen him have the chance to screw someone over or use the system to get the fair answer, he did the latter.
Obviously others have seen a different side, but I stand by my view.
For TexasExpat: You must not have been around Shell much. Culpepper is one of the biggest “suck ups”/”yes men” in the company. He presents a facade that he is representing the employee, but he is 100% “company”. Please give examples of when he stood up to his bosses in The Hague that resulted in a change.
#403regular contributor on Jul 12th, 2012 at 17:26
I was going through the links on the porno article and ran across comments about the ‘Baptist Mafia’ at Shell USA. It is there, no doubt about it. And it was there in the early 1980′s when I first went to work for Shell. Many a promoted incompetent got his ‘reward’ for simply being ‘one of the true believers’. And many people, particularly support staff took in the teeth at evaluation time if their conduct was deemed to not be ‘morally sound.’ The situation has worsened over the years. It reminds of Gulf Oil (which is now extinct). At Gulf you had no chance of any decent career with the company unless you were a Mason. This Baptist thing at Shell has got to go. I agree w/ the Brits and the Dutch. It is like a cancer. These people are the most duplicitous,
!@#$%^&**().
First is was sex and drugs at DOI, now it is whips and chains at Circle K/Shell.
Makes one wonder about senior Shell management and their recreational habits.
What an interesting blog !!! How does Shell survive this kind of PR ???
Somebody in top management needs to seek employment elsewhere. Peddling porn ??? Before we know it, Shell will form a subsidiary that will be a ‘private’ backer of the porn making industry in S. California, and will reap the profits that come with porn production. Maybe they already have. Rumor has it that ATT has such a subsidiary, and that it is HUGELY profitable. Selling sex for big $$$ is definitely easier and quicker than exploring for oil and gas.
#406regular contributor on Jul 12th, 2012 at 16:55
And another inquiry for some intrepid investigator: Maybe these 240 Shell stations in Florida are also now selling ‘behind the counter adult sophisticate’ magazines. Can anyone verify this ?? It would not surprise me one bit given Circle K’s policy on porn in its branded stores.
#407regular contributor on Jul 12th, 2012 at 16:31
Now that we know Shell is attempting to set moral standards when it is profitable to do so, we should probe a little deeper on this issue. Circle K stores also generally have ‘behind the counter’ porno mags for sale. Hustler magazine being one of several. Can anyone verify that these Circle K stores that sell Shell gasoline are still selling the ‘behind the counter adult sophisticate’ magazines ?? Maybe Shell’s moral hypocrisy runs deeper than is acknowledged.
Thanks Bruce for your response! So what is the point of a Shell People Survey if it is going to be ignored ? It is the only feedback forum people have and it is a joke. Fully agree about Hague driven decisions but senior leaders need to grow some and stand up to this. Culpepper is one of the ones who is afraid to do that and is quite happy working from his large office and managing his own career. Has anyone seen any conclusive evidence that open plan offices are more “collaborative” apart from open trading floors. I doubt it, The real truth is that it is all about space occupancy and cost. Yes the sea will come in but the tide will turn back again, unfortunately long after we have lost some great talent and potential.
Thanks for the clarification Regular Contributor. I was exposed primarily to Downstream and I can attest that Rolex watches were not presented as anniversary awards. I fully agree with everything else you said in your posts. Loyalty is a two way street. Shell US used to be totally loyal to it’s employees and the employees were totally loyal to the company. Post John Bookout (primarily during the Phil Carroll tenure) we learned that employees were no longer a “valued asset” of the company. While we still get new employees to join the company, they are looking for a pay check/”punching their ticket” vs. enjoying working for Shell and wanting to pursue a long term career. This is — and will continue, to cost the company from an experience standpoint. While all companies have made a shift from employee loyalty, I know of no other oil major that has done it to the extreme as Shell.
To be fair to Bruce Culpepper, I think someone should put a different perspective across. Firstly, the Shell Real Estate strategy isn’t something that I suspect he gets to define or decide, but like most people has to make the best of what is (I agree) a bad job. I didn’t hear his comments, but I know that there are fights that won’t go anywhere, and arguing against open plan offices in Shell is like complaining at the sea for coming in – however passionately people argue, it ain’t gonna change anything, so the most honest approach is to work out how to make the best of the situation as is really is.
Secondly, I’ve worked around a whole bunch of HR folks, and trust me, he is one of the good ones. Not someone who just focuses on HR and doesn’t have any personality or balls, and given some of the alternatives – i think you guys should count your blessings!
Bigger issue for me would be the constant flow of Hague dominated decisions that then can’t be stopped, even at these senior levels, when the don’t make any sense on the ground, outside of Holland.
#411regular contributor on Jul 11th, 2012 at 15:48
To Texvette – You have got to be kidding me. This was standard procedure in E&P operations for the professional staff when I went to work for Shell USA in the early 1980′s. A very nice dinner was included where senior division management attended the award. Surely, you must have seen senior Shell personnel wearing Rolex watches with a Pecten and diamonds on them. It was quite a common site when I worked for Shell. But then Shell USA was a different company than it is today. People actually used to like working for Shell. It was fun. I loved working for Pecten Int., Shell USA’s international division. Shell treated their valued staff quite well. And Shell only very rarely hired experienced personnel from outside the company. They preferred to hire them straight out of college, train them in the ‘Shell way’, and to promote from within. Exxon still follows that method.
In my day at Shell, John Hofmeister (remember him) would NEVER have been hired or given the position he was. It would have been absolutely unthinkable. He knew little if anything about the oil industry. Shell trained personnel were also in great demand within the industry, and it was difficult to keep good staff. And in a perverse way, Shell management used to say that they had trained half the people in the oil industry. There was a good deal of truth in that statement. For several years I taught both exploration and production engineering courses at Bellaire Research Center. Those were much different times, it was a different generation, and clearly it was a much different, and much better company to work for.
TO: “Regular Contributor” – Could you please let me know when Shell US presented Rolex watches to commemorate a service anniversary. This is the first I ever heard of this and I have great grandparents, grand parents, parents and relatives that have worked for Shell and never heard of this. I do agree with your comments about Shell totally and completely ignoring the results of the Shell People Survey. Like Culpepper, the Survey is a joke.
#413regular contributor on Jul 10th, 2012 at 22:32
And while I am making comments, when I first went to work for Shell I had my very own office, with a real desk, 3 office chairs, a large book case for my technical reference material (I am an engineer) and two full sized filing cabinets, along with a private phone line. Hello???? What the F*** is HR up to these days. Get your heads out of your backsides and breath some good air for a change.
#414regular contributor on Jul 10th, 2012 at 22:21
There was a day when Shell USA handed out a Rolex wrist watch for the 10th year anniversary of loyal service. After that they handed out diamonds that went on the watch for every additional 5 years of service, I believe. I did stay around long enough. Shell has really gone down the tubes if all they hand out for 10 years of service is crap like photos. They might cost $10.
Mr Culpepper strikes again and tells senior leaders to suck it up and support the new Shell Real Estate vision of the future. The new open concept is a tremendous step backwards for all of those less than LC but is widely supported by senior management. So Culpepper, why do you not listen to the staff on these issues, is it just pure arrogance when you totally ignore the last three years of Shell People surveys, which quite obviously show you that people DISLIKE their working conditions. Instead SRE go off on a multi million-dollar campaign to plant trees and flowers to make Alcatraz Woodcreek Branch look appealing. The truth of the matter it that it is the inside which needs to be changed. Do you really think we like sitting three feet away from each other. Are we expected to lay eggs next? Where is the Employee Value Proposition which has been quoted so often in the past? In my opinion it has been so eroded and then you wonder why we struggle to recruit new staff. How many graduates would be thrilled when they see their new portable office ! No desk of their own just a portable container. Wake Up Culpepper, start listening for a change. Oh and while I am ranting do you really think Upstream people want a picture of a gas station as a long service award !! I recently got my 10 year award and was so disappointed it went in the trash. A gas station!!!! Just shows you how out of touch HR is as well.
Indeed Shell was not mentioned in the article, however, they have repeatedly been linked to fracking by yourself and tree-hugging societies in the past. I should have used your approach and “added” the title : “Shell effectively given go ahead for fracking by expert societies”.
Seems that you missed an article on fracking in today’s Daily Telegraph (but still continue to produce old stories about Shell due to lack of negative material against them). It states that scientists from the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society say that the method for extracting gas should be approved, subject to tight regulations and continuous monitoring. They also state that fracking can trigger small earthquakes but that at ground level these tremors would be no more than those caused by a lorry passing a house. Additionally the chances of water being contaminated were very low. Of course I will no doubt get some tree-hugger telling me they know more than the Royal Academy of Engineering and The Royal Society – very much like Greenpeace got the “correct” numbers (NOT) for the pollution potential of Brent Spar!! REPLY BY JOHN: Added a link to the article you mention, which does not include any reference to Shell. That must have been a tongue-in-cheek comment about a lack of negative material bearing in mind current articles e.g. the $10 BILLION Motiva debacle. Due to IT incompatibility I am currently manually importing over 7,000 articles from an earlier incarnation of this website. Will be doing so on a daily basis until end of April 2013. Currently transferring articles that appeared on 29 June 2004 and 29 June 2005. Consequently many articles covering the relevant Shell AGM’s held at that time each year, the 2004 AGM dealing with the reserves scandal and the 2005 AGM, the unification arising from the scandal. Almost all articles negative about Shell. Sometimes give into temptation to feature some of the juicy ones in current news. Now that I know it upsets you, the temptation will be even greater.
Re: Motiva Refinery Debacle – Unbelievable. Lock-out, Tag-out, the most basic safety rule, strikes again. The same thing that blew-up Piper Alpha. Caustic – the same thing that blew up Norco. Unbelievable. And Caustic doesn’t just pit stainless, it causes cracks in stress areas. They will have to use advanced ultrasound techniques on every millimeter of hundreds of miles of piping because a hidden crack will propagate and cause a failure days or years in the future. Might as well melt it all down and start over.
Let me comment on the Niger Delta’s Environmental Problems and gas flaring in general. If half of the bile directed at the oil majors had instead been directed at the Alams, OBJs, Odilis, etc, perhaps the people of the Delta would have had a little breather from the perpetual flames of the gas flares. Instead, they continue screaming their guts out at Shell, Chevron, etc, when in fact it is the responsibility of the State (FG) to improve infrastructure in their poverty-stricken region, to enforce tight environmental regulations, etc. I believe the oil companies are doing exactly what other multinational companies anywhere would do – taking advantage of lax laws in a region with some of the poorest black Africans anywhere. What profit-generating company would not do the same. These are, afterall, the most nameless, faceless, voiceless people in a voiceless country. And as long as the people of the Delta continue turning out in the millions to welcome Alams, Odili, etc from prison or the drag-ball (in the case of Alams), it’s business as usual.It is not Shell’s responsibility to build houses, hospitals, roads, or to guarantee the quality of air in the oil producing regions. Indeed, it is not their responsibility to put an end to gas flaring by building gas pipelines into a country that essentially has no industrial capacity, particularly when a substantial chunk of Nigeria’s money-generating industry is faraway in Lagos. The FG is responsible for enforcing these laws, and even here in the US, when (in the early 1970s) it became clear that lead (in leaded fuels) was bad for three-way catalysts that removed unburned hydrocarbons and also could get into drinking water, the Feds enforced the laws – they did not wait around for ExxonMobil and oil companies to change their stance on leading petrol. That’s a Government. Nigeria hasn’t got one.And as for the people of the Delta, they can keep screaming their guts out. They’d better get used to the death, destruction and oppression they’ve been saddled with for the past 50 years. There’s plenty more where that came from, and as long as the world has its insatiable thirst for oil, it’s coming!
#422Screwed in Port Arthur on Jun 16th, 2012 at 23:40
Well, for Motiva, CEP isn’t woth $12B if the crude unit can’t run. It was filled up with caustic and caustic washed the whole unit. There are thousands of feet of pipe that have to be replaced. The fire started due to leaking pipe. What a mess. So ironic to see Uncle Tom Purves talking about us getting rates up to planned levels as we are bringing the unit down. This unit was the worst part of the whole project. I guess we will get to see Jeff Funkhouser come over to “help” the new leadership team. Tom won’t since he got the hell out. Needless to say we won’t be starting this unit up anytime soon. We got it up in time for the senior execs to get off the clock and then back down to rebuild the unit. Geez…..
Is anyone surprised with the current issues with the new crude unit at Port Arthur. Word has it that: 1) the problems are much more severe than being reported, and 2) this is just “the tip of the iceberg”. Some wonder if the new $13 billion worth of units will ever start-up
Dear Susa,
I completely agree with you in your presentation about the involvement or complicity of the Nigerian government in the $hell’s crimes against Ogoni and Niger delta. I have, of course, repeatedly mentioned this involvement or slick, killer alliance. My current campaign focusing on Nigeria and not $hell alone speaks to this effect. In short, I have a protest coming up at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC, Wednesday, June 13, at 10am. This is to let the embassy know what Ogonis and their friends in the US know about the role of government in the crimes against our people and the degradation of our environment. We shall be sending a message to the government in Nigeria through the Ambassador.
Meanwhile, it is instructive to note that most of government’s behavior in Nigeria as they relate to oil and the people are influenced by $hell, which evidence shows places its staff everywhere in government that is sensitive to its business so as to influence and manipulate decisions, laws or rules and regulations affecting her interests. One example is the current petroleum minister, Alison Madueke, who is reported to have been trained in school by $hell. The joint venture between government and $hell makes matters worse. In nutshell, both government and $hell are responsible for the predicaments of Ogoni and so are liable, thus must be held accountable. Nigerian government is one of such baby or kitchen governments in the world, which allows corporations to dictate the lives of their own people. This government is not worth calling a government, but shame and sham-a corrupt ,deadly and ever incompetent entity.
While I believe SHELL should be held responsible for ruining countless Ogoni people’s life and degrading the environment in the Ogony land, I believe the SO CORRUPTED Nigerian Government must be held accountable as well. It is sad that all of these slaughtering and complice to corruption have been ongoing for more than 5 decades and the world is just now learning about it. Ben, I command your courage and determination in getting the word out, and shedding some lights into SHELL’S practice in Nigeria. Practices that are unacceptable, shameful, and for which it is totally fair for you, Ogony people,to seek justice for. But, just for your information, SHELL wasn’t the first, nor the last that have taken advantage of AFRICAN people’s wealth,and contibuted to degrading the environment carelessly in Africa. ELF oil has done the same thing in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the past, and got away with it, leaving those Congolese in the poorest health conditions. It is only fair to seek for justice and I wish the Ogony people Good luck.
#426Relieved in Port Arthur on Jun 2nd, 2012 at 14:36
Well, finally…. not the announcement that we all wanted to see, but good enough for us. Tom Purves…GOOD RIDDANCE. He is going to Upstream as an Operations Excellence VP. What a fall for this guy!!! We had hoped it would be a retirement notice. He now can slither off down I-10 and go ACT like he is adding value to Shell’s Upstream. This gets him finally out of Motiva and out of Port Arthur. Tom, your legacy is a joke. You leave us nothing. This project ended up being overspent( $12B, not $10B as Shell says in the media) and 2 years past due. Tom, you ruined many people’s good careers in this march to the top of Mount Purves Ego. I hope you look in the mirror and see the real Purves one day and can live with what you have done. Good riddance. You are a non event and that is how you will go out. Buried in Shell with a nothing job…. But, you were actually good at doing this your whole career so it will work out fine. To see you being operations excellence VP over projects is a joke but typical Shell. Do us all one last favor and take Funkhouser with you. We all know where he will go if you do…. We also know where he will go if you don’t.
With respect to the WSJ (one of Rupert Murdoch’s stable of unimpeachable “journals”) article on the strike in PDO one glaring error stands out. PDO is 60% owned by the Government of the Sultanate of Oman. Shell’s share is 30%. Shell discharges a role of technical adviser and seconds a (diminishing) number of staff to the company which is directed by a 12 man board, seven members of which represent the government. The Chairman is the Minister of Oil & Gas, someone who does not shrink from a leadership role. This picture does not fit with the statement “Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSA) – led Petroleum Development Oman.
#428Golden Triangle Watchman on Jun 1st, 2012 at 02:58
Motiva CEO and Saudi Aramco states that cost for the expansion are in the range of $10B…… give or take $2B. This sounds like the rubbish that Purves keeps feeding these goons. Purves, you looked old today…. Go home and cash in your worthless Shell stock. Enjoy your tea!!!
“Londonlad,” well you dodged my question about your name like $hell will dodge every genuine attempt by Ogoni to ask for respect and that it adhere to its own business philosophy of honesty, integrity…
Be informed, and you may have known by now that Ogonis are victims of $hell business.
The company has made billions of dollars like the Nigerian government. Or do you forget that the government do not know the actual number of barrels of oil $hell extract daily; that $hell just give what it pleases?
Finally, Ogonis are not interested in getting anything from $hell rather, we are rightfully seeking justice for the harm the company has done us. It is factual that $hell collaborated to kill Ogonis and poisoned, degrade our environment. It was at $hell’s behest that Ken Saro-Wiwa was murdered-the facts are there; Abacha was only used by $hell to achieve that. The company thought once Saro-Wiwa was out of the way it can rest from Saro-Wiwa’s campaign that exposes the degradation, which UNEP report confirms and other abuses (human rights violations) caused by $hell. The company’s spy network and deadliness, even lies and other corrupt practices are not synonymous with Ogoni situation alone. Records are revealing the company exhibit similar attitude everywhere except its home-countries of Britain or UK and Netherlands, other states of Europe and America.
Interestingly, the Ogoni struggle is just and so will succeed in exposing $hell, demanding justice and adequate compensation. Where there is a crime there is remedy, and where there is law there should be justice. All Ogoni seek is justice and not an extraneous wealth we do not deserve.
#430GoldenTriangle Watchman on May 31st, 2012 at 12:23
Re Motiva Port Arthur, I hope people don’t believe the propaganda that the CEP project created 300 permanent jobs. It did create some new jobs, not close to 300. It also doesn’t account for the many jobs that were lost. The only way this project pays off is if Port Arthur brings on the additional capacity with the same basic fixed costs that the facility had prior to the project. There are 2 jobs that the project does need to eliminate, Tom Purves and Jeff Funkhouser. That may help pay for some of the overage of the project costs. I’m sure we will never hear the true costs of the project. Clearly over $12B.
As regular visitors will be aware, it is not our practice to censor postings on this blog. Unfortunately we have received a posting from “Esther” which we will not publish because it contains threats of violence.
To “Ben Ikari” – I think I understand your rant, however, as ever with Nigerians the attempt is to blame everyone else but themselves. The approach is almost always of attacking the foreign companies and at the same time attempt to extract as much money as possible from them via the courts. The Ogoni’s often appear to be no different in this respect. The undeniable problem with the Ogoni’s AND other tribes in the Delta region is YOUR OWN GOVERNMENT. They have denied you a proper education, decent housing, basic medical care etc. etc. Above all they have taken billions of US$ out of the country that should have been invested in the place. Foreign companies (particularly Shell) have invested and given billions of US$ into the Delta region – no doubt some of that has also been siphoned off by corrupt Nigerian officials. I have said most of these points before to you and others, it seems like we’ll have to agree to disagree. I do agree that the killing of Saro-Wiwa was an awful and unacceptable crime. The perpetrator of this however was your very own Sani Abacha not Shell. Again it’s a case of blame everyone else rather than your own ex-dictator.
To Donovan – I hardly think my comments are defamatory, more like honest. I have to say I liked your response of “sometimes totally unfounded” – so sometimes I am right then Some of your articles with the added tabloid headers clearly show you do not always want to merely challenge/object to Shell’s activities but would rather attack them at every opportunity for every alleged misdemeanour. Shell does a great deal of excellent community work around the world, particularly in places like Nigeria, but like every organization run by human beings is prone to mistakes and errors. As to me using a pseudonym this is what any website with a blog element should expect, including yourself, so tough-luck with that. I have to say however that in this respect well done to you for posting comments. REPLY BY JOHN: The truth is that you don’t always get it right and neither do I. This is the reason why despite the bluster on both sides, I have always appreciated you putting time into offering criticism and balance. The same applies to USCitizen. Your views, particularly on Shell in Nigeria, are strikingly similar to a person who posted here for many years under the name of MUSAINT before declaring he would no longer visit the site because he objected to the focus on Shell’s connection with the Nazis. COMMENT BY “OUTSPOKEN” (A FORMER SHELL EMPLOYEE): Hey London Lad:
You need to read your articles more carefully. There is nothing the royaldutchshellplc.com article about William Hague that is not already in the public domain. And my goodness, but you truly have a mean streak in you. Where do you find the time and emotional energy for all of this? Me thinks you need to get some sort of private life. Have you considered consulting a ‘pshrink’ about your irrational anger toward someone you have never met? Maybe an anger management course is in order here. Might help you a great deal. However, I think you don’t really exist and are simply a fake spokesperson for RDS’s propoganda organ.
Mr “londonlad,are you really a londonlad? Candidly, is this your real name? If no, why can’t you unmask? If yes, proof by an affidavit. Meanwhile, Donovan is right to state that William Hague is trying to help $hell, which looks like your precursor get away with murder. The rogue and deadly company will not escape justice even after the US Supreme Court. If in doubt or think Donovan is wrong and should or could be sued, start by presenting an alternative fact to wit Hague is innocent and not a former $hell’s employee. How I wish you were Ogoni to see and feel how our shoes hurt, and the many lifeless bodies Ogoni has dug to mother earth due $hell’s recklessness and racism. You are not Ogoni and will not be, so will not understand despite the fact that the same blood that run through oppressed Ogonis run through you and your people, wherever you may come from. Ogoni deaths orchestrated by $hell and now backed by the British government is beyond politics and so stop attempting politics with it. You will not be happy watching your people and their environment die because of the recklessness of Ogoni, if there was any.
Hope you get sued Donovan for that stupid and outrageous add on comment about William Hague trying to help Shell get away with murder. Once again it shows you to be someone who has a severe chip on your shoulder over Shell allegedly screwing you in the past. Next move for you is the nut house I think!! REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN: That’s the difference between me and you. I make a statement in my name and the parties at whom my statement is directed are free to sue me for libel if they contend that what I have stated is untrue. You make frequent defamatory comments about me, sometimes totally unfounded as per your previous posting, but always hide behind an alias so that you cannot be held responsible. And when you are dead wrong, as you were last time, you don’t even have the grace to apologize. The Sunday Times did not mention that William Hague is a former employee of Shell. I believe that information is salient. I have no fear whatsoever of being sued for libel by Hague or Shell. The UK and Dutch governments have gone to a lot of trouble in the hope of preventing these matters (Shell’s crimes in Nigeria) being aired in open court, so the prospect of Shell or Hague taking any action that would result in that actually happening is ZERO.
This is amazing. This story is getting exactly zero coverage in the mainstream press of the United States. While I am not exactly surprised it is just one more incidence of keeping Americans ignorant of the true nature of the oil world. Thanks for your efforts to inform and educate. All the best. (ASSUME THIS COMMENT BY SAMOU RELATES TO THE SHELL TOX STORY)
Executive pay. Dear Anon, I happen to have been around when Linda Cook was the token woman in Shell. Let me tell you one more time: she did NOT make any clever decisions. She behaved like a czarina. Her meetings were something to be seen, she had more testosterone and hate in herself than most other male directors. Her presentations where completely pre-cooked. Never seen so many yellow stickers on the plastic viewgraphs. She did all the management things that she read in a management book: walking up and down in front of the audience. Smiling all the time. Not wanting to be interrupted with questions since this would disturb the flow. And every question was answered with ‘ that is a very good question but unfortunately I cannot answer it now since I did not read the plan (or some other lame excuse). And when she got stuck, up popped Lew Watts or another slave of hers and answered it eloquently. And then the time was up and she had to leave. Busy, busy, busy. I would not be surprised if she shagged Phil Watts, they were never more than a few meters apart and adored each other.
I asked many americans who knew her career in the US what was so special. There has been zero response, they simply did not know. She did make a promise (which was broken of course) that exploration costs would remain low forever and EP would grow forever. This is what Phil Watts (sorry, SIR Philip) wanted to hear.
She was simply a social climber, making full use of the fact that Shell wanted some token women. All clever work was done by others, she just did not have the brain to do it. And nice projects you mention, both came in 4-6x the projected cost and are only saved by the high oilprice…..
Good riddance of her, bonus for the guys who decided she had to go.
Marvin Odum has consistently had one of the worst safety records in Shell. How does he continue to get by ? Firing your Health, Safety and Environment Managers does not fix the safety culture, nor does “making a scene” when folks do not use handrails on the way to the cafeteria. Good safety practices should be followed EVERYWHERE !
The oil companies are right to flare off gas – it’s very cheap to do so. Apparently because it’s cheap makes it right for them to right? A dictator was right to commit mass murder and plunder the economy because it was easy for him to? (I will resist all temptations to name you appropriately for making such a nonsensical argument). I find your line of reasoning absurd: The people of the Niger delta asked for it by welcoming Alamaesigha in their number? What has that got to do with anything? I agree that the people of the Niger Delta are responsible mostly for what is going on now. The major misfortune of the Niger Delta is the failure of its present leaders and those of it’s recent past. Here are some things to consider: They were conveniently ignored during the decades of Scholarships Abroad from FG (believe me, there were a multitude of school cert holders who were willing but who had to make do with little jobs in Lagos). The culture of Looking out for your tribal brother didn’t help the idea of federalism. What I am trying to say is that the level of illiteracy in the Niger delta hasn’t been entirely without cause. Try to think Here is really the question I want to ask: Is it the responsibility of the Niger Delta citizens to negotiate with oil companies issues about pollution, environmental regulations? Does the government not owe that duty of care? Isn’t it the government’s duty to insist on cleaner technology? If the Niger delta is expected to take care of itself in this sense, shouldn’t it as well be self governing? I know fully well that The Federal Government will rather have the oil companies pay the fat penalty for not meeting up to standard, which also is cheaper for the company which would rather not invest in costly cleaner technology. Lastly: There are no affirmation actions or free rides to Federal universities for people of the Niger delta. No such things exist. Scholarships are being claimed and used. And the universities there are flooded with students, as badly maintained as they may be.I wish we had time for facts, numbers, so we are more empirical instead of all the unnecessary emotion. I am not denying the senselessness of the Niger delta politician (thieves all of them). Or that illiteracy is rife and poverty too. Nice breeding ground for crime, gangs etc. Niger delta people need to get off their lazy asses and stop crying victim. Yar’adua needs to know what he is doing. And you need to try to understand first. We all the need to ask the right questions before we can get right answers. Else we all end up with wayward results. Plus Ken Saro-Wiwa was something of a literary giant and intellectual. Many young people of the Niger Delta will join that list. You watch and see.
i want to thank everyone of you who has been iettresend in this our struggle with shell.i want to say it here that we are not only demanding these that is already on the news but i want to personally see that shell nigeria and international is brought to an international court to bring shell to justice and make them pay for the destruction of our ecosystem.gas flaring,Oil spills and every other environment pollution due to their oil exploration and exploitation we need help and all the links to take shell to court especial a court in the USA..as shell has been made to pay the ogonis so i did want shell to pay us .your support and links will help us to take shell to court in a foreign..shell dont obey court rulings in nigeria this is why we desire to have them prosecuted in a court in the US if you are willing to help us in this please feel free to contact me.PASTOR RANAMI AFAGHA.EMAIL:pastorranami@aol.com PHONE: +2348083743386, +2347061127571.THANKS
It is totally uelvbienable that a world highly respected organisation such as the UNEP could collude with Shell and the Nigerian government to condemn the natural owners of the resources that has sustained the country for over 50 years. I think that Mr Mike Cowing should re-examine his position rather than planning to take more money from Shell and the Nigerian government to do the remediation work. The UNEP claim with destroy stakeholder trust instead of building good relationship with the communities that has been persecuted for their resources. The Ogoni people are calling on the international community and all people of goodwill to come to their aid to stop their being stigmatised as polluters of their own environment. Oil operation started in the Ogoni area in about 1956 and the campaign that Mr Ken Saro-Wiwa wages against oil pollution could not have been caused by Ogoni people. the so-called oil bunkering started only about 5 years ago and every investigation carried out by Ogonis and the authorities have revealed that these bunkerings are supported by the same cabal who have always being in-charge of spending or mis-managing the national resources.
I doubt the letter is genuine. The excerpts that were published makes it sound as though it was written by an activist group. Shell employs thousands of people in Nigeria, and it is unlikely that the only people who know the truths as to what Shell is doing in Nigeria are a few activist groups, Shell’s brutal management elite, and nobody else.
So the title of this somewhat misleading article (“Shell admits funding Niger Delta warlords”) was NOT made by you but by Ben Amunwa? REPLY BY JOHN: The headline came with the article. It was not made by me. Just click on “SOURCE”.
“Shell admits funding Niger Delta warlords” – yet again this is tabloid titillation Donovan and not what Sunmonu said!! All he states (in your reprinted article) is prefaced by “could have”. Yet again an expansion of the facts to suit the objective of this website. As an add on Donovan, I am sure you (and probably a large percentage of the UK population) have inadvertently contributed in some way to causes that are illegal, dodgy or unliked. By using the word “could have” the person is being honest and realistic. Your reporting at times with these tabloid add-ons is not honest. REPLY BY JOHN: You see to be getting over-excited again. I am not the author of the article in question. I have not changed a single word of what the author stated. I have not added a single word to the article. Only a link to a related article. The author is careful in what he has stated and provided links to a video containing what he describes as an “admission”. Visitors are able to watch the video and draw their own conclusions.
#445an observer of Shell on May 4th, 2012 at 16:52
On the IT reorganisation of 2004. It would be nice to hear from some insider whether the huge IT reorganisation (or was it change for the sake of change) in 2004 and beyond has achieved what it set out to do and if not, what lessons were learned? I have the suspicion that it all turned out much more costly and did not achieve its objectives. It did create a lot of pain with the IT staff involved and the benefits for the business were not too clear. I seem to remember there was a lot of management speak and the leading lights of that day presumably have looked after themselves and moved on, leaving a mess behind.
Nice John, just another attack – you stick your neck out the way you do and people will respond. Do you see us running a hate Donovan website ??- we certainly have enough reason and material too, but we do not. Enjoy your hatefull life, I can not imagine letting unjustified hate run my life. REPLY BY JOHN: Glad to see that you are still paying attention. If you set up a Hate Donovan website will it be presented in your own name, so that you take legal responsibly for what you publish, as I do, or will you still hide behind an alias? For the record, I don’t hate anyone or any company. I am simply campaigning for Royal Dutch Shell executives to act at all times in accordance with Shell General Business Principles which include the claimed core principles of honesty, integrity, openness and respect for people in all of Shell’s dealings. This is surely not an unreasonable ambition given that the principles were devised by Shell, are promoted by Shell and are supposedly current and binding on all Shell operations everywhere. In other words, we are only asking Shell executives to do what they already claim to be doing. The SGBP is being used as a PR tool to promote undeserved confidence in the scruples and honesty of Shell senior management. For example, the SGBP featured in the Form 20F Declarations filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission thereby generating confidence in the proven reserves volumes which had been inflated i.e. were false.
While Shell execs continue to make pledges of ethical trading which they flout, we will continue our humble efforts to expose their hypocrisy.
Hmmm. Seems like Donovan has accepted defeat and now doesn’t want me to make any further comments on this biased site. Heh ho his loss. REPLY BY JOHN: Visitors can read my responses to your recent postings and decide for themselves if I have conceded defeat as you claim. I have told you before that your postings are welcome because they provide some balance. The same applies to USCitizen, the other unofficial spokesperson for Shell. If you choose to make a personal attack on me, then I will point out that it is a cowardly act on your part when hiding behind an alias. Something I have never done. You said that I had tried to stick the murder of Neil Heywood onto Shell. That allegation was completely false and you are self-evidently not enough of a gentleman to withdraw the allegation. As to this site being biased, it certainly is towards pressing Shell management to act at all times in accordance with Shell’s own Statement of General Principles, pledging honesty, integrity, transparency ect in all of Shell’s dealings. If Shell management had done so, it would not have been responsible for so many scandals, including the reserves securities fraud when Shell was found guilty of market abuse and received massive fines from the US Securities & Exchange Commission and the UK Financial Services Authority.
Not hysterical or a troll just sometimes fed up with the tabloid “reporting” you make with innuendos, titilation and insertions with the word “Shell” highlighted to try and make the reader believe Shell are full-on involved. Why do people that disagree with such reporting have to be trolls? Seems that most of the hysteria on this site is generated by its owner!! REPLY BY JOHN: You make personal comments about me hiding behind an alias. Comments that you do not have the courage to make under your real name. With regards to this particular story involving corruption, I have never accused Shell of being implicated in the murder of Neil Heywood. I have had an acrimonious relationship with Shell for nearly two decades and have seen the dark side of the company. I do not believe that the current (or any recent) Shell management would have anything to do with murder. Shell does however have a track record of getting involved in corruption in host countries e.g. paying a $48m fine for corruption in Nigeria. Also sponsorship of sex, drugs, gifts fueled corruption of USA regulatory authority employees. It has a track record of close association with Hakluyt, the sometime employer of Neil Heywood. It has used Hakluyt for undercover operations on an International basis. Shell is still a client of Hakluyt. Shell’s global head of security returned to Hakluyt not long ago. Shell also has a track record of infiltrating agents into the governments of host countries e.g. Nigeria. Shell has done business with the China National Petroleum Corporation, which until this scandal broke, was under the control/influence of the faction mired in the corruption scandal. It seems likely therefore that it has done business with the faction accused of corruption. It does seem reasonable, given Shell’s track record of getting involved in intrigue and corruption in host counties to put the questions I have to Shell about any possible connection with the unfolding events in China. Remember Shell preaches openness, but for some reason is tight-lipped on this subject. Why? One final comment to LondonLad. You knew full-well that your comments would generate further focus on this “tabloid” story. My guess is that Shell management would prefer for you to refrain from comment on this subject.
Why don’t you start writing a new series for the X-Files for TV Donovan? With your ability at trying to stick all sorts of crime on Shell (e.g. the murder in China of Neil Heywood) fiction seems just right for you!! REPLY BY JOHN: LondonLad, you seem to be turning into a hysterical troll, making nasty comments and an outright false allegation all directed at me personally while hiding behind an alias. Please point out where I have alleged that Shell is implicated in the apparent murder of Neil Heywood? I put legitimate questions to Shell based on the background facts, as stated in the articles I published. If Shell had replied to my first email giving a categorical denial of any connection with Heywood/Hakluyt in relation to Shell’s activities/plans in China, that would have been an immediate end to the matter as far as I am concerned. I have no idea why Shell has treated this as a taboo subject instead of responding as it has many times in the past and did so on two other matters I raised in correspondence at about the same time, replying on one occasion when no response had been requested. One final important point: Shell’s name had already been brought into this matter by the news media before I published my first article.
motivawatcher: You’re absolutely right, the Motiva guys and gals that got the big fat bonuses were the happy bunch, especially those who were secretly approached by their manager and asked would they accept a severance package if one was offered before it officially came out. The severance program was not suppose to be a volunteer program, but some managers conveniently rated some people low or redundant so they could receive a severance package. This information was leaked out by several of the folks that received a severance package.
Motivawatcher, I recently read on this website about the employee at Motiva Port Arthur who has a pending lawsuit against Motiva Port Arthur for age discrimination. I
Oldwhitemale,
Actually spoke to this person last week about the lawsuit. Motiva tried to get it thrown out but they were not that lucky. A trial date has been set by the court for sometimes at the end of the year, and he is not backing down. From what he was telling me the company does not have a leg to stand on. Joey D did so many crooked things that I would not be surprised if more lawsuits start appearing.
#457Someone tired from lies on Mar 23rd, 2012 at 08:20
To Outsider: these eco-activists are not the public opinion, they try to influence the public opinion to their side. That is exactly what happened with Brent Spar – if Greenpeace would have gotten their facts right and understood upfront that the proposed solution was the best one for the environment overall, they would not have created a fuss and Shell would not have been in the horrible situation they were in… The eco-activists, but also all other types of such movements (anti-globalists etc.) sell 1 product – fear & distrust. And if a couple of truths have to be killed to achieve this, then that is “just” collateral damage. I do not say that Shell or any other large corporation is better than this, but what insults my brain is that these eco-warriors claim the moral high ground while in reality they are at best just the same as the corporations…
I agree that Carol Pierson needs to check her facts – for an environmentalist she seems remarkably ill informed. However, even if the environmental activists may not have all of their facts 100% correct, they are no less guilty of spinning the news and holding politicians to ransom than Shell. Shell may have been right about Brent Spar from a purely technical/economic perspective, but they were horribly wrong in their assessment of the public’s reaction to the idea of simply dumping the platform in mid Atlantic. The environmentalists knew exactly what they were doing, and in contrast to Shell were completely in tune with public sentiment.
#459Someone tired from lies on Mar 22nd, 2012 at 16:49
This latest article from Carol Pierson again clearly exposes how the treehugging community does not base its actions on facts nor does the effort to get a good understanding of them first… Some examples: 1) there are no penguins in the Artic, they only live on/close to Antarctica. 2) there was no Shell CEO named James Smith – if I recall correct there was someone with that name in Shell holding the position of UK Countrychair. 3). Shell is not suing anyone, as far as I understand they are asking the court for confirmation that due process was followed and that people/organisations that dispute have to come forward now and not at the last minute – of course the treehuggers are upset that they apparently are outsmarted and the legal system is used so they can’t abuse it… 4) reference is made to the Brent Spar case but nowhere is mentioned that Greenpeace in the end had to admit that the initial Shell-proposed solution was the best – technically and environmentally. but as was proven not from public opinion point of view.
I am not here to blindly defend Shell, although I work for the company in a technical position outside the USA. My post has nothing to do to defend whether or not Shell should be allowed to drill (I have my opinion on that one though), but to expose the sneaky way the treehugging community is waging their war (they call it relentless activism..). Even during my student days several years ago I got upset with this way of influencing the public opinion with lies/cheats/half-truths by the treehugging community. I was active in one for some years in my highschool time and I can tell that they are just a business as Shell is. They don’t do it for the betterment of all, as they claim constantly, but just to proof their existence and ability to keep themselves employed with salaries paid from the donations they get… Michael Crichton wrote a book about this “business” – he is not far from the truth how he portrays.
#460golden triangle watchman on Mar 22nd, 2012 at 12:02
If anyone is counting, power outage #3 in the past few weeks happened again for the motiva port arthur facility. Tom, why aren’t you adressing this? or are you too busy with getting feed in to the new refinery so you can get off the clock? It’s a shame that we are starting this new refinery up with a flat tire. Hilton, are you counting how many times we are in the flare?
“You self-evidently decided against commenting and have only done so now after being cornered. If you have done nothing wrong, why not reveal your identity so that your admitted track record of accepting valuable gifts from vendors can be investigated?”
I had not seen it, correct. I am flattered that you used my comments. I did not comment because there is nothing to comment on, my orginal posts speak for themeselves. Do not have any energy to debate with someone who does not listen and use rational thoughts. You are beyond hope with your blind bias.
PS – you just do not understand executive compenesation so, enough there, you are wrong, but can not see it. Later , done with this conversation #losingbattle
REPLY BY JOHN: As I said in the article, I believe you are sincere in your views about Shell Motiva managers accepting gifts from vendors. You do not, as I do, consider it to be a slippery slope. On the other subject, you are right in saying that I do not understand executive compensation. It is a mystery to me how some execs get away with colossal sums e.g. the reported $400 MILLION package for Lee Raymond on his retirement from ExxonMobil. He was not even a founder of a company, just an grotesquely overpaid employee.
Londonlad, Ogonis will not get justice in Nigeria or any other part of Africa. In short, such law as the ATS isn’t anywhere in Africa. In Nigeria, $hell controls everything that has to do with its interests. It will use its fiat to stop the case as it’s tried many times in USA. The govt is a conspirator, so will not allow the case proceed. So what’s wrong with using the law provided in USA, which foresaw such crimes as $hell’s? Also, be informed that Ogonis didn’t even know they’re going to sue $hell when they (we) arrived USA. When the ATS presented itself ten years ago (2002)we applied it. American lawyers helped and still helping us. Importantly, where there’s law there’s justice, so we are seeking it. Greed, as synonymous with the Nigerian state and $hell isn’t the foundation of our suit. Holding $hell accountable so corporation will change the way they do business in the so-called Third World, is the reason we’re in court. Yes, we didn’t sue $hell because we want money. Rather what we want and will always ask for is justice. Note also that Ogonis are far different from other Nigerians. On the one hand Ogonis are distinct in language,culture, landmass and territory. On another hand, we don’t have the luxury to extract or benefit from our oil and gas. So corruption, which isn’t synonymous with one group alone, but all peoples isn’t prevalent in Ogoni society. Also, Ogoni don’t have a state nor had the position of governor of Rivers State, where we are located (as our national location) not by treaty but by British colonial imposition because we’re forced into the Nigerian contraption. The few Ogoni politicians may have tasted corruption, but not without National/state government, party approval. In short, they’re caught up in the corrupt Nigeria system. Our fate in America is, however, different from other Nigerians, as Ogoni is, of course, different from other Nigerians.
Interested to read that Greenpeace (they who overestimated the Brent Spar oil volumes!!) have boarded a Shell contracted icebreaker in Helsinki. Wonder how they got there
Salary $2.06
Bonus $2.40
Other $5.27 mil
Stock Gains NA
Total Compensation $9.735 mil
Good lord John, how can you compare apples and oranges so badly. This does not include his long term stock options; Which Peters did.
Rex W Tillerson Ownership Of ExxonMobil
Industry Medians
Stock Owned (% Of Co) 0.03%
Stock Owned $129.1 mil This his total Stock ownership granted over several years. I did not see what each years breakdown was, but as you can see this is huge!! By the way it has gone up $70mm in two years, compare that!
Ps – Vosers base pay with bonuses and other compensation, not the long term stock grants comparable to Tillersons was 7.0 mm. Again – Apples to Apples is the Key john.
Ps – I just ignored your other posts – tickled pink that you exposed your self trying to compare my posts to taking bribes, any sane person will read those and laugh at you!!
REPLY BY JOHN: The total compensation of Tillerson in 2011 was $9.73 mil. The total compensation of Voser in 2011 was $16.3 mil. Straight-forward comparison. With regards to corruption at Shell/Motiva, I provided links so that readers could see for themselves your defence of the vendor sponsored freebies/bribes and draw their own conclusions. Guessed that you had read the article, as you now confirm. You self-evidently decided against commenting and have only done so now after being cornered. If you have done nothing wrong, why not reveal your identity so that your admitted track record of accepting valuable gifts from vendors can be investigated?
Good lord folks – at least do some homework, what was the Exxon CEO paid, have a clue? Over 2.5 times what the Shell CEO was paid, and historically has been 5-8 times what the Shell CEO is paid. Is Exxon 2.5 times or 5-8 times bigger than Shell. I thought not. Do not hurt your brains coming up with the your reply. Shell CEO pay is not the one you want to use for excess complaints, many many worse examples out there. What do you think they should be paid wise ones?? RELY BY JOHN: Voser received substantially more for the last year ($15m package approx) than Rex Tillerson at $9.73m . Surprised we did not receive any comment from you in regard to the article: “Alleged bribery and corruption at Shell Motiva“?
Nothing to attack Shell with so we now have to revrt to articles from 11 years ago!! Jeez, even the tabloids seldom stoop to these sort of levels of “jounalism”. REPLY BY JOHN: The Reuters article published yesterday referred to the spying by Hakluyt on behalf of Shell and BP, which was the subject of The Sunday Times article. Flattered of course to be equated with journalism when we are mere bloggers.
There was an interesting article and a link to documents describing a race discrimination lawsuit by a Motiva Norco operator a couple of weeks ago on this site. I can’t seem to find it anymore. It stated that an operator was terminated for breaking one of the life saving rules at the Motiva Norco Coker Unit. He was terminated by his supervisor Joey D. It went on to say that two black operators had broken the same life saving rules some time later and were not terminated by Joey D. The operator that was terminated was a white male. I guarantee that this will never make it to trial. They will settle out of court with a gag order. REPLY BY JOHN: Have now found the article you are seeking: Motiva refinery worker files discrimination lawsuit
With Malcolm B retiring, Andy B coming..lets hope there is good changes coming.
By the way , What is there to handover?
To Malcolm- Happy Retirement!! write a book- see who are your friends after you retire. Save the trips , let the business do their work.
Cronies of Malcolmn – Watch out – you are next.
To Andy- show us you mean real business, you are not another Fade. Clean up HR and IT, reorganise new businesses and exploration..there is so much wastes and fuzzy accountability.
Well Ben, some very fine words indeed. However, I think you have missed my point. The US are international bully boys and their legal system is there to make money as much as it is to attempt justice
Londonlad, Great name indeed! Ok. If $hell had committed the egregious crimes it committed in collaboration with Nigerian govt (against Ogonis)in your country (where ever it is), would you prefer the company go unpunished? If yes, good for you, but the law of crime, especially when the culprit is visible and unrepentant like $hell doesn’t apply if in a yes case as could be your position. If no, then you’d be speaking to why Ogonis are using this American law that helped to reduce the speed with which such crimes occurs. Keeping the law will checkmate greedy and deadly corps such as $hell.
#471Golden Triangle Watchman on Mar 8th, 2012 at 12:01
As you can see, another power outage at Motiva Port Arthur. Going to really be interesting to watch this new albatross come up on rates and then have this 100 year old power supply keep shutting it down. Tom, why didn’t you fix the electrical system when you had the opportunity? Too busy counting your stock options I guess. Let Jeff do that for you and try to make a difference in your final days.
With Brinded now gone, might CIO Alan Matula now come under scrutiny ? The parallels are there: years of over-promise/under-delivery, aggressive suppression of bad news, and the intimidation of critics through behaviour bordering on the psychopathic. There’s little doubt that the cost of Matula’s vanity projects is playing a significant role on the demise of Downstream, where businesses like Retail make margin on cans of Coke. It’s sad to see DS businesses being divested, but at least one can share their sense of relief as they leave Shell and start divesting themselves of all this junk.
#474Golden Triangle Watchman on Mar 3rd, 2012 at 14:14
The article re Brinded and Nigeria on “why Shell can’t build a refinery in Nigeria” is comical. Though the justification is correct, the reality is Shell can’t build a refinery anywhere. Just look at our own Port Arthur project. Under Tom Purves’s leadership, this ill fated concept got hatched. Everyone was happy in the early days, taking Port Arthur back to the glory days. Alas, the cit leaders didn’t plan on Tom and the project team bringing global help in here via Bechtel to do the work and therefore not impact the locals nearly as much as what had been advertised. Now, some 2 years late on the commitment for start-up and a price tag that will ultimately grow to $14B, Shell might just as well say ” Forget Nigeria…we can’t build a refinery anywhere. ” Tom’s legacy goes down the toilet with this project. He would do well to retire and at least give our team half a chance to run it well.
By the way, for any that are watching…. Tom’s #2 boy, Forrest Lauher, aka Forrest Liar, resigned from Shell as Botts sent the anticipated note out yesterday. Forrest was in over his head from day 1 on this project, given to him by none other than Tom Purves. He lost control of the project and got removed back in 2009. Should have been fired. Instead he got saved and was placed in our plant manager seat. Again, couldn’t handle the top job and they pulled him last year. We can only wait for the notice on Tom’s #1 boy Funkhater and then ultimately Tom himself. 2012 is starting to be a great year!
John, the EU oil sanctions don’t take effect until July, so I guess that Shell are in full compliance with the letter, if not the spirit, of the sanctions. And Shell will no doubt continue to buy as much oil as they can until the very last minute… REPLY BY JOHN: The US embargo of Iranian oil announced in December will come into effect on 28 June. It may not be wise of Shell to upset President Obama by continuing to buy Iranian crude in the meantime bearing in mind Shell’s plans to drill in the Arctic Ocean. Iran is a very hot topic with Obama this weekend. Shell would be well advised to also bear in mind that given the overall circumstances, many will view its conduct as immoral. Shell is well aware of how bad it looks, hence its furtive conduct.
Good Riddance to Bully Boy Brinded! The biggest mierenneuker imaginable. A very nasty man, arrogant, conceited and a downright bully. Shell will do well without him. Stay off Network rail trains with Brinded on the Board!
#479an observer of Shell on Feb 22nd, 2012 at 16:58
It appears that Voser finally got fed up with Mr Overpromise/Underdelivery. Despite all the nice words about him, he is clearly kicked out. Plenty of sycophants around him are now fearing for their jobs and positioning themselves whom to kow-tow now.
This bearded fellow wasted his great brain on very small details and he was unable to delegate. I think his only real good project was the SLIM project. This was many moons ago and launched him to the top jobs. And there he failed as frequently and eloquently pointed out on the Donovan site.
Big brain, a micromanager on par with the pointy haired boss in Dilbert, a vicious and vindictive attitude to those that were of no use to him or that might talk back.
In summary: Good riddance and now the legal system of Scotland can go after him. But I doubt they will.
#480Golden Triangle Watchman on Feb 22nd, 2012 at 12:37
What goes around comes around…. The announcement of Brinded has long been anticipated. We now wait for the next much smaller announcement…. Tom Purves to retire….. This will make our day when that moment happens.
Shell never deals with the issue of bad leadership until it is too late and the havoc has been wreaked…. However, as we say in the US, Every dog has its day….. and today that was Malcolm.
So early retirement then after all that ……. REPLY BY JOHN D. You are still playing a point scoring game. You seem to forget that the avoidable deaths of Shell offshore workers on Brent Bravo is at the heart of this matter. The deaths occurred after a safety audit led by Bill Campbell exposed a shambolic, illegal and shameful safety regime on Brent Bravo. They occurred after Shell senior Expro management had promised Bill that Shell would bring an end to the “Touch F*** All” culture and the falsification of safety records. The explosion and record breaking fine provide proof that the promises were not kept. There is NO commercial aspect to this matter as far as Mr Campbell is concerned. He is driven solely by a fear of an even worse event due to the same policy by Shell of putting production and profits before the safety of offshore workers. Please give Bill some credit for his integrity and for his long campaign, which has rightly received cross-party support from many MP’s.
Agent provocateur indeed!! Never been called that before, and I am most certainly not in league with Shell in any way! I again reiterate my point : was Campbell fired or given early retirement from Shell and thereby lies his grudge or did he reach full retirement age in the company? An honest answer might convince many that his continuous aggressiveness against Shell is genuine or just an ongoing grudge. This is not a “slanging match” merely a point of clarification.
REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN:
Mr Campbell has made it clear that he does not wish to get into discussion with someone making insulting comments while hiding behind an alias. With regards to his comment that you may be an agent provocateur, perhaps he gained that impression from checking your history of postings. Just so there is no misunderstanding, we welcome contributors who provide a counter-balance to negative postings about Shell. I have provided some links to further information about the Brent Bravo scandal. Despite all of the promises by Shell senior management about safety, which including appointing a safety Czar, its track record remains atrocious. Years after the Brent Bravo debacle, it was revealed that the lifeboats for a Shell North Sea platform were not seaworthy. You could not make it up.
LondonLad: In many cases “Reaching Retirement age” in Shell simply means being unable to find a position outside Shell -nowadays the most competent people generally move on long before reaching retirement age and pursue a second career elsewhere.
To : an observer of Shell, you state “It is commonly known that a great many employees of Shell Expro are freemasons”. Where did you get this “fact” from – smoking whacky backy?? I doubt very much that a great many are indeed freemasons. Even if they are (wich I seriously doubt), so what? Let’s face it they are a society that provide one of the largest contributions to charities in the UK. I think you very clearly have an axe to grind against Shell. In that context why does Campbell have such a chip on his shoulder over Shell? Was he sacked for some reason? Did he actually reach his retirement age in Shell? Would be nice to know so that we can believe more that his rants are genuine problems he has with Shell rather than caused by some hidden grudge.
GTW, I know you are right, TP and others will get their due. What is painful is that those whose lives have been changed and whose spirits have been destroyed because of his actions, will not be compensated. Tom is not the only one taking credit for this new cruel process of forced ranking, by claiming credit for what market demand has meant for profits. There are promotions taking place right now because credit is claimed by those executing Tom’s plan for performance ‘refirings’. I worked in manufacturing sites where management and performance was a joke, and profits were above forecast. It’s always been market demand and the hard work of the folks on the ground that make manufacturing successful, Tom is not a pioneer in taking undue credit for local successes, but he has certainly been the cruelest!
#486an observer of Shell on Feb 14th, 2012 at 22:23
I have no proof nor will I ever find that proof, but this reprehensible conduct of the legal authorities smells to high heaven of masonic lodges. It is commonly known that a great many employees of Shell Expro are freemasons. The police forces all over the world are well presented in the various lodges. I would not be surprised if Brinded himself is a member.
Bill Campbell is a very courageous man taking on these evil forces. We in Shell all knew him to be a completely honest and competent Maintenance manager and HSE auditor. But he loses against all the parasites and sycophants whose sole job is to protect the directors. And then live well on the spoils of their abhorrent activities.
Top marks for the Donovans who keep this festering sore in the spotlight. To some it maybe a lot of repeating old stories, but those that want to hide and bury their bad actions know that time is on their side. And Shell has deep pockets and knows how to procrastinate.
#487GoldenTriangle Watchman on Feb 14th, 2012 at 11:03
John, there is no issue with my post. This is the same GTW that has been providing updates for some time on the ill fated project CEP and the ill fated Tom Purves, both of which should be going fading into the background this year as old worn out news.
#488Goldentriangle Watchman on Feb 13th, 2012 at 09:21
I retract my previous statement. COMMENT BY JOHN DONOVAN: WE HAVE REASON TO SUSPECT THAT THIS POSTING IS NOT IN FACT FROM THE PARTY WHO USES THE ALIAS “GOLDENTRIANGLE WATCHMAN ON THIS BLOG, BUT IS FROM AN IMPOSTER.
#489GoldenTriangle Watchman on Feb 8th, 2012 at 12:12
With all of this money spent on the CEP expansion, it has been built on an old electrical infrastructure. I guess no one is counting how many times you read about a “short” electrical outage at the plant. Tom Purves and the Motiva leadership know exactly why this is happening and how to fix it. They don’t want to pay for it. They have been given the project and have turned it down at least twice. Meanwhile, we just keep having outages. Going ot be interesting when both refineries come down in the future.
LondonLad: the lack of stories concerning Shell should be welcomed, if it implies that Shell are cleaning up their act, perhaps due in part to the efforts of the Donovans.
US Observer, surely almost all (NOT all)contributors to this website have an axe to grind against Shell, particularly those who have a perception that they have been screwed by Shell in times gone by. As for Itchy Woman, she clearly has a femanistic / burn-the-bra approach to work in Shell. AND I would like to add that once again an old old article (from someone who has an axe to grind against Shell) has to be republished due to lack of news against Shell (I refer to Briggs 2009 article). COMMENT BY JOHN D. Would it not be fairer to say that everyone posting on this blog, including you, has an axe to grind. It is easy enough to look back over your contributions and reach a conclusion.
It is easy to figure out who Witchy Woman is (LC). She has an “ax to grind” and is using this forum
#493an observer of Shell on Feb 4th, 2012 at 10:07
@uscitizen
Voser is a competent and amicable chap. You claim Shell has delivered on its deliverables. Let me tell you everyone delivers on their deliverable…. But joking apart, look at the promises over the years and how well Shell has delivered on these promises. Their trackrecord is not very good over the last 15 years or so. They are a good money making machine. And sofar they have delivered on their constant or increasing dividend payments. Sometimes by increasing their debt but they have done it. A nice high oilprice has helped, don’t you agree??
So my only observation was that his ‘promise’ to extend North Sea fields is quite opposite their activities in this area. And they have promised this before and done the opposite. It was a nice promise to build a new and expensive office in Aberdeen, more jobs for the UK and more activity and extending of production. Just check back what they have done.
And predicting future productionlevels by Shell in general and Brinded in particular is nothing but a sick joke.
This was not a personal attack now was it Witchy one??
#133 Witchy woman
on May 8th, 2011 at 1:42 pm
Marvin Odum who probably has the worst safety record in Shell goes for a diversity vote and someone who has no safety experience to replace the VP of safety he just fired. Clear message where his priorities lie.
Witchy Woman – you blase me for personal attacks???? That is so rich! I am defending people that are attacked if you had not noticed – and yes I do slam the folks who are throwing garbage out! Live with it!! Enjoy your retirement! Shell has a good retirement package in the US dont they??
I feel the value of your posts is also minimal, just a complainer. PS – here is where you bash Denise – remember – or do we need to question your integrity the way folks question Shell leaders??
Witchy woman
on Dec 7th, 2011 at 12:35 pm
In GOM we thought that hurricane season was done. Why is Hurricane Denise causing so much damage then? Like all Hurricanes though they move on the professionals are left to pick up the pieces.
According to the Independent article posted today the boss of Shell is telling us all not to get too emotional about fracking. Has he not seen the confirmation that fracking causes earthquakes? You have cited the Reuters article. There are others including coverage of a fracking earthquake in Blackpool England. I have to conclude that Voser is a fracking idiot.
Good morning John. I read this morning in Barrons that Lynn Elsenhans is now the ex-ceo of Sunoco. The public announcement by Sunoco, here,
lists her accomplishments as selling assets, shutting down plants and getting out of businesses.
US Citizen
Thank you for your unsolicited feedback. It was typically of zero value.
I think you need to learn how to read before commenting.
I don’t see any mention of Denise there, and as far as I am aware Deepwater would appoint the VP.
Typically you have it wrong again and incidentally the new appointment is great. If it was Denise, she did well.
Maybe its about time you left as you contribute little apart from personal attacks.
#501an observer of Shell on Feb 2nd, 2012 at 14:02
Is Voser now also being jinxed by the famous Brinded spell? This decent and down to earth Swiss financeman is trying to tell the world that Shell will increase production from North Sea fields by extending the life of these fields (Sky Sunrise interview). I am taking bets with some friends this will not happen. All observable actions by Shell is that they are retrenching from the North Sea. Voser emphasised that there will be a lot of job creation in the UK….. Now, where have we heard this before????
And he says (Bloomberg story):
‘Shell will increase production to about 4 million barrels of oil equivalent a day in 2017-2018. Last March, it said daily output would rise to 3.5 million barrels this year and 3.7 million barrels by 2014′.
Promises, promises, promises. This translates into bonuses and a bit later in ‘new insights’ or other factors that could not be foreseen. I give it to him he is not as audacious as Brinded who predicted 7-8 years ago that Shell would be doing close to 6 mln bbl/d around now.
I am not calling the man a liar. I would not dare to with his army of lawyers in Shell. But how should we call someone who ‘not speaketh the truth’?
Shall we keep it as ‘tarred with the same brush as Brinded?”
US Citizen, you are probably right. I expect it will be higher than the $10b I shared. Everyone over there knows that Motiva has had a spinfest on the information. Contractors have been told to shut up and not report the facts. That is what happens when the Tom Purves came back and took over. Everybody knows it. You are a suck up and everyone knows that too. I’m glad that you remain oblivious, even to the day that Shell reaches up and drops you over the cliff like they have done so many in the last several years. Shell….good people and crappy leadership. We all know it!
PS… Stay tuned for the Purves retirement announcement coming soon to a garbage can near you!!
To Witchy Woman – get off the Denise Rants. She is a very talented hard working woman of integrity. Not every HSSE position needs to be filled by HSSE career folks. In fact – folks with line experience, which she has, are in a very good place to lead HSSE organizations. I did and did just fine. You are just an unhappy person who is mad you or yours did not get that job, give it up and let the biased outsiders do their shell bashing, not shell people who are simply bitter at their lot and should realize how darn lucky they are. Or – please quit and become a shell outsider – might help us both out.
Having read that the former RBS-CEO, Fred Goodwin, has been stripped of his knighthood by UK authorities. Makes you wonder if and when Sir Phil Watts will stripped of his one. No doubt Phil’s selfish behaviour at the helm of Shell did more harm to the industry and private investors than Fred.
Are there cases where UK employment lawyers have won against shell? REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN: Don’t have knowledge of any such case, but I recommend you to a lawyer who has sued Shell many times on our behalf. Four High Court cases for IP theft and breach of contract. Two for libel. All settled by Shell with damages and all legal costs paid. The lawyer is Richard Woodman, a partner at Royds Solicitors, 65 Carter Lane London EC4V 5HF Tel: 020 7583 2222. Richard knows Shell well and all of the tricks of their legal department. Richard is head of Royds Employment Department and specialises in all aspects of employment law. He was recommended to me and turned out to be a great asset and kind friend in our years of successive legal battles with Shell. Thanks in great part to his dedication and expertise, we never lost a single case against Shell. Also had a great barrister team led by Geoffrey Cox MP QC, a courtroom orator who verbally bashed in open court a High Court judge who was blatantly biased in favour of Shell. Judge forgot to declare that his life long friend had Shell as a client. The judge also had an undeclared commercial connection with Tom Moody-Stuart, the barrister son of Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, the then Shell Chairman. By coincidence, or otherwise, the Judge shocked the legal world by unexpectedly resigning after we had made a formal complaint to the Lord Chancellor. The Judge joined the aforementioned friends company, which worked for Shell. Apologies for rambling on.
Old Timer – I am afraid that there clearly is very little news (i.e. aspects of Shell’s work) for the Donovan’s to rant on about recently. A great deal is re-printed as though it’s new but is merely old stories and anti-Shell propoganda that is old history. Yes, we learn from history but we don’t have to regurgitate it repeatedly. The lead story today linking Shell with Jewish skin lamp shades is really gutter press and totally deplorable nonsense from the Donovan’s. REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN: You are entitled to your view. Considerably more evidence is being accumulated as a result of many newspaper archives from Europe and the USA, and books as far back as the 1930?s, all being made available and searchable online. In a few months time, we will publish all of the additional evidence. Those who are interested will be free to read it. The evidence is overwhelming. It includes information and documents from Shell
Great stuff to re-post some historical events in Shell. It shows that your network has mostly been spot-on predicting what was wrong and what would happen.
It also shows how long a big company can continue on a substandard level and still do reasonably well. Could it be that a high oilprice has helped a bit?
I remember that evil Watts still very well. He has gone completely silent the last few years, exactly what can be expected of a small minded man. Presumably he is working his Japanese garden and repenting in his home church, trying to buy absolution and still hoping not to go to hell but instead a very long time in the purgatory…. I fear in vain!
It would be also be nice if you could dig out some old records in which the man with the facial hair (aka Mr TFA) has been promising increasing production levels and if I am not mistaken, he even projected more than 6 million bopd to be reached about now. But he never delivered and still is on seat!! He has been at it for some 15 yrs or more by now. In the past we learned faster in Shell but then there was less fear and more decent people at the top.
SHELL EXPECT US: REPLY TO WILLIAM TELL BY JOHN DONOVAN. We have exchanged email correspondence with you. As I believe I have pointed out to you previously, if you supply any Shell internal emails, we would insist on giving Shell sight of the emails before publication of the emails or any related information. It is our normal practice to give Shell the opportunity to comment on authenticity unless the information comes from a trusted source.
Well, well – if anyone wishes to get a flavour of what is possible in the wild west of Ireland I suggest you watch the wonderful John Michael 2011 film “The Guard” starring Brendan Gleeson. Anything & everything is possible out there.
Are we to understand that the violent conduct we witnessed on Irish newsreel shots from Corrib in Mayo were fueled by Shell supplied alcohol to Irish policemen …tell me no …innocent decent people protecting their homes
John saw your reply it all happend ok problem is the Hague is now in charge of the situation all Irish corrib staff have been silenced four people have been let go over their part any one who speaks or produces evidence will suffer big time the cops who got the booze are watching from the sideline also in silence hoping for a clean outcome . If it was all exposed the project be stopped that came from the horses mouth Shell .
I am ashamed by the conduct of Shell HR in the Anti Discrimination case. As a company we should honour these issues. The mentioned HR rep (Van Barlingen) in the article did much more damage to Shell’s reputation by her cold reply and non-action.
I truly hope that senior HR management will overrule this decision and decide in favour of Mr Gatti.
Mr Donovan are you aware that a one thousand euro reward is on offer in Mayo for the name of the supplier of large amounts of alcohol to local Garda on behalf of Roadbridge Shell. REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN: I have seen the various allegations and comments posted here, but no evidence. If anyone has any evidence to support these allegations, please sent it to me: john@shellnews.net
Corrib Project comments from G Hamilton not correct Roadbridge Shell main contractor supplied large amounts of booze to police protecting the project now the press have a hold of the story and panic has set in….oh what a tangled web we weave when first …etc ect
Roadbridge Shell main contractor supplied booze in large quantities to cops on the corrib frontline now cops in a panic because press have a sniff of it cops not pleased with Shell
In in response to George Hamilton, Shell Corrib have bigger problems than Gardai gifts. The lead project planners RPS have informed Shell that every land owner agreement they have could be deemed to be invalid because certain landowners got special disguised extra payments by way of cash, home improvements..etc… whilst the rest got the bare minimum for access to there land. The Irish Shell CEO is gone over this matter.
Shell Corrib Gas Project losing the much needed support of the local police force. By leaving them in a very embarrassing position over Illegal Christmas gifts. Heads are rolling Peter Voser CEO now involved – Shit is hitting fans everywhere
John D, Someone should tell Mr Wallach of Beaumont enterprises that the Motiva project has long surpassed the $7B dollar price tag. This project will come in north of $12b, 2 years late and is being tagged as one of Shell’s worst projects. The project would have been killed by both partners of Motiva but too much money had been sunk into the effort, notionally $4B, to walk away from it.
The Bonga spill obviously is unforgiveable. A relatively young facility should not leak oil. But the disaster as mentioned by many journalists will be minute. It is light oil and most will evaporate and disappear before hitting the beach.
In 1979 there was a spill of another magnitude: the bottom of tank 6 had dropped out in Forcados. There was 1 meter oil in the terminal and Bert Ockeloen, the General Operations Manager flew over it the next day and stated: I may lose my terminal so break the wall and flush it into the sea. We talk of 100,000 tonnes of Forcados crude. Fortunately it was in the middle of the rainy season, there were no spark arrestors on the export pumps and the oil was lapping at the base of these…. God took a kind eye on Forcados that day. After flushing the lot into the sea, it all disappeared within weeks. Not a trace to be seen. Some small money and fish was given to local villages. Only the channel used to move the oil to the sea remained polluted and was cleaned up many years later. It all was possible because there was a military government suppressing the press and life was good for Shell!
So, bad marks for spilling oil on Bonga but it is not the end of the world. Nigerian bacteria are very strong and will eat it all up!
I absolutely love your blog and find the majority of your post’s to be precisely what I’m looking for. Would you offer guest writers to write content in your case? I wouldn’t mind producing a post or elaborating on a lot of the subjects you write regarding here. Again, awesome web log! REPLY BY JOHN: All are welcome to submit articles for publication, relating to Shell, this website, its owners and related matters. Does not matter if the content is positive or negative. Any allegations must be substantiated with evidence. Links can be inserted. Please note that we will not allow the forum to be used for advertising purposes.
In GOM we thought that hurricane season was done. Why is Hurricane Denise causing so much damage then? Like all Hurricanes though they move on the professionals are left to pick up the pieces.
So Golden Triangle MAN – Lets assume Purves and Smallwood are as bad as you say and assume that the project execution was lacking – over budget and overschedule, one editorial comment for you – I assume you would have known how to pull off the most complex US refinery project in the last 50 years with better results – but you do not seem to grasp the magnitude and size.
Having said all that – you state – ” Because of the decisions of Motiva leadership, and Tom Purves in particular, this project could have done so much more for the city of Port Arthur. They decided not to.”
Decided not to what? How can any one debate that this Shell investment – late and overbudget, is a huge coup for Port Arthur in jobs and tax base?? How?? More permanent and contract jobs for years and years? What on earth are you doubting about that. Look in the mirror and realize your hatred for Purves is clouding your view on the long term big picture.
#530GoldenTriangle Watchman on Nov 30th, 2011 at 11:40
Fracking will be good for South Africa, especially since it will provide plenty of gas that will displace expensive imported gas. I have heard that there will be in excess of 2500 jobs from start up of the project, a vast majority of whom will be South Africans. All-in-all a good piece of business for the country despite all the negative press provided, in the main part, by ill-informed and people with political agendas.
Thanks John for sharing the Nigeria spills link with us. It brings back happy memories from the old days when I was involved in many of the wells that are now being sabotaged or are failing. From the photos it is clear we should thank Huub van Engelshoven who decreed that Shell would use solid block trees even on land. Normally these are used offshore but he knew way back to not rely on good maintenance and honest nigerians. Solid block trees are much more sturdy than composite trees. The extra costs must have paid off. But now there is a genuine mess for a whole host of reasons. Nigeria needs to sort itself out first methinks.
EXTRACT: OIL and gas players must toe the line if they want to secure a licence to operate from the government, the energy minister yesterday warned as he scored Brunei Shell Petroleum Sdn Bhd (BSP) amid allegations of irregularities in the tender process and for not fully contributing to local business development despite its long presence in the Sultanate.
In a speech at the Brunei Shell Vendor Forum, Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office (EDPMO) Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Mohd Yasmin Hj Umar urged oil and gas contractors to strictly observe the government’s policies on local business development, business integrity and safety. “They are essentially the ingredients for licence to operate,” he said.
EXTRACT: Energy minister voices gov’t displeasure over transparency issues at Shell vendor forum:
QUESTIONS on business integrity, transparency and checks against corruption in the relationship between Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) and contractors have surfaced…
“Sucking up” (as you put it) to potentially massive new emerging markets (e.g. China, India & Brazil) is exactly the way to go for any company. I am also sure that a great majority of Shell’s shareholders (myself included) want this to happen – why allow the likes of Exxon, BP etc. to do this and not Shell?
REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN: I am sure most will agree with you, but in the case of China, is it prudent to inject huge funds, as we are all doing, into a regime with an abysmal human rights record, which is vastly increasing its military power, including naval forces and its nuclear arsenal, and has acted recklessly in pursuit of its ambition for orbital weapons? I guess we are all hoping that the Chinese government and its aggressive military will decide that it would not be prudent to destroy its customer base, bearing in mind that almost all consumer goods these days seem to be manufactured in China. Wal-Mart is probably its best customer. Greatest respect and affection for the Chinese people, but its leaders are another matter. Remember Tiananmen Square. Remember Tibet. Is it morally correct to deal with governments who have no respect whatsoever for human rights?
#537Golden Triangle Watchman on Oct 28th, 2011 at 10:53
Verna leaving to go to Bechtecl would surprise me. She knows how bad Bechtecl is and have been on this project. The only reason Bechtecl is still around is due to the relationship between Riley Bechtel and the Saudis. I hear Funk will leave in the dead of night, which tells me Uncle Tom isn’t too far behind with his retirement. You can bet he will take care of his little boy. As for the article on timing, just like Shell….. Everyone knows that the project is 2 years late. They continue to push start-up dates into 2012. Everyone involved with the project knows it is a bust. I’m now hearing numbers in the $11-12b range. It has gotten so bad that the Motiva folks won’t even share the cost numbers with anyone. The contractors feel that Motiva doesn’t want to hear the truth and that is fine with Bechtel. What a shame! Uncle Tom, I hope this is what you were looking for. I hope they include Tom’s severance package in the cost of the project and just do us all a favor and dump him. Give him his big retirement party so all the old Shell cronies can show up and tell their good stories and act like none of this matters. Tom, you stink, have stunk for awhile, and everyone I talk with over here in PortArthurville looks at you as a plague. Your are spoiled meat and no one will align with you…… except Jeff. You 2 deserve each other.
To Par Cepper & Triangle Watchman: I hear that Purves and Funk have now aligned thoughts on Motiva for project reduction. Means Rutherford could leave Port Arthur for Betchel. Good news eh!
The Americans really are THE bully boys of the planet. What right do they have to have legal jurisdiction over what happens elsewhere on the globe, particularly when the plantiffs are not American. Yet another example of Nigerian’s trying to get a fast buck.
Maybe Brinded’s not going to the funeral but is he going to be the next Chairman of Network Rail?
(Name and email address supplied)
#541Golden Triangle Watchman on Oct 23rd, 2011 at 01:13
PAR Cepper, trust me, I know what I’m talking about. Uncle Tom is the root problem. Funk is just hanging on. As soon as they get rid of Tom due to a failed project, some say one of the worst ever in Shell, Funk will be gone quietly….. Lauher has already been dumped.
triangle watchman: you don’t know what you are talking about. Funk is about to strike and you are still on about Uncle Tom. The problem really is that there too many druggies on the work site. Gee what a mess.
Message to Monday N.K. We have received your comment criticising Shell’s conduct in the Nigeria Delta. Unfortunately we cannot decipher some of the points you are making. Can you please resubmit it after seeking help in re-drafting so that our readers can understand what you want to say.
Good to see that Shell (SPDC) has a website that reports on oil spills in its operational areas in Nigeria. Covers operational oil spills, theft, sabotage and other illegal attacks. Clearly shows that each year between 2005 and 2010 the very large majority of oil spills is from sabotage (despite the twaddle coming from Amnesty, environmentalists and Nigerians with an axe to grind with Shell). Even the Dutch newspaper “De Telegraph” has praised the website.
#546Golden Triangle Watchman on Oct 14th, 2011 at 11:37
Re the article of Motiva getting funding from the Enterprise funding, Unlce Tom Purves and the Motiva leadership knew exactly what they were doing. They had the same game plan with the city of Port Arthur and the tax abatements. They showed all the upside of the Crude Expansion project with promises of 300 new jobs and a bunch of local commitments for local workers. As soon as they received the Enterprise funding and the tax abatements, they let Bechtel bring in workforce from outside the area. Re the 300 jobs, they did not include the many jobs they were cutting in the base plant, forcing retirements and reducing positions…. all the while advertising the new jobs for the new sections of the expansion refinery. A shell game to say the least and shows the capability of Shell’s senior leaders, especially the one Tom Purves, who no longer has a career. He is just hanging on until the last few checks are signed for this elephant of a project, now ballooning to over $10BILLION. A reminder that Tom promised it would not go a penny over $8.5BILLION. My my my… if you want details on this one, just ask Ms. Verna Rutherford…. Remember Tom……. I’m watching……
Zebulon John Egai: the only one that can fix this is your own government. So to all Nigerians, revolt against your own corrupt government and try to get a rule of law in your beautiful country. Once that is achieved (more or less) the rest will improve too. After all the demonstrations in arab countries, it is now time that you guys start this too in Nigeria. Only Nigerians can fix this. As long as you have that massive corruption (at all levels) life will be hell for everyone.
shell and its partners, in niger delta, have violated united nations framework convention on climate change, GAS FLARING is regularly going on,who can help us. thank you.
Hey dutchdude, good point on survivors of indiscretion in shell ranks. But let lowly team leaders push back when managers are disingenuous and we are swiftly severed. There is no justice. Even if SR restores some of the morale and spirit; nothing will compensate those whose spirits were disgraced after being subjectively ranked then terminated. What self-appointed organizational development ‘guru’ convinced whom that this was a way to improve the Culture? 1.5 x 1y pay was an insult to those who were not given a choice. I guess the only remaining hope is that karma or God and the heavens, mete the ‘justice’ deserved by the ignorant souls who enacted this heartless process! As detached from the current conversation as this may seem; please consider my comments as further example of how Shell seems to contort Priorities!!!
To retiree: No sir, I don’t want any more fatalities or spills in Shell. The sad fact is that inside Shell and outside as a society we have become too foregiving to inferior HSE performance. Who still blinks an eye when 1 person is killed in our business? The HSE staff use a matrix that only when more than 3 or 4 are killed the incident becomes major. The BP oil spill showed that even such a worse case scenario is survivable for the company and most of its senior managers. How many BP managers lost their jobs over that incident? Reality is that the oil industry is building up for the next Piper Alpha, (many current managers don’t even know about that incident anymore; outside UK this is a fact). Dear retiree, we want the same. No fatalities, no big oil spills and no more managers who get away with it all….
As some commentators have said, abandoned and old fashioned facilities and pipelines exposed to the oil surface that they become impacted by natural agents (sun, rain, etc)will definitely leak and spill most oil considering the chain of pipelines in Ogoni. More importantly, reports have it that $hell staff and government officials, the Rivers State military taskforce and buyers from outside and within the state are behind this oil bunkering, which has been only few year in operation. By and large $hell and the government are still the culprits, because they use outdated, exposed materials and hungry youths in the community to still get this oil, while pretending operations in Ogoni have been stopped.
Oldtimer, you are too forgiving towards Glen Cayley. His HSE record is truly terrible, and one wonders how many chances a senior managers gets in Shell to demonstrate he is incompetent in manageing safety? Seems Shell needs a “BP moment” to wake up, as they did not (want to) learn from the BP spill at all. Unfortunately this UK spill was too small.
Macannon: As I said, if the wells had been properly suspended or abandoned, and the flowlines and infrastructure cleaned and removed (in accordance with standard industry practice – especially in Holland) there would have been no corroding, leaking, flowlines and production facilities, and no possibility of leaks due to corrosion or sabotage. Whether or not sabotage took place, corrosion alone has resulted in the release of huge quantities of oil in Nigeria, as it did at Gannet. The facilities and flowlines in Nigeria were left full of oil. Over the years most of it has leaked into the environment.
Outsider, I have never stated that saboteurs were responsible for the Gannet leak so like others on this website you should not exaggerate or add words to what has been stated. It is the amount and impact of the leak that is important and it is this that may well have been overstated to get a story or prove the
Macannon: if the wells in Ogoni land had been abandoned (or properly suspended) and the surface flowlines and infrastructure removed, there would have been no possibility of sabotage. Instead, wells were left filled with oil and gas under pressure, as were corroding, leaking flowlines and production facilities. Whether or not sabotage had taken place, corrosion would have ensured that large quantities of oil and gas would leak into the environment, as happened at Gannet. Or perhaps you prefer to have us believe that the Gannet leak was also the work of saboteurs?
Question is Outsider are you, WWF, Greenpeace or anyone else able to say how much has been spilled? Wait until the correct numbers have been ratified by the authorities. As I said earlier the likes of Greenpeace are often way out with their numbers as they know very little about the subject. As for Nigeria (particularly Ogoniland) most of the problem is not from (ex-Shell) wellheads but from damaged pipelines. For damaged read sabotaged by locals for their own gains. Please provide evidence of widespread negligence by Shell in their responsibilities in Ogoniland for securing wellheads. Indeed wellheads, flow lines & other facilities in Holland, Malaysia etc. etc. were adequately sealed. HOWEVER, these countries did not have the saboteurs that caused the subsequent pollution. As ever with Nigeria the cancerous corruption prevails and do-gooders and tree huggers jump on the band wagon as they have little or no knowledge about the subject. All they can see is an opportunity to bash an international company. Let’s see them attempt to blast the Nigerian Government – result would be that they got nowhere.
So Cayley feels the inspection and maintenance programme let them down? This would infer that changing some ink on paper will fix the problem.
Now Glen is a nice fellow and a geologist so he maybe forgiven for being so ignorant. I would expect these farcical statements from HR folk but not from petroleum professionals.
I bet that the inspection and maintenance programme is a very good one. Developed and improved over many years and checked by the outside agencies. The management of this programme however is clearly lacking. And management is made up of people. And people can be hassled in doing the wrong thing as long as you scare them sufficiently.
Brinded, who set the scene many moons ago with his insisting on processes rather than common sense, has created an army of frightened drones who always agree with the boss and are happy if a series of boxes can be ticked off so all will be well. Those drones have also blindly followed the TFA policy of Brinded. And being an ex Exxon guy, Crayley knows all about following orders. The mistake he made is to think the orders from his current bosses are of the same quality as in Exxon.
Macannon – are Shell really able to be so precise about the volume of the Gannet spill, or should their figures be considered as comparable with the 5000 barrels/day of the initial MMS press releases on Macondo. In Nigeria, as elsewhere, the operator (Shell) was responsible for securing their producing wells and infrastructure when production was stopped. The pollution which occurred after Shell stopped production was only possible because Shell failed to fulfil its obligations. It is striking that Shell did not leave leaking wells, corroding flowlines and collapsing production infrastructure in Wassenaar or Schoonebeek when they stopped production from the fields.
At the end of the day the very small amount of oil allegedly leaked (“estimated at 218 tonnes”) will disappear very rapidly and cause very very little damage to the environment. Of course now Greenpeace (they of the over statement of Brent Spar pollution!!!!!) will continue to exagerate volumes (as will others) to the extent that the entire Gannet Field reserves have leaked into the North Sea. It really is that time of the year when there is so little news to report on. Ho Hum.
Outsider it seems to me that you’ve read way too much into what Veritas said in his post. He didn’t say that since it was stopped after 10 days all was OK. As for Nigeria you appear to have joined the uninformed Tree Huggers in accusing Shell of the pollution. A vast (yes vast) majority of the oil spills in Ogoniland post date (yes post date) Shell’s involvement in the area. Sabotage by Nigerians who want to steal the oil and also get damage money are the primary causes.
Veritas: you seem to be implying that because Shell have finally managed to stop the flow after 10 days, then everything is OK? How long must a well flow and how many thousands of tonnes of crude oil need to be released into the environment before a problem exists? I guess the Nigerian leaks should not really be a problem either – it’s only a matter of a few thousand barrels of light, sweet crude after all.
John, I normally appreciate your site for its neutrality, but it’s clear now that Shell’s North Sea leak is fixed that at least two of your “experts” you cited in your August 16 post, and possibly all three, were very very wrong. I think you have done very well in the past verifying your sources, especially the chap from Malaysia, but the folks cited that day were full of hogwash and speculation. Other than that, keep up the good work. REPLY FROM JOHN: Some people might be surprised at your assessment that we are neutral in relation to Shell. As to your other comments, stay tuned. More information will emerge shortly about how far Shell can be trusted in relation to the safety and integrity of its North Sea Platforms. The information, includes a recent document supplied to me on Friday by the HSE offshore division. It is a letter from a very senior UK government official sent to a senior person at Shell Exploration and Production. We will put the letter into the public domain and also bring it to the attention of relevant U.S. regulatory authorities and Alaskan state senators.
Suggest you put a different picture on your lead story concerning Shell still being in Syria. I’ve got one of Assad if you want one. REPLY FROM JOHN: Appreciate the offer, but have found one, unless yours is more appropriate. Thanks.
Boy oh boy, part 7 sure has a lot of very lengthy argumentation but in honesty (and I do have Shell shares) I read nothing in there that really convinces me that you should continue to rattle on about some connection between Deterding and Hitler. An alledged connection that happened some 65 years ago. I really believe you keep this on the “front page” as a form of tabloid press titilation. Come into the present and concentrate your continued sniping at Shell based on the present system. REPLY BY JOHN: You are entitled to your view. Considerably more evidence is being accumulated on an almost daily basis, as a result of many newspaper archives from Europe and the USA, and books as far back as the 1930′s, all being made available and searchable online. We will publish all of the additional evidence. Those who are interested will be free to read the evidence, which is overwhelming. It includes information and documents from Shell’s own archives, which Shell was concerned would come into our possession. We have Shell internal communications obtained by us under the UK Data Protection Act revealing Shell’s anxiety at this prospect. Shell has threatened action in relation to this subject. We are 100% confident that for obvious reasons, no action will be taken. We are not talking about allegations, but historical fact. Deterding/Royal Dutch Shell pumped funds into the Nazi regime for many years and Shell continued to do so after Deterding resigned as Director General. Deterding remained a Shell director until the day he died in Nazi Germany. He had a Nazi funeral attended by Nazi officers and senior Royal Dutch Shell officials. A personal message from Hitler was read at the grave.
John, Regarding your response to “Austria1″ that you do not believe that current Shell management sympathizes with the Nazis… If this is indeed the case, why are you so affixed on this topic. “The past is the past”, there are enough present issues that you could direct attention towards. Why do you “live in the past” ? REPLY: A legitimate question. The answer can be found here: Royal Dutch Shell Nazis Secrets Part 7: Why does it still matter?
I have read with concern that the current Shell management sympathises with Nazis. Is this correct? REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN: I have not read that and I am sure that they do not.
The comment that “SPDC has not produced oil in Ogoniland since 1993″ (from Andrew Vickers) reafirms my point that all subsequent oil spills (last 18 years) have been caused by sabotage from the Ogonis themselves. In many cases encouraged by the village elders and MOSOP leaders. Their aim? To get large amounts of money from Shell et al. About time these people were held to account and not Shell. I am also amazed that Shell is still responsible for these pipelines if they no longer produce from the area, surely the Nigerian Government is now responsible? This is certainly the case in the likes of Malaysia where Petronas takes over full responsibility where a company has stopped production (yes I know, and made the well heads etc. safe) and relinquished the acreage. Heh ho no doubt it’s the age old problem of mega corrupt senior Nigerians seeing an easy way to fill their Swiss bank account, likewise lawyers (most being the leach scum of this earth) and tree huggers thinking they’re doing good (idiots).
Get over the alias thing John, or start calling out 95% of your posters. Be consistent – is that not what you ask of Shell?? Live up to the standard you ask others to live by! SMH: REPLY BY JOHN D: The vast majority are not as personally abusive or blinkered as yours self-evidently are, as can be confirmed by glancing through your record of postings here. I have the courage to post outspoken comments using my real name. You do not. Since you make more postings here than any other visitor and are by far the most outspoken – a self-proclaimed Nemesis – it really is time that you worked up the courage to reveal your real name? What’s the problem? What are you afraid of by coming out into the open? If you have told us the truth about accepting gifts/hospitality from Shell suppliers, I am sure you have nothing to fear. With a deluded outsize ego like yours, how can you bear to remain anonymous? Don’t forget to supply a nice colour pik along with your name.
Right John – do hot share your background data, cant share that – but clearly ID the person with your links. Swell job of high integrity posting. Get that point! Of course you will tell us you have lots more facts, can not share them, but I can tell you who it is with my links! Wow – crazy that you can not see that behavior is shady and that if Shell did something like that, you would call out the lynch mobs. Trust us, we have more data, but we can not share it!! REPLY BY JOHN: Same reply as previous: Your analysis of the situation was based partly on an inaccurate assumption. You are unaware of the background facts. I have not revealed detailed content of extensive emails on this matter with an insider source, emails to the Fat Cat in question, nor my entire related email correspondence with a top lawyer at Royal Dutch Shell, Michiel Brandjes. I have nothing further to add at this time regarding the allegations other than to say that I have to be rather more careful than you in what I say, bearing in mind that I do not hide behind an alias, as you choose to do.
That’s right Goodluck Diigbo you weren’t given N10 million, it was probably more like N20 million. The MOSOP organization is well known for it’s corruption – again, where does all the money they ge in various compensations? NOT to the Ogoni people who are hoodwinked into believing MOSOP is doing them good.
#577Golden Triangle Watchman on Aug 9th, 2011 at 06:05
I hope the county commissioners understand and more importantly the people of this area understand the implication of supporting this pipeline. Besides the environmental effects, this pipeline will take jobs away from the precious Sabine Neches Waterway.
A pipeline project that could create thousands of American construction jobs and lessen the country
Wow – a new low – no facts – just unsubstantiated claims by someone with initials that match the initials of someone else and John is willing to accuse a shell “fat cat” of sexual harassement and having affairs. You keep topping your self John. Show me how this is fact based reporting? But you only post facts right John? Shell does something like this and you add this to our eveil portfolio right John? Geez, give me a break. You indict your self over and over, making this way too easy John. Evil huh?? REPLY BY JOHN: Your analysis of the situation is based partly on an inaccurate assumption. You are unaware of the background facts. I have not revealed detailed content of extensive emails on this matter with an insider source, emails to the Fat Cat in question, nor my entire related email correspondence with a top lawyer at Royal Dutch Shell, Michiel Brandjes. I have nothing further to add at this time regarding the allegations other than to say that I have to be rather more careful than you in what I say, bearing in mind that I do not hide behind an alias, as you choose to do.
Refer to Shell Malaysia’s comment dated 24th July ” Their shared services centre (now known as Shell Business Services Centre) is a fine case study of how unsuspecting employees are hired, used and disposed. Long work hours, under incompetent team managers, guarantees quick turnover. Staff turnover at this entity has remained high for years
Go read the posts I have made where I state that all individuals and companies make mistakes, of course we have. No attempt to hide from that at all John, come on, read the posts and stop looking uneducated!!
ALL articles are gathered – sorry – not even close – but nice try!
Later -
REPLY FROM JOHN: You ask me to go and read your posts again. If you don’t mind, I would rather accept that you have already conceded on that point. Apart from posting articles ourselves (over 20,000 on this website) we pay for a live news feed of Shell related articles and take all that are gathered, irrespective of whether they are positive or negative in relation to Shell. That is a fact.
Ironical – oh that is sweet – that word should be your middle name John! Oh – I just love those old buried links from 2009 for a Wikipedia article, come on John, you can do better than that. Posted anything since then? All kinds of articles you can link to that are posted every week about Shell activities in the community. Love this – look at his lead in;
Royal Dutch Shell is responsible for many important initiatives in relationship to the environment, encouraging business start-ups, supporting charitable causes and other good works. With regard to the environment, Shell has however been accused of [1]greenwash
John, I am still looking for your posts telling the world that Shell does good deeds, come on – post them again!! From your nemesis – a lazy, uneducated and evil Shell employee!! Please keep the compliments flowing. Did I have any spelling/typing errors – whew – I sure hope not – John might cast mean thoughts about my capabilities again!! I am so hurt! REPLY FROM JOHN: I just found it ironic that you castigated another person on this blog for making an “undeducated” post. I accept that your spelling errors were caused by laziness. Don’t worry, since you hide behind an alias to insult people, no one will be able to identity you personally. Is there any chance that you will ever work up the courage to make postings under your own name, as I do, taking legal responsibility for everything I say? You cannot claim with any shred of credibility to being my Nemesis, when you hide behind an alias and are entirely dependent on my goodwill to permit you to make postings on this website. Based on your overall postings, I do not believe that you are evil or uneducated. Delusional, perhaps. Certainly proud of the company you work for. There is nothing wrong with loyalty, even if sometimes misplaced. As to Shell positives, there is a permanent link: ROYAL DUTCH SHELL INITIATIVES
Thanks for the tip and for showing again the pettiness(sp??) that defines who you are John. I sincerely apologize for trashing your site with my poor speed typing skills! Trust me, I know how to spell these words! But the content of my comments got through just fine, you even seemed to be able to grasp them John and know what words I mis typed! Thanks for the help, but I am too busy to type in word, proof and then post, I will pass on your tip of the day. Got any more value added tips? PS – lazy implies you did not put forth the effort required for the job, the effort I put into posts on your site was just right. Nice try though! Keep living in the past and the future will pass you by, oh it already has, my bad.
Misspelling (or is that Miss Spelling, who actually cares) does not mean an uneducated post. (I have to say that it would help by having a larger “box” to comment in so that more of the typed sentence can be viewed and not located halfway down the page.) I have to agree with the comments from “uscitizen” concerning the repetitive, and now somewhat boring, link of Shell to the Nazi’s from over 60 years ago. I think it shows more about your mentality than that of present day Shell. It is also very clear that “shell malaysia” is someone with a major grudge against the company, perhaps sacked for under performance? Poor spelling? Shell continues to provide handsomely to the local communities throughout East & West Malaysia, above and beyond government requirements set in PSC’s etc. Shell cannot be blamed for the oppressive nature of the Malaysian system / government. Rather than quoting a load of legal court/case numbers, can “shell malaysia” please expand / describe what employees have been unfairly dismissed for? My experience with Shell is that dismissals are for pretty serious offences, most of which are included in the contracts that staff sign on joining the company. REPLY FROM JOHN DONOVAN: Shell used to have an internet discussion forum – “Tell Shell” – supposedly for uncensored lively and open debate. It had a nice wide space for each posting. As I have previously pointed out, Shell was caught secretly censoring postings. Shell then suspended the facility before it finally disappeared without trace. As to Shell’s historical association with the Nazis, no one is forced to read the articles and related evidence we provide. It is not compulsory. With regard to postings in the box, you can type your comment into a Word doc then copy and paste into the box. This would enable uscitizen to identity typing errors. Visitors can click on “All” at the top of the Shell Blog column to read the postings in a wider box.
I know John – you would never imply anthing underhanded with your main page lead in stories on our alleged Nazi affiliations from WW2 about current leadership. Read your own posts where you say the behavior you post about WW2 still exists today. Right John?? And outspoken – your post of course made no sense. The hard working E&P folks do not have time for this, but they are of course the ones John is bashing the most fella! Make up your mind.
That is it, I am part of the Shell propganda bot! Just can not accept that there are many many good folks, all up and down our chain of command, who do things right to make this a good company. One that many many smart folks want to work for.
And Shell Malysia, if you really think my fellow employees acts of giving back to the community are part of a shell cover up, god bless your poor bitter soul, you have of course slammed many many good peoples intentions with your callous undeducated post. I know John, you have tried so hard to point out the good deeds of Shell, so very very hard. Keep it up John, we really really do believe you!! Right! REPLY FROM JOHN DONOVAN: You have the cheek to accuse others of making uneducated posts when you cannot spell uneducated (or for that matter, “anything”, “Malaysia” or “propaganda”). Or perhaps you were just being lazy? Senior management at Shell does still trade with the enemy – see Royal Dutch Shell Nazis Secrets Part 7: Why does it still matter?
This is in response to the erroneous statement by ‘Macannon’ regarding unfair employee dismissals in Malaysia.
“I am sure that some (probably a majority) got their just desserts and are now merely joining on the bandwagon of some genuine cases.” – Macannon
Every case of unfair dismissal is sent to the courts by the local Labour Office in Malaysia. Only the local Labour Office can do so after investigating the merits of the case. The process is lengthy and costly for the employee who was unfairly dismissed.
Please read the details to avoid being misinformed. (Just Google ‘Malaysia Labour Department’).
Due to outdated employment laws, it is impossible for any employee to ‘join the bandwagon’. The dozens of cases of unfair dismissals of Malaysian employees is testament to how Shell is putting up a public show (via ‘works of charity’) while ignoring its own Business Conduct Guidelines.
Shell Malaysia’s modus operandi is very similar to the Ken Saro Wiwa case. When it is obvious that Shell is not going to win the case, it offers to settle ‘out of court’ just before the start of the trial.
Some very fair comments from “Viktar” and “uscitizen” – all companies and people (including the Donovans) have their faults. The more you are in the public limelight the more you are able to be attacked. Shell does a great deal of good charitable work and projects that Governments (particularly African ones) should be doing them selves. Unknowledgeable idiots such as “outspoken” clearly have little or no close knowledge of the company or have a gripe against the company (lack of promotion, poor performance etc.). Why is it that if anyone praises Shell on this site he/she is classed as “fictional”, “shameless”, “grovelling” or “part of Shell’s propaganda organ”?? I think “outspoken” is someone who has a problem with Shell and cannot accept anything good said about them. Remind you of someone else?? REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN: No individual has done more than me to highlight the good works of Royal Dutch Shell. I collected information over a number of years and included it all in a Wikipedia article “Royal Dutch Shell initiatives” providing many reference sources confirming the authenticity of the information. The article was deleted on the basis that it was biased in favour of Shell. I have previously stated that the vast majority of Shell employees are decent hard working people. My concern is in regard to the rotten apples who remain in senior management positions despite serious misdeeds, including for example, participation in the management of a rigged tender for a major contract (Tim Hannagan) or involvement in the cover-up (Malcolm Brinded). Tim Hannagan – currently Global Brand Standards and Performance Manager at Shell International Petroleum Company – was not the mastermind (Shell executive Andrew Lazenby), but he went along with the planned deception designed to steal IP information from several companies and stop them from approaching rival oil companies. Hannagan attempted in a subsequent Witness Statement to distance himself from the corrupted process in which the contract was miraculously awarded to a company that never participated in the tender. David Pirret is another senior Royal Dutch Shell executive with skeletons rattling around in his closet. All of these individuals are free to sue me if they dispute what I am stating. I still have the evidence. It still smells. For an independent view of Shell’s activities, including its horrendous record in Nigeria, this article is worth reading.
John, I saw USCitizen’s recent comments on your blog. This ‘gentleman’, if he is a ‘real’ person and not a fictional product of Shell’s propaganda organ, is living breathing proof that being a shameless, groveling suck-up apparently pays off big time at Shell. I wonder which part of the company he works for. Doubt he works for the ‘real’ part of the company responsible for finding and producing oil. Those folks are too smart and too well educated to swallow that kind of crap. Besides, they simply don’t have time for this nonsense.
Bad news, guys. I hear Funk is out but Koontz is in. Folks at Convent are goin to screem! Funk is a bad dude, but koontz is worse. His sneakyness is only surpassed by his union hate.
Thank you for your post Viktar, but you will never be able to convince these poor Donovan folks that Shell and its people are anything but evil nazi lovers bent on destroying the world. I have shown repeated examples of good, but old man Donovan says, oh I am not bashing the people, there are lots of good people, just the company – he does not realize they are the same thing! There are many many examples of good – and I am headed out to one now, helping a shelter for battered women, with a lot of evil shell folks. Thanks again – and I am sure Donovan will have a rebuttal on your example on some ulterior motive we had. And if you say it increases our chances to make more money – guess what – you are right – and do things the right way! They do go together. We all make mistakes, people and companies. Key is to learn from them – and despite Donovans insistence – we do. I can hear the response now, oh well – we are proud of our company! REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN: Please cite any comment or posting on this or any other website where we have made the comment you falsely attribute to us i.e. that Shell and its people are evil nazi lovers bent on destroying the world. People will be able to draw their own conclusions if you fail to provide an example. You will not be able to do so because we have never stated or implied that this is the case. That false accusation destroys any credibility you had here. I can only surmise that you have been too lazy to read what we have said in historical context about Shell and its Nazi past that the company would prefer to forget.
Shell was helpful in coordinating a JV between I.M. Skaugen and InQtel called HUSH LLC.
It’s an enterprise aiming to stop piracy and terrorism on the high seas. It’s a good example of an ethical oil initiative. Not all oil news is bad news.
We installed the HUSH Hub on Norgas Carine almost a year ago, it saved crew morale, delivered security, and new revenue. Everyone is happier and safer. Now all of our ships have this equipment. All our crews are safer and we’re fighting terrorism and piracy.
We are offering the HUSH Hub to other maritime fleets and thereby doing our part to increase global stability.
Shell entities in Malaysia have yet to prove themselves to be worthy employers. Getting a lawyer who deals with employment issues in Malaysia is hard enough, what more spending a decade pursuing your case in the courts. Only genuine employees who were unfairly dismissed would pursue this path.
The fact that the Malaysian employment laws, the product of neo-colonialism, favours the employer is good news for multinationals like Shell. A ‘gold mine’ of sorts. Most multinationals have been taking advantage of this for decades. However, Shell has taken it to a new low.
Their shared services centre (now known as Shell Business Services Centre) is a fine case study of how unsuspecting employees are hired, used and disposed. Long work hours, under incompetent team managers, guarantees quick turnover. Staff turnover at this entity has remained high for years….at one point, exceeding 40%. It is essentially a sinister tactic to keep costs low.
Shell Malaysia is where it is today thanks to the hardworking people that built it over the past 100 years. And what did they get in return ?
Shell’s mercenary tactics against its own people is well documented (refer civil cases in previous post and elsewhere on this site).
The question is, how many more lawsuits have to be filed before Shell cleans up its act?
Shell’s announcement ( Reuter) of a Manufacturing JV Service company with a CNPC to avoid paying low value drilling is applaudable. However they are in the wrong business. They should leave to people who are good at it. It take years to perfect this. Shell expats who are highly paid and lack of business acumen will sure see the demise of the JV before it starts. Furthermore why Singapore? Trust me. Of course this is not important to Peter Sharpe as he has scored his brownie points, as usual ( capitalising on BP’s Macondo as well ) and would have retired and blame it on others like the CNPC Chinese.
Its not to late- Shell Voser- suggest you focus on your core business and aim at reducing your own Shell overhead and let the service companies do their work for you more efficiently. Dont leave it to Mr Sharpe.
London Lad- the expats today are no longer the professional expats we have in the 70s/80s. The expats then worked very hard and are sincere in coaching locals. The expats today except a handful I am afraid knows nut.
We shall find out who is right soon. Why are IOC partnering with NOC everywhere? They see they no longer can survive by themselves. We shall see.
I used to love working for Shell but no longer anymore as there is so much internal process and not enough external focus. I thought I am the only one but alas about 80% of my colleagues feel the same… we are tired and are thinking of leaving..before we leave. Suggest Shell to do a people survey and ask the above question.
Hey Shell team – Respect to you for having such an open comments policy. Shows you dont’ have as much to hide as some may think! REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN: Sorry to say that there is a misunderstanding on your part. This is not a Shell website. “TellShell” – Shell’s internet discussion forum for claimed open and lively debate was first secretly censored by Shell, then “temporarily” suspended, then closed. This was because the discussions became too open and lively for Shell management.
Why were these Malaysians dimissed? Malpractice, fraud, poor performance etc. etc.? I am sure that some (probably a majority) got their just desserts and are now merely joining on the bandwagon of some genuine cases. Shelll in Malaysia is a good employer and a vast majority of their staff would agree.
Despite being the world’s number one Fortune 500 company, Shell has a long way to go to comply with its own Ethical Guidelines.
The previously well respected company has taken the stand that if there are no local labour laws to protect its employees, then, ‘anything goes’. Unfairly dismissing employees is a rampant practice in Malaysia. It is so common, that Shell Malaysia has appointed multiple legal firms to defend itself. In the capital of Kuala Lumpur alone, it has appointed at least three separate legal firms to deal with the piling cases.
Unfortunately, these are only cases that went to courts. For every such case, there were many more that never reached the courts. The losers are not Shell…it is the victimised employees. Unlike Western countries, the only legal remedy Malaysians have is to go through the legal process, which sometimes take more than 10 years. Many victims don’t bother with this and just accept their fate and try to move on.
Employees are often bullied into resigning or given poor performance evaluations by their incompetent supervisors. Usually, the management needs a scapegoat to put the blame on. The lax employment laws in Malaysia makes it an ideal place for Shell to literally do as it likes.
The following are just some of the cases that are pending in the Malaysian Labour courts. (Claimants names removed to protect privacy). For full details of each case and findings, please go to the court website http://www.mp.gov.my/ and type ‘Shell’ in respondent. This is publicly available.
I would strongly recommend potential Shell employees to consider carefully before signing the dotted line.
Case No. 8/4-234/97
50 employees vs Sarawak Shell Bhd
2 8/4-406/97
4 employees vs Sarawak Shell Bhd
3 8/4-653/97
5 employees vs Sarawak Shell Bhd
4 8/4-8/98 Miss G vs Sarawak Shell Bhd.
5 8/4-166/98
5 employees vs Sarawak Shell Berhad
6 8/4-334/98
2 employees vs Sarawak Shell Bhd.
7 7/4-732/11 Mr K vs Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn. Bhd.
8 14/4-1996/07 Mr M vs Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn. Bhd
9 3(15)(3)/4-1461/04 Mr J vs Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn. Bhd./Shell Malaysia Limited
10 22(19)/4-2884/04 Mr N Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn. Bhd.
11 8/4-653/98 C & 5 others vs Sarawak Shell Sdn. Bhd
12 8(17)/4-770/00 Mr R vs Sabah Shell Petroleum Company Limited
13 1(15)/2-155/02 Workers Union vs SHELL Malaysia Trading Sendirian Bhd., SHELL Refining Company Bhd., SHELL Malaysia Limited dan Tiram Kimia Sendirian Bhd.
14 27(12)/4-851/02 Ms R vs Stesyen Minyak Shell Jana
15 12/1-357/04 Workers Union vs Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn. Bhd, Shell Refining Company Bhd, Shell Malaysia Limited & Tiram Kimia Sdn. Bhd
16 20(28)(12)/4-733/04 Mr A vs Shell Refining Company (FOM) Bhd.
17 8/4-1377/04 Mr H Sarawak Shell Berhad
18 17/4-2322/04 Mr A vs Sabah Shell Petroleum Company Limited
19 22(6)/4-2455/04 Mr J vs Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn. Bhd.
20 8/4-2607/04 Mr J vs Sarawak Shell Berhad
21 17(8)/4-2622/04 Mr Y vs Sarawak Shell Berhad
22 10/4-3272/04 Mr P vs Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn. Bhd.
23 20(13)/4-618/06 Mr M vs Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn. Bhd.
24 26/4-1017/06 Mr A vs Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn.Bhd
25 1/1-1329/06 Ms R vs Stesyen Minyak Shell Jana
26 11/4-1879/06 Mr M vs Shell Refining Company (Federation Of Malaya) Berhad
27 10/4-2258/06 Ms L vs Clamshell Dredging Sdn. Bhd
28 2/4-201/07 Mr V vs SHELL AUTOSERV MALAYSIA, A DIVISION OF CHAMP DISTRIBUTORS SENDIRIAN BERHAD
29 1/1-912/07 Shell Employees Union vs Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn. Bhd. Shell Malaysia Limited & Shell Refining Company (F.O.M) Bhd
30 20/4-307/08 Mr M vs Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn. Bhd
Another round of cuts coming to Convent, poor Stan, you thought your were safe because you are black, but they finally see the lazy no good phuck you really are you lying bastard. I don’t feel sorry for you one bit. I have a better job now and I don’t have to put up with all the lazy protected race and gender scumbags. I hope David is proud to have kept you so long. They let go some really good guys and kept ignorant lazy ass trash like you. Roxanne, Jill, and Connie I still can’t wait to but ya’ll in the mouth.
Well Joe McBloggs I guess the problem is that key people in the Scottish authorities are more concerned with their independence from England than some old story about Shell.
Why is it that the Scottish authorities are so lax when calling Shell to task? It has been many years since the two workers died on Charlie and it took the site of Donovan and actions of retired auditors to keep the attention going albeit at a very low level. Otherwise all would have been forgotten and swept under the carpet.
One almost would believe that many operators and members of the policeforce are member of the same masonic lodge and we all know that the brothers are there to help each other?
I bet that nobody in the UK authorities will ever take Brinded to task for his TFA policy and other hypocritic remarks on ‘Safety is our top priority’. It is disgusting. The feeling of justice has gone.
#605Cleaning up Port Arthur on Jun 30th, 2011 at 12:56
Read an article from about this time last year… wanted to share it with the readers of this site as it is becoming a prophetic reading…. Steve cleaning up the Gulf Coast. He has alot in common with the groups that helped BP last summer… except the scum he is cleaning up are bad leaders, not oil on the beach….. Tom, when does your time to come to get cleaned up and leave?
By Joe Blow
It was with some elation that I heard of Mr. Purves
Motiva paid him $3mm into CIDA. But trust me, he has no idea about the oil sands crude coming as Shell has kept it quiet until the pipeline can get approved. Everyone thinks it is Saudi crude that will fill up the CEP. It will be oil sands crude and all the environmental emissions that will come from it. John D should try and contact Hilton and get his feedback
I’m glad Shell refuted the statement re Saudi Aramco being the sole supplier of crude. As soon as the keystone pipeline gets approved, Shell will exercise it’s 50% equity rights and push Canadien oil right into Port Arthur. I’m sure my environmental buddies in Port Arthur are not aware of the oil sands crude coming to Port Arthur or they would already be screaming. There was another article that came out yesterday that stated that Saudi Aramco is pushing oil to China more and more. Get the facts straight or Shell will….
Oh and by the way, there is no way in hell that the project will be finished in 1Q 2012. Everyone knows it. Ask Shell for a retraction on that one.
There’s a certain irony in Ann Pickard’s lecturing of the Australians. I believe her previous assignment included responsibility for Nigeria? Have her views on greenhouse gases really changed so significantly since she arrived Down Under?
Watching Tom:
Also wanted to ask how are you guys doing with the Life Saving Rules. Are the whites being fired for breaking a life saving rule and blacks keeping their jobs like in Norco?
Wow – this site reaches new lows. Some of you Shell folks just need to take care of your business and stop trying rationalize things away. Geez, if you raise your kids like this we are in big trouble with the next generation. Have Mom and Dad handle any problems, its ok Johnny they are just picking on the (fill in the blanks) portion of the population. Give me a break.
It’s a little odd that the news is dominated by the first (very small)shipment from Pearl, while Shell is invoking force majeure on very large volumes normally exported from Bonny.
The article titled “Saudi Arabia will be sole source supply for Motiva Port Arthur” doesn’t tell the whole story over here that we see on the ground. Firstly, Saudi Aramco, during 2008, cut crude supplies to the US, and therefore Motiva as it’s largest supply base, and sent incremental crude to China, namely for better profits. Secondly, if Shell ever figures out how to get Canadian oil sands crude down to Nederland, the Arab heavy will back out pretty quick. Shell owns so much equity in the crude supply bbls for Port Arthur. A lot of stumbling blocks exist to finish the pipeline from Cushing down to the Gulf Coast. Until that time, I expect the answer is Arab heavy. When that pipeline opens up to the GC, you will see both oil sands and Arab crude filling up the crude unit at Port Arthur….
of course, that assumes that the infamous VPS-5 crude unit ever gets finished. The article talks about 1Q2012. Anybody over here with a real view on the ground knows the only thing that will be complete is the Coker. My my, the spin doctoring that Shell tries to do is sickening……
Has anyone seen Funkhouser lately? We don’t see him doing any work…..
It should be noted that Mr Jim Hartsock has now been placed in a role called Turnaround Manager – Operations Integration. He knows nothing about turnarounds nor operations. He only knows Tom. Tom Purves is a joke and continues to show the impact of his heavy hand on our site. There is no way that Jim Hartsock ought to even be here. Those in the know like Mr Steve Sanders understands how this played out. Steve gets a visit from Purves some time back and gets told that he will make a job for Hartsock. All the while, Tom is actively working to cut the throats of several people over here trying to make a difference and delivering severance packages to these people by adjusting their performance factors. Tom, time may move on. Your legacy doesn’t. It died with your credibility. We all now count the days when you are gone. Limp off into the sunset, with your tea jug and enjoy your wife and family. You have done enough damage here. And take Jeff Funkhouser with you. I hear he got into a little bit of trouble with the police over here and Tom helped send him to Saudi Arabia for a little bit of work to calm the issue down.
Keeping our heads down and waiting for true leadership to show up.
Watching Tom:
Also wanted to ask how are you guys doing with the Life Saving Rules. Are the whites being fired for breaking a life saving rule and blacks keeping their jobs like in Norco?
Watching Tom:
Please tell me you have met Mr Joey D, from NORCO. Funks right hand man. If you have not met him yet, you are missing a real treat. He is a Douche Bag. Funk pulled him out of Norco after he was given a manager job that he could not handle, got himself in too deep, and had to bale. Chances are if you see Funk, Joey will not be far behind like puppy. He is on special assignment (special project there) cause Norco had enough of him and he knew it. He is getting paid big bucks for nothing cause he is a piece of garbage. Talk about a chump. Before he was promoted, he could not even quality on the easy CR-1 job in Norco, had to go out on disability and sucked his way up the ladder after that. NO one likes him and he knows it. I am hearing they have enough of him there, I can only imagine. If you get a chance, go check out that snake, but dont turn your back on him, he is just a bad or worse than Funk or Tom.!!
JEEEEEZ WatchingTom Purves can you please use some language that most people that use this site can understand. (e.g PAR = ? Funkhouser is who? Lauher =? etc. etc.) I am sure you have good intent with your rambling, but, please make it more understandable to the wider audience. I would suggest, for example, a bit more titilation (aka the Sun newspaper – that’s over the pond newspaper for you or aka the nonsense correlation STILL used as titilation by this website for Shell and the Nazi’s). To be quiet honest I have never seen such a rambling on this website with names that 99% haven’t got a clue who they are!!
Just a quick update from the little town called PAR…. As it has been well documented by now, Tom Purves has set up shop back over here in Motivaland after his demotion….. i mean transition back to PAR to quote “help get this project straightened out”….. never mind the fact that he has never ran a project of this size or anything comparable. So the very next thing that he began to do is try and suck up all of his buddies, which some call minions, to come help him….. The most notable chump is his main side kick Jeff Funkhouser. Believe me, he is staying low until he can slide out of town. All of Shell knows he is a joke…. yet the senior leaders of our company have let Tom have his way. The 2nd stooge, Forrest Lauher, just got ran off and will leave the site shortly. He should have never been given the project, was not equipped to be successful, should have been fired back in 2008 when they took the project away from him. He failed miserable as site leader for PAR and was finally found out. Funk, you will be next.
Now, we have an audit team come in from the Hague to review how our pipe module project went. The lead honcho for this part of the project, Mr Jim Hartsock, another one of Tom’s boys, mysteriously gets an opportunity to go to the NPRA in Denver instead of participating with the audit team. Can you imagine that one? Why would it be ok first of all for one of your project managers( re Hartsock, I say this lightly) to go to NPRA while this pitiful project tries to stumble across the finish line. Secondly, wouldn’t you think Jim would have useful information to share with the audit team? Where is Jim for his interview? “I’m sorry… he is in Denver at an NPRA conference….. Seriously Tom???? And who would Hartsock be meeting with in Denver….. none other than Jerry Crail of the infamous Tom Purves gang.. Jim, I guess you were setting up your next gig with Crail and the Upgrader outfit up north…… May be you can do better than you’ve done here…. This is the guy Tom saved from Tosco when they dumped him at Wood River. He got Crail to hire him at SGS, then made Quinn give him a job at Convent, and when Quinn finally got tired of him there, forced the PAR gang to take him in on the project. He gets assigned to watch the pipe modules at remote locations, all the while working from his home in St Louis….. and low and behold, the modules are screwed up….. Lots of questions that need to be asked…. Can’t get answers from Hartsock because he is in Denver following Crail around….. for some of us, this is getting really old Tom. Do us a favor, come clean, and retire. You are done man…. You are no longer da man! and haven’t been.
Shell execs who read this still….. find out about Jim Hartsock…. and while you are at it, look into Jeff Funkhouser…… These 3 are bad and need to be dealt with.
John D, why don’t you send these 3 an emil and ask about this one? Share their responses with us…..
Me thinks JanBlauu that you’ve been smoking something you shouldn’t be smoking!! There is absolutely no way that IOC’s will disappear in 5-10 years or less. The likes of Petronas (very well trained by Shell & Exxon in the 70′s & 80′s) are good performers. Most others (e.g. those NOC’s in Oman, Venezuela, Indonesia & Nigeria) have very lazy incompetent local staff who remain still very dependent on the expat doing the work while they themselves cream off millions. Long live the IOC’s and the expats. Local staff need to get realistic with their dreams while at the same time thinking of theor country and not just their own Swiss bank accounts.
John- I think I know what Mirilad is talking about..in 5-10 years ( or maybe earlier), there will be no International Oil companies (IOC) and all the National oil companies ( NOC ) will be fully independent and contracting the service companies to extract oil/gas. Why need IOC as middle man? This is an outdated business model. Its time to replace the high overheads and expensive expats who do not add values but add costs. JB
well Mr. London lad, u seem to think all national oil companies fail…why not quote successful ones.. REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN: Have not got a clue what you are talking about?
REPLY TO “Google” and “Googler”: The reason why we have not published your comments/allegations is because to the best of our knowledge they are baseless and therefore seriously defamatory of the relevant third party. You are also wrong in stating that the relevant article has been deleted. It has just moved down due to the posting of new articles. We researched the background of the person in question and found nothing to substantiate your allegations. If you have any such evidence, send it to me by email and we will reconsider the matter. You want to make allegations hiding behind an alias using our facility, under our name. That is not something we are willing to do. We also note that you have submitted comments under multiple aliases, not just the two most recent ones. With regard to the subject of publishing allegations, our attention was recently drawn to an article published by Time Magazine: “The Caligula Effect: Why Powerful Men Compulsively Cheat.” We have decided not to publish the related allegations.
#625Happy Day in Port Arthur on May 22nd, 2011 at 00:16
An excerpt from the Port Arthur news at the end of 2010…..
John – Further to the comment by Anonymous. I am not arguing if Shell did or didn’t get involved with the Nazis. I used to be a frequent visitor to this site but rarely visit anymore since you seem to be totally obsessed with Shell’s Nazi involvement. This is very old news and it is time to move on to news and topics that are more timely. REPLY BY JOHN: Thanks for taking the trouble to comment. The focus on Royal Dutch Shell’s Nazi past will be expanded with further facts resulting from more research. Other significant developments are in the pipeline. This is not a subject we have any intention of dropping, as will become abundantly clear in coming months. If you find the subject so objectionable, simply ignore it and just stick to current news and events, which are still covered. Someone is interested because site traffic has increased, not declined, since we highlighted Shell’s close association with Hitler and the Nazi party. Nothing staggering, but still well over 2 million hits every month.
John, this growing obsession with Nazism is trivialising of other people’s suffering and has nothing to do with Shell as a company at all. It is, frankly, a bit weird. It is also immensely hypocritical to accuse Shell of insensitivity while expropriating the suffering of others in the service of your personal crusade. REPLY FROM JOHN: It is absolute nonsense for you to claim that Shell as a company had nothing to do with the Nazis. If you read the book “A HISTORY OF ROYAL DUTCH SHELL” authored by historians paid by Shell who were given full access to Shell archives, you will see for yourself that Shell had a great deal to do with Hitler and his henchman. Shell pumped funds into the Nazi coffers. The evidence is confirmed and expanded by a variety of independent reputable sources, including numerous newspaper reports. You seem to be in complete denial.
I saw the article stating that a blow in the Artic from one of Shell’s propose wells would not produce more that 9468 bbls/day.
Who is the manager and/or PR moron at Shell that released that statement? 9468 bbls/day, max. Really? You don’t say? That level of accuracy and precision impossible to obtain. How about you folks at Shell trying again to come up with a ‘meaningful’ estimate, instead of this kind of useless crap.
Marvin Odum who probably has the worst safety record in Shell goes for a diversity vote and someone who has no safety experience to replace the VP of safety he just fired. Clear message where his priorities lie.
John, has it ever occurred to you that your increasingly frequent evocations of Nazism and the Holocaust to score points against Shell might itself be considered deeply offensive and insensitive? REPLY BY JOHN: A number of valued contributors to this blog have complained about the focus on Shell’s Nazi past. “Musaint” decided to stop visiting. Another said he was thoroughly bored. The subject is controversial and the header graphics designed to shock. Shell managed to escape the public odium it was due from its financial support for Hitler and the Nazis. The blame was all heaped on to Deterding even though Shell continued its financial dealings with the Nazis after his resignation as head of the company and even after his death. This is all becoming clearer as a result of evidence emerging from the transfer of newspaper articles from microfilm to searchable online digital archives. We have gathered many more articles from newspapers in the USA, Canada ant the UK (The Scotsman, The Daily Mirror, The Daily Express, The Guardian, etc) and they will all be incorporated into a revised single reference source. We intend to make sure that what you describe as “scoring points”, but is a history of Nazi party funding which contributed towards tens of millions of horrific deaths, is brought to the attention of the world. We note that only one item was highlighted in the many Shell internal documents Shell recently supplied to us in response to our 2011 SAR application under the DATA PROTECTION ACT. It was a reference to our article on this subject. Because we consistently keep a link to the Nazi Secrets article as the top feature on our site, it ensures that the Shell/Nazi/Hitler subject appears at number 6 or 7, dependent on browser, on the first page of a Google search for “Royal Dutch Shell” out of 2.6 million results. For obvious reasons, its the subject that Shell would least like attention drawn in such a prominent rankings position when people Google “Royal Dutch Shell”.
@Londonlad,
Maybe what Omani 1959 is trying to do is gather enough information so that he and his other idle, non productive friends can take to the streets of Oman again, to try and blackmail the government into cancelling the production sharing agreement with Shell, and then the Omani government can sell 100% of its Oil and Gas and thereby gain far higher revenues.
This in turn (he is hoping for, or surmising at this stage) will lead to higher salaries for the woefully inept and unproductive, Omani nationals, but I must admit not all the Omani nationals are lazy and unproductive. By and large most of them try to do their best, but their
to LondonLad answering your question so what if Shell takes it’s contracually agreed oil in Oman, we Omanis (80%) are living on poverty line and Shell is stealing and sucking our oil, this oil fortune which Shell sweeps (34% share) from under our feet should go back to us Omanis not to this giant oil leech.
thats why we initiated an oil nationalization campaign in our country to get back this valuable natural resource.
I coud not find in PDO’s annual report any evidence on how much exactly Shell takes from our oil.
if you have any reference on how much Shell takes from our oil I will be thankful to you.
To Omani1959 :So what if Shell takes its contractually agreed oil in Oman? All facts and figures can be found in the company (PDO) annual reporting. Instead of trying to cause trouble (have you been sacked or passed over for a position?) just get on with an honest days work.
Trying being an experienced floorhand, welders helper on the pipeline and an Occupational Safety and Health Tech in the oil and gas industry as a FEMALE…I dont care what anyone says, its still the “good ole boys world” in O & G…wish me luck that maybe an honest job will come my way. Safety isnt a game people and the next time you look at missing hands and caved in sculls you’ll remember how much you need peope like me. It all turns to the right but that cant happen if no ones alive. Ya’ll be careful out there and LISTEN.
can anyone give any evidence or a proof that Shell:
(The company takes around 200,000 barrels of crude per day
#636Golden Triangle Watchman on Apr 21st, 2011 at 03:08
Alot of international workers on our site working this project, coming from the team who said they would hire locally for the tax abatements…… and the city officials bought it….. Wonder if this guy lived on downtown Port Arthur???
A contract welder working on the Motiva plant expansion in Port Arthur who was found dead Monday was identified as Arnel Ocampo.
Ocampo, 52, was from the Philippines, said Justice of the Peace Brad Burnett.
Contractors said that they saw him slumped over on a scaffold at about 5:15 p.m. and tried to yell for him, but he was not moving, Burnett said. The contractors told the judge there was welding equipment on the scaffold with Ocampo.
Emergency responders were contacted and Ocampo was taken to Christus St. Mary’s Hospital in Port Arthur where he was pronounced dead at 6 p.m., Burnett said. The judge added that he did not notice bruises or any sign of a fall, but did order an autopsy.
Ocampo was a contract worker with International Plant Services, said Burnett.
to Elias777 thanks for your solidarity with the campaign to nationalize our oil and rightly said oil leeches like Shell should stay away from our country.
@KuchingKid,
Spot on with your comments regarding the Omani’s.
They all have this attitude that they get sent overseas to complete their degree, and then come back to Oman and expect to walk into a (Manager’s) job, with an office, a computer, two cell phones, and a group of workers below them to do all the work. The expats just have to sigh and get on with what they were employed to do.
To Elias777 : You state that “Venezuela have done pretty well to nationalize oil” – tell that to the people of the country who are only just waking up to the fact that Charvez has wasted most of the money on pet projects & sponsoring other evil regimes (& his own overseas bank accounts)whilst at the same time leaving the people in poverty and with very little human rights. If Omani 1959 wants his country to go the same way so be it. Perhaps they will eventually see sense and go on the streets to get rid of such stupid ideas. Fact is Omani’s tend to be very lazy people and get others to do the hard work.
To Oman 1959, I wish you all the best with your campaign and I hope you succeed to get all the documents, I’m sure you have the knowledge and technology to process your own natural resources. If UAE and Saudi Arabia did it why not Oman? Venezuela also have done pretty well to nationalize oil, why not Oman? Is time for developing country to take care of themselves, OIL LEECHES should stay away from Middle East.
To omani1959 – let’s face it Iraq, Yemen and now Libya have NOT improved their oil production under nationalization and most certainly have reduced production recently. Corruption and laziness of locals make nationalization very problematic. By the way, if you blog on this site (or others) expect other peoples views, even if you don’t like them.
to Kuchingkid I did not ask about your opinion on nationalization, I only wanted some information about the2004 agreement between Shell and Oman government.
there were too many oil nationalization success stories in the past :
Saudi Arabia nationalized its oil from Aramco
UAE nationalized its oil from Adnoc
there is also Iran, Iraq, Libya, Yemen who all had success stories with their nationalisation.
It may be a pain, but, is it illegal to spy on someone just to gather information? I don’t think so. The problem comes when there is something to hide!! REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN: Witness intimidation and related burglaries are illegal and amounted to a criminal conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. The conspiracy continued even into the three week High Court Trial heard by a Judge who failed to disclose that his lifelong friend, the founder of an IP firm, had Shell as a client. The Judge also neglected to disclose his connection with the barrister son of the then Shell chairman Sir Mark Moody-Stuart. The Judge expressed not the slightest interest in Shell’s spying activities. He allowed Shell to engage in a carefully contrived deception at the climax of my three day cross-examination designed to entrap me. The case was settled. Shell paid all legal costs, said to be over
To omani1959 : like many fully nationalized companies they often fail miserably due to incompetence of the locals who are put inpositions they cannot cope with. Additionally they are finacially raped by senioe local staff who take most of the profit and squirrel it away in Swiss bank accounts. PDO will be no different – lazy / corrupt locals will be the beneficiary. Hope your campaign fails.
“Refugee from Shell slams fracking” – what scientific knowledge does Wuganalee have to state such drivel? That said, the article has very little substance to make me support his arguments. He seems to be yet another Ogoni trying to get money from an international company. Perhaps he should try and do an honest days work to get some cash.
#647Golden Triangle Watchman on Apr 8th, 2011 at 11:47
So it will be interesting to watch as Uncle Tom Purves has to come clean on the cost of the Motiva CEP project. He originally sold it as a $7B project as the clown Lauher and the rest of the project team put their pencil to paper and came up with the costs. Of course, all of those people have been run off the project. Meanwhile, the owners gave Uncle Tom a chance to come clean back in Dec 2008 when they shipped him back over to clean up the mess. Most of his check estimates came in north of $10B. What does he do? He goes back and says “Not a penny more than $8.5B and we can get this project complete.” Well, he has had to go back to the well several times since then and the project stands at an approved budget of something north of $9B. He is going back for another $0.5B soon. The estimates still say north of $10B. Uncle Tom, we wish you well. Glad to see you are a big project guy much like your buddy Forest. And let’s not forget that the start-up plan for this albatross is pretty bad. Who is running that show? Take a guess….. Uncle Tom’s sidekick “da Funk”. This is going to be a hoot to watch as it comes across the finish line. All I can say is No clue.
REPLY TO USCITIZEN: You seem to be deliberately trying to mix up what i have stated and what “OUTSPOKEN” has alleged. I authored the article “Shell is very different from Enron“. There were a number of articles by various publications comparing the Enron scandal with the Shell reserves scandal. The article by The Economist “Another Enron” is one such example. “OUTSPOKEN” provided related comments as a result of reading my article. OUTSPOKEN has already responded to your comments. You have acknowledged that there were former Shell employees at Enron who you describe as traders. In any event, I am not responsible for other contributors opinions/comments, whether from OUTSPOKEN, you, or anyone else who supplies comment for publication on this website.
God Bless Donovan and the person Outspoken who can not post for himself on this site. First Outspoken – shame on you for doing consulting work for Enron – you day out of one side you did not know how they made money , clairvoyant one, and then work for them as a consultant. Using the Donovan connect the dots skills, you are crooked. Secondly – as a lowly consultant, I am sure you had no real insight to how folks behaved or did business. But wait, if you claim you did, then you reinforce my orgininal thought, shame on you for doing business with them? So which is out oh outspoken one – indict yourself or admit you really did not know how they did business???
John, John , John – must you continue to dig while you spin, – nice try – Managers vs Execs. The guy was clearly implying that Shell managers/Execs worked for the corrupt Enron and Shell is corrupt – so any questions. Please. Name on ex Shell Manager who had anything to do with the big Enron decisions! Thought so , the silence is deafening.
I feel for folks like you! Have fun spinning this one!!
PS – maybe Shell survived our crisis , and it was a crisis, because there was no comparision to Enron, ya think?
Later – I may change my tag and send my thoughts to John so he can post for me – Come on Outspoken – if you are so Outspoken post for yourself!!
NOTE FROM JOHN DONOVAN. USCitizen included within his posting the comments made by “OUTSPOKEN”. I have deleted the repeated relevant OUTSPOKEN comment about ENRON, which can be read below. All that is left here is the latest comments of USCitzen.
POSTED On BEHALF OF “OUTSPOKEN”, A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA: John,
I read the comment by the one reader about doing a criminal background investigation of your family.
Sounds like Shell at work here. Slander and defame those that would question the good name of Shell. Cast aspersions upon their good name. Destroy their credibility. Break them and their allies. What a tired and tawdry way of doing business.Thuggery disguised behind a thin veil of respectability provided by the carefully crafted corporate image.
As a doubter of Shell management’s quality of character and their manner of doing business you have become one of the feared and despised ‘OTHER’. The OTHER are to be neutralized so that they can not cause difficulties for the Shell corporate family. The OTHER are the enemy of all good Shell loyalists.
REPLY BY JOHN: I have no idea who made the comment.
I wonder, has anyone investigated the Donovans for previous bad / criminal past family members? I am sure there must have been, but, does that make them responsible for the past family behaviour? REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN: No one has said that current Shell employees or descendents of Sir Henri Deterding have any responsibility for his actions. They do not. Royal Dutch Shell boasts of its long history. Check out “Our History” on shell.com. As can be expected, although praiseworthy events are rightly covered, there is no mention whatsoever of Royal Dutch Shell massive financial support for Hitler, which saved the Nazi party from oblivion. The dark side of Shell’s history is hidden in the closet along with millions of skeletons. Due to the same driving motive – GREED – Shell has continued throughout the years to do business with evil dictators and still does. e.g. in June 2009, Shell settled a US Court case for $15.5 million in respect of complicity in torture, murder and human rights violations in Nigeria. As for “criminal past family members,” there are none of which I am aware.
I would suspect that Mr/Ms Lao is speaking in a perspective very relative to his or her own experiences. I guess Shell has done an ‘excellent job’ in the ‘relative-subjective’ opinion of all who only value the profits of their behavior. Too many contributors to this site have cited personal experiences with unethical behaviors in Shell’s local and corporate/global-level ‘systems’.
First time on this website. What is the matter with the site owners? So bigoted persons. Shell does an excellent job in poor countries despite all the anti-Shell nonsense posted here.
POSTED ON BEHALF OF AN OUTSPOKEN FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA: Yes I have something to say to uscitizen. Get a life. And learn to read and think for yourself. You come across like some Hitler Youth PR manager. Hail Mighty Shell. You also might want to read a book entitled ’1984′. It is a good read.
Not that it is any of your business but I used to consult for Enron. I did so for years so I know of the beast of which I speak. Unlike many former Shell employees I refused to take their job offers because I could not figure out how those clowns were making money, outside of their gas pipeline business. As it turned out, they weren’t. And for your information, some of Shell’s former senior level managers who went to work for them couldn’t figure that out either and left in short order. But these were the honest former Shell managers, some of whom I knew quite well.
However, as is always the case, birds of a feather flock together, and the slimier of the former Shell managers stuck around at Enron to begin second careers. Eventually, the big bad Wall Street wolf huffed and puffed and blew their house of cards apart. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer bunch of crooks. The sad part of the story is about all the good, hard working employees that got ‘f***’ by their own management, not to mention all the investors that lost their investment. In that regard RD Shell management and Enron management come from the same ‘rape’em and stab’em’ school of business economics. They make off like bandits with their inflated salaries and stock options, leaving the investors and employees holding the bag. It is fortunate for RD Shell investors and employees that Shell had the resources to survive their own massive corruption scandal. Aside from that, RD Shell management and Enron management were not that dissimilar in the way they operated. They still aren’t.
Geez, John Strikes again with a headline full of spin. Name one member of their senior or central leadership team who was a Shell exec. Sure they had some traders, but I guess you think traders set company policy and are the ones who mislead the world on Enron earnings, right John. Your integrity is not up to the standard you seem to want to hold others. Tip – your headline makes the uneducated think that leaders of Enron were ex Shell folks. Either change your headline or admit you mislead folks, that is the standard you espouse! But you will not, we know you too well. The spin meister!!
REPLY TO USCITIZEN FROM JOHN: You accuse me of spin, but engage in blatant spin yourself. This was not a comment made by me as you purport, but by a former employee of your company. The headline was a direct extract from the comment in question. The former Shell employees working for Enron were described in the comment as Shell managers, not Shell executives as you wrongly state. Hope you don’t mind me correcting your inaccuracies. I am sure “OUTSPOKEN” will have something to say in reply.
Dilbert, you must be joking ! If you are in Shell long enough, you know it is just lip service. Those Whites with skirts are preferred over colored in key positions. Since when you do you see a colored SEG in the EC. It will never happen. We have given up long time ago.
Peter Voser really knows how to motivate the hired hands:
Announces that DIVERSITY is top on his agenda. Odum (US Country Chair) follows with the statement that “persons of colour” are his top priority.
Sweet! Now my incompetent management will be incompetent females “of colour”!
What am I supposed to tell young white male hetrosexual engineers when I interview them? That they will love watching the diversity candidates promote past them because diversity is a wonderful thing? Sure it is, now get back to your cubicle and make your boss her bonus.
So, when are these Nazi secrets exposed. I am still waiting! So far nothing worth reading!! REPLY FROM JOHN DONOVAN: Sounds like your alias should be “NOT INTERESTED”. Can only surmise that you have not read the entire 9 part article. Or perhaps you are unconcerned that Shell helped finance the Nazis and hence the concentration camps, where millions perished in horrific circumstances. We have already provided copious evidence from independent reputable circumstances and much much more is in the pipeline. The Internet will prove to be a disaster for the reputation of Royal Dutch Shell. More newspaper archives from around the world are being made available on a searchable basis online. More books are available online on a searchable basis. Same applies to foreign language books and articles including from Germany. We have further confirmation of Shell’s direct contact with Hitler and Shell’s funding of the Nazi Party. Shell is certainly interested. Shell senior management was in contact with me on the subject earlier this month, after discussions with the paid historians responsible for “A History of Royal Dutch Shell”. It is obvious from the comments made by Fat Cat CEO Peter Voser about current events in Libya that Shell is still prepared to deal with the devil, driven, as always, by unscrupulous greed.
Russian military units stationed on the island of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands, which are disputed with Japan, prepared for a possible evacuation because of the nuclear threat, only days after they were warned about the tsunami.
No tsunami impact on Sakhalin projects says Upstream Online:
Oil and gas projects near Sakhalin Island off Russia’s far-eastern coast have seen little impact from the tsunami triggered by a massive earthquake in Japan, supermajors operating in the region said. Russia ordered a tsunami warning in three …
John, how bad is the trouble in the Middle East going to hurt Shell on crude? I know the deal with there partners on Motiva crude but what about other areas? REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN: Others contributors to this blog are better qualified than me to answer your question.
uscitizen is right, market demand is significant in setting consumer prices. no evil in working that process to full advantage. No, the upset in the balance occurs when individual and corporate self indulgence exploits other individuals, communities, cultures and the environment, whether on the supply or demand ends of the system. Every expense incurred from entertainment, travel, training, and drilling in deep water impact the supply cost. Responsible citizens understand this and are forever conscious of the impacts of their behaviors on all costs to the community, the environment and supply-side costs as they impact consumer prices.
To the poor fellow who wants to know why coke is more expensive than oil on a volume basis – God help ya! Next product up for his review – bottled water. Market demands , market demands. People will pay , companies will sell. REPLY FROM THE POOR FELLOW IN QUESTION: John, I have a response to USCitzens ‘predictable response. How about a monopolistic duopoly that exists between Coca – Cola Corp. and Pepsico and that prevents the rise of any meaningful competitor????? ‘Market forces’ my ass. The same thing is occurring in the bottled water business only the Nestle’ company has jumped into the fray and that keeps the situation somewhat more ‘fluid’, no pun intended.
I give, I call uncle. I can not continue a debate with someone who clearly is not listening and thinks acceptable ethical, moral and legal behavior with vendors, ie once or twice a year activities at de minimus levels, will drive me to corrupt practices. You win, I am crooked, all folks in all industries around the globe who have business relationships with behaviors identical to mine are crooked and we can not manage the slippery slope. Happy, good. I can see a lot clearer how your logic works and that the black and white world you live in is applied with your assumptions about peoples standards, values and ethics. Later and moving on. Please have your sarcasm meter calibrated before reading this post.
All the other accusations are too numerous to debate, others can engage you on that. I know how I am asked to behave, how I am expected to behave, how I am graded vs that behavior and how I apply that standard to my organization. All in my organization sleep well. Our community neighbors appreciate our behaviors and the stewardship we apply to our business. All I got pal.
REPLY FROM JOHN DONOVAN: For the sake of argument, let’s accept that you are a responsible person of integrity who acts at all times in accordance with the Code of Conduct. Unfortunately some Shell employees/managers/executives are greedy and thoroughly dishonest. Some climbed to the very top of the company. One even received a knighthood while secretly engaging in a multi-billion dollar securities fraud. Allowing vendors to treat Shell employees to freebies and Shell employees to treat government oversight officials to gifts, is a recipe for scandal, as per the notorious Shell sponsored Drugs, Sex & Corruption scandal involving the U.S. Minerals Management Service, which made news headlines in 2009.
POSTED ON BEHALF OF A FORMER SHELL OIL CO EMPLOYEE: John,
FIRST SUBJECT: Can anyone in the US food industry or petroleum industry explain to me in reasonalble and rational terms why Coca-Cola, etc., sells for about $1 US per liter retail, while gasoline sells for about $0.75 per liter US retail, which includes a host of Federal, State, and local taxes. Am I missing something here??
SECOND SUBJECT: John,
After 9/11 the US Congress passed an ill considered piece of legislation called the USA Patriot Act. Provisions of that Act are up for renewal this year. One of the more onerous provisions has to do with the attaining of search warrants. The Patriot Act did away with the protections from ‘unreasonable search and seizure’ that had been in place since the signing of the US Constitution in the late 18th century. That particular provision is set to expire shortly and an extension is currently under debate.
When I think about it, the Fed’s could use this statute to literally walk into Shell USA offices and go through everything Shell has in the way of business records. Everything. The cause would be suspicion of conspiracy to commit espionage. Wonder why that has not happened given that NCIS had/has had Shell under investigation?
Perhaps it was due to high level political connections in the Bush Administration, and continued high level connections in the US government. What do your readers think?
REPLY TO US CITIZEN: Unfortunately the code is meaningless since Shell senior management has a track record of supporting corrupt practices, engaging in corruption, securities fraud, IP theft, price fixing cartels, fictitious trades, putting profits before employee safety, sponsoring industrial espionage, using Shell employees as unknowing guinea pigs in a study of carcinogenic properties at a chemicals plant, informing on Nigerian gangs Shell was secretly funding, disguising Iraqi and Iranian oil shipments which were in breach of UN sanctions. This list is endless and includes involvement in torture, murder and human rights abuses. It really is deeds, not words which count. Shell’s ethical code is a sham. And we can see how Shell treats whistleblowers. I admire your loyalty to Shell, but it is sadly misplaced. As to your acceptance of gifts, free golf and “outings” from vendors doing business with Shell, the intent is obvious. It is to buy influence. That is corruption. It remains to be seen if the level of corruption – the gifts and freebies – are approved by Shell, but in that case it is an unwise unethical enticement to vendors and potentially a very slippery slope.
Nope – will not share that with you. But we have a tracking system where we log all of our vendor contacts and where we log offers that are out of compliance. Violate these polices and you get fired. Questions? We have had to fire folks for these violations. We are expected to flag violations that we see. We do not run to a hate site and post them, we deal with it.
Read the document you posted closer – while it does not list the limits, it refers to them.
ever offer, give, seek or accept G&H
that exceed prescribed value limits,
unless line manager approval has
been obtained. These value limits
are listed at intranet site.
REPLY TO US CITIZEN: Could not find the G&H limits within the Code of Conduct. Apparently published on the Shell Intranet. Perhaps you can kindly tell us what they are provided that does not put you in the position of revealing confidential internal information.
Wow – we went from items described as acceptable in our code of conduct, Yes Joh the standard is always that the activity does not influence your decisions, to visiting ladies of leisure and needing protection. I rest my case. John, you are like some politicians, take an extract out of context. If you read the whole policy , that I review every year, you would see that there are limits that have to be reported if you go over or are invited. That sidetrip to Vegas better have been reported by the person you replied for John. All of mine are reported and logged. You clearly did not understand the reciprocity approach that many of us take. You have a business relationship with a vendor, you ensure that for business entertainment, you reciprocate. That takes out any doubt that you did something for benefit. Try to understand how that works. There is no hole for me to get out of John, but you are in a cavern quoting part of a standard and applying it out of context. How do you know if it impacted my decision or not? I am not about to put my job at jeopardy for a lunch or a golf game. And to the guest that went thru you, shame on you for your accusations. Insulted me and my family. I will not do the same to you, higher standard. Good day. PS – read the whole policy John and then let folks know about the limits and why they are there.
POSTING ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA:
Reply to US Citizen:
When I was working for Shell USA I once had a vendor (who will remain unnamed for the present time), and whose services I was evaluating, offer to fly me out to their corporate facilities in California in their corporate Boeing 727 to ‘look over their operation’. On the return trip they indicated that there would be a stopover in Las Vegas for a little ‘R&R’. Prostitution is legal in Nevada, and they asked if I have ever visited any of the more famous ‘recreational institutions’. Of course, there would be a little gambling, etc., at the casinos. A good time would have been had by all. I declined the invitation. The vendor was not ‘passing the grade’, and they were clearly trying to either buy me off or set me up. It didn’t make much difference.
This sort of thing was, and still is, not uncommon in the oil industry. It is the sort of thing that comes with being a ‘member of the club’, so to speak. The vendors supply the ‘entertainment’ in return for business being kicked their direction. That is the quid pro quo. (Does this remind you of the Sex and Drugs scandal at DoI??).
I am certain that you enjoy your ‘benefits’ and that you have a good time, being that you are obviously ‘a member of the club’. (I presume you ‘use protection’??? Wouldn’t want to give the wife an unwanted ‘gift’.)
yes, every Shell employee that is cowardly silent when they see unfair, unjust, unsafe, unlawful or immoral acts. ..and especially those whom I have seen commit these acts while getting recognized and rewarded for some pretentious accomplishment. Those that get away with political games for their own advancement are the most proud to work for Shell. I was once very proud of Shell, and very proud to be an employee. I earned a very comfortable living,and probably overlooked things while raising my family, that became intolerable as I aged. Be proud of your company, do well and take care of your family. Do all that you can to influence when you see someone violating these values. Hopefully you will never be exposed in the way that I was, to behaviors and activities that you can no longer influence or tolerate.
REPLY TO uscitizen: Every time you pay us a visit, you dig yourself a deeper hole. You admit accepting gifts, lunches and free golf from parties doing business with Shell. This is what it says in the Shell Code of Conduct: “You must not offer, pay, make, seek or accept a personal payment, gift or favour in return for favourable treatment or to gain any business advantage.” Do you think these parties are lavishing gifts on you because of your sex appeal and great personality, or to gain favor? Based on your postings I think we all know the answer at least in relation to the latter. With the time you spend on free lunches, free golf/outings etc plus visits here, currently several times a day, I am surprised you have any time left for work? I have deleted from your comments the inclusion of the postings to which you are responding, because the repeats in my view only cause confusion.
So you just bashed every Shell Employee that is proud of Shell. We are all wonderful, dedicated, self-sacrificing lieutenant or pawns? I have said on here that a company, like people make mistakes. Never said Shell has not. What we refuse to take is the bashing that John and people like you hand out. Stating that the intent of the company is to make money in spite of all the stakeholders. Pure rubbish and if you really paid attention you would know that. I have worked with people like you, we know your type. I sleep very well, you have not read all my posts. If this company was EVIL as you and Johnnie state, then I would have been asked to violate operating permits to make money, look the other way to get the units back up on time, etc. We simply do not do that or allow that. Some operating companies do, that will get you fired at Shell. Now you and John will call me a Liar, but you have not been in my shoes and that is how we and I do business. Simple. And if you can not see how a person who works for a company that trains us to do business right is bashed because of some mistakes as an evil company, so be it, you are the one who is myopic and looking thru some colored lenses. Later, gotta go violate a permit and gas the community – that is what I do every day right?
THIS REPLY IS IN RESPONSE TO THE POSTING BY JOHN DONOVAN COMMENCING “In fact your posting was published hours ago…
My bad – it was not there when I refreshed but one I posted after it was?? Oh my Vegas and Atlantic City – we clearly are not communicating. $20 lunch at the local Mexican place. Sometimes I buy sometimes they buy! $50 round of golf, sometimes they buy sometimes I buy! Oh and I have nothing to hide from the Shell system John, turn them all in. Taking a trip to Vegas or Atlantic City would be against the policy, I do not do that. You chose to start this web page, so I all realize you are in a much different place than folks who come on here. PS – why do you not call out all of the folks bashing shell and not using their real names, I thought so! So I guess the fact that they are hurling abuse while hiding their identity allows us to draw conclusions about their honesty, courage, integrity and credibility. Right John! Now we see how your argument falls apart, as most of your arguments do! See ya, till next time. Enjoyed the distraction!
Headed off to Wimbledon with a supplier soon, RIGHT!! That is what John thinks a Business meeting is to further a business relationship!!
…of folks like uscitizen…no responsible character traits here. All of Shell is always great. If one believes that they exploit, rape, and abuse resources and people, then one must be vindictive. uscitizen is clearly a hopeless patsy. ..or maybe he is a dedicated employee that does not want to see his beloved Shell being immoral… or a manager/director who is trying to defend the charge that he has so proudly stood by. I like others in today’s new shell could no longer live like this. If you sleep well every night, knowing what Shell’s only true motive is, no matter how well you deny it to yourself; and without ever communicating it to anyone, then God bless you. You are one wonderful, dedicated, self-sacrificing lieutenant or pawn. This all boils down to Shell’s ability to irresponsibly disregard communities, cultures, the environment, humanity, and the personal impact on individuals, for the sake of energy exploitation for profit. No, uscitizen, I have worked with people like you, for people like you, and have had people like you work for me; not becoming part of the character-absent, immoral culture, and speaking honestly when you see injustice, is the only way to be truly content. Defending immorality, can only mean internal misery, no matter how much you want to believe that preserving your position and honoring Shell is what’s important. There are far too many observable, irresponsible acts committed by Shell, not to at least admit awareness. Some of us see these behaviors carried out by such a significant player in the exploitation of our resources as EVIL. Something tells me that you may be in a position of some influence. How well are you really sleeping? please forgive me if i have this all wrong; i am just trying to figure out the means of your die-hard , servant position.
REPLY TO uscitizen: In fact your posting was published hours ago. Guess you forgot to refresh the page. We remain keen to have people speaking out for Shell. That should have been plain from the fact that we have continued without exception publishing your abusive comments about us over recent years. What I am pointing out is that there is a vast difference between us making comments in our own names about Shell, which we are prepared to defend in court, compared with you making defamatory comments about us while hiding behind an alias posting name and an alias email address. Shell has our current address for correspondence and the service of legal proceedings. We were in contact with Shell just days ago via our home address and await a response. I am sure visitors to this site would be impressed if you posted under your real name (and supplied us with your address details – not for publication) so that we were in the same position as Shell is with us i.e. able to challenge us in the libel courts. If you have confidence that your personal acceptance of gifts, lunches and “outings” from parties doing business with Shell Oil will not be frowned upon by Shell senior management, then at least declare your name. BTW, are the “outings” to Atlantic City or Las Vegas? If you continue to insist on hurling abuse while hiding your identity, others will be able to draw their own conclusions about your honesty, courage, integrity and credibility. On reflection, bearing in mind the hole you have dug for yourself in relation to the subject of bribes/corruption, you are probably best advised not to disclose your real name.
Oh Donovan – you did not post my last entry. What part of it violated the Blog rules? Yes folks – when you post some hard truths the great hope for ethics will not post it! Wow – pot calling the kettle black, but that would mean your accusations against Shell have some merit, so naaah. Bad analogy! Lets just say you make mistakes that folks can interpret as evil, bad form, low ethical standards. See how tough it is to meet your standard of pleasing everone all the time?. Tough world out here John, come join us.
“Interested
on Feb 10th, 2011 at 2:12 am
What is happening in PA with CEP? I understand there have been talks about this blog. The funny thing is that after the note from Norco about the three new comers all talk stopped. Would like to hear what OSHA had to say about the mishap.”
They might have realized what kind of site this was and realized they were posting in the wrong place and found someplace more credible!
You cannot change now what you have stated here in the past. Fortunately visitors can look back at your comments and decide for themselves whether my statement that you have admitted accepting gifts from vendors and seem to consider such gifts to be an entitlement, is a fair assessment. You have now also admitted accepting free hospitality. Lunch, presumably washed down with free beer or wine. You also mention social outings. The list grows. What next. This is the corporate culture that resulted in the Sex, Drugs and Corruption scandal. With regards to whistleblowing, I suggest that you check out relevant legislation enacted in the USA and the UK to protect whistleblowers. You will then be better informed. Far from being illegal, whistleblowing is protected. Shell has a whistleblower helpline, but unfortunately it is fatally flawed, which is perhaps why Shell employees contact me, rather than Shell. With regards to Shell employees generally, we know that the vast majority are decent hard working people and have said so many times. Our problem is with the Shell fat cats who will deal with the devil and flout Shell
What is happening in PA with CEP? I understand there have been talks about this blog. The funny thing is that after the note from Norco about the three new comers all talk stopped. Would like to hear what OSHA had to say about the mishap.
You cannot change now what you have stated here in the past. Fortunately visitors can look back at your comments and decide for themselves whether my statement that you have admitted accepting gifts from vendors and seem to consider such gifts to be an entitlement, is a fair assessment. You have now also admitted accepting free hospitality. Lunch, presumably washed down with free beer or wine. You also mention social outings. The list grows. What next. This is the corporate culture that resulted in the Sex, Drugs and Corruption scandal. With regards to whistleblowing, I suggest that you check out relevant legislation enacted in the USA and the UK to protect whistleblowers. You will then be better informed. Far from being illegal, whistleblowing is protected. Shell has a whistleblower helpline, but unfortunately it is fatally flawed, which is perhaps why Shell employees contact me, rather than Shell. With regards to Shell employees generally, we know that the vast majority are decent hard working people and have said so many times. Our problem is with the Shell fat cats who will deal with the devil and flout Shell’s own claimed ethical code to enrich themselves. In future, if you wish to make defamatory and abusive comments about us, please set up your own website so that we can take appropriate legal action against you. We can hardly do so when the comments are published on our own website (with you hiding behind a pseudonym). We have the courage and integrity to make comments in our own name and at our own cost.
REPLY TO “uscitizen”: Have not heard from you since you admitted accepting gifts from vendors doing business with Shell. It was obvious from your comments that you considered such gifts/bribes to be an entitlement. With regards to whistleblowing, you obviously support the people at Shell like Jeroen van der Veer who knew for years that shareholders were being given fraudulent information about Shell’s claimed oil and gas reserves and did not inform the people who own the company or bring the multibillion dollar securities fraud into the open. Shell Production Geologist Dr Huong, who did blow the whistle internally, was sacked and then buried in court injunctions and prison committal proceedings to silence him.
REPLY ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA: To USCitizen: Read the Wikileaks revelations recently? Or is that an ‘inconvenient truth’? Shell only has its senior management to blame for all of that. Need to watch those ‘loose lips…’, and put your corporate propaganda organs into high gear doing damage control. We thought you had had enough and were through with this website. Promises, promises. That is So much like Shell management. You cannot trust a word they say. Have a good day.
Ahh the conspiracy theorists rise. Oh yes, RD is plotting all kinds of evil things! Geez, you folks need to get a life. Yeah if you leak company confidential information, you might have someone trying to figure out who it is! What a concept. Maybe one the us government may want to look into!
POSTED ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA: This is for shellwaarbenjijnu:
I now live in that mystical land of Shangrila. Thanks for asking. To be honest, I was just being a bit of a smartass with that MI6 comment, but the analogy seamed apt. In the States Shell employs former FBI types for their security group, and they have connections with their buddies at the FBI. Yes, it is indeed a dirty and tangled web RD Shell has woven. RD Shell is doing its best to co-opt and compromise politicians and those governmental agencies that have ‘watch-dog’ functions over the legality of their operations. Call them what you want, RD Shell or the fictional ‘Spectre’, the company still stinks and they threaten the rule of law in those countries in which they operate.
Ah “former employee of Shell USA” – regarding MI6 it is even more tangled than you know. Shell has former UK intelligence service operatives on payroll. A certain Ian “McCreepy” is engaged in tracking down employees who leak to this site. No doubt through his web of connections busies himself with trying to crack open this site and determine the identity of the contributors.
POSTED ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA: John,
The more I read about RD Shell the more they resemble the dastardly fictonal criminal entity ‘SPECTRE’ of Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels and movies. Is this a case of art imitating life, or the other way around? Where is MI6 and James Bond when you need them?
Someone From Port Arthur:
You guys had to have met the infamous Joey D, (He will be found right up The FUNKS ass, cant miss him. Please let us know what you think, Please dont be shy we all know that he is a piece of shit!!!! along with the other two that were shipped over there to save the day…
POSTING ON BEHALF OF AN OUTSPOKEN FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA: John,
I read your latest Wiki-leaks posting. I knew the Dutch government held a significant stake in the giant Groningen gas field in the Netherlands, but did not know it was 40%. That means RD Shell’s stake is 30%, and they pay a boat load of taxes on what they earn from that field as well. Likewise for Exxon.
So, why has Ireland given away the Corrib gas field to Shell and its partners? It seems to me that the Irish government should be able to cut a deal similar to what the Dutch have with RD Shell and Exxon in the Groningen gas field. And RD Shell and their partners should pay income taxes as well.
RD Shell has done a good job of co-opting the Irish government to get the deal they wanted. That much is clear.
POSTED ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA:
Hello John,
Your Canadian reader is quite correct about his geography, of course.
However, I bet much of the air pollution from Fort McMurry circles the globe at that latitude and makes it to Prudhoe Bay the ‘long way’, particularly in the summer. No doubt air pollution from the Russian Arctic oil complexes makes it to Alaska and beyond as well.
As a kid growing up near Yellowstone Park there were times when the smoke from the Alaskan forest fires would reduce the visibility in Northwest Wyoming to just a few miles.
Much of Los Angeles’ air quality and pollution problems today are not home grown, but come with the wind all the way across the Pacific from China.
My point here is that air quality in the Alaskan offshore Arctic is not going to be impacted to any measurable degree by RD Shell’s drill ship and small flotilla of supporting vessels in a two month drilling program. The allegation that it will have any measurable impact is probably pretty much of a joke.
While the former Shell Oil employee may have a point on the motives of the DOI, his geography is a bit off. To say the oil sands in Alberta are “just next door” is a stretch. Prudhoe Bay to Fort McMurray is about 3600 km (2250 miles) or about the same as Los Angles to Boston
POSTED ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA: John,
Read the stories about RD Shell’s air pollution permits being ‘deficient’, thereby delaying the issuance of a drilling permit for next year. This is nonsense. Something else is going on at DoI.
The amount of air pollutants emitted by land rigs, and the Prudhoe Bay complex, not to mention the massive tar sands projects in Albert, which is essentially just next door to Alaska, dwarf anything RD Shell might emit in a 2 month drilling program.
DoI has decided to ‘stick it’ to RD Shell for other reasons. Maybe it has to do with the Gale Norton affair, or the ‘sex and drugs’ scandals, or the current ongoing investigation by DoI and the Navy. Whatever the cause, RD Shell has a ‘political problem’ that they may not be able to overcome. Don’t count on Shell ever getting to drill in the offshore anytime soon.
Maybe RD Shell should contract for a modern drilling rig, that might help their cause. The fact that they are not going after a modern rig indicates they know something else is going on.
When the Republicans lost the White House Shell lost its sponsor. They are on the outside looking in now.
POSTED ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA: John,
I have been reading the continuing saga of Dr. Huong. RD Shell is a vindictive company. Anyone who knows how they operate knows this. But in Dr. Huong’s case the pernicious hypocrisy of Shell management has climbed to new heights. They sued this poor man because they could get away with it in the corrupt Malaysian legal system. The claim of ‘defamation’ is a joke on Shell’s part. Shell’s conduct in this case is a classic example of ‘corporate tyranny’. Nigeria is another.
Keep this story in the public eye. It is a lesson and a warning to all who would ‘cross’ RD Shell.
EGrainger, perhaps I’ll help get some response to your questions started. Yes, it is hard for some to see Shell as the responsible party in some of the Niger Delta events. My opinion is that oil exploiters are responsible for collaborative responsibility, with governments, communities, cultures and the environment. Sabotage of their facilities only indicates that they have not completed the whole package. Maximizing profit can mean neglect of stakeholders.
I am currently investigating Shell’s position within Nigeria, more specifically the Delta; when I came across your website. It is crammed with an insane amount of information I can’t even begin to take half of it in, it
POSTING ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA: John, Got an observation and a question.
The observation is that from all the comments you get, and the articles you run, like that on Dr. Huong, it is clear that RD Shell management is highly cannibalistic and has a nasty tendency to jettison their best and brightest for self-serving ‘political reasons’. It was that way when I was at Shell so things haven’t changed much, except to get worse.
The question I have for all the critics of your ‘revisit of yester-year’ is this:
If the clock were turned back to the 1930′s does anyone have any doubt that today’s RD Shell management, European or American, would sell out their Jewish employees? Remember that Shell USA is headquartered in the ‘Deep South’ and in the heart of Southern Baptist Country. Come on folks, be honest. We all know that today’s sterling gang of managers would do it in a heart beat, and without a second thought. And they would do just to suck up and earn the ‘brownie points’ to further their careers.
Think about that for awhile.
RD Shell is such a well led corporation.
REPLY COMMENT BY JOHN DONOVAN: I will duck that question. What I would say is that some members of Shell top management have ruthlessly abandoned claimed business principles out of greed, ambition and/or misguided loyalty to dishonest colleagues.
More on TP…. Trust me, the fact that Tom Purves single handedly ruined the careers and reputations of many in his 4 years at the helm will be his legacy for those in the ranks. For the SEs in Shell, you are right as they will look at the project called CEP and will let that determine what his ride into the sunset is titled. The facts re CEP are this…. Good concept, bad timing, leadership ( Lauher ) that was in over his head ( remember Tom hired his little buddy off the streets after CP dumped him, project’s initial estimate is $3.5b; Tom gets it approved for $7b; the project goes off the rails due to no controls and inadequate leadership with Bechtel and Lauher and his team, the control estimates come in at $10b, Tom gets it re-approved at $8.5b. And we are where we are. Still trying to get it completed, 2 years later. Project will still be over $10b. Start-up will be what it is going to be.
As for leadership being Shell’s finest, I don’t disagree that this is probably the best Shell can put on the front line. This isn’t saying much as most in the trenches know that Purves carries alot of weight with Motiva and the Saudis since he is the only senior left over from the early days of Motiva. But give me a break, the other leaders brought in are the ones Purves brought in, not shell’s best. At least if he is going down, Shell’s senior leaders let him “do it his way”. Trust me, they all deserve each other. the rest of us just will wait it out anddo our best.
Those observing and those being impacted by TP’s needy ego, do not his legacy make. When it comes right down to it, he and the Funk were seen as saviors to a project needing better management. And this is what gets played outside of Shell. If he pulls it off with cost improvement, and is able to connect all upsets to Bechtel (and others), his retirement package will be one to be envied. The Reuter’s article excerpt below eludes to that view; managers brought in to ‘restart’ the project after Saudi ARAMCO became concerned about cost, must be Shell’s finest.
“The $5-billion project, begun in 2007 was stopped for over a year in late 2008 due to concerns by Motiva partner Saudi Aramco about the cost and management of the expansion. Work resumed in 2009.”
#703Scared Port Arthur Employee on Jan 9th, 2011 at 02:30
Mr. Donovan, here is what I can tell you since the PR spin on this was pretty shallow…. The crane, a part of the CEP project, and being operated by Bechtel, toppled over backwards, falling into and across a piperack. This damaged the piperack extensively, taking out power lines, collapsing into a resid tank that we had just put back in service. This also trapped an individual in one of the vacuum trucks in the surrounding area. A very bad event indeed but played down to the external community for obvious reasons. Another problem due to Bechtel which should have been fired from the project back in 2009 instead of all the people Tom Purves ended up letting go that were trying to help. Maybe Purves and Funkhouser with their little tag-along plant manager can help to right this one. Believe me, it is going to get worse before it gets better on this project. OSHA is in here investigating. We’ll wait and see what they find.
POSTED ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL: John,
I read your expose’ on Dr. Huong’s ordeal. As a student of history this is the sort of thing you would expect from the fascists or Bolsheviks of days gone by. The two ideologies are different sides of the same twisted coin.
RD Shell’s cultural roots show clearly in the way they treated this poor man. And their conduct was and is despicable. That man did not slander Shell. Truth is not slander.
Dr. Huong, you are not the only one who has been done wrong. The only truth here is that Shell senior mgt is bad. Tom Purves, here in the US, has done similar deeds as you refer to. He has lied about good people in our company and between him and the HR cronies, who sole job these days is to serve senior mgt, created fabrications that led to good people leaving our company. A strong similarity is the level of diligence that senior mgt and HR exhibited going after these people to run them out of the company. Tom also lied and had performance factors changed, after the manager had set them, to allow people to be targeted for severance packages across all of our GC sites. He falls into the same mix of senior managers that you reference; the only difference is the country. Shell senior mgt has changed this company we have all been proud of and have served our entire careers for. Flat out frustrated and no end in sight. Shell mgt won’t respond to you becauase they have no backbone and won’t stand up to be judged by their deeds. Face it, this company is a 3rd rate company with weak leaders. This unfortunately is as good as it gets until major changes happen.
It would be surprising if the Frontier Discoverer meets current emission standards. The vessel was built 45 years ago. Imagine trying to get an emissions certificate for a 1965 automobile…
Shell claims to have spent over $2bn on its Arctic exploration programme, but are proposing to use a vessel which should have been sent to the scrapyard many years ago. A new vessel would cost perhaps $500 million, but would last for 35 years and would include all the latest safety and environmental equipment. How can Shell claim to be serious about emissions, safety, and environmental protection while trying to use equipment constructed when the issues were not even considered – the Frontier Discoverer was built before the first major offshore blowout (Unocal, Santa Barbara channel) occurred in 1969.
Golden Triangle Watchmen:
Did the Norco TRIO show up yet? Useless Joey D (No degree just like “Funk”, BB- rule breaker, and Gabby Dipp (brainless). They are all coming from NORCO to save the day over there in Texas. Again Funk pulling strings for Joey. His dictatorship at Motiva Norco was too long and over thank god. They were running him out so he had to call his long lost buddy Funk to help him out. This useless piece of shit is like a grade 2 or so making way too much money for a person with no degree who skated on everyone else
That TP was able to reek the havoc that he did, on the organization and on people’s lives. No justice that no one had the wisdom or guts to stop him. .. Or that he is still in any position at Shell. … but the biggest injustice of all, is that there has not been nor will there probably ever be, reparation for his damage to personal lives! Yep more of the ‘dialogue’ of alignment, being ‘spoken’ in today’s Shell.
Funny is not what would come to mind for Tx City from where I sit if Jeff gets run off from Motiva and goes to hang on to his next apron with KC. Many of us, who read this website, remember the Tom and Jeff show when it was here. Not even close to being funny. I am just blown away that Shell has let it exist as long as it has. He got fired up here when CP decided that he would not be a manager. Peple up here remember what the knife felt like when he was working for Tom 2 levels down in the organization. I’m sure he has a nice little reason to go to BP with his Norco buddy still around. Was part of why he is no longer married I’m sure. The boy is no good. Trust those who know him. And neither is Purves. He is old school Shell with some friends in HR. The only reason he hangs around. Tom must be counting his days.
POSTED ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA: Response to Golden Triangle Watchman: Hey Buddy, you got it right. The Nazi story isn’t about Nazis, or Hitler. It is all about the mediocrity of Shell management, their lack of integrity and character, and how those major personality faults in senior leadership reflect in the corporate business decisions, in how they treat their people, their business partners, and how they deal with governments. It is about the consequences of bad leadership and the need for a serious house cleaning in the management ranks at Shell, and a change in corporate management culture.
#712Golden Triangle Watchman on Dec 24th, 2010 at 14:57
Re Interested…. I think you will see a bad start-up because the construction is / has been bad all along. There is no contractor, excluding Bechtel, that feels good about what they have participated in. Re Tom, retirement by end of 2011 or sooner if he is successful in pushing the project to completion sooner. Face it, he got demoted and sent over here to clean the mess up he created. He is only interested in his legacy and his ego, nothing else. Re Jeff, too young to retire and he has an ex wife who owns half of what he gets so he will want to keep working. As soon as Tom leaves, Jeff will be disposed of in a quiet way. He knows it, Tom knows it, and Shell mgt can’t wait. Jeff is bad to the bone and just dirty. Has been as I understand it for many many years. Forrest won’t be too far behind. He is a joke and just does what these 2 tell him to.
Re Shellie… wake up. This story isn’t about Nazis. It’s about how Shell mgt continues to connect themselves with bad people, bad govts, and because the leadership we have for our company is weak and basically programmed to preach the same message, they are bad. Not so much because they are evil I belive; they are just bad and weak leaders. Not much left to say.
REPLY TO Shellie: What a strange posting. You seem to be under the impression that we are in some way making money from this website. In fact, it costs us money every month with no incoming revenue. No subscription costs. No advertising. No donations. We deliberately operate on an entirely non commercial basis so that no one can fairly accuse us of trying to make money out of telling the truth about Shell. With regards to the Nazi aspect, I note that thus far no one has disputed the facts as stated in Royal Dutch Shell Nazi Secrets. The evidence, much of which has been buried in newspaper archives for several decades, is overwhelming. Shell decided to deal with the devil for financial gain. It is still following the same policy. We have no intention of dropping the subject. In fact, as will be seen in the New Year, we will ensure that the Nazi chapter in Shell’s history is taken up by the mainstream media. I appreciate that some Shell employees may feel uncomfortable about working for a company stained by its Nazi past, and from the plunder, corruption and pollution in Nigeria. And now Shell is in bed with state sponsors of terrorism – Libya and Iran, but that is the history and current business record of Shell. Evil is in the DNA of this company, which pledges honesty, integrity and transparency in all of its dealings. How on earth does that equate with news stories over the last six months alone and even with those published in recent days. If anything we have published was untrue, Shell would have had the website shut down within hours. It does not try to do so, because any court case would only focus more attention on its evil track record. That’s the truth of the matter. With regards to your personal insults directed at my father, he served in the British army for 12 years and fought the Japanese in Burma. He has a disabled pension and medals to prove his record in World War 2. It is rather more commendable than Shell’s.
John, can you stop this stupid campaign of nazi thing? This is going no where.
Is your cranky, eccentric old man after this? Ask him to enjoy rest of his days or is he planning another duplicate site to keep your extended family fed.
These pictures from the 60 year old nazi grave are annoying. I work for shell and agree/ disagree with
some or many policies. But you have no freaking right to speak on employees behalf. For one thing, shell is feeding us and other at least millions directly/ indirectly
and your attitude stinks with these nazi & other idiotic, stretched stories.You and your kids (if you can have any), have made their
bucks by these dubious & parasitic activity. STOP when you can…Your sight was interesting during shell restructuring last year with different and real people participating but it is
pathetic now. Same people appear to be posting things under different names..same things with different make-up. If you have any sense then look around, most companies
in the world in 21st century work in similar way. I participate in many blogs online but have not seen such a vicious poison in today’s world. Your kids, if any,
will of course be thanking you for arranging their future source of income. Please wake-up, listen, look around and stop this non sense.
You did your job, screwed Sakhalin but now dont screw more ; it has started to hurt as an employee.
What’s the latest on the epitome of morals, KA, that the GEP Folks so dearly loved?
#717Golden Triangle Watchman on Dec 21st, 2010 at 12:51
Interested – Nothing is being said because nothing is really happening or different on the project. It is getting built. Uncle Tom Purves got sent over here to “fix it” but everyone who knows Tom knows he hasn’t got a clue how to run these big projects. But him and Jeff are going to fix it. Right… The last feedback I got from my contractor buddies is that Uncle Tom called them all in here lately and told them they would finish by end of 2011. They won’t tell him any different but know that is a farce, which is the fundamental root of the problem. My understanding, when Tom could have come clean with the board, told them the project would get done for $8.5b when in fact every control estimate and check estimate that different groups did for him said no less than 10. He wanted the project to get done and lied to make it happen. Tom has no issues lieing to anyone. He has done that pretty consistently over his career and continues. We all expect he will wrap it up in 2011 or 2012, collect his stock, and retire. This will be one retirement that should raise the company stock price due to ethics and morals getting better when he leaves. Until then, it’s the Jeff and Tom show because all Botts could do to punish Tom was to demote him and send him to Port Arthur to clean up the mess he created. Wow, what a punishment. He was over here all the time anyway.
I am also an exUS Shell staff. I think I know uscitizen from his style of writing. He was one of those continually on the take – bad apple as far as we were concerned. Amazing of him talking about Grofaz!
REPLY TO uscitizen: I guess we both have got a little over-excited in the heat of discussions. What I will do is thank you for all your postings here and wish you all the best for Christmas and the New Year.
“I used to work for Shell USA. The company you describe did not exist in my day, except at the lower level, sometimes, and I seriously doubt it exists today. In fact, the staff was always looking for a little G&C from one vendor or another. (G&C
REPLY TO “dutchdude”: We try to avoid censorship but agree that the insults detract from some excellent and informative postings and lively debate. Perhaps contributors will kindly bear this in mind in future postings on this blog as I will.
To John D.: John maybe it would be a good idea to post a rule for the blogs that personal insults to fellow bloggers are not allowed. Your blog serves a purpose of discussion, that certainly can’t be had in Shell. The returning personal attacks distract from the real purpose of your blog. There is enough in Shell to write about, let’s not attack each other at this forum, since we all took the time to log in to your site (without a doubt from our own machines and not the company’s!!)
POSTED ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA: I have a response for US Citizen.
I used to work for Shell USA. The company you describe did not exist in my day, except at the lower level, sometimes, and I seriously doubt it exists today. In fact, the staff was always looking for a little G&C from one vendor or another. (G&C – graft and corruption, as in: tickets to ball games, free meals, etc. All in return for throwing business the way of the vendor. This was and still is a time honored ‘quid quo pro’ in the oil industry). Senior management always played games, especially with reserve bookings (does that bring back a memory or two?). No offense fella’, but your blathering about how great Shell is kind of reminds me of the blathering the Germans did in the 1930′s about how great GROFAZ was (look that one up). You are obviously a bright guy and the German’s are bright people. But there are: ‘none so blind as those who will not see’, and ‘none so deaf as those who will not hear’. You live in a world of willful self delusion. A fraud. You have ‘bought in’ to the system in order to move up the food chain. If Shell was such an ethical outfit how come all the criminal investigations regarding bribery, and so on. Guys like you always make guys like GROFAZ possible.
REPLY TO “uscitizen”: Still twisting my words. “Lazy and/or unintelligent” was and remains my assessment of you personally based on your postings, and does not reflect at all on Shell employees in general who are loyal to the company and defend its actions when they deem that it is being wrongly maligned. You say the company you work for would never tolerate you taking inappropriate gifts from vendors. This seems to suggest that you take gifts from vendors which YOU consider are appropriate? You go on to accuse me and conscience driven Shell whistleblowers of being on a par with the Nazis. A reference to the most evil regime in history responsible for tens of millions of deaths, including the mass genocide carried out in concentration camps. Is that really your considered opinion?
Agree with DutchDude, the “revelation” that Shell had people in Nigerian ministries etc is not new, and was always well known. Suppose the diplomats have to put something in their reports, but this is not a big reveal.
Nice shot, lazy and unintelligent huh. So that is what you think about Shell employees who have the guts to defend their company. What a useless tool. Let me give you some data. The company I work for – from EVP down – would never tolerate me mis reporting data to government agencies, violating Environmental permits on purpose to make production targets, cooking the books on fixed costs vs capex, taking inappropriate gifts from vendors. That is how I was trained by EVP’s down and that is how I train my folks and the folks who work for them. We will fire people who do that and have. No exceptions. Is there a different standard at the highest levels, I do not have enough data to draw conclusions. Does not stop you, but it does stop me. Now – how will you react? I lie. right. Show me data, sorry John – company confidential. The info you get from Shell insiders violates our business principles, but you are glad to take it right John. Where does that place you and the Shell employees who violate our policies? On par with the Nazis I would say!
I am now retired but I have been at one time a ‘secondee’ to another oilcompany in which Shell had a considerable interest. Occasionally I felt pressure to pass on business secrets. So I did some soul searching and decided that I was placed there to transfer technical knowhow and for the rest act as if it was my own company. (They did pay my salary after all via some convoluted mechanism). Thereafter it always was very easy for me how and on what to communicate with Shell central office (in those days there was no head office) and this behaviour earned me the trust of the employing company. Hence I am still on good terms with them.
But I certainly do know of many people who would simply spy on request of the head honchos in Shell and pass on any kind of business information they asked.
I guess you just make up your mind whether you can still look yourself in the eye while shaving in the morning. In the end even the Shell honchos respected this behaviour, or at least they pretended it since my brief was to transfer technology and help the company to attain a higher level of knowhow.
POSTING ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL: I have a question for RD Shell corporate loyalist ‘dutchdude’:
‘If this ‘seconding’ is as good a thing as you say it is then perhaps RD Shell would like to disclose in which other countries it has ‘seconded’ those governmental ministries charged with oversight of RD Shell and their indigenous oil industries.
I am particularly interested in the Irish, Australian, Canadian, and US governments.
I am certain the US Justice Dept. and the FBI would also be interested given that such ‘seconding’ is very much a criminal violation of US law. Now I wonder why that is? I guess American’s have funny, even ‘Victorian’, ideas about ethics and ‘fair play’.
No? I thought not.
With all due respect RD Shell ‘dutchdude’, although you are a good little loyal drone with a good future at RD Shell ahead of you, you are as we say in Texas : ‘So damn full of it your eyes are brown.’ That is a quaint American saying for you know what.
DutchDude, Certainly ‘being in bed with’, or ‘having people in the Nigerian government could be a good thing. And I’m sure initial intent was probably meant to develop a relationship that served Nigeria and Shell. But it sure sounds to me like Shell abandoned some values and principals, to manipulate this relationship. Would you really expect senior leaders to reveal to you in hallway chat, that Shell is “in the Nigerian government” do whatever it takes to profit from Nigerian oil?
In the corridors I have chatted with a few senior managers and all of them have an explanation why we have people in the Nigerian government, and how this is a good thing for Shell. I have also worked with Nigerian government secondees and we all knew that anything we did or said would go straight to the Nigerian leaders. So not really a big secret revealed here; was always right in front of us. And how can it be “infiltrating” if we all know about this? I know many other issues I can get upset about, but this wikileak is not one of them.
REPLY TO JOHN DONOVAN:- John- entirely agree with trying to keep management on the straight and narrow. With the wikileaks details concerning Pickard and the Nigerian Government it seems however, that the Shell Code of Conduct and General Business Principles do not apply to senior figures within Shell. This is terrible, just so terrible. I thought I was working for a principled company – how naive I have been. Morals do not seem to factor with these people. It shows how cut throat the o&g business is. Shell is and will always be ‘me first’. What about men and women ‘for others’? It’s going to take a complete turnaround of management and behaviour before Shell becomes the company it longs to be.
REPLY TO ROSIED: Our objectives are simple. We want Royal Dutch Shell executives to act at all times in accordance with Shell General Business Principles which include the claimed core principles of honesty, integrity, openness and respect for people in all of Shell’s dealings.
This is surely not an unreasonable ambition given that the principles were devised by Shell, are promoted by Shell and are supposedly current and binding on all Shell operations everywhere. In other words, we are only asking Shell executives to do what they already claim to be doing.
The plain fact is that if Shell executives had abided with the SGBP, scandals such as the reserves fraud involving blatant deceit and cover-up, the preventable Brent Bravo deaths which flowed from the Shell “Touch F*** All” safety culture on North Sea Platforms, and the more recent PR humiliations arising from outrageous examples of greenwash advertising, could not have occurred.
We do not believe that it is morally acceptable that Shell executives are indemnified so that even if they cheat, deceive and cover-up serious misdeeds, treating shareholders and the public as gullible fools, they are still able to walk away as winners. In the case of Sir Philip Watts, with a severance package/pension pot reportedly worth $18.5 million USD. We think that this is disgraceful situation at odds with all ethical norms including the SGBP and will continue to say so on this website.
The SGBP is being been used as a PR tool to promote undeserved confidence in the scruples and honesty of Shell senior management. For example, the SGBP featured in the Form 20F Declarations filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission thereby generating confidence in the proven reserves volumes which had been inflated i.e. were false.
While Shell execs continue to make pledges of ethical trading which they flout, we will continue our humble efforts to expose their hypocrisy and we welcome the support of others who like us are not prepared to put up with such deception.
The gap between Shell rhetoric and reality is evidence from Shell’s appalling track record including a leadership role in price fixing cartels, numerous Clean Air Act violations, repeated environmental infringements, multimillion dollar fines for groundwater contamination, more fines for unauthorised venting and flaring of gas. We also have to add to this litany, Shell’s exploitation and reckless disregard of the safety of its employees and its global espionage operation against its own employees trying to prevent whistleblowers. Shell’s industrial espionage activity in the USA and Nigeria has been exposed in 2010. We first became the target of such activity in the 1990′s. Richard Wiseman, the then Legal Director of Shell UK Limited was the spymaster. Other Shell espionage/dirty tricks operations, including infiltration and undercover activity in Nigeria involving Ken Saro-Wiwa, was also underway at the same time. Shell’s involvement in the murder of Ken Saro-Wiwi has been exposed by the Guardian newspaper. This is why Shell settled for $15.5 million the related US court case in June 2010. It could not allow damning evidence of torture and other human rights violations to be exposed in open court. The rule bending Mr Wiseman was of course the perfect choice for the role of the Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer of Royal Dutch Shell Plc. Poacher turned gamekeeper.
I guess I am one of the “hard working decent people ” who works for Shell. I guess I am not “getting” the Nazi issue. Really? We are Blogging about what Shell Execs did during WW2? No doubt, any involvement with the Nazis is regretfull!! I just don’t make the connection with todays issues (and of course issues). I am a young (mid 30′s) staff guy, so I am comming from that perspective. If it matters.
Next, Is the intent of this site to; 1) Destroy RDS, or 2) fix the problems in RDS?
REPLY TO US CITIZEN: I think we can safely leave it to others to decide who is twisting words. My comments about the vast majority of Shell employees being hard working decent people is already on display for all to read and reflects what I have said many times. I stand by my comments about Royal Dutch Shell Nazi Secrets and have supplied overwhelming evidence from independent reputable verifiable sources. You do not put forward “good arguments” because you are either too lazy or too unintelligent to do so, or perhaps both. Also note there is no comment about Shell’s connection with the rankings you took delight in drawing attention to, ignorant of the fact that Shell is a paying client of the company which produced the rankings. I also note there is no comment from you about the WikiLeak revelations today concerning Shell’s espionage in Nigeria, infiltrating every government department. Add that to recent other news about Shell in Nigeria. Plunder, Murder, Corruption, Pollution. Yet you continue to defend the most evil company on the planet. This is not a glib comment but a carefully considered and researched assessment based on evidence I am fully prepared to present in court if Shell disputes what I say.
John, you are so messed up. You now equate a reputable organization and Shell employees with people who admired Hitler. I do not even have to pose good arguments, people read your words and see how twisted you are. Miserable life you lead. Sleeping well in the US, see ya!
Thank you Donovans with your own wikileaks website! Shell has been saying for years to want to stimulate diversity. But what they have done is to reduce diversity but simply hire more women. American women in particular. And somehow I cannot shed this feeling that Shell has been less than fortunate about picking those ‘diverse adding’ females. All of them run on high testosterone levels, are presumably frustrated they were not borne male and what is worst: they give the impression of not being averse to corruption or assume the business principles are not for them. They blend in well with the current top as often pointed out by the Donovans. And was Cook not removed because she was not good enough after a string of disasters? Even Boeing had problems and she was on that board too. And then the Miss Boynton, kicked out after cooking the books. It would be better if she had cooked a nice stew. And now Pickard. I bet she will survive in Shell, crooks like each other. Who can guarantee me that she is not selling out Shell to the US government? And the list of bad women is much longer. It has gone a bit quiet on Gale Norton, but she seemlessly fits in with this diversity enhancing lot! The bad thing of all this is that there were (and are) many genuine good women in Shell who could make a difference. But Brinded and his cronies do not want change, they just want to milk Shell as long as possible and get out unharmed. Apologies for digressing but I am a great believer in true diversity.
I was leaving it occurred to me. Perhaps we shall see sites like this disparaging the German people and blaming them for all the ills the are beseeching Europe today. After all there is fairly convincing evidence pointing to the fact that the German people supported Hitler as well. I could try and point out who wrong that would be, but … why bother people will see what they want to see
We can look at this history vs present behavior in another way. As I stated previously, the move from whole system/eco-sustainability toward dominance of the fittest, is where corrupt ethical and moral practices displace responsibility. The ‘dialogue’ that is taking place has been loud and clear for the past couple of years: managers play with US regulators, managers indulge in hedonistic self-centered activities, we indulge in the pursuit of energy profits even in Iran, AND rewards keep flowing for top leaders. Mr V enjoys a new +22% salary up from 3.2M in ’09 to 4.4M. Now don’t get me wrong, he did an excellent job of getting rid of ~6000 employees and made sure all who followed the rules were also rewarded, whether they drank too much, sexually accosted their underlings, had sex on company property, or perhaps circumvented environmental regulations. …so… do you hear the ‘dialogue’ of alignment? Are we behaving much different than any other time energy extraction and profit became the idol. We are behaving like this at all levels in the organization (internally) and in our relationship with the world. Dialogue no longer takes place. The conversation for alignment becomes one-sided, and all who want to survive in the big-oil game, become servant to the indulgences required to compete. Don’t look to see a change in Shell’s moral or ethical behavior, internally or as a world citizen, unless it is a change that serves someone, and ultimately the organization. I agree, greed is the evil that replaces responsibility. But let’s face it; the rewards for the skilled and greedy, far outweigh any motivation to care for anything beyond self and the enterprise.
I have to say I agree with John. A) If you don’t like it, don’t look. B) I think the history of a company is it’s genealogy, since a leader to be must accept a companies history and culture to even be considered for a leadership position. If a person really believes that history is justified “for the good of the company” he is going to repeat it. We see this over and over within Shell in spite of their lip service to “adherence to the highest principles”
RESPONSE TO “SIGNING OFF”: NO REFUNDS. Reference your assertion that you can’t subscribe to this site unless we only focus on current Shell misdeeds, I would make the point that there are no subscription fees. We have been operating websites focused on Shell since 1995. Shell issued a press statement in March 1995 complaining about our activities. All of our sites have always been operated on an entirely non commercial basis, with no subscription charges. We turn down on a regular basis companies wishing to pay us to place adverts on the site. We have refused all donation offers including from a Russian source during the Sakhalin2 debacle. Thus, we are free of any influence other than from people like you who hopefully enjoy the spectacle of Shell management being embarrassed and belittled from time to time as a result of our activities. So we listen to what you say, but want more people to be aware of the Royal Dutch Shell/Nazi relationship and will campaign accordingly. There will be a major development in this regard later this month. The site continues to attract astonishingly high traffic for a “gripe site”, with over 2 million hits in November. Many German companies, including Daimler-Benz, had associations with the Nazis. Royal Dutch Shell was a foreign company, yet pumped funds into the Nazi party in a variety of ways saving the Nazi party when it was in danger of going bust. Only one German company – I.G. Farben – had a worse track record. Shell was in bed with I.G. Farben, jointly owning and operating German companies which used concentration camp slave labor in the production of synthetic oil to fuel the Nazi military. Although we accept that the whole matter is controversial, we intend to make more people aware of Shell’s record of funding and supporting the Nazis.
I have to echo the message from Disappointed. The Nazi linkage is tiresome. I love reading about how Shell is a bad guy as much as most that visit this site. But this is out of hand. Daimler-Benz was also associated with that regime (utilizing slave labour) as I’m sure other companies were benefiting from Hitler. I almost have to ask – what brand of car do you or does your family own? I want to hear about current Royal Dutch infractions. I just cant subscribe to this site otherwise.
REPLY TO “USCITIZEN”: Hitler was admired by many, including his financier, Royal Dutch Shell Group. Hitler was arguably the most evil person of all time. So much for being admired. Shell spends tens of millions of dollars on global advertising campaigns, so of course many people are deceived and know nothing about Shell’s conduct e.g. its role in corruption and human rights violations including murder and torture in Nigeria, for which it has recently paid millions of dollars in settlements and fines. That’s the facts, as opposed to the PR propaganda paid for by Shell designed to fool the public. And by the way, were you aware that Shell is a paying client (member) of the organization responsible for the rankings by which you apparently set such great store? I think not. That potential conflict of interest should have been declared alongside the rankings, but of course was no where to be seen. I only discovered the financial linkage as a result of some detective work. Shell contributed towards the cost of the rankings publication you have cited.
REPLY TO MUSAINT: What is obvious from your comments is that you have not even bothered to read the 9 part “Royal Dutch Shell Nazi Secrets” or otherwise you would already know about the overwhelming evidence from independent, reputable, verifiable sources, confirming Shell’s funding of the Nazis. You have not challenged a single stated fact. Shell’s association with the Nazi is distasteful but it is also factual. Exactly how long do you think the information would remain on display on this website if it was propaganda as “Disappointed” suggests? I can guarantee that unlike you, Shell lawyers have read every word and checked all the quoted evidence. If the facts were untrue, Shell lawyers would have had the site closed down within hours. You have been visiting this website for a number of years and despite what you say, what’s the betting that you will do so again? You and “Disappointed” and your comments will always be welcome. Unlike the Tell Shell discussion forum for uncensored lively debate (closed after we caught Shell lawyers secretly censoring critical comments) we publish all postings relating to Shell and/or us. I do however hope that anyone offering comment on these matters will first read the 9 part article. That would be a much fairer way forward than the blanket criticism offered by a person (whose views I normally respect) who dismisses the evidence without even knowing what it is. As to your comment about having a large chip on my shoulder, I somehow don’t think your revelation will come as a surprise to people who are regular visitors here. Most will have surmised that we are not fond of Shell’s overpaid hypocritical top brass, who put themselves before the best interests of Shell employees (who are ruthlessly tossed out on mass with many being forced to reapply for their own jobs). Or in the best interest of shareholders, who have been defrauded and treated with contempt, particular those in the UK who are now second class citizens as a result of the reserves scandal. They are a bunch of incompetents, who due to their own negligence, have to endure the humiliation of a website using the top level domain name for the company – Royal Dutch Shell Plc – to expose the truth about Shell, including its support for the Nazis.
The Shell-Nazi link focus of this site seems to have reached new levels of hysteria with the human skin lamp shades article. Ironically this could have come out of the propaganda kitchen of Joseph Goebels himself. The swastika on the Shell shop at the top of the page is the last drop for me; I will now remove this site from my favourites list. Thanks anyway for the much higher quality content in days gone bye.
I have kept silent these past couple of weeks whilst some appalling dross is written / inferred by the Donovans linking Shell to the Hitler regime. (I am sure Mr. D. you will now come back with umpteen references to bore me to bits about how you can show this that and the other to show how Shell colluded with anybody / regime on the planet.) Point is that some of your recent “attacks” on Shell (viz Hitler)just show how large a chip on your shoulder (and your fathers) you have. Your bitterness shows very clearly through in recent weeks. Shame, as some of the attacks against Shell and their decision to operate in Iran I agree with – this continuous historical linkage to Hitler gets very very tedious and when you show the lamp shade angle it is way over the top – some would say madness. Perhaps readers to this forum and Wikileaks should investigate past Donovans and maybe / allegedly being able to link their ancestores to other historical disasters / tragedies. Bottom line is that this site is now bordering on the rediculous and has lost its value. I shall sign off permanently as I see no value whatsoever in logging in to this nonsense. Bye.
POSTED ON BEHALF OF “EXSHELL”: John, it is vital in my view that Julia (Australia’s PM) should also be aware of Shell’s terrible track record. FLNG is a new technology and Shell has just announced that they are going to pump in billions in their new FLNG development. I am sure that Shell will destroy this pristine Australian waters.
Donna Getz’ account of problems following a well test mirror an event in Drenthe in Holland when production from a sour gas (H2S) well was released during a well test during the 1980′s, causing a herd of cows in an adjacent field to drop dead. I don’t think it even made the Dutch news after the farmer and local community were reminded of the importance of Shell (NAM) to the local economy. I’m sure there are plenty of readers of this site who can provide additional information.
MESSAGE TO THE SOURCE SUPPLYING US WITH INFORMATION RELATING TO SHELL RELATIONSHIP WITH IRAN. YES, WE ARE SAFELY RECEIVING YOUR INPUT AND ARE DULY GRATEFUL. IT IS BEING USED AND WILL BE INCLUDED IN AN IMMINENT MAJOR MAILING TO U.S. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, SENATORS AND CONGRESSMAN. PLEASE KEEP THE INFORMATION COMING. WE WILL PUT IT TO GOOD USE. WE FULLY UNDERSTAND WHY YOU HAVE USED A SPECIAL EMAIL SERVICE TO PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY AND SECURITY, WHICH DOES NOT ACCEPT REPLIES.
If anyone is interested, we have a copy of a Shell SECRECY AND RESTRICTED USE AGREEMENT from October 2006 involving “IOOC, Iranian Offshore Engineering Company, a company organised and existing under the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Agreement covers: “so called Sulfinol Process which is a regenerative process developed by SHELL and Affiliates of SHELL for the removal of acidic components from a gas stream employing an aqueous solution containing sulfolane and/or sulfolane derivatives with addition of an amine.” The agreement is self-evidently not quite as secret as Shell had hoped. Copies available on request subject to any injunction by Shell and its 1200 strong legal department which includes 720 lawyers, 80 of which are “intellectual property professionals”.
I think that as we weaken toward ego-cenrtic, there is no grey. One immoral or unethical act changes white to black. We have seen this in our behavior in the Niger Delta; this is part of the SHELL system, observable and destructive to the world that we exploit. As 66 stated, living up to moral and ethical practices will become an increasingly difficult challenge as finding and extracting energy becomes more difficult. Many have shared on this site, observations and experiences of internal breakdowns in moral and ethical practices and behaviors, in all levels of the organization. I assert that ‘grey’, is in the dialogue between top leaders and their subordinates and ultimately through the rest of the organization. What is alarming to me, is the present alignment with compromised standards. We do not have a choice about whether ‘alignment’ works, alignment always works. The responsibility of leadership, from the top down, is to insure that Shell’s relationships, practices and behaviors, internally and in the ecosystem (ALL of the World that is not Shell), contribute to sustaining the ‘whole’ (Shell and the world). This dialogue to get to that alignment is the grey. Sustaining the whole is white, compromising any of it is black.
Very interesting posts. I suppose I turn off from debates that describe things in such stark terms as “evil” or “good”…I do think there are just so many shades of grey in all aspects of life that black and white terms hardly ever do any situation justice! But your unpacking of the term evil is a useful way of looking at it as it relates to folks views of Shell at present. I agree with John 100% that the business principles should either be upheld fully (even if it means losing business and/or pulling out of certain countries) of they should be dumped. Shareholders should be told this upfront and get to vote on the issue – either we will uphold the BPs and that may have some impact on short term dividends, or we will dump them altogether, and take whatever reputation hit that may result – I would have an open and honest debate on this whole issue and then put it to the shareholders. I sense that Realybware is right that we are re-entering an era of ‘ get their first, develop it fast’…and the Business principles may come under greater pressure then now! On the pesticides/drins issue – agree it is worrying, but caution again that hindsight is a great thing, and we simply did not know about the dangers of certain chemicals then as we do now. Asbestos is a classic example of that.
Pleasure to discuss these issues with someone who makes their points in a reasonable balanced way. With regards to the similarities between then and now, basically Shell is still keen to deal with the devil (e.g. the fanatical Iranian regime and the alleged reformed state sponsor of terrorism, Muammar al-Gaddafi) to achieve its business objectives, irrespective of ethical/moral considerations. The history of Royal Dutch Shell published in 2007 was revealing about the anti-Semitic behavior of Royal Dutch Shell towards it own employees. Its authors came unstuck resting their defense (of Shell funding the Nazis) on the basis that Deterding’s attempts to meet with Hitler were all rebuffed, thereby drawing the conclusion that the Nazis attached no importance to Royal Dutch Shell/Deterding. Unfortunately they were apparently unaware that in fact Hitler had a four day meeting with Deterding at Hitlers mountain top retreat. The Nazis also arranged for an official from the German Foreign Office to be seconded to Deterding as a personal assistant to facilitate liaison with Hitler. In addition, Dr. Georg Bell, a German spy, acted as a joint agent/delegate of Deterding and Hitler. The close relationship between Hitler and Deterding was evident from the wreath that G
realybware: Well said! The moral decline in Shell commenced after van Wachem stepped down. Then there was a succession of leaders with an anglo-saxxon mind. They employed consultants and injected the top with like minded people. And they removed over the years all those who said that the king went naked. And the rest is history. It not only happened in Shell but in many other decent companies. It is hard to believe but in the mid 90s there were still many banks run by decent bankers!
Thank you for your post, I wish I could express myself so well!
66 and Mr D, I think that in order for Shell to remain a sustainable enterprise, there needs to be some philosophical re-alignment in leadership to the moral and ‘good’ vs the ‘evil’ that Mr D refers to. In an organization where profit becomes idolized over all else in the ecosystem, the ‘idol’ becomes all-important to the point that many things and ultimately ALL things will be sacrificed to that end. This is where not only Shell but other oil exploiters have crossed the line in the past. Doing business with the devil is a rewarding affair when we become servant to ego (vs eco). Synergy in an organization, vs individual isolation, competitiveness, (and self-serving greed): are only a reflection of how the ‘whole’ positions itself in the global ‘theater’. Mr Hoffmeister’s pompous attitude about BP is an example of the top down philosophical alignment in Shell today. Although he is no-longer at the helm, his presence definitely still defines SHELL. And no doubt Mr V and his minions ‘align’ helplessly through a new subservient, ordered organization, driven by Mr V’s single-mindedness about the ‘idol’. We will all compete to play that game until we feel our individual morales are being exploited too far. An interesting description of the alignment i am referring to is reprinted below from another source:
Evil is characterized by selfishness and purpose. It maintains that it is both important and correct that those who are worthy should succeed, while the weak and unworthy perish. The efforts of good to distribute wealth generally are viewed as cheating the truly deserving. . Evil characters do not regard other characters (co-workers)–not even other evil characters(co-workers) –as worthy of respect. They are always willing to take advantage of another
Thanks for your resposne John. I do indeed understand that a company’s history in its entirety must be accounted for, and to a certain extent lives on in terms of the companies reputation. However, where I disagree with you is in thinking that the misdeeds of 70 years ago are indicitive of management practices today. Now I know you don’t think much of today’s management, but that is a quite seperate matter to how the place was run 70 years ago. In other words – it has no real bearing on the Shell of today, and how it operates. When I heard first about the Nazi link with Shell, I looked with interest to see if the 100 year history of Shell, published a few years ago, would deal with it at all, given it is not the sort of thing companies want to be reminded off. I was pleased that they did cover it (including a photo of the headquarters in the Hague flying the Nazi flag). Did they cover the issue fully – probabaly not – but I take my hat off to the company for dealing with it at all – I know of many companies who would not have. You describe Shell as “the most evil company on earth.” ….
they have their faults for sure, but in my humble opinion they are a long way from that.
Panalpina and Hofmeister, bribes in Nigeria. I am certain that the top management knew all about the goings on. About 5 years ago a scandal nearly erupted but was quenched. (Or as the say in Nigeria: ‘de disting was quench-oh by de Oga’. SPDC had made around 500 million dollars disappear over the years to all kind of community projects. No trails could be found in the books. And this for a company that should be able to trace every dollar spent anywhere. Because it is shareholder’s or taxpayer’s money. So I am sure that Hofmeister et all just assumed the bribes via Panalpina would disappear in the great wash. I am not an accountant. But as an engineer I know we can and must and do certify for instance every weld on long pipelines. The exact location, date of weld, weldingrods used, name of welder, and an X-ray photo is included. If you can do that, you should be able to trace every dollar spent? Unless you don’t want to?!?
Remind me again…when did WW2 end? Why are you tainting good employees names who work today at Shell with the misdeeds of the company over 70 years ago. Weird. REPLY TO “66″ BY JOHN DONOVAN: As I have said before, the vast majority of Shell employees are decent hard working people. The company is to blame for the misdeeds you mention, which have indelibly stained the name of Royal Dutch Shell for all time. The catalog of misdeeds such as the securities fraud, all driven by pure greed, continue to this day, including dealing with current evil regimes in Libya and Iran. Add to that bribery and corruption in the USA and in Nigeria. And what about the deadly toxic legacy from pesticides, not to mention pollution on an epic scale e.g. decades long gas-flaring in Nigeria and widespread groundwater pollution in the USA. All taking place while Shell pretends to abide with its much trumpeted business principles, including honesty, integrity and transparency. What a joke. I can only assume from your comments that you would prefer not to know about the dark side of Shell. We believe that all Shell stakeholders and the public are entitled to know the ugly truth about the most evil company on the planet, including its role as the financier of the Nazis.
POSTED ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA: IN REMEMBRANCE: I remember walking through the American military cemetery at Normandy one bright summer day many years ago. It was full of American tourists that had unloaded from about a half dozen tour buses. I have never seen so many grown men break down and cry in my life.
My father was in the US Navy and served in submarines in the Pacific theater. 25% of those folks died in combat. In the early days of the war he served in the surface fleet and fought the Japanese Imperial Navy at a place called Guadalcanal. The war in the Pacific was a very dirty, brutal business and not many prisoners were taken, by either side. Your father knows about this, first hand. Many American men who fought in that theater literally hated the Japanese to their dying day. A sad but true fact. My father detested them as a people for what they did, for what he had seen, and for what he had experienced, and would not have a thing to do with anything Japanese, or made in Japan. To his dying day.
10′s of millions of Chinese died at the hands of the Japanese.
In Eastern Europe the Nazi’s were as brutal in their treatment of the Russians as they were in their treatment of the Jews. That war was a war of extermination, and 10′s of millions of Russians died as a consequence.
And the sad but true fact of life is that Royal Dutch Shell, along with other companies here in the US, were ‘invested’ in the Nazi’s and in the Germany economy. That includes Ford Motor, General Electric, and so on. Let us not forget the Swiss. It is not a pretty story.
However, Royal Dutch Shell is unique amongst this rogues gallery of amoral profiteers because Deterding’s support and influence came at a very critical time in the rise to power of Hitler and the Nazi Party. I have little doubt that without Deterding the mid-20th century history of Europe may have been much different. Perhaps the Communists would have gained a stronghold in Germany. We shall never know. However, it is unlikely that this alternative path of history would have been as violent, as viciously brutal, and as destructive as that resulting from the rise to power of the Nazi’s in Germany.
And without the German’s raising hell in Europe and Russia it is unlikely the Japanese would have tried to take on both the American’s and the British Empire in East Asia by themselves. The Japanese lacked the necessary natural resources, especially oil, and the Royal Navy and the US Navy were simply far to powerful.
Royal Dutch Shell has a host of stinking skeletons in their corporate closet, and their management doesn’t seemed to have learned much, or wanted to learn much, from the past conduct of their guiding predecessor, Sir Henri Deterding.
Hofmeister pompous as ever.
Last night I watched the BBC documentary on the Macondo blow-out. It was easy to relate with all that was said by the various participants. But two things stuck to my mind: the media and politicians (Obama included and leading the way) are like a troup of rabid dogs. The moment someone is down, they all attack in a feeding frenzy. All with hidden agendas, all completely oblivious of what their actions might cause. Presumably this is their job and I expect hardly anything else from these charlatans.
But then I saw several times that smug toad Hofmeister dumping on BP in general and Hayward in particular. I have seen this devious american arrive in Shell. He was instrumental in pushing the salaries and bonusses of the top echelons to excessive heights, he introduced the ‘behavioural skills’ at the expense of engineering skills, he pulled in many americans that have generally made a mess of things and when he finally was removed, sorry transferred, he travelled as an emperor through the whole of the USA. All under the title of ‘President’. A non-job if ever there was one. He is a disgrace to the people where he came from (Amish). And now he has become an ugly toad kicking someone who is down on the ground. This shows his real character. I advise all girls NOT to kiss this toad in the hope a handsome prince would emerge. You never know, pigs might fly too.
POSTED ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA: My response to US Citizen is this: As a former Shell employee I know how Shell management functions in ways that would scare the crap out of you. What I have to say about Shell’s very public ‘good works’ (by very well meaning staff) on a local scale versus the conduct of Shell management internationally and on major projects is this: You can make a vampire look respectable and presentable with enough make-up and a good external ward-robe, but lurking underneath that pretty facade still lurks the predatory, blood sucking vampire.
Reply to uscitizen: Back with your usual insults that we have come to expect. You mention about Shell volunteer work in a good cause, then go on to predict that we will accuse Shell employees of having other motives, and based on this false assumption, trot out a put down – “Chew on that” – when in fact we have not said anything at all. I authored a Wikipedia article in 2009 – Royal Dutch Shell initiatives - which included coverage of the help Shell has given to many people, small businesses and charities. It was deleted by other editors on the basis of being biased in favor of Shell. Not that it is any of your business, but we have supported charities all of our working lives, including the Red Cross, and provided help to a US children’s charity on this website. This of course is all beside the point. The reason for your latest rant and rage is the Royal Dutch Shell Nazi Secrets article. If you had read it all, you would know that in the years after Sir Henri Deterding retired as the CEO, Royal Dutch Shell Group continued with the appeasement and collaboration with the Nazis, piling more money into the Nazi coffers, which funded the preparation for war. I suggest before making further comment, you read it all, including the extensive evidence from reputable independent sources.
PS – tell all the folks that we helped out this weekend with many Shell volunteers that we do not resemble in any fashion a “good corporate citizen”. We did this because our moral standards require us to, as employees and citizens. Next thing you will say is that we had other motives, and you can not begin to know how wrong that is or how that insults the individuals who care greatly about our neighbors and their well being. Chew on that. When is the last time you or your blog company did something to help your fellow man, and I am not talking about your hollow rants about Shell to educate the poor common man about how evil Shell is. If you are doing it, tell us about it. I have not seen anything so in true Donovan journalistic behavior I assume you have done nothing. Am I right??
Your determined efforts to connect the alleged individual support of an old RDS exec to today’s company is a huge affront to the people that make up today’s company. We resent and reject your allegations that this is what this company and it’s people stand for. You have done more to destroy your credibility than any organized, does not exist, corporate effort to do the same. Thanks – now the whole world can see what an obssessed irrational family looks like – The Donovan’s!!!
POSTING ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA: I have a response for ‘concerned shareholder’, and other ‘concerned shareholders’:
Henri Deterding’s only real motivation for supporting the Nazi’s before their rise to power was clearly driven by his desire to recoup his losses, and prevent further losses, due to the Bolshevik revolution in Russia and the threat that ideology posed elsewhere. Deterding was an old style, ruthlessly ambitious robber baron, like Carnegie, Vanderbuilt, and J.P. Morgan, etc. He wanted HIS Russian oil fields in Baku returned to Shell. And Deterding was not alone in his admiration for Hitler. Joseph Kennedy and Henry Ford were admirers as well. And Ford was a financial sponsor, as well as a rabid anti-semite.
Today, Shell’s motivations for dealing with unsavory regimes like the Libyans, the Iranians, etc., is purely based up the desire to secure further access to large reserves of oil and gas. Nothing more, nothing less. Shell management doesn’t give a holy rat’s rear end about the consequences of supporting regimes such as these, just as Deterding didn’t give a holy rat’s rear end about the consequences of supporting the Nazi’s. Deterding’s only concern was for profits, just as it is Shell’s only concern today. Today Shell management doesn’t care that their partner in Brazil, Cosan, has a history of using forced slave labor in their cane fields to support their ethanol production plants, just as Shell in Deterding’s day didn’t care about getting in bed with I.G. Farben in Germany, who use extensive amounts of slave labor.
There are more that just a few parallel’s between the ethical behavior of Shell management today to that of the Nazi era.
Like it or not, Deterding and Royal Dutch Shell played a major role in facilitating Hitler’s rise to power and all that came after. Deterding’s financial help, support and influence were crucial to the rise of Nazi facism in Germany. Without Deterding’s help history may have taken a far different and less violent and deadly turn. That is Royal Dutch Shell’s history. Hiding that history, and the recent history of Shell conduct, serves no purpose other than to create a marketing illusion for the general public. It is an abject fraud. And the conduct of the company, past and present, reflects the quality of character of Shell management (lack thereof) and the corporate culture that promotes such management. By any standard of measure, Shell is not, and historically never has been, a ‘good corporate citizen’.
Remember the old saying: ‘Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them.’
#771Concerned Shareholder on Nov 8th, 2010 at 11:07
Ha, ha. I think it’s time that Allie Romeo verifies his “sources” as part of his “communication studies”. A funny story , much unlike the current poohah on this site about the link between Shell and the nazi’s. That’s a bit like trying to connect the current British Government (and the current British voters) to the attrocities committed during the colonial era. We have to look back and learn from history, but at a certain point it becomes a bit cheap and meaningless…
MESSAGE POSTED ON BEHALF OF BILL CAMPBELL: REPLY TO HANS BOUMAN:
Dear Hans
Re the well design you are probably right but having listened to the BP Drilling Engineer and others (he gave good testimony) I am not convinced that they will be proved negligent – their argument will be that other opinions are subjective after the fact and the BP well was fit for purpose. Certainly I do not think their actions will clear the high hurdle of gross negligence (based on the testimony provided under oath) according to the US definition of same.
Interesting to me that BP had every confidence in their Deepwater Horizon Drilling Engineer (also previously Drilling Engineer for Thunder Horse) who handled the two relief wells with Haliburton doing the cement jobs on these also.
With your contacts in the great School of Drillers out there are you aware how the relief wells were completed ? Were these like the Deepwater Horizon well, or did they not have the courage of their convictions.
I am sure if the well design was changed in line with what their critics (including Shell) have stated publicly the ambulance chasing Lawyers will not doubt use this against them.
To Bill Campbell:
Thank you for a very good analysis and lucid story. Recently I was asked by a local business club to give a presentation on this blow-out. And I ended with a blow by blow account of the last hours before the mishap, nearly word for word the same as in your story. Obviously we both were guided by the good BP report of the blow-out.
I agree with Bill that with a good execution of the event the well might have been saved but I am personally convinced that the design of the well did not help preventing the blow-out. (No lockdown ring in the wellhead, and not running a liner to be tied back later). When you drill these extremely difficult wells, you will have a very small operating envelope and margin of error. To handle the operations perfectly you need the best people you can get and they must also be kept focussed all the time. It appears that too many critical operations had become routine and or were delegated down to lower levels. The tests were too short and in my view should have been attended by the most senior toolpusher on the rig, this is not stuff you delegate.
Why all this has happened will presumably become clear over the next few years when the lawyers of the three companies involved will get rich in various courtcases.
And I am not convinced with what I have read that this well has been properly killed. Squeezing in all that mud and cement merely created two vertical pancake fracs and oil and gas still may percolate through and surface at a later date. BP had the chance to do a proper circulation kill but it looked as if they and the autorities all wanted to get it over with as quickly as possible.
This blow-out was a classic where many things that ‘never will go happen’ all happened and at the most awkward moment. This is the story for nearly all major blow-outs!
Messers Pals & Kennedy of Bloomberg really ought to research a topic before writing about it. Just what is meant by “Shell is targeting hard-to-reach rock formations in Australia, the U.S. and China”? Coal seams for CBM in Australia are not in the criteria of hard-to-reach. There are undoubtedly challenges in the optimal exploitation of CBM but the technology / techniques are hardly new or “hard-to-apply”. In any case the geoscience and engineering capability in Shell is more than enough to address the task. My comment applies equally well to the (presumably) tight gas assets in North America and China. The tone of the article implies Shell will have trouble delivering meaningful gas production from these “hard-to-reach” formations. Yes, the technical challenge is greater than with conventional gas, but then Shell has invested serious money in researching the technologies and techniques required. Will Bloomberg reporters write an article in the same vein throwing doubt on the ability of the BG-Group to deliver from similar formations in the same countries? One thing is for sure, the BG-Group do not have recourse to the R&D back up in-house to Shell.
FURTHER COMMENT POSTED ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL USA: ‘The difference between overt ‘bribery’ and the far more subtle ‘influence peddling’ is much like the difference between rape and seduction. It is all a matter of technique. One method is patently illegal and the other is not. But the end result is the same. Someone always gets ‘buggered’. A horse by any other name is still a horse.
Big business is now in the mode of ‘courting’ political officials and ‘appropriate other officials’ with ‘favors’ and ‘special considerations’. Some of those ‘special considerations’ may entail future employment, with all the associated benefits of a favored employee, e.g., Gale Norton, formerly of the Dept. of the Interior in the US, and Pat Doyle, former Irish Garda superintendent.
In the end, it is the public interest that takes it in the teeth, and all to the financial benefit of big business. ‘
REPLY TO MUSAINT POSTED ON BEHALF OF A FORMER SHELL OIL USA EMPLOYEE:
Cheers. Kennedy was a politician and meddled when he shouldn’t have. However, that self serving nonsense was motivated by local Boston politics. But that is old news. The problem with the way the Irish government has (mis)managed its hydrocarbon resources goes back almost 20 years, to radical changes in policy/law by government officials who ultimately spent time in prison for corruption. That too is old news. But I am sure you are aware of that fact already.
Jeeez “Former employee of Shell Oil USA” that’s a lot of words (all I think I’ve read) but, still no hard documented evidence of substantial reserves you state (i.e some independent authority), albeit your geological argumentation may be a plenty it still needs the drill bit to prove it correct. As important is that you do not show/prove that Shell has bribed the Irish Government aka your article. I know fully you are referring to Northern Ireland – Kennedy stuck his nose into both sides of the countries, and as stated helped raise funds for terrorists.
POSTED ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA.
To Mr. Musaint: It does seem like you are a true blue ‘loyalist’. By the way, the Ireland I was referring to was not Northern Ireland so your comments about Teddy Kennedy are irrelevant.
Furthermore, British-Irish politics bores me. It is somewhat like North-South politics in the US. The ‘South shall rise again’ and other such nonsense. The Irish are independent and the Empire is dead. It is time to get over it and move on.
If you are a poor man, $100 is a lot of money. If you are a rich man, it is chump change. The Corrib discovery is on the order of about 1 trillion cubic feet of gas. Not huge by North Sea standards, but nothing to piss away either. For a small country like Ireland those reserves are a considerable treasure. Everything is relative. Until natural gas was discovered the only reliable naturally occurring hydrocarbon fuel resource the Irish had was peat.
We also know the Irish government gave Shell, et al, one of the best tax/royalty deals in Europe. That is a matter of record. Instead of following the Norwegian model of resource development, they followed the Louisiana model for resource development. So, I stand by my assessment. The Irish got
To the ex-Shell employee of Shell USA regarding his/her comments on the Corrib gas controversy. You may not like the way that the Irish Government has handled this issue, however, they are the elected body and secondly you show no hard evidence that they have been bought, bribed, or even buggered as you nicely put it by Shell. You also mention Ireland has “considerable hydrocarbon resources” – please quote a reliable source (with reserve numbers) where such a comment can be believed. Me thinks that you are merely trying to stir some trouble here without any evidence to truly back up your statements. Reminds me of Teddy Kennedy when he kept sticking his big US nose in to Irish politics and attempted to get money for the IRA terrorists!!
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Mr Voser is ill-advised to make such comments on BP / Macondo. He attracts to Shell the headlines seen in the Daily Mail and is now a hostage to fortune just as Tony Hayward became when he told the world “he would focus like a laser on safety for the next two years” on succeeding Lord Browne. In addition his observation ” to correctly investigate the accident one had to examine the thinking behind the particular well design BP used” is interesting in the light of the Brent fatalities. Just what was the thinking behind the “design” of the piping patches which eventually failed?
Do the Swiss have a translation for the expression “people who live in glass houses should not throw stones”?
Musaint: fully agree that The Brent Spar fiasco was nothing more than a publicity stunt by Greenpeace without any factual basis for their claims. My point was that Shell will always be at the mercy of public opinion.
“Alleged Shell deception in Sri Lanka”. Using your own words Mr. D. (in red, in capitals) “it certainly seems authentic” – and the reason you give (in the same sentence) is “it talks about Shell deception and a hidden agenda”. What sort of reason is that to believe the story is genuine and not someone (yet again) trying to cause mischief!! Like the News of the World, it helps sell a story ……
Should be noted that at the time of the “Brent Spar fiasco” the guys from Exxon kept a very low profile as 50% owners of the structure AND Greenpeace admitted that they got the numbers wrong on the amount of residual oil left in the spar. Just proves that the action by thugs and tree huggers, particularly in Germany, was based on incorrect facts. Basically don’t always believe what is printed on paper and in websites!!
At the time of the Brent Spar fiasco, there was a boycott and vandalism of Shell’s filling stations in Germany, which was very effective in bringing the message home to Shell’s management in the Hague that they were at the mercy of public opinion. This website has been publicising Shell’s large scale ongoing business relationship with Iran, so it is hardly surprising that it has been experiencing “technical problems”
uscitizen of poor comprehension, i don’t think anyone objects to IPFs. FORCED RANKING is where mistakes are made. You may have more data and more cards in your deck but you obviously don’t believe anything shared in this forum that exposes destructive ethics and blatant injustices. Great leaders were terminated in the first round that did not have the chance to work a PIP. Unexpected low numbers were given with no forewarning. Having a better retirement than most citizens is far less than some of these folks deserved. Your statement really sounds far more socialistic. Like someone said a while back, it sure sounds like you have a lot of ownership in some of these ‘schemes’. …or maybe you are just naive and delusional. And I’ll tell you how RIFs were handled in the companies of some of my peers: PIPs along with voluntary retirement, ends up yielding more than needed. Keep your judgement to yourself about low performers getting what they deserved. Some loved Shell as much as you do, and would do anything they could to work a PIP and be productive for a few more years. … and again there are people protected that are poorer performers. ….DUDE!
Golden Triangle Watchdog – I am not in HR – so do not try to play cards you do not have. You clearly have an agenda, do not enjoy working for Shell, so be it. Any one as unhappy as you needs to join the ranks of Donovan. And I have my next job, so no career advice from you will help me. Have a good life, if you can. Find some thing you will be happy doing and stop blaming others for your attitude, you own that dude.
#793Golden Triangle Watchman on Oct 1st, 2010 at 12:34
US Citizen…. I have no hatred for Tom Purves. What I actually hate is favoritism, lying, egotism, manipulation, hypocracy. Tom exhibits all of these and very little leadership skills. Tom falls in this catagory along with the fact that he flat out lied to get people off the payroll that he didn’t want on the payroll and senior leadership knows that. He also lied about some other things which will eventually come out, like environmental performance at our plant. That has been buried deep to allow for the CEP to get its permit. Just look around and see how many of our past environmental dept from 2 years ago is still in place or with the company. A complete turnover….. Does anyone wonder why? Motiva got rid of them because of what they found. I’m sure Hilton Kelley could get an ear full if he hasn’t already. Alot of this was on Tom’s watch and he knows it as did the Motiva CEO. I’ve worked here at the Port Arthur plant for 20 years. Tom had a good message early on but it became clear pretty quickly that he was no good, had his favorites, and was not interested in changing the culture, just status quo. He ultimately has a few close allies that he brings with him everywhere, like Funkhouser, Laugher, Hartsock. Man, this is the best he has got. My understanding on Jeff is he got sold from the company with Tosco up north and came back in because Tom got him a job with the company. Here you have a man with no formal education, other than how to suck up, getting up to 1 step away from a plant manager. You wonder why. The folks in the rank laugh at this guy. He has long forgot what true leadership is about. Tom created this and has allowed this to grow. And the issue I have with HR is they have become nothing but a group of staffers, hanging on to the senior leaders, doing what they are asked to do, assuming their role is to identify and help develop the leaders of tomorrow, with very little understanding of what true leadership in the field needs to be. The People survey is a joke and all know it. It stopped being useful after the first edition. Senior leaders don’t use it except to update every other year what they heard. And you can discount my feedback all you like….. gas cards were paid to get the numbers up. With you being in HR, I can understand why this whole topic doesn’t feel good. It’s ok…. Go hook up with Jeff Funkhouser, he can find you a job.
#794More for mr uscitizen: " on Oct 1st, 2010 at 05:04
real user I’d, REALLY!?! … Like yours? HAh. Yes some packages were bestowed upon folks with lower ‘relative performance’,mostl of these folks were prompted to their humble positions, because of their knowledge, skills leadership abilities. Most did not deserve to be discarded with paltry pensions. These folks are for the most part on their mid 50s+. they gave the best part of their life to shell and were top performers. IPFs were formulated to execute a scheme that someone will claim is the reason for profit improvements. It doesn’t matter what some of these folks are suffering through, that’s too human. This was executed in a suffering economy, on folks who are beyond favorable age. The IPF rate/ranking is no magic, and in in some cases removed the most effective Leaders. There are many ways this could have been executed without abusing those who have given so much to shell. .. All because someone decided to prove that leadership responded to the people survey accountability topic. Forced ranking in our plant environments is destructive to synergy and ultimately devasting to the unfortunate who end up terminated unjustly. Leaders can behave like tp, jf, ka, deserving no respect from their reports, and end up rewarded. But a poor shift team leader, who might be facing respectable upsets in their personal life lose focus for a while and there is no compassion.
sure sounds like you own some of the new schemes being practiced. also sounds like you reside in a safe little fraternal consortium of self accrediting,and probably self-rewarding
I see ex Sakhalin and bully David Greer has resigned from Regal Pet, wonder where he will create carnage next!
#798Golden Triangle Watchman on Sep 29th, 2010 at 11:29
Don’t let USCitizen fool you….. The Shell People Survey is a joke and everyone, who takes it , knows it. Most plants have to give our employees a gas card to take it. And I know for a fact that the HR community has told most all of the senior mgt not to follow up on it….. but instead to read it and listen to what the people are saying and what their concerns are, but dont spend the time doing anything with it. Let’s be real…. Shell is a good company with good benefits. The senior leaders stink because they have forgotten the most important principle that kept Shell strong….. the people. Today, you have the people…..and then you have the senior execs and HR.
By the way, Uncle Tom, how is that new job going? Enjoying your little cubicle over in CEP along with your tea pot? All I can say is… count the days till retirement. You are done.
sure sounds like you own some of the new schemes being practiced. also sounds like you reside in a safe little fraternal consortium of self accrediting,and probably self-rewarding ‘dillusionists’. your people survey results are far different from the ones that we have seen for the past three cycles.
To John Donovan – Right!! That is clearly what we are doing – an eveil empire! I am happy and I assume you are! Hard to be with all that hate, but whatever floats your boat.
To the person who used to uscitizen as their id?? ; we just completed our last survey and it was not at all like the Dow feedback. I will not share the details because that is company business, but i will contrast our reality with your Dow comments since you are sure we are the same!
Pros
World class manufacturing capability and processes – Check
Pretty good marketing – Check
Good benefits package – Excellent benefits package – one of the best in the world at Shell – folks can retire with few worries.
Ability to exercise flexibility in work arrangements – Huge focus on family /work balance – I was able to manage a very very sick kid, lots of time off and worked from the house alot and got good reviews. I have enabled many folks who work for me to have alternate work schedules based on a family situation.
Good place for new graduates to gain skills – Check – we get the best of the best still, put up a poster and we get many many applicants – hourly and professional jobs.
Cons
They paint a target on your back after you
bottom line is these “grievances” are in most cases legitimate positions and opinions about ‘management gone wrong’. The new world inside shell is not much unlike Dow and GE. Here is an example from a Dow employees people survey and link to more of this review:
Pros
World class manufacturing capability and processes
Pretty good marketing
Good benefits package
Ability to exercise flexibility in work arrangements
Good place for new graduates to gain skills
Cons
They paint a target on your back after you’re 55 – all of a sudden you become a burden.
The rating system is impossible to succeed in – if you do its because you’re someone’s golden boy or girl.
Once you get a bad rating, it’s almost impossible to make an improvement.
High reliance on contractors for many jobs.
Very limited capital in some businesses – makes for a very boring job if you’re a good engineer.
Pay levels in manufacturing are lower than competitors.
Advice to Senior Management
Realize that many of your people enjoy their work and you’re stifling their contributions by not making the tough decisions. Don’t let them wilt on the vine – either put some money into the business or sell off the ones that you really don’t want. http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Dow-Chemical-Reviews-E207.htm
I’m sure mr voser and others will receive huge bonuses for saving the company from those low performers. you are not hearing from those who have been kept, as they are either now playing the game well, or they scared and keeping their mouth shut. these tactics did nothing for GE’s or Dow’s stock prices, but someone was well rewarded for enacting them.
Sure glad all of the folks at Shell plants have found some work to do and stopped posting grievances on this biased gripe site!! Has slowed way down as it should!!
Drill a relief well simultaneously? Peoples brains must have frozen over in Alaska. A relief well is a exactly the same as a ‘normal’ well, just harder. The odds of a blow out are the same. To drill one in the remote chance a blow out occurs would be to double your exposure?? We can argue over the merits or intrinsic safety of arctic drilling but lets not be stupid.
Infantile? It’s a pity the energy invested in creation & maintenace of this site would have been focused in a more productive venture. As a retiree, I remember joking with other colleagues that if we lost an email, we could probably find it on this site – so this site actually does have some intrinsic value.
I have provided volumes of evidence including a leaked 93 page Shell internal document containing admissions about Shell’s track record in Nigeria. Also information about a $15.5 million settlement by Shell of long standing litigation by a Wiwa family member and other Ogoni. Plus links to countless independent articles about Shell’s conduct in Nigeria. In response, not a single piece of evidence, just an infantile comment.
Both of you seem to have migrated to far on your points of view. Shell is by no means the evil corp that it is made out to be here. In my opinion its biggest fault is that it tries to hold it self to a standard that frankly is beyond it (or any other major). Its record in Nigeria is poor, however, I don’t think any other major would be different. Indeed I wonder why Shell refuses to leave, it makes little profit, has a terrible safety record just as bad press. However, a large amount of blame must rest squarely on the country itself for their own corruption and waste.
On the other hand, I think Shell continues to be profitable despite itself. It is for the most part run these days but a bunch of yes man (and women) that have no balls or convictions. I doubt whether there is a coherent strategy anywhere in management. In my opinion Transition 09 (what a joke) will make things worse as they methodically removed experienced people and disenfranchised the rest which will result in the departure of the remaining competent people that refuse to work in such a company.
REPLY TO MUSAINT:
It is remarkable that you continue to defend Shell’s dreadful track record in Nigeria when even Shell has admitted that it has contributed to the fighting and corruption in that much plundered and polluted country: See CNN Report: “Shell admits blame in Nigeria” published on 11 June 2004. Two other revealing articles about Shell were published on the same day: “Bribery and corruption put fresh dent in tarnished image of Shell” (The Independent) “Memos expose Shell’s years of lying” (Daily Telegraph). And returning to Nigeria, an article published the following day by The Times: “Shell’s gas burn-off targets in doubt“. And here is a leaked copy of a 93 page report prepared and paid for by Shell containing admissions about Shell’s track record in Nigeria: “PEACE AND SECURITY IN THE NIGER DELTA“: You have also conveniently forgotten Shell’s settlement for $15.5 million of the Wiwa case in June last year: “Shell’s blood money settles the Wiwa case“. Here is a link to many more reports about Shell’s conduct in Nigeria. To top it all, here is a list of admissions and apologies by Shell. And yet you persist in trying to defend Shell? With regards to events surrounding Sakhalin2 leaks, continuing to stand by your conclusions and allegations based on ignorance of the facts and related ill-considered assumptions, does you no credit. I would have thought more of you if, under the circumstances, you had apologised.
Your article “Allegation of death threats surrounding Shell leaked emails”, should ideally be read on a stand alone basis. As is I stand by what I said. Your add-ons in response do not change my opinion of the danger you put the informer into. The Russian mob/secret police (whatever you want to call them) are not stupid, but, they are thugs. Yes again I use the word “alleged” as many of your financial statements on how much you’ve cost Shell are not factually proved. Yes I do attack this website and some of its contributors for nonsense reporting on Shell in Nigeria. Fact is that Shell performs far better than many companies throughout the world.
With regard to the snide comment about exaggeration “again”, here is the link to the Argus Media article containing an interview with the so called “Kremlin Attack Dog”, Oleg Mitvol when he states in the clearest possible terms where he obtained the evidence supporting the then $10 billion dollar lawsuit (later raised to $50 billion) he was threatening to bring against Shell: http://www.shellnews.net/images/Mitvol.pdf The source had genuine concerns about the project on ethical grounds supported by evidence. I did exactly what the source asked me do to. I have never released anything about the source which might allow them to be identified and have no intention of doing so now. Mitvol did give a subsequent interview to The Sunday Times confirming my involvement. The article was read to me over the phone hours before the Sunday Times was being printed. However, it did not appear in the paper. When I subsequently made a SAR application to Shell under the Data Protection Act, I obtained a copy of a Shell internal email discussing the pending Sunday Times story which said that my actions had cost Shell
“Evidence I provided to the Russian government cost Shell billions of dollars” – perhaps true, perhaps an exaggeration again. One thing I would not be proud to put into print Mr. D is that “the source disappeared without trace” – most likely (I believe the inference) as a result of your disclosure to the authorities. They are a viscious group in Russia and it would appear that your source may well have lost his life as a result of your actions. I would hold my head in shame. These death threats were from Russians and not Shell I would hazard a guess. I hope you sent the sources’ family a letter of condolance.
A few spare minutes, so I used them to browse the last 9 months since last looking in. The big industry change is the DW Horizon and there is plenty of speculation about similarity in Shell – could it happen here etc. I have moved on a couple of years ago, but in Houston 2005-8 I don’t believe that the Shell well engineers would have ever allowed the scope changes and shortcuts that were made by BP. I remember clearly that a “long string” option in one of our wells was categorically refused and we had to run the liner with tieback at cost >$10mln. Safety at stake, and good engineering practice.
What finally drove me (and a good chunk of the Americas exploration leadership) away from Shell was GoM related, however: the inability to hold to a strategy and the imposition of personal agendas from global leadership. For all Bichsel’s faults (and there are many), once he was convinced you had a valid strategy he left you to get on with it. He had a certain trust level. Once he was kicked upstairs Americas completely lost any independence in both strategic and tactical direction and lease sales were micro-managed from The Hague by people with almost no hands on knowledge of the prospects. many man-years of careful effort to prepare for lease sales were over-ruled by telecon by failed explorers sitting across the atlantic who fancied they knew a thing or two about the GoM. Yes, we won plenty of leases, but never the right mix to build a balanced portfolio of opportunities. After this dispiriting experience, plus the parachuting in of the failed explorers back to Houston, it was definitely time to be off.
This Corrib business is starting to get a right old bore!! Firstly the locals should be thankful for the business that it brings and secondly others (such as Tom McAndrew) should realise what benefits Shell provides with it’s donations to the community / schools. NOT everything that Shell gives should be seen as a bribe or sweetener!! The Greens and Tree Huggers on this planet should realise that Shell, and other companies, do add value to the lives of communities throughout the world.
Memo to “Wilt Staph” : Most of the pollution in Ogoni Land (and other areas) is down to malicious pipeline damage caused by locals trying to steal oil, not Shell.
CEP – there was no problem with the concept as originally designed, but unfortunately was blighted (corrupted??) by the short termism and “worship thy boss” ethos which came into Shell in the 1990′s. The result is a devaluation of CEP to mean “crass exaggeration of performance” or “continual erosion of profitability”.
Well done to BP for getting rogue well under control at last so that it poses no further threat. Shouldn’t have happened at all – but in the end it is safe. Good!
Memo to Shell: Why not pretend that your operations in Nigeria are actually onshore USA and apply the same environmental rules and concerns as if it was millions of Americans at risk not millions of Ogonis?
#818Golden Triangle Watchman on Sep 5th, 2010 at 05:47
The summary here re HR all rings true from where I sit. It has been documented here well the work of Tom Purves in the Gulf coast. He was able to change people’s performance factors and make them low enough that , when the severance packages came around, they would be eligible to be let go. Tom knew that the packages were coming because of his relationship with HR, specifically the now retired Glenn Gilchrist. Both he and Tom were able to advocate for the severance packages and also customize and pinpoint those that they wanted to get rid of. This is all well known and will always be Uncle Tom’s legacy, not the screwed up CEP project. Ultimately, Glenn retired because HR likes to feed off anyone, including their own. And ultimately, Uncle Tom will get a nice payoff and ride off, or walk off , into the sunset with his little ice teamaker and enjoy his life all to himself. Not the legacy he wanted to end with I’m sure. And for HR, they haven’t served the people in a long time. They are there for senior leadership and somehow through Hofmeister, Dalzell, Gilchrist, and others, fancy themselves as having the ear of the top brass helping to create and develop the future leaders of the company. What a sad state of affairs our company now sits in with HR’s help. Their own brand of competency mapping for leaders ( aka CEP) ended up creating the 600-750 ( or whatever number Voser landed on) of senior executives to get the heave ho…. Makes you wonder what the CEP is really all about. Gilchrist has now gone on to start another business. Glenn, enjoy yourself and hide behind your web page. Uncle Tom, tell Funkhouser to roll over and get you a glass of tea.
retiree, no doubt, the recent pension pay-out savings scheme, executed by the very subjective, ‘relative performance’ sentencing, was hatched from one of the latest HR-inspired soup-of-the-day, organizational-performance-improvement plans. When you hear a manager comparing site performance tactics to McDonalds and Starbucks, clearly someone was led to the wrong seminar… and hasn’t the sense to distinguish the difference.
On the HR business in Shell: after that evangelical Hofmeister wormed himself into the position of head HR, things went downhill rapidly. He kept traipsing all over the world to all the nice and expensive spots and invited planeloads of HR folk to discuss whatever HR discusses. He made statements that he would be proud to see someone at an airport and see immediately ‘this is a Shell HR person’. He destroyed all good systems we had such as evaluation, development and resourcing of staff. The same staff lost their senior focal points whom they could trust to discuss personal matters and instead the HR circus was swamped with outsiders who only could deal with computer systems and told all staff that they were responsible to look after their own career.
Open resourcing became the biggest farce of Shell and I believe it is now called MOR (Managed Open Resourcing). Few people dare say that Open Resourcing never should have introduced because it feeds on the ‘me first’ principle. Nobody would do anything for the company if he or she would not get personally better from it. Where all that led to has been obvious the last 10 years or so.
And then HR people were being promoted into very senior and overpaid positions that were dealing with business. The development of staff had started to crumble and we got a prime example of the blind leading the blind. He received help from Gary Steel who as director for LEAP had the whole CMD dancing the macarena and when he noticed it all went belly-up, left Shell to go and wreak havoc at ABB. Carol Dubnicki came (for a hideous salary caused by a simple mistake of the senior resourcer who keyed in the wrong number) and left in disgrace having achieved nothing apart from leaving more wreckage. And then Hofmeister started to tour the USA as a royal, pretending to know the business. I am convinced he promoted that other silly woman Cook into several levels beyond her competence. She was so bad, she would have made a good modern HR person in Shell! As Shell employs above average intelligent people, these soon followed up and saw what was rewarded: promises over performance, agree with the boss and ‘me first, never mind the company’. A great many low and mid level HR folk are now employed and hired from outside. Presumably for diversification but more likely for ensuring there is no more corporate memory. And these outsiders have no feel for the business nor its people. Neither do they care!
I believe I have said enough. I am very glad to have retired and can look back on the good old days…. I wish all current employees success in dealing with HR (Human Remains according to Sir John Jennings), but always beware of false or silly information, double check yourself and keep looking over your shoulder.
Other synonyms . . . .
Non-Existent, Know Nothing, Won’t Help – Keep Redirecting, No experience, Every Question looked upon as Confrontation,
Should I say more! Why have a local HR group who is useless? Bottom line, you end of getting frustrated and quit asking questions after going thru all that BS!
Would anyone like to comment on the HR organisation within Shell? I’ve had a fair few run in’s with them so far- they all seem to be blimmin’ useless! But perhaps that is like most HR organisations in big corporations (?). It seems like they really do not care about the individual. I’ve been pushed from pillar to post when I ask for clarification on a particular policy. We are told to contact the outsourced help desks sitting in Poland, KL etc. as HR in the business don’t seem to either have the time or skill to deal with local employees. What has Shell become?? Any advice please on how to deal with HR and actually get them to help me would be most gratefully received.
Pensioner 009, First, I am a long time user of this web Site myself. Second, I am sure I am not not the only one who has not taken kindly to his condesending and obviously inflated opinion of himself and his put downs of others on this site. His so called “advice” was more of an insult than advise. His “advice” to “primoregggazz” and his Range Rover were thinly disguised insults, not advice. This was not his first time to do this. If you like and respect him, that is your choice but I am sure there are others that do not agree. Read back on how primoreggazz responded to his co called “advice. I will not be commenting further on this issue or Musaint. those that respect his opinion and methods can read his comments. I will not.
Musaint, those who have been viewing this blog for longer than just a few weeks know you as a respected contributor, so pay no heed to the recent comments.
As to Shell Diesel quality, I got shot of my Disco years ago – far too unreliable always breaking down. For 5 years now my deisel X5 has run on nothing but Shell Diesel and is just fine.
I would more likely suspect contamination in the filling station tanks – possibly water in the tank. This is far more common than many people realise. Trouble is you only find out after you have driven away.
As for new formulations of diesel – that’s driven by EU regualtion – the UK should NEVER have joined.
When the GSAP project started up in 2003, we were soon drowning in Powerpoint slides. One image in particular stood out. It depicted the existing Legacy MI systems as a “house of cards”, on the point of collapse. And here was GSAP, to the rescue !
The next stage is well documented. GSAP got nowhere trying to replace the MI, and within 4 years had to be rescued itself. The saviour was a new MI project called “GPMR”, which curiously set off using almost the same methods and technologies that had just failed. You can’t keep a good “strategy” down.
3 years later, GPMR itself looks in need of rescue. Delivery to date consists of 2 humble ‘pathfinders’, both plagued by performance problems, and using different client technologies because of an architectural cock-up. The rising sense of panic is unmistakeable. Developers desperately clone whole chunks of legacy structure without really understanding it, while their seniors trim scope and push back delivery dates – in spite of which efforts, published plans still show GPMR finishing the rest of job (a magnitude more than they have done so far) in little more than a YEAR.
Meanwhile, the original MI (the “house of cards”) is still there. 7 years on death row have done some damage, but systems are still running and generally outperforming GSAP/GPMR. Almost nothing has been decommissioned.
Credit where it is due. 7 years of pitiful delivery would have sapped the morale of lesser teams, but GSAP/GPMR have remained true; true to the sense that “strategy” is what counts, not results; true to the belief that if you continue spending shareholders’ funds for long enough, success will one day come your way. And they are still on-message: open a GPMR 2010 slide pack and you find the original 2003 “house of cards” graphic is still there !
I am sure we were all suitably impressed by your condescending attitude and your bragging about your car. Frankly, sir, if you are trying to impress folks, you might want to try a different tactic than condescension and bragging.
Oh yeah, you do not help your credibility by bragging as most who do that do it to cover their shortcomings. From the way you write, i am convinced you must have many to cover.
Well my poor little munchkin (EXSF), my comments were aimed at someone who (a) spouted on about poor performance with a Shell product, for which I merely asked some questions to help understand his problem, (b) on his response & pontification about having a Landrover tractor, merely explaind what car I had and that it had improved with the Shell product. We don’t all dislike Shell on this website.
Musaint, it is only fair to tell you that the reason I found your remarks offensive was your clear strategy of casting aspersions on others comments. You give them no respect at all by casting aspersions on the intelligence of people you do not even know. I am giving you the same respect that you gave them. If you want your comments to be respected, then you should try treating others with the same respect you might want. Right now, you seem like a Shell Troll to me.
Forgot to add that my car is a Audi Q7 V12 TDI. It’s well tuned and runs on Shell. Any time you want to test your tractor against a Shell run vehicle please let me know.
Just offering advice – fact is that others, like myself, have found the Shell product extremely good. Mine is a well serviced vehicle – is that your problem perhaps?
MUSAINT – what on earth are you on, if you haven’t got any decent advise to add…don’t comment, yes i do have a diesel motor, if i would have filled up with unleaded, the motor wouldn’t work, surely any dimwit would know this! decent car? well i think my landrover discovery tdv6 hse is a prestige model, not some run of the mill family car that you probably drive…..with reference to 3-4 tanks to work the shell fuel out of the system, well my landrover mechanic filled his range rover up with bio fuel and that took 3-4 tanks of normal diesel to clear out the the bio fuel so it was an approximation!
I have worked in Nigeria and the much used expression there was: ‘You pay small dash, finish palaver’. I see this still holds true. But I am not certain whether this palaver will disappear. The country as a whole is simply too corrupt and all the poor citizens are victims.
Well “primoreggazzo”, I can only offer up some suggestions to your problem. (1) make sure you really have a diesel and not an unleaded car, (2) make sure you buy a half decent vehicle – this could be your main problem. That said, who said you would need 3-4 clean tanks to solve the problem – some cowboy garage?!? “I have refilled the tank after almost running empty” – that’s plain stupid you should check the fuel guage!! My car has absolutely no problem with this product, infact its performance has improved dramatically.
POSTED ON BEHALF OF “primoreggazzo”: I have recently filled up with Shell diesel
#837Golden Triangle Watchman on Aug 19th, 2010 at 04:14
Well Uncle Tom has shown up now over here at PAR. I guess the mourning over his demotion is now over. He is able to get the Funk to cut off the alarm clock in the morning and they both ride to work to save the day at Port Arthur. Tom, look deep in the mirror, keep looking, deeper… and listen to the voice that keeps telling you that you screwed it up… the whole gulf coast… people’s lives… because of your controlling ways and the fact that the RVP job was over your head….. Now you can manage the Funk…. have Funk tell little boy Forrest and the brit on the project how to eat the cabbage. You and Jeff deserve each other…. I would just watch the knife in his hand and make sure it doesn’t end up in your back…. remember you taught him well.
Boy I can’t wait to see how you finish up doing SPI-100 on PAR since that became your passion over the past few years.
I know that I have commented on this age old story about Shell selling their Rajasthan acreage before (this story and my comments are probably like a cracked record), but, the issue should be put at the doorstep of 2 Shell individuals – namely Messrs. Wildig and Parsley. I know I have been corrected by somebody previously, but, these two individuals killed off Shell’s E&P presence in the sub-continent (that includes Pakistan which has also proved a money earner for Premier Oil). Probably the Swiss inbred & nodding-donkey Bichsel signed the final death-knell for the sub-continent but Parsley and Wildig were the real culprits. Why oh why was an idiot PE (Wildig) by background given the responsibility to defend exploration decisions?? Hard-nosed that he was, I liked the genuine ability of someone such as Murris to decide on entry or exit on a country. The likes of Bichsel / Parsley and most especially Wildig had absolutely no idea.
Musaint, ‘Geismar thingy’ is probably across the pond from you in the southern US. Just not the same morale and energy as there once was. Probably still a better place to be than many other Shell sites. Some of the most committed folks in the organization are disappointed by some leadership decisions.
What, where, is this Geismar thingy that a number of posts are moaning & minging about. Must be a lousy place to work if there’s so many mingers “working” there!!
Useless PTL, I think that the recent change in VP leadership is important. some other things that are important:
1. Some newer employees do not have the respect for Shell and the work ethic that we once knew at Geismar.
2.Some first line leaders are playing the destructive,force ranked competition game and believe in it. The top rated folks are thriving, and love it, no-one else is inspired. This ONLY works in sales groups or piece-work production.
3.Some of the key folks who really understood and believed in the culture of which you speak, have been removed.
4.Some folks currently in key leadership roles,do not believe in that culture, or have no idea of what we are talking about. “Task oriented supervision is better”.
5.Some of the changes in recent years have been good for the site. It would be critical to not destroy all of the changes for the sake of ‘a better culture’.
6. Many of the supervisors currently in place were selected because they are more capable of task supervision and have no idea of what empowerment of their work teams looks like.
I think that your question goes much deeper than this; just wanted to share some thoughts.
hey geismar gator, history says, many were given over-extended periods to qualify, or to ‘get comfortable’, or to re-take tests and walk-throughs. It doesn’t matter what race you were. Technicians in training are now being held to more standardized, specified time frames to demonstrate progressive success in learning and skill development.
For the Geismar Folks…. Do you feel that the “culture” at Geismar will return to what it has been in the past, or is the damage too deep to reverse itself??? I personally see no benefit in staying at a plant that treats supervision the way that we are treated in Geismar. Are the Motiva sites any better? Is there any place in the organization for someone who actually cares about his direct reports and not climbing over the backs of his peers just to get to the next grade??? If so, someone please point me in that direction, I fear that Geismar is a lost cause…
Agree 100%. A Japanese log carrier built in 1965, with a drilling package added in 1975 is not exactly the state of the art in drilling vessels (and I’m sure the cabins don’t measure up to Norwegian standards of luxury!). But I’m also sure it’s cheap (if 300K/day is cheap?). Maybe with the cancellation fees Frontier Drilling (owned by Shell and the Carlyle Group at the time the contracts were awarded) will be able to afford a refit – after ten years it’s well overdue.
#845POSTING BY FORMER SHELL EMPLOYEE on Aug 11th, 2010 at 09:17
I seems to me that there is one Royal Dutch Shell subsidiary that is well acquainted with the stringent and successful Norwegian ‘rules of engagement’ for drilling and production in the North Sea and Arctic. That would be Norske Shell, RDS’s Norwegian subsidiary.
I am certain those folks can operate in the US Arctic far more competently and safely than Shell USA’s Gulf of Mexico ‘run and gun’ gang. And I am dead certain Norske Shell would never approve of Shell USA’s current choice for a drilling operator for their Chukchi exploration campaign.
Shell USA spent $2 billion on leases and now apparently wants to use an obsolete, but refurbished ‘rust bucket’ to drill their exploration wells to ‘save a little money’. Why not contract a Chinese rig? They are ‘dirt cheap’ (if they don’t sink).
Seems to me Royal Dutch should think seriously about how it staffs and manages its US Arctic exploration effort. It may be time to import some operational and managerial competence. It could pay huge dividends down the road. One screw-up on the part of the ‘junior varsity’ and the gig is up.
Just a thought from a former Shell Oil USA employee.
hey justthefactsmaam i guess you represent the historic geismar family. You know how it goes out here in geismar. If you are part of the family you get the best training and all the time you need to qualify. You even get unlimited chances at taking the test. Black technicians don’t get the same treatment. Blacks have a certain time frame to qualify and a more diffucult time during training.
Absolutely False, While I agree David G. is a clown, the two technicians in question were dismissed because of their competency. It has nothing to do with their race, in fact, if the truth would be told they were hired because of their race. The people who should really be terminated are the people in HR who hire some of these “slugs” and send them to an operating unit, where they arent capable of learning and performing the duties of an operating technician. Then someone like a David G. is forced to make a very tough decision, Fire a black tech. or let his/her continued incompetency reflect on his performance.
This is a lose/lose for a Mgr. But in these two cases David G. made the right decision.
Geismar Gator, word is that the first one of which you speak did not receive due process;he/she was even held accountable in a job they were not yet qualified in.??? The word out there also has it that this most recent one of which you speak, just could not meet the requirements, and that due process was followed, via progressive discipline process. If the ‘fly on the wall’ has this wrong, please share it here.
racial tensions brewing over in geismar, David Gates is at it again this time a one of the only four black female technicians is his victim. That’s two black technicians in a year. There’s also been other problems with blacks not gettin promotions over here also. I guess you can say another one bites the dust.
CORRECTION TO MY LAST POST
an important correction to my use of the word retribution. The statement should have read: Forced ranking is subject to favoritism and RETALIATION, not retribution..
CorporateHR, too bad Mr TP will take this as a move in his favor. It seems unfair for those whose lives were changed, some after 30+years of service, that TP gets moved around instead of out. Severance payments do not replace the additional years that some would have worked. Reduced Pensions do not compensate for the years of life that were given to Shell. Retirement and financial plans and goals were destroyed for some. My personal opinion is that there is no reasonable cause for the way that some of these staff reductions were executed. Many team leaders that were terminated were far more effective than some that were kept.
Word is out on the street….. Tom purves moves back to Port Arthur to take the lead on the project, rathweg replaces Tom, Farid moves to west coast, and unbelievably a Mark Byrd takes the helm at The flagship. My thoughts….. Clearly a demotion for Uncle Tom but he won’t look at it that way. This is where he wants to be, buried deep in motiva central where he can hide out in a small office on Savannah with his little tea pot barking orders to funkhouser and helping(?) out. Trust me uncle Tom doesn’t look at this as a demotion. He just gets to drop his knapsack off full-time now in the apartment with Jeff and ride to work together instead of playing MLT boy. Big win for uncle Tom. Re rathweg, good move for Steve but boy he has his hands full…. This isn’t geismar. Uncle Tom leaves him the keys with 4 years of baggage and mistrust. Also uncle Tom has been clear that he thinks Steve is a doofus saying it public ally many times. No love loss between these 2. Now Steve on his trips to port Arthur has to get in the middle of Tom, Forrest, and da funk on issues. 3 is a company 4 is a crowd and Steve will see first hand what that relationship looks like. Re farid, he gets to move home to the west coast so he is happy…. Not sure his Martinez replacement will find it the same way. Re bird, ……good luck.
CorporateHR,thanks for affirming this for me. I would have been shocked to hear if the SR that I knew had compromised his values and morals.
Some very welcome news just out on reassignments of SR and TP will help to re-instill some trust, collaboration and energy in the gulf coast sites. Too bad this took place after we suffered through TP’s rank & yank slaughter. Those who no me will probably recognize me when I say that the dedicated, energized morale that we once knew can only be returned by rebuilding the reciprocal loyalty that TP’s tactics have so efficiently destroyed. The biggest challenge for SR will be dealing with TP’s minions that have been advanced and rewarded for their subservient dirty work under TP. They are still in place and the working folks in the organization will have a hard time being inspired by these cowards that they have watched execute the humiliating destruction of the personalities and lives, of the first line leaders that they respected and admired.
Hopefully the adage, ‘good Shell, bad leaders’, evolves to ‘good Shell recognized bad leaders’.
…..bad leaders will ultimately destroy an enterprise…..
on May 21st, 2013 at 22:30
Hmmmm. BP,and Shell are partners in Crime. I now imagine why BP filled Amicus Brief in support of Shell in Kiobel v Shell at Supreme court in America
on May 21st, 2013 at 15:05
USCitizen: So glad you are back. Things were getting to be a bit boring and one-sided with only LondonLad to hold down the fort for RDS.
on May 20th, 2013 at 22:30
Relieved: Neither Watts, nor vd Veer nor Voser had the good fortune to spend a few years in Cambridge with Lord Madingley of Boots and Coots fame. I think Moody Stuart might have done…
on May 20th, 2013 at 18:37
I have not absconded John, just do not have time to waste or breath to waste on folks with a clear biased agenda. Folks who take any data and use it to build their already determined conlcusion. Later – much too busy trying to get my retirement paid for by contractors taking me to lunch twice a year, man these perks are awesome!! Again – get a life.
on May 20th, 2013 at 16:10
Maybe we ought to start calling RDS and BP management the ‘Cambridge Boys Club’ or perhaps the ‘Cambridge Mafia’. No ?? Just a thought. Anybody else have any ideas, aside from the usual obscenities.
on May 19th, 2013 at 17:12
It seems reasonable to speculate that if the CEO’s of these companies reached a deal on oil prices, then the executive committees of both companies were also involved. Members of their boards of directors may also have been involved. Given that RDS had executives from the US on the exec. committee and on the board I would guess those individuals (retired or not) are also subjects of a wider criminal investigation. Involvement of the US DOJ therefore seems to be inevitable. And who knows, maybe we shall get to the bottom of these ‘damnable and viscous lies and rumors’ about price fixing. Afterall, RDS management is governed by well established corporate ‘business principles’ and would never stoop to such conduct. Dream on, my children, dream on. Don’t you just love the arrogance of power.
on May 18th, 2013 at 15:20
LondonLad: While it is true that oil is traded as a commodity on various markets it is also true that the oil companies have been heavy speculators in those markets. That fact has been know for a long time.
on May 17th, 2013 at 18:31
The biggest oil price fixers in the UK in order of “fixing” are:
1. UK Government (at a healthy 60%) – FACT
2. New York and London Stock Market traders (non-oil company traders) – FACT
3. Companies that buy up cargo loads of oil and store it offshore for the price to rise then sell at vast profits – FACT
4. Shell, BP, Statoil et. al. – ALLEDGEDLY
Lets face it, as with the LIBOR scandal, it takes more than one or two companies to fix the price of a product.
on May 16th, 2013 at 14:59
LondonLad: Correct me if I am wrong, but I seem to recall RDS having the same problem over price fixing in the Phillipines.
In the States this alleged price fixing activity could be prosecuted under Federal conspiracy and Racketeering statutes (i.e., engaging in organized crime), among others. People would/could go to jail for a very, very long time if convicted of such activity.
on May 16th, 2013 at 10:38
Interesting to see on the ITV website that they state : “The price of petrol at UK pumps has increased significantly since 2004, but the majority of that is down to tax.” Most people should be aware the biggest thieves with regard to oil price “fixing” are the UK Government – 60% tax at the pump AND that does not include the tax at the wellhead of the North Sea. Cameron et al are hiding nicely behind this tabloid story. REPLY BY JOHN: Musaint, you are bunching ITN, BBC News, Channel4News, Sky News, Bloomberg, Dow Jones, The Telegraph, The Guardian, USA Today, The New York Times etc all under the your “tabloid” banner. Seems rather unfair to me. You are right about UK governments, past and present.
on May 15th, 2013 at 16:59
Well here we go again!! Oil price fixing and all the little add-ons and innuendos again by the Donovans. Strongly recommend that it’s best to read some of the UK newspapers for a more sensible write up and debate on the oil price fixing. Biggest price fixers? – the London and NY (non-oil company) traders. Why do you have to interweave so many aspects on Shell that you’ve been discussing over the last month or so, most of which are conjecture or alleged? “Royal Dutch Shell was built on price fixing” – bit of a sweeping and unfounded statement I would say. Well “Relieved” I thought you knew all there is to know about Shell as your ingrained negativeness must be based on knowledge of the company, i.e. its Business Principles. Clearly not. REPLY BY JOHN: Hello Musaint, I can recommend some reading material to you so you know the facts. Start off with A HISTORY OF ROYAL DUTCH SHELL, volumes 1, 2 & 3. This vast work was written by eminent historians paid by Shell. When you have read it all, as I have, let me know and I will direct you to further credible, verifiable, reference source information providing more proof confirming what I have stated. The whole evil enterprise was built on price-fixing.
on May 14th, 2013 at 20:19
Could some current senior manager from RDS tell us what the company’s business principles (really) are ???
on May 14th, 2013 at 18:31
In the same way that LIBOR is used to set interest rates around the world, the price of crude set by Platts is used to determine the value of oil globally. No surprise if oil companies were using similar tactics to their friends in the banking sector.
on May 13th, 2013 at 14:53
LondonLad: Given that you agree that RDS management is responsible for their conduct and decisions, then I take it you agree they should be held responsible for what appears to be (according to ‘Washington Observer’) a not so subtle attempt at espionage (under USA law and perhaps the Official State Secrets Act – UK). Correct ?
on May 12th, 2013 at 17:05
To LondonLad: Someday you may know my story, but for now it is not appropriate for me to comment. FYI – I did not retire from Shell. I was not so foolish as to hang around that long. Better opportunities beckoned, and there are better opportunities in this world than working for RDS. Believe me, it is a big wide world out there, with lots of better opportunities than working for RDS.
on May 12th, 2013 at 01:36
Dear Voser, You have made an impact to Shell. However there are still lots to be done. Put an Asian in the Excom. The old Western business model and management style is outdated. So do Shell a favor before you leave.
on May 11th, 2013 at 18:57
Yes “Relieved” one of the objectives of this website is to encourage discussion – and for that I genuinely salute the Donovan’s for inserting comments on the Blog from the likes of myself. Yes I was a good company man for many years – were you? I very much doubt that as the chip on your shoulder from enforced early retirement appears to blinker your thought process. I do love your comment that “RDS management IS responsible for everything it does” – YET AGAIN I ask, did you (YES YOU “RELIEVED”) voice/email/write about your concerns when you were “working” for Shell??
on May 11th, 2013 at 18:12
LondonLad – my name IS Maura, what’s yours?!
on May 11th, 2013 at 15:17
It think that, in the end, Oxford will find its arrangement with RDS to be a Faustian bargain.
on May 10th, 2013 at 21:24
LondonLad: I think that the historical legal precedent that you and RDS are looking with regards to your ‘Donovan Problem’ can be found in the quote: ‘Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest ?’
on May 10th, 2013 at 21:04
Oh, yes – RDS management IS responsible for everything it does. If they aren’t, then who is ???
on May 10th, 2013 at 21:00
To LondonLad: I do believe one of the objectives of this blog is to encourage discussion about the way RDS does business. From time to time it manages to do just that.
Just for grins – Being the good ‘company man’ that you obviously are, do you wear underwear adorned with little red and yellow Shell logo’s ?? We breathlessly await your reply.
on May 10th, 2013 at 20:04
Not quite the same as the major golf event or large office building. In this instance there is no need to smuggle in a huge bomb or hijack a plane. All that is needed is a relatively small explosive device, or a speedboat suicide attack, as per the USS Cole, to ignite a ready-made gigantic potential bomb. All that’s missing from the billion dollar Prelude vessel is a large target painted on each side. As to your self-appointed role on this website, you are as always very welcome, especially as US Citizen has absconded.
on May 10th, 2013 at 18:51
There are far too many “add-ons” and innuendos trying to pull Shell into a story (the tabloid approach as I’ve stated on many occasions). A very good example is that of this terrorist story viz offshore facilities. Hey, what about a refinery viz terrorists in the UK or USA; hey what about a large office in the world viz terrorists; hey what about a major golfing event viz terrorists – the list goes on and on. All can be woven into the name of Shell (and other oil companies for that matter). Get my point yet? No probably not as the Donovans and “Relieved” are fixated with trying to sling mud at Shell at every opportunity. By the way “Relieved” you still refuse to answer some of my basic questions, which are simple to answer. As Donovan has stated many times he merely wants to hold Shell to its Business Principles etc. – a very noble cause indeed; all I want to do is make sure these attacks on this website are based on fact NOT innuendos and half-baked stories.
on May 10th, 2013 at 16:49
With Cambridge graduates filling three positions on Shell’s executive committee (Andy Brown, Simon Henry, and Peter Rees) how did anyone get approval to set up a research facility with Oxford??
on May 10th, 2013 at 15:47
LondonLad: Me thinks you were an ex-Shell manager. Your lack of objectivity (i.e., brain washing) and immaturity give you away. This discussion about potential terrorist activity directed towards RDS’s proposed floating processing plants is
not irrelevant given the concern of RDS’s investors and insurers.
FYI – a 1 tonne charge of high explosive detonated under the keel of such a ship would undoubtedly break its back, causing it to tear apart and sink. That is how modern torpedoes work. Like it or not these ships are going to be very vulnerable targets, and RDS will need to plan and prepare for ‘hostile activity’ directed at them. It is only prudent. RDS should consult with the RN and SAS about such matters.
on May 9th, 2013 at 23:51
LondonLad: Fiction? What fiction? You make a blanket condemnation, but provide no examples – not one – of what you are describing as “fiction”.
on May 9th, 2013 at 22:53
One last comment about Shell’s proposed designe for a gas processing vessel of ‘vast size and proportions’. That darned thin has one hell of a freeboard and will be extremely difficult to handle in any kind of a wind. In a ‘big blow’ it may be impossible to handle unless it has very powerful engines.
on May 9th, 2013 at 18:54
P.S. The King is Dead, Long Live the King
on May 9th, 2013 at 17:43
To the Donovans and “Maura” I think you miss the point. No oil company can fully protect any offshore facility for 100% security and safety. This tabloid story merely highlights what I have said about this website on many occasions – yes, many facts quoted BUT far too much fiction for my liking (perhaps not for the anti-Shell brigade though). And, if Shell did have the SAS to protect a facility? Then guess what this website would no doubt blame Shell for an overkill etc. etc. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t. The Bonga comparison is fact Maura not fiction as you attempt to make out. As for your comments “Relieved” they merely highlight your attempt to blame Shell for everything they do. As stated and asked many times to you : (1) were you given early retirement from Shell ? hence your “problem” with the company; (2) did you complain upwards within Shell with all these negative comments / concerns which you state Shell had when you were working for them? The old “Twaddle Master” seems to have reinvented himself under the guise of “Relieved” – welcome back!
on May 9th, 2013 at 16:42
LondonLad: Do you like to dance ??
on May 9th, 2013 at 09:23
LondonLad: You complain about me drawing attention to what will be an obvious, but until now, unspoken prime (almost sitting) target for a terrorist attack, but then add to the highlighting of this hugely expensive, gigantic floating LNG facility – a ready-made gigantic bomb, by posting your own inflammatory comment. This in turn has drawn further attention to a sensitive subject and generated yet more comment and more attention. Guess this is going to be another situation like the Arctic, where Shell will have to self-insure because it will be impossible to obtain contingency risk insurance? In conclusion, you are guilty of exactly what you accuse me of doing – drawing attention to a highly vulnerable potential target for terrorist attack. (Surprised you have not mentioned the retirement of Fergie?)
on May 9th, 2013 at 00:56
LondonLad – to include ‘The same action was taken by SNEPCO fro their Bonga platform and so far (apart from one incident) it has worked’ in a comment can only be described as either pathetic or hilarious! Ever hear the maxim that some only have to get ‘lucky’ once …
on May 8th, 2013 at 22:31
LondonLad: One final comment – Do you remember what a couple of thugs in zodiacs filled with several hundred kilo’s of high explosives did to the USS Cole about 10 years ago ?? As I recall, it cost the USN about $500 million to repair that ship, and they were lucky it didn’t sink. Think about it, buddy. Convince Shell’s investors they have nothing to be concerned about.
on May 8th, 2013 at 22:11
LondonLad: My, but you have a nasty attitude towards bearers of unpleasant news. Were you one of those ‘shoot the messenger’ types when you worked for RDS ?? If investors are worried then the issue is something RD Shell management needs to address, not ignored. Investors aren’t experts in the offshore oil business and if they aren’t convinced those facilities are secure investments they won’t back them. So, RD Shell needs to do some convincing and educating. But just between you, me and the fencepost, those big 500,000 tonne proposed ships are going to be inviting targets. Perhaps too inviting. Don’t want to get surprised, do we ?? And we most certainly don’t want to have any industrial accidents either. Remember RDS has the worst industrial safety record of all the majors. I think RDS investors have a right to question policy and ask questions. It is their money, after all, not yours that is at risk.
on May 8th, 2013 at 18:49
Don’t know who the idiot trouble-stirrer is who you have given highlight to viz his/her story about terrorists with zodiac boats blowing up offshore activities, but, I think he/she needs to get realistic. No, I doubt very much that RDS design for such terrorist activities – they will however plan with local authorities to help protect their installations (AS OTHER COMPANIES DO). Structural design and security for terrorists are completely different. The same action was taken by SNEPCO for their Bonga platform and so far (apart from one incident) it has worked. If companies designed for terrorist activities then the $/bbl price would be almost unaffordable, even for the subsidized Yanks. As a shareholder I am completely happy with RDS present approach. I think the unnamed contributor needs to understand the offshore business.
on May 3rd, 2013 at 16:40
For those interested in Shell’s saga with US DoD and DoN you might google ‘DRPM SSP’. These are the folks Shell apparently thinks they can bamboozle. Unfortunately, these people take their mission VERY seriously, they have no sense of humor, they don’t forget or forgive, and they take no prisoners and give no quarter. Shell management would do well to keep that it mind.
on May 3rd, 2013 at 15:36
Everyone seems to have a comment about Peter Voser’s departure. How about he may just have had it. RD Shell is clearly a difficult company to manage, in large part because of the mediocrity of senior level management. Good old Peter may have simply had enough and decided to hang it up and go do something worthwhile. The cat fight over his successor has already begun and Peter is quickly being forgotten.
on May 3rd, 2013 at 13:25
I don’t really care who gets the CEO position so long as they give us our offices back and stop reorganizing us. Oh sorry I just woke up!
on May 3rd, 2013 at 02:50
It’s a pity Voser is leaving. He has made an impact. Suggest Shell put his job in MOR ( managed open resourcing ), So may the best man or women wins.
on May 3rd, 2013 at 01:17
We salute Voser leaving when high? Wonder who is next? Hope women in Shell lives on.
on May 2nd, 2013 at 12:38
With Rothermund long gone, and Voser on his way, the only surviving Swiss seems to be Bichsel – and he’s four years older than Voser
on May 2nd, 2013 at 08:55
Don’t go Peter your Ossls only hope .
on May 1st, 2013 at 18:06
For those interested, I would also recommend googling ‘us uk mutual defense agreement.’ It would seem that RD Shell decided to target weapons technologies that are probably shared between the US and the UK. Not the most brilliant idea Shell management has ever had.
on May 1st, 2013 at 17:40
For those interested in RD Shell’s taste for US DOD classified technologies I would suggest googling on ‘PEOSUBS’. These are the guys RD Shell has apparently decided (foolishly) to take on and tangle with. RD Shell’s target of interest was apparently, in part, classified acoustics technology. Not a wise decision.
on May 1st, 2013 at 13:07
John and Alfred if like many others in Mayo I put my name up front it could lead to problems. Enough said .
on May 1st, 2013 at 12:17
I would like to repeat a warning I have made before about postings on this blog. Websites allowing aliases to be used are especially vulnerable to manipulation. That includes Wikipedia and blogs, such as this one. It follows that I can only vouch for the bona fides of postings made in my name or by contributors such as Paddy Briggs, who choose not to use an alias. Some contributors using an alias have built up credibility over the years e.g. “Outsider”
on May 1st, 2013 at 10:47
If a CHEIF SUPER in the Irish police doesn’t respond to that OSSL email it’s because he can’t break the link between what’s being said and what happened the dogs in the street in Mayo know whats going on but even they won’t bark about it
on May 1st, 2013 at 09:02
John ,when that black boot comes down on you that should be it but OSSL have had the balls to speak up there is no integrity whatsoever in the Shell team I applaud OSSL but think they are screwed as Shell required to silence the matter
on Apr 30th, 2013 at 23:56
Mr Donovan. Thanks for exposing the evil company called SHELL PETROLEUM (SPDC) keep up the good work
on Apr 29th, 2013 at 17:59
To DutchDude: You are correct. All that changes are the additives. But that wasn’t necessarily the case 30 years ago.
on Apr 29th, 2013 at 13:17
Hi Relieved, as far as I know all gas comes from the same tank. Go to any fuel loading point and you will see all different branded trucks lining up for the same delivery point. With a bit of luck the additive added to the tank makes the difference. The marketing boys have to do something, but as far as I could/can tell 99.9% of all gasoline is the same.
Oh, and I didn’t know Shell had the poorest safety record of the industry, I thought BP carried that flag. More info welcome. REPLY BY JOHN: You requested more information.
on Apr 28th, 2013 at 17:23
LondonLad: Are you a trout fisherman by chance ?? Rumor has it that Scotland has great brown trout fishing. So does Montana (the USA). If you like to trout fish go to Google Images and search on Montana Brown Trout. You will see what I mean. Cheers.
on Apr 28th, 2013 at 17:12
LondonLad: Glad to have you and your sense of humor back. You have been missed. I guess I will have to come up with some witty reply to your comments, or I might just let them go. Shell loyalists annoy me. While Shell was once a good company, that is no longer the case. Time to wake up buddy.
on Apr 27th, 2013 at 18:15
For someone who moans repeatedly about Shell, and is like a nodding donkey when it comes to agreeing with negative comments about Shell, I am absolutely amazed “Relieved” worked for Shell for so long. Are your present day gripes because you were given early retirement? – I ask this as it would help in understanding your negativity. As I have said before – did YOU complain to management/team leader etc. about your reservations/concerns about Shell’s working practices when you were actually working for Shell? “My buddies told me Shell gasoline had shortcomings” – did you/they raise the issue upwards or was this merely a moan that couldn’t be substantiated?
P.S. I assume that your term “Gas” means “Petrol” for the rest of this planet?
on Apr 27th, 2013 at 12:23
To anonymous Deltaic. No, Shell don’t hide their brand but they do their damnedest to hide the rottenness behind that brand – bribery, corruption and what is widely perceived as their involvement in the judicial hanging of the Ogoni Nine.
on Apr 26th, 2013 at 22:11
When I worked for Shell I NEVER bought Shell gasoline. Never. I had buddies who worked in Shell’s downstream division who clued me in on the shortcomings of Shell gasoline. I still won’t buy Shell gas. I buy Chevron gas whenever possible because Chevron has the in-industry reputation of best quality control and best product. Motor away America, but be careful about what you put in your tank. Come to think of it, you need avoid Jiffy – Lube as well. That is another sterling Shell operation.
on Apr 26th, 2013 at 16:36
Hope Shell’s planned new floating LNG facility is built to better standards than BP’s ThunderHorse. Remember that fiasco ?? However,given Shell’s sterling record of performance on other major projects I wouldn’t count on it, and neither should Shell’s shareholders.
on Apr 24th, 2013 at 16:30
Just love the drawing that heads up the story “Rage against the boring machine”. Person on the left typifies the demonstrator of these times – hoody and with a scarf round the face to conceal their identity. When in the wrong and fearful of being caught …………….. At least Shell doesn’t attempt to hide its brand. COMMENT BY JOHN: In normal circumstances I would agree with what you say. Unfortunately normal circumstances may not apply in Ireland if the police force is not impartial, but instead acts as a militant offshoot of Shell security, as a result of widespread corruption by Shell.
on Apr 24th, 2013 at 16:07
Wonder what sort of nut jobs this Greenpeace “Whistleblower” site is going to attract? Guess we should all accept that the “revelations” will be non-factual and work from that point.
on Apr 24th, 2013 at 15:00
Excuse me, but even Shell admits it has the poorest safety record of all the major oil companies. That is nothing to be proud of.
on Apr 23rd, 2013 at 16:40
Shell’s new IT policy regarding cloud enterprise computing could backfire badly. IT will be a prime target for the Chinese. Sad but true fact of life.
on Apr 19th, 2013 at 07:58
To “Outsider” : Shell is NOT an American company so why should the corporate entity (RDS) be liable to US law for its actions in Nigeria? Americans should remember that the US arm of RDS (aka Shell Oil) was bought out in the 90’s by RDS. Shareholder numbers in the US have no legal standing for such cases either. The development team for Bonga was situated in the US merely because of certain (GoM) deepwater skills judged to then be present in the US. It also allowed many Nigerians to be cross posted to the US to gain certain skills.
on Apr 19th, 2013 at 06:14
Faceless identity- terrified “Londonboy or lad,” my rant is lengthy and yours short. All are rants pointing to a court decision with lots of question marks (treating Ogonis different because they’re different?) that may open up more suits. Also, Ben Ikari is different from Londonboy; why then must we write or talk the same way? Do you really hate human diversity like your master or precursor $hell hate Ogoni and its environment; and hating her more because it can no longer return to kill her children and pollute her land, air and water, yet fears more suits will come from Ogoni?
on Apr 19th, 2013 at 04:48
“Londonlad” or is it Londonboy? Well, Lengthy or short is ranting, if you know the meaning. There are different kinds and shapes of writing, so length will differ as I’ve motioned to you previously. More importantly,I’m one person no one, especially Western media can threaten or abridge my rights to free speech and expression. These among others are natural rights no one gave me, thus shall exercise to the fullest-orally and written. Note also that Ben Ikari isn’t a faceless Londonboy or lad. I will not be you or like you; will not change for you or anyone, period! Lastly, you’d have been right about the Kiobel’s decision if the minority justices didn’t place several question marks on the position of the majority conservative justices, which is the entire decision. Other legal luminaries are also asking questions, which points to the fact that Ogonis are treated differently because they’re different and it’s about $hell and other Western corporations. No matter how long $hell and its cronies such as your faceless self will have their day in a court of moral standing.
on Apr 18th, 2013 at 18:33
In Kiobel et al vs Shell, the US has shown that sense at long last prevails. There, I said that in just a few words rather than a lengthy rant aka Ikari.
on Apr 18th, 2013 at 12:01
I find it amazing that Shell uses the reasoning that it has insufficient connections with the US to make it subject to US law. Why was the development team for the Bonga project based in Houston? How much of RDS stock is held by US citizens or funds? How many times has Shell claimed support from the US taxpayer or authorities as an “American” company?
on Apr 17th, 2013 at 21:12
In Kiobel et al v. $hell, the US has shown that oil is thicker than blood, as was also represented in ’95. This was when former Pres. Bill Clinton chose the so-called diplomatic sanctions, yet buying Niger delta oil misnamed Nigeria’s instead of insisting with economic sanctions that Nigeria/Abacha shouldn’t kill the Ogoni Nine. Having said the above, I thank the US Supreme Court for entertaining the Ogoni case. It’s been interesting to see the court open its door to listen to arguments and address the fabric of the case.
The outcome though, shows a betrayal of the original intent of the ATS, international Covenants, proceedings, other US legal precedents, including Sosa, that was set by the Supreme Court. The deal is simple: corporate influence used by mostly conservatives to protect their interests. It’s such influence that made the Pres. Obama government pretend its foreign interest or policy will be in jeopardy should $hell, which is a US company by adoption face trial in America. The same American government claims human rights is a serious component of its foreign policies, and it supports and fights with victims of these rights. Obama also reiterated this human rights policy position in his Oct. 25, 2012 reply to my protest letter of August 31, 2012.
This foreign interest reverberated severally in the court’s decision as a huge premise for corporate protection. The Justices are respectfully entitled to their opinions, but the disagreement on “reasoning” shown by the minority (liberal) justices and written by Breyer exposes the legal inconsistency or selective justice and hypocrisy brought about by such corporate, commerce/so-called conservative influence. Therefore, this decision is a device to protect $hell, USA and other Western corporations and empowering them to further torture and kill. As with the conservative Justices, what the Republican Party is doing in Congress currently as they struggle to protect corporations and the rich points to why this decision isn’t new to me.
In short, though had little hope, I saw the national interest/commerce dimension from the outset and refused to vote for Obama in Nov. 2012, therefore my protest letter cited above. Finally, in the decision, the over all argument that $hell has little presence in New York and being a public trading company on the New York Stock Exchange is inconsequential. No matter how small its presence, $hell is $hell and it’s been doing billions of dollar business in US and with the government (the failed Arctic Mission, for instance) for years. It’s investing in the communities and floating educational and social incentives. It’s also creates jobs for thousands of Americans despite its so-called small presence in New York. Indeed America is benefiting huge from $hell like it also benefited from Ogoni oil and still benefiting from Niger delta oil. The company has huge presence in USA, making it a local company by adoption, even though originally foreign in the books.
In any case, however, Ogonis will have to cheer up for making this bold statement of fact regarding natural, human rights or justice and exposing American hypocrisy on its commitment to internationally protected rights such as rights against torture,other crimes against humanity and genocide, which this case was/is about. There is hope to explore other legal options to seeking justice against $hell, and making oil exploitation in Ogoni harder. Ogonis will not give up despite the fact that the court and US government have approved and protected corporate torture instead of denouncing and providing remedies for victims and punishing the torturer (s) as their books orders.
on Apr 17th, 2013 at 17:51
Well done to the US courts for throwing out the ridiculous attempts by Nigerians to fleece yet another international company, in this case Shell. Why don’t they try Pyongyang next?
on Apr 17th, 2013 at 16:54
To RDS Employee: I am ‘assuming’ nothing. However, from my experience at Shell exploration staff rarely, if ever, indulged in the wholesale G&C production dept. staff loved so much. So, you are correct, not everyone at Shell is tainted.
on Apr 17th, 2013 at 14:39
To Deltaic: I was describing G&C in the US. In fact, it got so bad that one sr. VP of a services vendor had the audacity to complaint to one of Shell’s VP’s that they were getting their fair share of ‘the business’ relative to what they were spending on gratuities, etc. The reaction of the Shell VP was to ‘forbid’ the acceptance of such gratuities by the engineering staff. Not a popular move with the staff, and it only lasted only until the VP retired. Then it was business as usual.
on Apr 17th, 2013 at 13:21
Excellent observation “RDS employee” – I wonder if “Relieved” joined in with all this alleged corruption, bribery and ignoring of Shell’s business principles? Probably did if he knows so much about it – or did he report it to the management or authorities of the country?
on Apr 17th, 2013 at 11:53
RDS man you are correct re integrity however on Corrib I can claim to fill a mini bus of Shell management past and present who are complete strangers to the truth and devoid of any real integrity
Voser is going to act in cleaning up that team watch this space
on Apr 17th, 2013 at 02:03
Relieved, that’s $hell against Ogoni people for you! The crazy and greedy,corrupt and environmentally racist, terroristic company has a standard in Ogoni/Niger delta of Nigeria that is completely different from its Western/American standard. To be fair though, the corrupt, incompetent and deadly Nigerian government, $hell’s partner in crime allows such unhealthy and backward measures. The company may have been is convinced that Ogonis mean business vowing it can’t return to their (our) land. Like you said, the case at the U.S. Supreme Court may also have added to its fear of the seriousness of Ogoni people resisting and exposing her to the world. Ogonis know they can’t trust $hell, and know one should.
on Apr 16th, 2013 at 21:24
Relieved, don’t judge others by your own admitted poor standards. You incorrectly assume that Shell Employees have no integrity yet have no proof apart from your own self admission.
on Apr 16th, 2013 at 16:54
Saw your comments about ‘code of conduct’ etc. Of particular note was the definition of ‘bribery’. when I worked for Shell vendors would trade free season tickets, etc, in return for ‘favorable consideration’ on well drilling, logging, completion, workover, etc. contracts. The vendors were quite successful with this form of G&C (graft and corruption) and Shell’s staff participated in it willingly. It was a petty, back-handed form of bribery, of course. As far as I know, these business practices continue to this day. My point here is that for decades, and on day to day basis, Shell staff have routinely ignored Shell’s vaunted ‘business practices’. And everyone knows about it. This sort of thing goes on at the jr. engineer level to senior management. Shell’s business practices guidelines are a joke.
on Apr 15th, 2013 at 17:37
Is this alledged OSSL invoice genuine or what. Perhaps it’s indeed a fake in order that the likes of anti-Shell folk will eventually look idiots when the truth comes out? That would be such a shame.
on Apr 15th, 2013 at 08:47
Police alcohol . John you will hear no denials because the details you have are exactly correct the garda locally and nationally are disgusted by Shells handling of this matter they feel for the people caught in the middle but can’t afford to speak
on Apr 14th, 2013 at 19:11
So, 20 years after walking away from their oil fields in Oganiland Shell is NOW going to go back in and decommission those facilities ??? Maybe the case before the US Supreme Court has finally gotten their attention. Those folks at Royal Dutch are such a responsible lot.
Any company behaving like that in the US would find itself saddled with hefty criminal sanctions and fines, and senior level management would be facing jail time. In this country (the USA) that kind of conduct is clearly criminal.
on Apr 13th, 2013 at 01:41
JF
JEFF FUNKHAUSEE
on Apr 12th, 2013 at 18:26
The ‘special relationship’ between Putin and the Dutch reminds me of another ‘special relationship’ the Dutch had with a fellow named Hitler. As Yogi Beara once said: ‘This is deja vu all over again.’ Well almost. time will tell.
on Apr 11th, 2013 at 15:54
To Deltaic: Thank you for your vote of confidence, even though it was meant ‘tongue-in-cheek’. FYI, I have spent over 25 years in the industry so I have learned a thing or two, in operations, engineering, and R&D. I would remind you that it was ‘bean counters’ placed in high level executive positions that decided Shell USA should surrender its lease holding on the Alaskan North Slope in the 60′s and early 70′s because ‘there was no way to get the oil to market’. Yep, Shell gave away the Alaskan North Slope to those ‘idiots’ at ARCO, SOHIO, and EXXON, et al. In the end the ‘bean counters’ always make the major strategic blunders because they don’t really have a fundamental understanding of the business and how to mitigate risk. Running an oil company is a card game to these guys. Eventually, they lose big-time.
on Apr 11th, 2013 at 14:25
Do we know what the criteria is for a person to win this Petroleum Executive of the Year? Why wasn’t Relieved given this award – he seems to know so much about Shell and the oil industry?
on Apr 11th, 2013 at 10:02
reading the list of Petroleum Executive of the year reminds me of the list of Nobel Peace prize winners. There are some good people on, the rest is politically correct and/or has paid a lot for the election. Voser is a very poor choice, he does not know petroleum has been involved in screwed up projects and cheating banks. And then I saw a picture of that idiot no-brain Maria van Hoeven, the ultimate token woman on whatever organisation needs token women, and I knew enough….
on Apr 11th, 2013 at 05:17
In reading articles about PV’s failures, TP’s screw-ups and some more local fails by certain individuals, i’ll just say, come-on-karma! The damage done to individual’s lives by the cold-bean-counter-self-serving recklessness of this leadership may only end up being repaid by their own suffering. Perhaps JF may also want to understand the natural laws of causation that is sometimes called karma. No belief in a supreme being is required. COMMENT BY JOHN DONOVAN: I am guessing that “PV” is Peter Voser, “TP” is Tom Purves, not sure “JF”?
on Apr 8th, 2013 at 15:07
Would ‘Bloody Kefuffle’ be an apt (and polite) description of RD Shell’s Alaska program, or am I being redundant ?
on Apr 6th, 2013 at 17:41
You gotta love those business principles of Shell. An example to all corporations aspiring to fame and fortune. Or is that infamy and fortune ???
on Apr 5th, 2013 at 17:20
With regard to those loans Shell made available to its senior level management for legal defense. I presume they were all paid back in full ??? If not, I presume they were declared as ‘income’ and those individuals payed the appropriate level of income tax ??? Does anyone have any insight to how these loans were closed out by Shell ???
on Apr 5th, 2013 at 17:16
Shell anti-Semitic ? Oh, please say it ain’t so !!! Of course Shell is anti-Semitic, but in a low key manner these days. It pays to be anti-Semitic, big time. So that is the way Shell shall do business. Money is money, after all. And Shell is in the business to make money. Given Shell’s well known corporate history does anyone think that Shell is not anti-Semitic ?? Come on, get real.
on Apr 3rd, 2013 at 06:59
My comment on tabloid writing refers to your usual “Shell add-on” to any article even remotely linked to Shell. In this case to the article from that well known and read paper “The Epoch Times”. Sorry, but I prefer to believe what I read in journals from the Royal Horticultural Society. REPLY BY JOHN: You are spinning again. This is not an article remotely linked to Shell, but one that directly names Shell. The conclusions are categorical in relation to Shell chemicals.
on Apr 2nd, 2013 at 22:50
I did not realize you were such an expert in entomology and beekeeping, etc. A retirement passtime perhaps ?? If so, with all that honey apparently at your disposal one would think you would have a sweeter disposition.
on Apr 2nd, 2013 at 18:06
I am sure (at least I hope so) that the article about Shell killing off the bees is tongue in cheek, however, having seen some of the twaddle recently on this site I am not so sure. Would suggest you read the article from the Royal Horticultural Society (somewhat more reliable than tree hugging articles you have published) to give a more balanced summary of the problem.
http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=528
Indeed if you “spray it directly onto the bees they may be harmed” which together with “incorrect application by farmers” of pesticides will potentially harm bees. Bottom line here is that if the people who use pesticides don’t read the instructions then it is their fault, not the likes of Shell. Reading in depth (for example as mentioned on such “reliable” left wing channels as the BBC, e.g. Bill Turnbull who is an avid beekeeper) THE main problem is the parasitic mite “Varroa”.
Once again tabloid writing on this website helps it to loose a great deal of credibility. (You should have issued this stupid story yesterday on 1st April !!) REPLY BY JOHN: MUSAINT/LondonLad, You seem to forget that the article was published not by a tabloid, but by The Epoch Times, which publishes in 35 countries and in 21 languages. Extract from their mission statement: “The Epoch Times is an independent voice in print and on the web. We report news responsibly and truthfully…” With regards to the other “tree hugging” articles, are you referring to the one about Shell’s toxic contamination in Curacao or killing off workers in Brazil? In the latter case, Shell/BASF have agreed to pay $316 MILLION in compensation to workers exposed over three decades to toxic chemicals. Unfortunately you are making an April fool of yourself. Might be an appropriate time to buzz off and switch to a new unblemished alias, again.
on Mar 30th, 2013 at 07:41
T from L regarding your last comments a trust was broken threats were made a world class company responded like an ally cat OSSL challenged them and should be applauded for their courage in doing so . On a difficult project sometimes moves are made to ease the passage and advance the progress we all in the industry know that however you don’t leave a shitty mess in the corner like this you tidy it .
The invoice is correct as were the previous police alcohol invoices .
on Mar 29th, 2013 at 21:15
To George Hamilton: you confirm exactly what I assumed – the “invoice” is not an invoice but some half-baked attempt of one-sided Minutes of meeting. As you so eloquently say: I am not aware of the details – and I don’t claim to – I am just challenging the authenticity of the “invoice”. In fact, by this OSSl, if the whole booze story is true, admits to being involved in fraud and corruption, which is something any lawyer/legal department for any company would advise against strongly…. And please, don’t start with the “small very honest company loses it’s virginity due to the big bad Shell bear”… If this whole story is true and what is stated on the “invoice” is true, OSSL, if they employ anyone with more 2 brain cells, knowingly agreed to be involved in corruption….
on Mar 29th, 2013 at 10:52
Hello tired from lies .. You have no background to go on I think your nom de plume should be blind to the truth
on Mar 29th, 2013 at 08:38
The invoice is correct Shell have been aware of the debt since they organised the booze for the police in Dec 2007 instructions on alternative wording for the invoice were promised by Shell Senior personnel on the Corrib Project but failed to materialise the last straw for OSSL was to raise an invoice clearly stating exactly what was supplied and how it was supplied READ THE INVOICE ALL PARTIES INVOLVED ARE NAMED . Also in an attempt to sort things out MICHAEL CROTHERS CEO SHELL Ireland informed OSSL he did not know how to Pay for the alcohol .. Then went on to explain that it was OSSLs problem HOW ? The two previous years alcohol was also supplied at Christmas to the police and paid by SHELL in a disguised invoice at their insistence
on Mar 29th, 2013 at 00:56
To Outsider: No. But in order to avoid such an event Shell’s 2nd rate safety record needs to be made public so that everyone knows what kind of ‘Touch F* All’ attitude Shell has not only towards the safety of its staff and contractors, but obviously toward the magnitude of environmental damage they could do if they had a major incident. I think that Shell management thinks they can ‘put in the fix’ politically should their be a major incident by greasing the palms of the appropriate politicians in Washington.
on Mar 28th, 2013 at 22:51
John, you had your own business – have you ever come across an invoice like the one OSSL claims is authentic? I can tell I never have… It’s so obvious a fake that your own credibility and of this site will suffer from it. I understand your long standing quarrel with Shell, but let’s avoid moving into la-la land and making a caricature out of ourselves… REPLY BY JOHN: I made it clear that we do not know if the invoice is authentic. If Shell or the Garda says that the invoice is fake, then we will remove it and publish nothing further about the OSSL/Shell dispute. I can say that the invoice was supplied by our regular contact with OSSL. When this company first contacted us in Sept 2012, we took up the allegations directly with Shell, but Shell did not respond. This was before we published a single word on this matter. The invoice was supplied to us along with a covering email dated 27 March 2013 purportedly sent by OSSL to senior people at Shell (including Peter Voser) and to a senior Garda police officer. In my view the whole situation is bizarre. In normal circumstances the police should step in to investigate, except that they are accused of being a main beneficiary of the alleged corruption. Irish Shell was a regular client of ours. Lovely people to deal with at that time, 30 years ago.
on Mar 28th, 2013 at 17:10
John – The Shell Alumni News is probably intended to be an “in house” publication. However, it is included in the public website for Shell Canada and US. I was made aware of the article by a retiree who received the printed copy of the publication at her home. I went to the Shell Canada and US website and found the article. So – while probably intended to be “in house”, the publication is in the public domain free for all to see.
on Mar 28th, 2013 at 15:47
Told you so OSSL complied with Shells requests then when thought the better of what was going on crushed them like a bit of shit to cover their tracks sound familiar any one ?
on Mar 28th, 2013 at 10:13
Deep poo is also on the cards for Shell Corrib outrage at treatment of small vendor is growing partners Statoil and Vermillon Oil demanding answers on police alcohol claims
on Mar 27th, 2013 at 18:21
Relieved: In Norway, they don’t use rigs that are 40 years old, they have a regulator with teeth, and they have employees who refuse to undertake tasks they consider to be unsafe. The Norwegians learned the hard way after the Alexander Kielland and other incidents. Do we need an event on the scale of the Ocean Ranger/Piper Alpha/Alexander Kielland in the US before somebody wakes up?
on Mar 27th, 2013 at 15:04
In the 1980′s Shell drilled in Alaska, from manmade islands and from drillships and had no unusual difficulties like those that they have experienced this year. So, what gives ?? Are complete incompetents running the management shop ??? Shell USA clearly needs a housecleaning at the top because it is apparent those people have no real idea what they are doing. Shell doesn’t have these kinds of problems in Norway. Maybe there is a lesson to be learned there.
on Mar 26th, 2013 at 19:52
Don’t tell me I always support Shell and their staff/ex-staff/principles/methodologies etc. Seems like an ex-exploration manager of Shell (Nigeria) has been a bit of a naughty boy :
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/oilandgas/9949319/Tullow-Oil-apologises-to-Ugandan-government-over-bribery-allegations.html
on Mar 25th, 2013 at 13:21
There is an older drill ship than the Noble Discoverer; the Noble Roger Eason was built in 1963.
on Mar 24th, 2013 at 18:35
Maybe Marvin Odum will next blame those elusive but pesky Arctic winged monkeys for Shell’s problems. Shell afterall is a zero-defect company. What ???
on Mar 24th, 2013 at 16:05
John – The Odum quote is from the March 2013 issue of Shell Alumni News.
The article starts on page 3:
http://s03.static-shell.com/content/dam/shell-new/local/country/usa/downloads/alumni/alumninews-us-march-2013.pdf
on Mar 23rd, 2013 at 17:44
How about Petr Sharpe? Isn’t he the one accountable for drilling. Poor David Lawrence, what does he know about drilling.
on Mar 23rd, 2013 at 16:30
Maybe this island nation of Curacao can bring a suit in US Federal Court for clean-up costs and other damages under the Alien Tort Statute after we find out how the US Supreme Court rules this spring ??? After all, the pollution at this site was done deliberately an knowingly, and quite maliciously. Shell knew what kind of problem it had on its hands, but the locals didn’t. Shell snookered them.
on Mar 22nd, 2013 at 19:58
Aaagh back from almost 3 weeks escape from our lousy cold winter (yes Greenpeace, cold, despite your pontification about these “bad” oil companies) and I find myself agreeing with “Relieved” (well almost). Shell is indeed run by bean counters – has been for the last 20 odd years. The lack of someone like Roel Murris to tell these bean counters to eff off has clearly come back to haunt the explorers of the company. Not sure that I agree with the statement that there is more potential in the America’s oil/gas shales than the Arctic – the Americans appear to be able to screw up the development of both (physically and politically).
P.S. Pity about Dave Lawrence falling on his sword, but, it was always said that he was like Mathius Bichsel but without Bichsel’s sense of humour (which is no advert when comparing to an inbred Swiss).
on Mar 22nd, 2013 at 15:41
Shell’s failure were engineering and operational failures, not exploration failures. Shell should be doing major housecleaning in operations and drilling dept.’s. And by the way, the resource that is changing the energy picture of the America’s are the oil and gas shales just now being exploited. There is more potential in those that in the Arctic.
on Mar 21st, 2013 at 14:41
The Shell of the past is history. Now Shell is run by ‘asset managers and bean counters’ who have no fundamental understanding of the business.
on Mar 20th, 2013 at 16:56
I recently read the following comment from Marvin Odum regarding the Alaska fiasco: ” this was a marine transit issue that occurred after completion of our exploration program and well outside our theater of operations”. Give me a break ! This is a classic example of Shell trying to assign blame and responsibility to other parties. It was Shell who decided to use very old and outdated equipment, as well as attempt to move this equipment during horrible weather conditions. Shell has to take full responsibility for its’ operations, regardless of whether it is “drilling”, “marine transport”, etc.
on Mar 20th, 2013 at 16:06
I have finished reading through the US Dept of the Interior Report “Review of Shell’s 2012 Alaska Offshore Oil & Gas Exploration Program” dated March 8, 2013. One observation contained in Section E “Shell’s Operational Oversight and Management Systems” caught my eye.
Quote:Shell’s focus appeared to be on compliance with prescriptive
safety and environmental regulations required for approvals and authorizations, rather than on a holistic approach to managing and monitoring risks identified during operational planning.Unquote
What has happened to the development of the full safety case approach and its subsequent challenge & review which Shell insists is the norm before embarking on such an operation? How often do senior people take it upon themselves to “have a good look” once in a while? Or are we witnessing the inevitable consequence of having a Swiss bean counter in overall charge of the company compounded by Technology, Projects and Safety run by a Swiss “my way or the highway” explorer? Of course it may be that the US arm of EP or “Odum Shell” does things its own way, free at last from the pesky RoyalDutch strictures (re)developed in the 2000s in the pursuit of technical and Operational Excellence.
The company was once a byword for technical and operational proficiency but that was consigned to the dustbin of history by a previous bean counting Chief Executive Cor Herkstroter. Sadly, the question does remain:
“Shell, waar ben jij nu?”
on Mar 19th, 2013 at 14:58
A worker is killed at a Motiva refinery, and then there is the story about Brinded. Ah yes, Shell has an impeccable culture of safety in the workplace that begins at the top and works on down through the system. Ya, Right.
on Mar 17th, 2013 at 04:38
Very surprise that Peter Voser pay and bonus has gone up because of US and China growth. US operation is bleeding with high overhead and low gas price while China Gas is still alot of hot air. Get real man.
on Mar 17th, 2013 at 04:13
Peter Sharpe as Drilling Chief should give back some of his shares and bonus to the Alaskan and Kulluk fund.
on Mar 15th, 2013 at 18:36
I wonder what Marvin Odum and Pete Slaiby made off with. They did such a beautiful job in managing Shell’s Alaskan operations this year. Well done !!! What ????
on Mar 14th, 2013 at 18:46
Voser may make big bucks, but Ken Laye, CEO of Enron, got $30 million a year. There are big time crooks and small time crooks.
on Mar 12th, 2013 at 17:20
Fraud, theft, blackmail, bribery, extortion, blackmail, espionage, and what else. Oh, yes – kidnapping, torture and murder in Nigeria. These are the sort of activities RD Shell engages in when it suits their purpose. I say this in all seriousness because Shell is routinely prosecuted for these types of transgressions.What a great company to work for.
on Mar 11th, 2013 at 21:42
To Washington Oberver: I was simply responding to Relieved’s comment that it was a case of Americans spying on Americans. Shell Oil (the US affiliate) is wholly owned by Royal Dutch Shell plc.
Royal Dutch Shell plc is a British company, headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands. The majority of its employees are non-US citizens
on Mar 10th, 2013 at 18:07
This is for Outsider: What are you implying ??
on Mar 10th, 2013 at 17:42
To Outsider: That point is irrelevant to this discussion. As I understand the matter from what information is available, apparently Shell USA decided to engage in the equivalent of a legal mugging to obtain title to proprietary IP for which they had no legitmate legal claim. Nothing new here, they steal IP all the time. As I read the situation, they weren’t even sure what this fellow actually had, otherwise they could have taken him into court. That did not occur, and for a number of reasons. My guess is the biggest hurdle is they couldn’t say what he had and, equally important, all statutes of limitations had probably expired for Shell to make any legitimate claims against this fellow. In short, it looks like Shell didn’t have a case to make. I do believe Shell only had 4 years max. to press their case in court.
There is clearly more to this story, and I am certain Shell was walking on extremely thin ice in matter at best. The security issues mean they stepped in a pile of legal horses**t, big time. NCIS does not initiate criminal investigations of large corporations without just cause. Trust me. Where there is smoke there is fire.
on Mar 10th, 2013 at 11:02
Relieved: you seem to have overlooked the fact that Shell’s US technical and research functions have a very large contingent of non-US nationals from all over the world.
on Mar 9th, 2013 at 16:36
John, I read your ‘Spooky Affair …’ article. Not your usual fare on this site. Normally I wouldn’t bother to spend any further time on such nonsense but I decided to educate myself a little bit. Anyone with better knowledge is free to correct me if I am incorrect. As I understand the situation and US law (from what is available online) this proprietary IP and classified ‘Restricted Data’ that Shell was supposedly trying to lay their hot, corrupt little hands on is by nature considered so sensitive that only those people with a legitimate ‘need to know’ can get access to it. In fact, as I read the law, even the President of the US cannot gain access to that information if it has been determined he has no ‘need to know’. As I read the law information is classified SECRET if release would do ‘serious’ harm to US national security interests. It is classified ‘Top Secret’ if release would do ‘GRAVE’ harm to US national security interests. As I further understand the situation, those with access to ‘Restricted Data’ are required to have a DoE ‘Q’ level security clearance. This is apparently equivalent to a Top Secret level DoD security clearance. Furthermore, ‘Restricted Data’ is apparently classified at the Secret level, at a minimum.
So, as this story goes Shell was apparently trying to obtain access and ownership of proprietary IP that was classified as
‘Restricted Data’ and was related to what? Nuclear weapons design!? This is information the President of the US cannot get access to if he has no ‘need’. Furthermore Shell clearly had/has no legal right to have access to this material or to own it. Obviously, the release of said information to Shell could possible cause ‘serious’ or ‘grave’ harm to US national security interests, which is why they cannot get access to it on their own. Am I on track here ? My question is: Who the F*** sam hell is running Shell USA!! Are these retarded pea-brained jackasses out of their F*** minds !! The arrogance, hubris and incompetence displayed by this kind of conduct by senior Shell USA (obviously) management is utterly mind boggling. If this story is true, and the media takes it up and runs with it Shell’s brand name in the US is history. Toast. Trash. And Shell can expect a serious consumer and political backlash. All Shell pensioners and shareholders should take RD Shell management to task over this kind of (obviously) criminal misconduct on the part of Shell USA management. Through the damned S.O.B.’s out and hire someone competent for heavens sake. Their performance in Alaska is cause enough for that, but now we learn about this little ‘espionage’ caper as well ?? Americans spying against Americans. Give me a break. Make the bastards walk the plank.
on Mar 6th, 2013 at 23:02
I would like to repeat a warning I have mentioned before about postings on this blog. Websites allowing aliases to be used are especially vulnerable to manipulation. That includes Wikipedia and blogs, such as this one. It follows that I can only vouch for the bona fides of postings made in my name or by contributors such as Paddy Briggs, who choose not to use an alias.
on Mar 6th, 2013 at 18:38
Did Shell dupe this man or was the man in the hat acting alone ? A shareholder asks is he still in the hat ? If so it was a Shell instruction
on Mar 6th, 2013 at 17:43
Landowners demanding answers from Shell in Mayo and getting none so shareholders don’t hold your breath very poor management situation on the Corrib Project
on Mar 6th, 2013 at 15:05
Can we take it that SHELL will take a close look at the
MAN IN THE SHELL HAT
Situation before the AGM some response required I think what’s going on over there ?
on Mar 3rd, 2013 at 18:14
Read the article about Shell’s crystal ball into the future. What utter crap. 10 years ago their crystal ball has nothing to reveal about the revolution in the drilling and fracturing of source rocks. And I am certain their crystal ball had nothing to say about how their Arctic (mis)adventures were going to proceed. If we go back to 1910 I am certain Shell’s crystal ball had no inkling of WW1, WW2, the great depression, the cold war, atomic energy and the atom bomb, etc., etc., etc. That Shell document is absolutely worthless. If Utter BS. If Shell is lucky the might be able to sort of gauge events 5 years into the future. Beyond that they are playing games.
on Mar 2nd, 2013 at 21:40
Hello “LondonLad,” I noticed you mentioned me in your recent post and got it wrong on the issues I speak to. Be informed for the last time that I am Ogoni. I speak for Ogoni or to Ogoni issues, which borders around Nigeria and $hell, your precursor. I don’t speak for Nigeria. Therefore, I don’t know what you claim $hell has done for or in Nigeria that is positive. What I know for sure is that, $hell hasn’t done anything positive in Ogoni but stole ( may be stealing more currently) Ogoni oil, collaborating with the Nigerian government to bribe some feeble and greedy Ogonis. The joint-venture holders have also been trying to intimidate those who speak out against $hell’s terrorist and devilish acts. They’ve invaded, destroyed Ogoni communities, killed the people and degrade our environment as attested by UNEP report. Ogonis whose sources of livelihood have been fishing and farming are completely deprived of their close to heart lifestyle by $hell and Nigeria both of whom I dislike for their criminal behavior and speak against. Ogoni is an environmental time-bomb waiting to explode, courtesy Royal Dutch $hell’s greed and incompetence.
on Mar 2nd, 2013 at 11:02
John – why do you bother responding to the ramblings of LondonLad / Musaint? In a sense you are giving his contributions a form of “credibility” by taking the trouble to respond. I believe the majority read what he has to say (if we bother reading at all) and just go “ho hum”! REPLY BY JOHN: Fair comment.
on Mar 1st, 2013 at 21:07
REPLY TO LONDONLAD/MUSAINT: Note that you are unable to provide a single example of anything stated as fact by us that is untrue. Your latest comments are just a rehash of what you have stated before under various aliases. You did once tell me in email correspondence under yet another name (presumably another alias) that you have a grievance against Shell yourself and will probably one day reveal what it is. I am still waiting. I would be a bit worried about visiting South Africa bearing in mind recent events. Hope you have a good flight and a safe return.
on Mar 1st, 2013 at 19:54
Heh ho I had better sit on the naughty boys chair for a while. However before I go there, as I have stated so many times before, if you don’t like criticism or defence of Shell against some of the stupid comments on this website by people that have a huge chip on their shoulder then either : (1) try and understand why they are defending Shell (yes hard I know for some) against the likes of Greenpeace who have just one agenda – to put us back in the dark ages, (2) actually go to a place like Nigeria and genuinely understand why people like Ben “is that your real name” Ikari blows a great deal of hot air in attempting to blame all and sundry about Nigeria’s woes and totally ignores the huge benefits Shell (and other oil companies) bring to that woeful country, (3) properly educate yourself about the E&P business (don’t try and extrapolate just from a knowledge of sales) and realize that it is a far more complicated business than many try to make out on this website. The main gripe that gets my goat on this site? – the tabloid innuendos that titillate idiots that have no idea about the E&P business. Shame I cannot wait for the lengthy response I’ll get from this, I’m off tomorrow to the outback’s of South Africa for 3 weeks and will even miss the Real Madrid match (ooooo what a give-away!!).
on Mar 1st, 2013 at 17:07
To Texvette: Shell rarely if ever holds it senior management accountable. The only time I know of a senior manager getting sacked was when one was caught banging his secretary in his office during working hours. Shell managers are NEVER responsible for failure. It is their staff that has let them down, either through direct screw-ups or because they ‘gave poor advise’ and caused the manager to screw-up. It is always the worker-bees that are at fault for performance failings. After all, Shell only promotes the best and the brightest to “lead” the company. Ha!! Ha!! Most of those people could ‘Lead’ their way down a dark alley.
on Mar 1st, 2013 at 11:59
John is 100% spot on re Shell’s senior mgt, including their HR cronies, watching this website. It is a joke how much attention they pay to this, looking for the truth among the smoke. Ask Uncle Tom Purves if they read this or not. Oh yea, he is stuck up in the cold north, by Santa Claus. Might be hard to get a question him until the thaw comes. You bet your dollar they read this…
on Mar 1st, 2013 at 00:18
REPLY TO LONDONLAD: I have evidence in the form of Shell internal communications and documents proving this website is closely monitored by Shell management and its lawyers both in the USA and in Europe. In addition, Shell has mounted a global operation monitoring all traffic to this website from Shell premises. All part of an attempt by Shell spooks to trace our insider sources and stop the leakage of highly confidential internal information to us e.g. a database containing contact information for 177,000 Shell employees and contractors. That incident made news headlines around the world. Since 1995, Shell has been publicly complaining about our activities highlighting Shell management misdeeds. Shell has put posters on display at Shell HQ buildings about our campaigning activities, handed out leaflets about us at reception areas at Shell HQ’s, including Shell Centre and The Hague, issued press statements about us and even published an article about us in a Shell internal magazine authored by a Shell Legal Director. Shell is even more fixated by our activities than you are. As to your allegation, made while hiding behind your current alias, suggesting that we sometimes publish fiction, not fact, please provide an example? Should not be a problem if we are as lacking in integrity as your cowardly comment suggests. You have been attacking us for a long time, always hiding behind an alias, sneakily moving to a new one when you deem it necessary. As MUsaint, with theatrical gusto, you promised never to visit this website again, such was your claimed disgust, but soon popped up again using a new alias. Not the behavior of a person of integrity. We never hide behind an alias. Shell, Peter Voser, Simon Henry, Matthias Bichsel, Chris Finlayson, David Pirret, Tim Hannagan, Mark Moody-Stuart, Tom Purves, Keith Ruddock, Malcolm Brinded, the Rev. Phil Watts and all of the other scandal tainted current and former Shell executives and lawyers featured on this website know our names and where we are located. No hiding or deception on our part. I am sure my solicitor, Richard Woodman of Royds, will happily accept service on my behalf of any defamation writs. Richard has successfully represented me in six high court actions involving Shell, two of them libel actions we brought against Shell.
on Feb 28th, 2013 at 19:40
Wake up and smell the coffee “it4us” the RDS senior management have far more important things to do than read articles or blogs on this website. Do you honestly think they want to waste their time reading some of the drivel stated as fact on this website!! Before anyone comments, I do read some of the shorter blogs/articles out of historical interest and in the hope that I can see fact rather than fiction. Rare as hens teeth. I do however, strongly support the comments from “Texvette”. Unfortunately Teflon Bichsel will have had very little input on this venture (this should stir the stirrers), I really wish he had/has however.
on Feb 28th, 2013 at 07:18
Amongst their other shortcomings, RDS senior management have evidently not been reading this site closely enough. Problems with the Noble Discoverer were being pointed out in these columns (by ‘Outsider’ in particular) over a year ago. Another example of the RDS hierarchy being trained to suppress bad news ?
on Feb 27th, 2013 at 20:29
Shell has a history of not holding its’ leaders accountable. In spite of this, I am still amazed that no one in an executive leadership position has not been sacked as a result of the horrendous mismanagement of the Alaska operations.
on Feb 26th, 2013 at 16:58
BP is currently going through a criminal trial over its actions in the Gulf of Mexico. Given that RD Shell is now under criminal investigation for its, and its contractors, obviously deliberate failure to abide by US law, it makes one wonder what sort of criminal action Shell would have faced IF there had been some sort of ‘incident’ last summer. The company could have faced HUGE fines, as BP now faces. Furthermore, it is clear that management decided to take those risks, not with their own money, but with the shareholders money. There really needs to be a major change in RD Shell senior leadership (and I use that term loosely).
on Feb 25th, 2013 at 19:33
Having chugged through inches, closer to feet actually, (for the yanks that’s tabloid speak) of “Shell in the Arctic”, I finally came across an article on Matthias Bichsel that basically stated some mud would be thrown in his direction on this website. When can we expect to read some of this (promised for a “few days”). Yes, even I who will defend Shell on many fronts have a very sour taste in my mouth for this guy.
on Feb 22nd, 2013 at 20:01
REPLY TO LondonLad: Posting using a single alias is one thing. I would not do so myself, but it is common practice on the Internet. Posting under multiple aliases is something else. I note there is no denial by you in this regard. I have nothing further to add to the other comments I have made.
on Feb 22nd, 2013 at 18:37
It would seem to me that the Dutch side of RDS is slowly but purging RDS of the British side now that RDS is one operating entity.
on Feb 22nd, 2013 at 18:24
A very waffled response Donovan to my straightforward comment that I want to have a profitable return on my investment, in this case my Shell shares. Again you use the tabloid expression of “implication” as to what my comment meant. You got that wrong! Do you not want a return on your investments? (N.B. I said nothing about profit or otherwise about this website so don’t give the usual rant about that!) Finally, if you don’t like people using aliases to argue against some of the attacks against Shell then change your methodology for people using this blog.
on Feb 22nd, 2013 at 17:35
REPLY TO LONDONLAD: You discussed several issues mainly relating to the Shell AGM and then closed your comments with a sentence saying: “As a Shell shareholder all I want is a nice return on my investment.” The implication being that this is your priority in holding Shell shares above all other considerations. As Musaint and LondonLad you have regularly defended Shell’s indefensible record of plunder and pollution in Nigeria, despite all of its broken promises to end gas flaring; planting spies throughout the Nigerian government; engaging in corruption; conspiring with the leaders of militants attacking Shell infrastructure; dealing with murderous regimes and colluding in the murder of legitimate protestors. All okay as long as you get a nice dividend. I have operated this website and its previous incarnations, all focused on Shell, all on an entirely non commercial basis, declining all donations and all paid advertising. We hold, but have never sold, a variety of Shell domain names, including three Shell unsuccessfully attempted to seize. In short, we have never received a single penny income from operating this or any other website. We put principle first and money last. You do the exact opposite and that includes hiding behind a number of aliases when posting on this website. In addition to the aliases Musaint and LondonLad, you have corresponded with me by email using a third name, no doubt also made up. Says a great deal about you. In contrast I have never used an alias. So yes, compared with you, I do claim to be noble.
on Feb 22nd, 2013 at 12:36
So, wanting a return on your investment is now classified as greedy!! I suppose that when you (Donovan’s) invest or were working with Shell you don’t / didn’t want any return / profit. How very noble of you. Actually I would say stupid. Most normal people who need to live in retirement want some form of return on capital invested – are all these to be classified as greedy or just those that comment positively on Shell?
on Feb 21st, 2013 at 23:25
Contrary to what LondonLad says, many UK based Shell shareholders, especially the elderly, are unlikely to attend the AGM when it means traveling to Holland, with all that entails. Some have held Shell shares for several decades. The last sentence in LondonLads comments speaks volumes. Many other Shell shareholders and executives have the same No.1 priority. Pure greed.
on Feb 21st, 2013 at 18:35
So, no audio-visual link this year. Just means that some of the UK shareholders (particularly those with burning questions) will have take a trip across the Channel to The Hague in May – I can thoroughly recommend going as the weather is normally great then. Air fares can be quite cheap, else there’s always the ferry. So no great hardship. May even stroll across myself. As for your “well informed source”, I am afraid that the majority of the company is (and has been) Dutch – so no change there!! And yet again there is the tabloid hype with “they won’t return to Shell Centre” / “they’ll move to a single centre in The Hague”. The first is untrue according to my Shell source and the second (as a shareholder) I would have no problem with, but again very very unlikely unless the lefties such as Clegg & Cable get their way on corporate and personal taxation. As a Shell shareholder all I want is a nice return on my investment.
on Feb 18th, 2013 at 22:59
Hello!
My name is Liza Mecklenburg, representing the advertising department of the JPP Consulting company. We are interested to place an ad (banner), of your choice, on your website.
Design and sizes can be seen on our website at http://www.eandjconsulting.net/id_c3311/
Depending on the banner size you choose we can pay up to US$750/month.
If you are interested please let me hear from you.
Kind Regards,
Liza Mecklenburg
liza.mecklenburg@eandjconsulting.net
REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN: Liza, we receive many approaches to feature paid advertising on this website, normally via private email rather than open correspondence on our Shell blog. We also receive offers of donations to support our activities. All are turned down. We have always operated all of our websites solely on a non-commercial totally independent basis and that will continue to be our policy. Shell first publicly commented on our internet activities in March 1995. Shell subsequently settled all of the claims it described as being false paying £100,000 per claim, plus all of our legal costs. There was litigation before and after the claims mentioned in Shell’s press statement. The last in 2005, when Shell attempted to seize our domain name royaldutchshellplc.com. Eight bouts of litigation in all. Shell has yet to win any case and wisely decided years ago never to sue us again. Hence Shell is reduced to making empty threats, while we are free to speak out without fear or favor.
on Feb 18th, 2013 at 19:32
Comment by Iain Percival is fairly made. Speaks with considerable authority as the retired Group Chief Petroleum Engineer of Royal Dutch Shell. AllAfrica.com report may have been misled by some news reports of Shell fourth-quarter of 2011 earnings. The following is an extract from an article by The New York Times under the headline: Shell Profit Rises 15%, but Disappoints Investors: “Still, there are reasons to worry about Shell. The fourth-quarter letdown was largely due to lower earnings in Shell’s core exploration and production business, mainly because of weak performance in the Americas. Shell’s high-profile, multibillion-dollar Alaska drilling program has encountered several snags and delays, including the running aground of the Kulluk drilling vessel on an uninhabited island in late December. Mr. Voser said that the Kulluk had been damaged and that another drilling vessel required upgrades. Shell is still weighing its next steps in Alaska, he said. Shell is also being hurt by natural gas prices in the United States that have been pushed down by the boom in shale gas production. Declining prices have led it to switch strategies and drill for gas deposits that are rich in liquids, which bring in more money than gas.” The implication from the way this was written was that there was a linkage between Shell’s problems in Alaska and lower production earnings. Although referring to production earnings, perhaps this caused some confusion to those responsible for the AllAfrica article?
on Feb 17th, 2013 at 18:04
I agree with Mr. Percival’s comments. He is spot-on.
on Feb 17th, 2013 at 15:24
Any delay to Shell’s Arctic exploration drilling programme will have absolutely no impact on hydrocarbon production output in 2013 as reported by AllAfrica. This is just a load of rubbish and I am very surprised it has been posted with associated “oh my goodness” red heading. It indicates a total lack of understanding of the EP business.
on Feb 16th, 2013 at 16:32
About the article regarding Shell and BASF: Shell management knew what it was doing when it relocated its pesticide operations from the US (Rocky Flats, Colorado) to Brazil. Shell management knew many of their workers would contact cancer and that they were condemning them to early and painful deaths. Shell didn’t give a s*** about those workers in Brazil and still doesn’t. Shell’s only concern was profit. Today it only concern is limiting the damage settlement. In 1976, when Shell was forced to shut down its US operation, roughly 96% of all Americans had traces of Shell’s ‘miracle’ pesticides in their blood. And the cancer issue was well known at the time. A $20 million settlement offer for those poor folks in Brazil is chicken feed. Shell should be force to pay billions in punitive damages for the deliberate harm they caused in their quest to extend the life of a very, very profitable, albeit dangerous, line of chemical pesticides.
on Feb 13th, 2013 at 18:02
Can anyone tell me how Shell planned to handle a spill of diesel fuel, etc., from the Kulluk if its tanks had ruptured ? It appears to me that Shell blew off that problem because of weather and simply opted to deal with the problem after the fact. Obviously, they did not mobilize their spill response team because of hazardous weather conditions. Did Shell have a contingency plan ?? I mean, they were supposedly capable of handling any type of spill in any type of weather, correct ?? Right ?? Or maybe their response plan is a lot of smoke and mirrors and hot air.
on Feb 13th, 2013 at 17:31
Dry 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!
on Feb 13th, 2013 at 15:58
Despite new paint jobs and some remedial work it is clear that Shell’s Arctic fleet is still a collection of refurbished rust-buckets that should have been sent to the breakers long ago.
on Feb 7th, 2013 at 16:36
Definition of “punkahwallah”: “the wallah (boy, servant) who operates a punkah, large cloth fan suspended from the ceiling” (The slang usage is derogatory, of course)
on Feb 7th, 2013 at 15:46
John: All of the information you are publishing about the reserve scandal is interesting, but was ‘known’ about within the greater Shell organization for years. Going back as far as the mid-late 1980′s there was at Shell USA real ‘concern’ about the acceleration in rate of supposed reserve replacement and reserve bookings even though crude production kept declining. These ‘new’ reserve numbers were known to be suspect, but people kept their knowledge and ‘suspicions’ to themselves lest they anger the higher powers. Most alarming at the time was the very real and marked decrease in the production of light crude mirrored by the marked increase in heavy crude production. Shell was getting roughed up badly (financially) by the price differential between light and heavy crudes. In fact, in the mid-1980′s, after the fall in oil prices, it was costing Shell more to produce their heavy crudes (by $4-$5/bbl) in California than they could get for the stuff. This led to the serious financial crisis for Shell USA in the late 1980′s and early 1990′s. Needless to say, many the reserve bookings were fictional. While it was easy for managers to get new reserves booked it was almost impossible to get downward adjustments to early ‘over optimisn’ or ‘pre-mature’ bookings. The end result was a bloated reserve portfolio that needed some serious deflation. Unfortunately, it took until 2004 to get the job done. The real problem for Shell was, and probably still is, a corporate culture that tolerates and accepts misrepresentation and fraud on the part of management, both middle and upper level management. Middle level management lies to upper level management and upper level management lies to the board of directors and the shareholders. The shareholders would be prudent in expecting future ‘surprises’, like the 2004 reserve scandal, from Shell management.
on Feb 6th, 2013 at 18:51
“an old EP hand” : If you read my comment about Aidan McKay properly you will see I call him a prat for his email to Bob Sprague which comes across somewhat badly for McKay as far as I am concerned. I can also say I have no idea what you infer with “Punkahwallah” – I never worked in India or been on any area desk in The Hague working on that part of the world. I’m afraid you’ll have try much harder Sherlock!!
on Feb 6th, 2013 at 11:06
I was surprised to see Alf Thorkildsen in the reserves article, he was until recently CEO of Seadrill and it might have been a problem to lead a major listed company, depending on what his role was (unclear to me). Now he is partner in private equity firm Hitecvision so none of this will matter anymore as his job is to maximise profit and nothing else. Seems he has the experience.
on Feb 5th, 2013 at 20:13
Londonlad, you call Aidan a prat when he worked for you. I know him very well and your remark reflects some deep frustration on your side. If you are who I think you are, this remark: you were once a very good project manager, you appear to have imploded in frustration. Would it be appropriate to change your name from Londonlad to Punkahwallah?
on Feb 5th, 2013 at 05:39
I am hearing that Andrei Galaev has got the chop as CEO of Sakhalin Energy. Not sure if it’s because of incompetence or a move to strengthen Gazprom’s hold.
on Feb 4th, 2013 at 19:18
To “Relieved” : (1) I never said that you and “Texvette” were the same person – that’s like saying Sir Alex Ferguson is the same as Arsen Wenger (yes, I know you people beyond the pond have no idea who these people are – the rest of the world does however), (2) For your latest posting, I would say that BP has led the way and others will follow (oooops got that wrong, you Yanks started the ball rolling with Exxon “Valdiz” !!
on Feb 4th, 2013 at 18:22
According to Voser Shell’s strategy is one that ‘others can’t easily repeat.’ Given the events of the last few years the question is: Who would want to do so ??? Name a few candidates please.
on Feb 4th, 2013 at 16:24
With regard to the Kulluk saga and incident does the old saying: ‘Penny wise and pound foolish’ come to mind ?? You got to love those bean counters at Shell. Who is running this company anyway ?
on Feb 3rd, 2013 at 18:06
To LondonLad: FYI – Texvette is a different party. Apparently, you now have two ‘arrogant’ Yanks you don’t care for.
on Feb 1st, 2013 at 21:59
LondonLad,I agree with you that most African govts are greedy, corrupt and incompetent; they’re deranged, but not without Western influence for their interest. Africans should know and do better than the stooges statuses in their land. The continent is old enough to think and act for itself despite the maneuvers from the west. More importantly, bigotry is the last thing on my mind when dealing with the Niger delta/Ogoni or overall African situations linking the west. I fight racism, inequality and oppression, repression of all forms. Also, I live in the west, see what Africans mean to most Westerners:subhumans/beasts good mostly for exploitation. So know the issues I speak to, even though some Westerners and courts are clear minded, humane and credible. The facts are: $hell Intl. makes the rules alongside Nigeria’s subsidiary and supplies necessary tools/advice to so-called $hell Nigeria or SPDC. Also $hell intl gets profit from activities by $hell Nigeria. Remember, it’s $hell intl which organized the monitoring of Ken Saro-Wiwa, whom it saw as a threat to its business and intl image. Brain Anderson (European) was the person in charge of Nigeria’s $hell then. When Saro-Wiwa couldn’t be stopped, $hell intl in collaboration with Nigeria planned with the military govt to kill him. First, $hell denied there was any environmental pollution in Ogoni where it started business in 1958 to 1993 when it said it’s stopped due to agitation against pollution, etc. Not even an iota of sabotage was raised by $hell at the start of Saro-Wiwa-Ogoni struggle in ’93. Then $hell asked Saro-Wiwa to withdraw his campaign that was hurting her. He refused and was trumped up by $hell and govt, using their media power, mostly Western. Anderson asked Owens Wiwa to tell his brother Saro-Wiwa to recount the environmental problems in Ogoni and he will regain his freedom. Saro-Wiwa turned the offer down. Finally, the so-called $hell Nigeria is just a name aimed at shelving responsibility; Nigerians don’t own $hell Nigeria, though locals are hugely employed up to MD. It’s common sense that localization doesn’t expressly mean ownership. $hell Nigeria isn’t a national oil company. These are the facts and the Hague court know this. Where then does bigotry come in, other than that the court is protecting the interest of its govt and corporation such as $hell? The court dropped all cases against the home office in Netherlands, where it sat and agree with $hell that Niger deltans are the polluters as though are corporations such as $hell, which pollutes and kills to make profit. $hell’s profit go to its home government, which runs the court, and help the development of Netherlands, Britain, etc?
on Feb 1st, 2013 at 21:09
Relieved, you’re right. And also I understand the issues of plaintiffs’ onus to prove their case. Evidence and the truth haven’t mattered so much where huge govt and corporate interest lies against foreigners as in this case. The courts have mostly considered national interests, especially when dealing with this kind of case. Obviously, there could be some problems for $hell, but to what degree, and how could this problem help or truly solve the Niger delta problems when the Nigerian govt is foreign govts and $hell’s stooge? The probable in-road created by this decision will be harder to follow, just as redeeming fines or penalties against $hell as clear in the Bodo-$hell case in London. So the court knows what it did and especially accepting $hell’s blame on citizens and dropping charges against $hell Intl, which makes the rules and collects the profit from Nigeria.
on Feb 1st, 2013 at 20:57
I found the emails interesting and indicative of the deception Shell management was clearly engaged in. They were trying to exploit the events of 9/11 to their benefit. What these emails could have done at the time they were written is cause Shell’s stock to drop significantly. I don’t think they will have any impact now. However, the emails do give a clear indication of the attitude Shell management has for Wall Street’s superficial approach to investment strategies.I do know Bob Sprague, but not well. He was a typical Shell USA manager. It is obvious from these emails that Shell management was not telling the investment community the truth about reserves, rate of reserve replacement, real rate of return on investment (ROR), and so on. It is also obvious that they really didn’t care if they were being factual or not. Their primary concern seems to be about getting caught in ‘a big lie’ about all the above. They were also clearly trying to use the events of 9/11 to their advantage if investor ‘expectations’ were not met, and as a means of ‘covering their tracks’ regarding previous deceptions. It is an interesting set of emails and clearly indicates that Shell management deliberately misled their institutional investors. It seems they were trying to keep stock prices from taking a tumble if the investors knew things were as they had been told. These emails clearly indicate deliberate fraud on the part of Shell management.
on Feb 1st, 2013 at 19:56
So, Ben “if that’s your real name” Ikari, it really seems that you are a bigoted African who cannot accept that independent Africa (yes, independent) cannot look after itself and merely wants to blame everybody else for its failings. Sub-Saharan Africa remains a joke on the world stage because it acts like an immature child who always wants to blame others and not admit to its own failings. As I have stated so many times, Shell is NOT to blame – please look to yourself and your corrupt, bankrupt, government for the problems that your country is in.
on Feb 1st, 2013 at 19:42
BBC website today : “Detective jailed for News of the World leak” – I just wonder if and when we will read “Shell staff jailed for leaks to tabloid website”? Note : Shell staff have / had signed contract obligations that are / were in place……. However, I must say that these leaks do make for lovely tabloid reading / titillation – i.e. how much can you really trust them? Have to say that I am disappointed with Aidan McKay (who used to work for me when he was in New Orleans) for being such a prat.
on Feb 1st, 2013 at 16:50
To Mr. Ikari: The verdict against Shell is clearly not what you would have liked to have seen, but it is significant none-the-less. It tells those who would bring such suits in the future how they need to approach the legal problem and the manner in which they need to press their claims in court. The burden of proof was on the plaintiffs, and if they did not present a convincing case then the court was right in rejecting their claims. Personally, I think this verdict poses a serious potential problem for Shell in the future. The door for future suits has been opened, and those suits, if properly prepared and presented, could represent a serious financial liability for Shell.
on Jan 31st, 2013 at 19:06
The interest of most Western courts, which includes The Netherlands and governments is to protect capitalism and Africa’s exploitation and oppression. Why then should I nor anyone who understand corporate influence in government and courts be surprised at the decision of the Netherlands or Hague’s court? How can a court agree the people are responsible for their own pollution, knowing that $hell accepting about 40% spill means 89 to 99%? What we know is that these courts and governments pay lip-service to the protection of international human rights and especially when their companies are in violation of the rights of Africans. Meanwhile, the Hague’s court allowing fines against Nigeria’s $hell subsidiary is only a means to diffusing public outcry or criticism. If not what’s the difference between a tenant working for a landlord and collecting rents, other profits to him and a landlord benefiting from these actions based on his policies? $hell Nigeria is nothing but a name…key decisions are made by the home office in the Hague and Britain, likewise the profit shipped to these headquarters. Unfortunately, Niger delta of Nigeria like other Africans shall remain the victim of global greed, exploitation and all that come with capitalism and ingrained racism. Its citizens are part of the problems, because they have refused to unite and stop the flow of oil once and for all. Betraying themselves for messes of pottage from governments and $hell, etc. doesn’t help the charade. Imagine the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger delta (MEND) and how close it’s to stop the oil flow madness in Nigeria, but now President Goodluck Jonathan was allegedly used to penetrate them. With government/$hell’s peanuts and threats by US and British government to help Nigeria crush them so that oil will continue to flow, they stop the just agitation and reclaiming of what’s rightly theirs. Greed, lack of vision and intellectual dimension, disunity have thwarted that bold and holistic effort at freedom. Many of them have now been killed by Nigerian government, some in jail and others awaiting sentencing. Why then will the Netherlands’ court controlled by $hell and its baby govt not hand down such ruling, knowing that Nigeria is in their hands and the victims are feeble? What a pity!
on Jan 30th, 2013 at 18:25
Good to see that the court in The Hague showed some common sense for all but one of the cases bought against SPDC in Nigeria. Even the one that they were charged for was somewhat weak in that “breach of care of duty” to stop saboteurs opening up a wellhead and subsequently they, the saboteurs, polluting the surrounds, must be open up for debate. I suppose Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, the Ogonis and other Delta tribes will have to look for other courts around the world to try and attack Shell. The problem remains in Nigeria with pollution primarily being caused by saboteurs and corruption endemic throughout the system. The Delta tribes do not seem to be able to accept this fact and merely continue to drag Shell, and others, through the courts in order to fill their own fat bank accounts via court fines. It would be very interesting to see the world-wide bank accounts of these tribal leaders. No doubt Ben “if thats your real name” Ikari will comment on this.
on Jan 30th, 2013 at 18:06
Yes, “Relieved” / “Texvette” I do have a major problem with the arrogance of many American bully-boys who have become the modern day (economic) colonialists. If you would have read my posting properly you would see that I used the past tense about the SEC rules, which were subsequently upgraded for modern technological advances in 2009. Another case of it taking Americans several years to realise and accept they made a mistake. I had to use the past tense about the (outdated) SEC rules as I was referring to the historical article on Shell’s reserves reporting from the Donovans, that had once again been regurgitated.
on Jan 29th, 2013 at 16:54
LondonLad: It amazes my how you insert your “Ant1-American” sentiments in almost all your posts. Regardless if the SEC’s reserves reporting guidelines are good or bad, they are the rules for any company wanting to be listed on a US stock exchange. If the company desires to be listed, they need to follow the rules as written. The SEC rules are designed to protect all investors from all countries. The responsibility for developing the reserves estimates belong the business unit and they are held accountable. The Financial function – on top of the reserves audit group, provides an additional measure of due diligence only. The financial function does not develop the numbers; they attempt to provide assurance that the rules, guidelines and procedures are followed.
on Jan 29th, 2013 at 15:54
LondonLad: You seem to have a burr up your backside when it comes to Americans. That is too bad, because like it or not you are stuck with us. Cheers, pal.
on Jan 28th, 2013 at 19:31
I am sure that (most) of what you have printed regarding Simon Henry’s “contribution”, to your tabloid article on the HISTORICAL (i.e. almost 10 years old story!!) reserves problems of Shell, may be correct. However, as we all know the reserves reporting (aka requirements of the SEC) was grossly outdated for modern day technological advances. Yet again it was the case that the Americans wanted to “rule the world” with their outdated methodology of reserves reporting and impose it on the rest of the world. Nevertheless, I do agree that Shell “minions” were under pressure to report reserves to help scorecards/end-of-year reviews. My PRESENT issue with reserves reporting is that it is the Financial Manager (at operating company level) that signs off the reserves reporting sheet – why? Surely this should be the Exploration Manager and Petroleum Engineering Manager that should do this? The knowledge of a Financial Manager (i.e. accountant) and several levels upwards, Simon Henry, cannot challenge or understand what the reserves numbers mean or the back-up data behind them! The buck should have stopped at the likes of Mathius Bixel then head of global exploration (and his PE counterpart in The Hague). Bottom line is that Shell AND every other company that is tied to these outdated American reserves reporting methodologies should have the scientists and NOT the accountants sign off the numbers.
on Jan 27th, 2013 at 16:36
Mr. Donovan, £3.2b? This is a lot of money. Wonder whether this has been provided as post balance sheet contingent adjustment. Hopefully it does not impact on share price.
on Jan 25th, 2013 at 16:43
Saw your article on Shell’s blacklisting of people they don’t like. This has been going on in the States for decades.
on Jan 23rd, 2013 at 16:25
John, Of course RD Shell is behind those cyber attacks. Nobody else has the motivation and the resources necessary. Any protestations by RD Shell management to the contrary are so much ‘piss in the wind’.
on Jan 19th, 2013 at 14:53
Someone should get OSHA in here at Port Arthur and review our plans for start-up on this crude unit. Management just keeps hacking away at the last problem pipe and trying to get back to start-up versus spending the right amount of time proving that the unit can startup safely. How long is our company going to continue to try and start up this problem before we dop back and systematically fix the problem? Motiva’s leadership at this plant is weak.
on Jan 17th, 2013 at 19:56
In all honesty can the Donovan’s kindly list some of the past and present senior executives of Royal Dutch Shell that they would support for their good work, honesty, ability to abide by country HSE requirements, etc. etc. More and more it seems that if you work for RDS at a (very) senior level they’ll get shafted via real AND tabloid reporting on this website, Greenpeace (dick-heads), and other tree hugging websites. We (the countries around the world) need to advance, risks need to be taken as a result ………… JOHN DONOVAN REPLY TO LONDONLAD:
Supply a list of past and present praiseworthy senior Shell executives? That is an ask too far. I can think of one example. Sir John Jennings. We had dealings with him on a face to face basis when he was Chairman of Shell Transport & Trading and a Group Managing Director of Royal Dutch Shell Group. He demonstrated his integrity and his support for Shell’s Statement of General Business Principles in an unprecedented way. If he had not retired, this website would almost certainly not be in existence. Moody-Stuart took over and hid behind Shell’s army of lawyers, supporting a thoroughly dishonest Shell executive who, in addition to repeatedly stealing intellectual property, not only from us, rigged a contract tender in a conspiracy involving a number of high level people at Shell, of whom one at least, Tim Hannigan, is still a Shell executive. Next came Sir Philip Watts who inherited the hydrocarbon value creation teams set up under Moody-Stuart and fraudulently conjured up some much needed proven reserves. After he was forced to resign, Jeroen van der Veer was given the top job and was soon engulfed in the TOUCH FUCK ALL scandal and cover-up, and then the Sakhalin 2 debacle when he surrendered Shell’s majority stake to Putin in the most humiliating circumstances. Now we have his equally scandal tainted successor, Peter Voser, Chairman of the UBS Audit Committee at the time when UBS was engaged in all kinds of criminal activity.
As for taking risks, we may have already caused irreversible calamitous damage to the environment and the future of humanity by flouting the dire warnings about climate change.
It would help if we could at least have confidence in the integrity and competence of senior management of multinational giants such as Shell who want to run risks for commercial gain. Unfortunately we know that the overriding driving motivation behind most fat cat business moguls appears to be pure personal greed. And they end up with millions even when the risk-taking ends in disaster. Sir Philip Watts walked off with a reported severance/pension package worth $18.5 million after defrauding Shell shareholders and bringing to an end the 100 year old partnership between Royal Dutch Petroleum and Shell Transport & Trading.
on Jan 15th, 2013 at 00:53
Mr Donovan, it’s very insightful testimony of Simon Henry of both Phil and Walter, both his bosses. The fault seems to be always with his bosses not him. Wonder what he has to say about Mr. Voser?
on Jan 14th, 2013 at 17:19
Shell is taking a pounding about the judgement exercised by senior management over Shell’s Alaskan adventure – from the decision to tow the Kulluk through a winter cyclone to avoid millions in property taxes, to their decision to rehabilitate a small fleet of rust buckets in order to save (maybe)significant amounts of money in drilling costs, etc., etc., etc. We won’t mention Shell management’s decision to assume HUGE the financial risks associated with any type of major environmental ‘event’. Are we surprised ? Nobody should be surprised. The management team of this company (presumably Shell USA) also made a decision not to many years ago to engage in what appears to be espionage, targeting technologies classified by the US Dept.of Defense. What ‘responsible’ senior Shell management idiot decided to assume the risks associated with that type of activity?? I think it is time Shell’s institutional shareholders insisted on a major housecleaning in the upper levels of Shell management before this gang’s luck runs out.
on Jan 13th, 2013 at 17:28
Outsider and Dutchdude – yes, a tsunami was to blame, one of incompetence, inexperience,insouciance and insincerity (with respect to the tax question). These four elements are a lethal brew to be avoided when embarking on a risk assessment.
on Jan 12th, 2013 at 23:38
Is BP North Sea preparing for a cull.
BP’s Regional President for the North Sea Mr Trevor Garlick in a recent communication to staff confirmed the BP North Sea region had not achieved 2012 production targets stating that the production short fall was circa 35mboed of lost production.
The note also confirmed the BP operation is continuing to see increasing costs. The communication goes on to confirm the major 2013 focus for the BP North Sea business will be actively managing its cost base in line with its now much smaller North Sea portfolio following the recent divestment of the Harding fields and Southern North Sea fields and facilities.
Does this statement indicate a reduction of the bulging headcount in the North Sea HQ is finally to start.
on Jan 11th, 2013 at 18:40
DutchDude: agree 100% – no amount of paperwork can prevent accidents (or Tsunamis). But a critical review of potential hazards by an external party (not subject to management pressure) can often identify risks and hazards before they lead to accidents. Are you suggesting that a tsunami was responsible for the Kulluk ending up on the rocks?
on Jan 11th, 2013 at 18:24
LL and Outsider, you both make a very common mistake, seen all over the EP industry. The unwarrented believe in paper (i.e Safety cases and bowties). Nice docs, nice exercises, but they almost always skip the core of the matter. Which is understanding your risks. I do not subscribe to the phase “act of God”. Which is also very popular with insurance companies. If Shell really wanted they could do in depth and accurate risk assessments, and only than can the decision be made how to act on thse risks. Having a bowtie or safety case is not going to stop or reduce the risk of or the consequences of a Tsunami (or senior management short sightedness for that matter).
on Jan 11th, 2013 at 09:06
LondonLad: I’m sure Shell performed all kinds of QRA’s and prepared Safety Cases for Alaska for internal use. But outside the US these documents are then critically reviewed by the authorities, who must agree to them before operations can start.
on Jan 9th, 2013 at 19:47
“Outsider” I very much doubt that Shell (even the US arm of RDS) did not perform several “Safety Cases” (with it’s “Bow-Ties” and all) regarding the whole Alaskan operation, including chopper operations, rig-tow etc. etc. Most governments now have this, or an equivalent, as a requirement to operate in their territory. That said they sure missed something viz the rig tow. However, some acts of god (e.g. tsunami’s) are somewhat hard to predict and at least in this case nobody was killed and the environment remains intact, despite hysteria whipped up by some who have an agenda against the likes of Shell and the oil industry in general. Unless you have definitive proof that Shell only applied their GoM knowledge to the Alaskan operation I think your comment is very wide of the mark as RDS input will certainly have been applied to this project not just limited Shell Oil knowledge/experience.
on Jan 9th, 2013 at 16:34
Not only has Royal Dutch Shell embarrassed itself with it misadventures in the Arctic, the US Dept. of the Interior has also embarrassed itself for failure to provide competent oversight of Shell’s operations. Shell and the USD both appear to be run by the less than competent, leading to a ‘blind leading the blind’ situation. Thankfully, the only real damage has been to reputations.
on Jan 9th, 2013 at 16:26
For Londonlad: This Neanderthal is glad you are back on line. I do enjoy our exchanges. Happy New Year to you and your family.
on Jan 9th, 2013 at 09:06
From the information on this site, the need for a “Safety Case” approach for Shell’s Alaskan operations seems to be overwhelming. Helicopters that couldn’t fly in ice and fog, two vessels aground, and the failure of the containment dome are all examples of how the prescriptive approach used in the US does not work when circumstances change. Shell has experience of operations all over the world, but apparently applied only their knowledge of operations in the Gulf of Mexico to their Alaskan fiasco.
on Jan 8th, 2013 at 19:52
P.S. Happy New Year to you and your father. REPLY BY JOHN: Glad you are in a better mood than before the Christmas/New Year period. With regards to those concerned about the series of mishaps to which you refer, you can add many major newspapers including the FT, the NYT, The Washington Post, The Sunday Telegraph etc and now the U.S. Government. They are rightly bothered. Best wishes to you for 2013.
on Jan 8th, 2013 at 19:34
Good job the tanker “Overseas Reymar” wasn’t owned by Shell otherwise this website, “Relieved”, and every other Neanderthal who doesn’t want to progress with living in the 21st century, and all that this entails with the risks involved, would be up in arms. I reckon the rig that ran aground in Alaska (and has been released without any panic – apart from contributors to this noble website + a few left wingers with an agenda) should have been left there, as was, so that the fishes could have colonized the structure and helped mother nature propagate their species. Not “colonized” as we Brits did in the 19th century Ben “is that your real name” Ikari!!
on Jan 8th, 2013 at 17:09
Lady Godiva: It is very hard to understand how Marvin Odum has kept his job in light of safety performance and the what has happened in Alaska. Oh, nevermind, I understand – Shell does not hold any of its’ leaders accountable.
on Jan 7th, 2013 at 23:53
How on earth has Pete Slaiby kept his job, let alone Marvin? Who is responsible or accountable?
on Jan 6th, 2013 at 20:43
Shell got lucky, this time, with a canceled tsunami warning. Imagine a 100 ft. wave parking Shell’s rig high up on that volcanic shore line. They would have had to haul the wreck off piece by tiny piece.
on Jan 6th, 2013 at 20:33
If incompetence was incontinence, this so-called leadership team of Shell Americas would have floated clean away.
on Jan 6th, 2013 at 20:07
I wonder if RDS drilling call for requesting assistance from the US Army and/or US Navy in the event of a major incident. And Who is going to pay for all of this Federal assistance ??? I presume the Army is going to send Shell a big bill for renting their helicopters. Surely, RD Shell does not expect the US taxpayer to foot the bill for their incompetence. Or do they ??
on Jan 6th, 2013 at 12:42
We concur with DutchDude and Relieved. There are still lots of NATO ( No Action Talk Only ) in top layers in Shell. Recommendation to place Asia leaders in top position fall into deaf ears. No wonder, more have left in the Transition 09 and more will be leaving in the Strategy alignment. It is based on who can talk and who you know. EM
on Jan 5th, 2013 at 19:04
Dutchdude is spot-on with his comments.
on Jan 5th, 2013 at 15:48
Sad to see the mishap in Alaska. Many reasons why, but in my mind the foremost one is the relentless cutting of competent technical staff in favour of politicians. Transition 09 has done so much damage to this company, and has only propelled the quick talkers to the top. These managers are afraid of technical knowledge, and believe they are super anyway!
Shell should go back to being technical first, and demonstrate a job can be done safely without all the pre PR. Voser and Henry have done tremendous damage to this company with their short term, quick gain plans.
on Jan 3rd, 2013 at 02:47
Mr Voser , $4billion+ Arctic lesson learned is a lot of money. Which Superbucket EVP is accountable ? Comment by John: The Arctic gamble seems to have already cost over $7 billion!!! According to a Washington Post article, “Royal Dutch Shell PLC in 2008 spent $2.1 billion on Chukchi Sea leases and estimates it has spent a total of nearly $5 billion on drilling efforts there and in the Beaufort.”
on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 23:46
John and I are most grateful for the support and encouragement received from our Shell insider sources and contributors. Thanks also to our numerous visitors, the vast majority of whom are regulars here. Our best wishes to you all for 2013.
on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 20:02
Shell never misses an opportunity to tell the world that they have spent $4 billion on the Arctic, but if a small fraction of this amount had been spent on fit for purpose drilling units, rather than using mothballed vessels otherwise destined for the breaker’s yard, we would not have seen the Discoverer beached a few months ago, nor the Kulluk on the rocks today being pounded by heavy seas. As a shareholder, I would expect some clarity as to how $4 billion was spent on the project before a well had even been drilled – the money was evidently not spent where it was needed.
on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 16:32
I don’t think Royal Dutch Shell has the sort of trouble with it Norwegian operations it has with its Alaskan operations. I would suggest that Shell USA’s personnel are not up to the job of operating in the Arctic. The Gulf of Mexico perhaps, but the Arctic – no. RDS needs to transplant some managerial and technical competence to supervise the less than competent US staff.
on Jan 2nd, 2013 at 16:24
Happy New Year to you and your Royaldutchshellplc.com clan. Your blog is truly a much needed public service. My Regards to your team.
on Dec 31st, 2012 at 12:38
interesting article on Voser and UBS. you may wish to cover his time with ABB as well, a period during which ABB was deeply involved in bribery and corrupt practices (google ABB + corruption).
on Dec 31st, 2012 at 00:23
Dearest John and Alfred Donovan, lion-hearts’ son and father. As the year ends, I say, congrats; you’re the best, so stay the best…no one does this like you do! Confronting monsters such as $hell with the truth, especially their own hidden truth/document isn’t easy. Meanwhile, the trickery and hidings, gaming of cats and dogs we find of $hell in the Arctic and other fronts points to the terrible pains Ogonis and others of Niger delta suffered/still suffering in Nigeria, where $hell operate under no binding laws or rule. Where any law or rule exist $hell bribes all those saddled with implementation, maneuvers state power to shut everyone,especially the victims off. Finally, Ogoni and Niger delta need help from the world to breathe fresher air as $hell-Nigerian government toxicity is suffocating the people with speed. Ogoni is poisoned (as UNEP report shows) that $hell and Nigerian government may live and reel in petrodollars. Sadly the international community looks on the same way it did when Ken Saro-Wiwa and others were about to be hanged unjustly in 1995. Why? We live in a world that is oil-drunk, thus prefers oil to live. This attitude must change so we can be more humanistic and proactive to also save the global environment. Happy 2013 to you, family and readers of this wonderful blog!
on Dec 29th, 2012 at 17:16
Hello John, I wish you and your father all the best for 2013 and will continue to read your website with great interest. Keep up the good work!
on Dec 29th, 2012 at 16:51
Well, well. We now know how prepared Royal Dutch Shell is to handle the unforeseen. And when it comes to preventing drilling ‘accidents’ it is the ‘unforeseen’ that bites you in the arse every time. And to make matters worse the ‘unforeseen’ usually comes in the form of bumbling, poorly or untrained personnel that are not properly supervised. It is RDS’s responsibility to see to it that not only are its personnel properly trained, equipped, and competent but that the personnel of their contractors are likewise properly trained, equipped and competent to do the job they were hired to do. This latest installment in Shell’s Arctic soap opera makes one wonder how prepared RD Shell is to handle any kind of ‘incident’ associated with their drilling operations.
on Dec 27th, 2012 at 15:54
There is an old saying that goes something like: “The flag and the Bible are common last refuges for scoundrels”. Sir Phillip has demonstrated that there is great wisdom in this old saying.
on Dec 26th, 2012 at 16:45
John: Very interesting set of articles you have posted in recent days. Let the band play on.
on Dec 24th, 2012 at 02:34
Mr Donovan, what is the address of the BG incubator as there will be more strays after Shell strategic super bucket realignment exercise
on Dec 22nd, 2012 at 12:02
LondonLad, I am one of those retired Shell people and I do not feel offended at all by Donovan. On the contrary. On many occasions he has stated that the vast majority of Shell workers are fine. He merely is holding the top of Shell accountable for not living up to the standards they themselves have signed off to and pretend to impose on the staff. It is very much a ‘don’t do as I do but do as I tell you to do’. That is not sustainable, Shell staff is far to clever to not understand this. And since staff is unable to remove bad management, they will copy the standards as lived by management. And the result is clear. A bad top in a company will quickly transform that company to a lower standard. And putting in a good top will then take many years to get things right again.
on Dec 21st, 2012 at 19:51
Does everyone / anyone who has been working for Shell in ANY sort of capacity get corralled into the same “box” that seems to have appeared here on this website as a “Nazi”, a “Touch F*** All” wimp, an “incompetent reserves specialist” etc. etc. How about the Donovan’s who were in cahoots with Shell selling “their” product some years back, and which kicked off this humorous site? Role on March 5th!! JOHN DONOVAN REPLY TO LONDON LAD. Very disappointed by your comment. The only person who has implied any such nasty connection is you under the cloak of an alias. What I say is in my name and supported by evidence. Thus anyone can take legal action if they believe they have legitimate grounds to do so. None of the articles in question have anything to do with the Nazis. I have already supplied Shell internal documents proving Chris Finlayson was notified about reserves issues two years before shareholders were informed. I will also supply evidence in relation to his association with the TOUCH FUCK ALL scandal and the debacle on the Sakhalin II project. Your allegations of us being in “cahoots with Shell” are of course also made while you hide behind an alias. We acted at all times with absolute integrity. Unfortunately cannot say the same for Shell. Hence the six high court actions settled by Shell. You may find the site amusing; don’t think Shell shares that view.
on Dec 12th, 2012 at 16:33
John: Your are once again rattling the old stinking skeletons in RD Shell’s closet. It does make for interesting reading.
on Dec 10th, 2012 at 16:03
John: Saw the article about RDS’s abuse of independent station owners. This is so classic of Shell. The company will break its contracts whenever it feels it can get away with it if there is money to made doing so. What ever happened to their much lauded ‘business principles’. It is all BS, of course. You are a fool to do business with Royal Dutch Shell. They are shameless thugs, frauds, and cheats.
on Dec 9th, 2012 at 11:58
Obviously billions, not millions…!
on Dec 8th, 2012 at 21:31
Whilst Shell may have had dodgy tax practices in the decades before any of its current staff were either born or out of daipers….2011 accounts seems to show that they paid 24 Million on an income of 55 Million, which isn’t bad going, and hardly worse than Stabucks et al
on Dec 8th, 2012 at 19:19
Ah, having a ‘history’ is a dangerous thing. It can rear up its ugly head and bite you in the arse when least convenient.
on Dec 4th, 2012 at 23:28
To LondonLad: I tire of your nonsense. Best Regards.
on Dec 4th, 2012 at 17:01
Well “Relieved” your last posting really does exemplify why Yanks are some of the most despised people on this planet. Just see any international news channel or newspapers to see this is a fact with the demonstrations that abound. Arrogance and lack of historical and geographical knowledge remains a problem with the U.S. – also highlighted in the run up to your presidential elections. Take your so called Baseball “World Series” – world indeed !!! Your facts are as reliable as a Mickey Mouse watch or those of Greenpeace. My historical knowledge is not selective it’s just that the Brits have a history, unlike those across the pond. Additionally it was you and not I that raised the subject about America entering both WW’s (late I have to add) etc. etc. I am glad that RDS gobbled up Shell Oil, just a pity that so many of their staff came over with their / your type of arrogance. Can’t wait for you repetitive response, unfortunately I will now be away for 3 weeks and no doubt “Ikari” will fill up the blog long before I return so that I miss your reply.
on Dec 3rd, 2012 at 16:09
To LondonLad: As long as you brought up the subject let me remind you that we Americans got into those two world wars ‘late’ because you Brits made such a cock-up of the operation you were in serious danger of being thoroughly whipped. You fools started those wars, we had to finish them for you. Fortunately, WWII finally bankrupted your morally bankrupt empire. And if we Yanks had not been around to cover your stiff British butts you would have been calling one another ‘Comrade’ long ago. I won’t discuss Vietnam with you because I served in the US Army during that war and you don’t have a clue as to what you are talking about. Fortunately, we Americans had the good sense not to help the Dutch try to regain their lost oil rich colonies in Indonesia (the Dutch East Indies). And as for RD Shell, if it hadn’t been for the rich dividends Shell USA paid out on the stock RDS held in Shell USA during the 1950′s and 1960′s you folks wouldn’t have been able to rebuild RDS, Nigeria not withstanding. I find your view of history to be somewhat selective, as it is with a good many older Brits. The sun set on the British Empire and its outdated notions of class, privilege and race a long time ago, and thank god it did. Have a good day.
on Dec 2nd, 2012 at 19:58
My prime gripe “Relieved” is with Nigerians who pontificate about their present situation and in doing so blame all and anybody for their own begotten ills. This includes the British and international oil companies like Shell. Stupid comments from yourself regarding various wars add up to naught. Yanks being LATE on the scene in both World Wars does not really help in this discussion, neither does your failed attempt in Vietnam. Still you want to go that route. Thank goodness we beat the All Blacks – something you girls could not do!!
on Dec 2nd, 2012 at 18:24
To LondonLad: Some of you ignorant retrograde ‘Redcoats’ never have gotten over having your sorry butts kicked by a bunch of uncultured colonists. Get a life laddy, that war was over a very, very long time ago. In fact, that war became pretty much a world war with the French and Spanish involved as well. And you Brits lost it, and with it the entire North America continent. I Say, good show, old Chap. What? And don’t forget we Americans bailed your sorry Imperial colonizing butts out of two very ill considered world wars in the last century, not to mention the Falklands conflict. Your most glorious moment in those four wars was the evacuation at Dunkirk. Hail Britannia. Cheers, pal.
on Dec 1st, 2012 at 19:33
Well Ben “if-that’s-your-real-name” Ikari, it would seem that you and “Yankie-doodle-dandy” Relieved have solved the world’s problems!! I for one am proud to be British and proud to have worked for Shell for 30+ years. The American’s are the modern day colonialists for whom corrupt Nigerians would appear to have found an affinity. Wonder why?!?! Nigerians have destroyed Nigeria, NOT shell, NOT the British. Shell has spent so much money on trying to help communities (at times I wonder why) and all they can do (like you Ikari) is attempt to bite the hand that feeds you. God help Nigeria if it was left to the Nigerians to run the country. I await your one thousand word response.
on Dec 1st, 2012 at 16:13
To Mr. Ikari: It has been my pleasure.
on Dec 1st, 2012 at 09:40
Dearest Brother “Relieved,” my pleasure. Meanwhile, facts or evidence, argument without counter-argument (like knowledge without test and expansion based on proven evidence and persuasion wrapped in honesty and the truth)is no argument. I have enjoyed and shall always enjoy every minute spared for the truth to be tested and known. Thanks so very much!
on Dec 1st, 2012 at 03:23
A Brit; what is this thing with hiding your names,or is this your real name? Well, true that when the British left there might have been organized infrastructures. It’s also true that, the infrastructures in place today despite the craziness of African/Nigerian leadership have surpassed what the British might have left. Again, why did the British went there to terrorize our people and territories in the first place? Please tell us why. If you couldn’t then the answer is the legacy that has become commonplace today-force, power exhibition,fraudulent acts other illegalities, exploitation and usurpation of resources of others for the betterment of the powerful(the British first and now so-called leaders of Nigeria/Africa) to the detriment of the weak and disadvantaged poor. Why has the British government/companies continued to manipulate and sometimes impose rulership there; do you forget $hell,a British blood-sucking company? Finally, if we take all the blames of African problems from Britain and overall Western exploitation,imposition and maneuvers, we must not be honest to ourselves. Why? Because legacies stays, even though positive things may emerge thereof. It’s like a child’s upbringing. Though the child may evolve and find him or herself when grown, the experiences or lessons from childhood aren’t lost. They, for the most part form important aspects of adulthood, therefore the issues we speak to.
on Nov 30th, 2012 at 16:17
To Mr. Ikari: It has been an interesting dialog. My best to you.
on Nov 30th, 2012 at 15:51
Thats right Ikari, blame the British for your current problems. classic deflection mentality. When the British left Nigeria it was prosperous and had a well maintained infrastructure. Pity that can’t be said right now.
on Nov 30th, 2012 at 04:10
Dear “Relieved,” you have spoken very well. I agree with you and I am glad you have seen the effects of colonialism first-hand in Africa. Also glad to note you said you are American. There is no difference between both countries: they are like father like son! Meanwhile, the future of Africans/Nigerians is in the hands of the peoples like you said. If we be honest, we will also agree that the British colonial lumping of different groups, which have distinct territories and have no cultural similarities, thus speaks different languages (we know that language binds than not) as represented in Nigeria and other African states play important role in the lingering African problem. Therefore, the continent’s problems and backwardness can not be completely divorced from British colonialism as the intended colonial gains have continued to trickle down to the masters. The British legacy of violent, forceful and illegal intrusion and fraudulent manner of land and property confiscation has been imprinted on ethnic groups and politicians/leaders who wield power in Africa,Nigeria in particular. Yet we demand that The Africans must move forward, learn from the past to avoid colonial mentality and the implications of oppressive, violent and corrupt acts introduced by colonialism. We can attest how difficult it seems to move away from such acts, because telling people who have been drunk and become intoxicated eating where they do not sow like colonialism to stop. Stopping is, however possible with collective grassroots enlightenment and action by the people. Help is also needed from the international community, if foreign governments and groups can for once put aside the benefit they get from the African nuisance or lunatic leadership, which some help to impose.
on Nov 29th, 2012 at 17:10
To Mr. Ikari: FYI I am NOT British. I am American. But I have worked with a good many Brits, Aussies, Kanooks, etc., over the years, and have picked up a few of their manners of expression. I do not take issue with what you have to say about colonialism. RDS has a terrible neo-colonial attitude amongst the staff. It is quite obvious to us Americans. And I have worked the West African oil fields, so I have seen the legacy of past colonialism. It is not a pretty picture. That being said, I will again say that the future of Nigeria and of Africa is in the hands of Nigerians and Africans. Nothing can be done about the past. You folks need to take command of your own countries and futures. Nobody can do that for you. In my opinion you folks are your own worst enemies.
on Nov 28th, 2012 at 22:13
Hello Relieved,are you British? That is, assuming your name is real. Well, it isn’t unfashionable to see people who have so much to answer for their destruction of others to select issues or points that touched on their nefarious acts. So I’m not shocked. Now, I’m not arguing that the British colonial ship according to you didn’t sail long ago. I’m also not completely blaming colonialism/Britain, etc. I have written pieces asking Africans, especially Nigerians to move on and stop allowing strangers such as $hell to come to their home and dictate how o run their family. We should also agree that colonial mentality or hands forcing what doesn’t belong to them still affects colonies such as ethnic nationalities that make up Nigeria, like slavery. Example, $hell (then BP) came as colonial British economic vehicle. It’s still in Nigeria terrorizing Ogoni and other Niger delta communities, and helping to deepen the corruption pits. Britain and America, others of the west still provide Nigerian leaders arms and advice to kill their own people for oil to flow unabated. Yet, Nigerian leaders (if real leaders exist) should by now know better to send such advice and arms, including $hell, the colonial tape-worm packing and making better the lives of their people. Hope you wouldn’t be surprised to learn that colonial mentality has eaten deep into Nigerian politicians/leaders therefore, their violent and corrupt attitude.
on Nov 28th, 2012 at 16:45
To Mr.Ikari: I sympathize with your allegations and contentions about British colonialism, etc., etc., ad nauseum. They are well based in fact. The history is not disputed. However, that ship sailed long ago. The simple truth is that the fate and future of Nigeria is in the hands of Nigerians these days. Unfortunately, you folks are buggering up very badly. You now have no one to blame but yourselves. It is not RD Shell’s fault, although they clearly contribute to the corruption within the country. You can always run the SOB’s out of town if you wish, it is your country. You folks need to take charge of your own country. Peacefully, if you can, by force of arms if you cannot. But it is time to stop the complaining and get on with it, already.
on Nov 28th, 2012 at 00:30
Good “Londonlad!” If you aren’t “deltastic,” who are you,since Londonlad isn’t your real name and if you aren’t wobbling and confused with different names? Let me be clear once more. I haven’t disputed and will not dispute the fact that Nigeria is corrupt. For me, Nigeria is the most corrupt nation on earth; it’s an illegal country founded via fraudulent means by British colonialists. This is, of course a fact. That is how about 350 diferrent ethnic nationalities were forced at gun point to form the union for the economic benefit of Britain which continue to date. I have indeed criticized and accused Nigerian leaders/politicians of hyper-corruption and went further to do an article that says European,American and other governments, their health facilities should stop allowing Nigerian politicians/leaders to their clinics so that they may develop the death-traps called hospitals at home. I can’t even count how many articles I have written on the ills of Nigeria. I went on to write that sovereign national conference is the true cure for the nation’s problems and also advocated its disintegration between now and 25 years years. You may have searched Ben Ikari and Ben Wuloo Ikari, respectively. If not just do yourself a favor to know my stand on issues affecting Nigeria and the world. More importantly, what I want you and other $hell’s surrogates to know, if you truly don’t is that, Ogoni isn’t Niger delta, though considered aspect of the latter because it’s an oil producing nationality. Also Ogoni struggle isn’t Ijaw or Niger Delta militants: Movement for the Emancipation of Niger delta (MEND)struggle. Ogoni struggle is only a microcosm or an expression of what other oil producing communities in Nigeria (Niger delta) are experiencing. Also, Ogonis are one group of people who have continued to demand openness,honesty, competence and accountability among other veritable traits from their leaders. We’ve refused to cover them up (even though we might not know everything happening)like others do. Ogonis understand that he who goes to equity must do so with an open hand. Lastly, Ogonis are known for their (our) nonviolent principles and we’ve used and will continue to use constitutional, civil cum legal means to seek redress from Nigeria and $hell, etc. If you have any case/evidence of Ogoni leaders extorting money from $hell and other companies please expose it since neither I nor some other Ogonis may not know everything happening.
on Nov 27th, 2012 at 17:48
Well Ikari, yet another waffled rant from you. It’s often said that to hide the truth say 1000 words rather than 10 – you have proved the point. Ogoni’s need to look at themselves AND their dishonest leaders, not just try and blame Shell for their own ills. Nigeria is corrupt – fact. P.S. I have no idea who deltastic is, seems yet another who can see through your waffle.
on Nov 27th, 2012 at 15:59
John: Read your article about Shell management not being concerned about the safety of floating LNG facilities. I think they should reconsider the consequences of some disgruntled Muslim type sending a few well aimed RPG’s their direction. Such a facility is a very inviting target for those wishing to ‘make a statement’.
on Nov 27th, 2012 at 00:16
“Deltastic,” because some of you $hell guys have chosen the fake names, your name makes me curious as to its originality or credible and legal status. Or you just change from “LondonLad” which is another fake name to Deltalic?
Well, you have to research and understand the Ogoni people and their (our) issues before writing publicly about or against them. I noticed you are ignorant of the Ogoni issues, therefore confusing the Ijaw militants or so-called Niger delta militants (MEND, etc.) and Iaw struggle with Ogoni. Ogoni has a record of its nonviolent struggle, thus we are known for using constitutional/civil means to seek redress or remedies. Other than Chevron that is another company, which had presence in Ogoni (less presence), $hell, your precursor has been that monster company Ogonis have issues of human rights and the environment with. There is no record of Ogonis or the elders, chiefs or politicians/leaders scheming money from $hell and other companies that could be found in Swiss bank as you claimed.
Ogonis have taken $hell to court and will continue to do so until justice is satisfactorily served. Legal resolution of issues or conflict is a constitutional or civil approach any civilized people,including the British people, Americans, Chinese, Australians and others will apply (and have been applying) if in our shoes. Ogonis going to court to seek human rights violations and environmental damages caused by $hell can not be tantamount to extortion or illegal means to reaping where we did not sow.$hell knows Ogonis are honest about the charges against her, but will stop at nothing to give us a fight as mostly corporations do in developing countries especially. You can attest that neither $hell nor BP fought the American government or people in the reserve scandal and Gulf of Mexico spills, respectively. They obeyed, accepted guilt and paid all penalties to avoid negative consequences.
Meanwhile, if you have evidence to show Ogonis extorting money from companies please show it to make your case or continue your lies like your master, $hell. Also note that before January 4, 1993 when Ogonis formerly took their case to the public or world, we asked $hell to pay accrued royalty and rent and that it also clean our environment and pay us for the deprivation of our sources of livelihood, which are fishing and farming its operations destroyed, $hell refused. It only asked for a shopping list that was sent and nothing has been heard from her to date.
Even when $hell settled the Wiwa et al out of court because it could not withstand the evidence against her and other backlash, Ogoni plaintiffs did not approach the company, rather the company approached plaintiffs’ attorneys and the case was settled one day or more after the first trial date $hell did not appear because it was seriously pushing for settlement. If $hell choose to lure and pay some Ogoni chiefs, leaders or politicians as a way of disrupting the Ogoni grassroots movement (MOSOP), thus dividing and ruling (can not conquer Ogoni), that is its own volition. Finally, in English language repetition comes with emphasis and depends especially on the kind of writing or issues. If at all there were repetitions in my response below they were for emphasis. More pertinently, all you need worry about is to write your own response based on what you know. That is with facts or evidence to make the truth known, and not worry about the length of my response because you have no control over my thought nor right to freedom of speech and expression. You would agree with me if honest that everyone’s post on Shellnews.net or other blogs are not same in length.
Common sense that is not too common dictates that, when one see a message or writeup he/she do not like, maybe due to length or content (or the byline), such could be ignored and deleted. I hope you have common sense; or you just lost it like the killer company $hell?
on Nov 26th, 2012 at 17:19
John: A year or so ago one of your contributors wrote an editorial suggesting that Royal Dutch Shell was at its core a racist company. I saw it on the web. I think we now have an answer.
on Nov 26th, 2012 at 17:07
John: Read your article about Shell Oil’s (USA) support of the apartheid regime in S. Africa during the 1980′s. This was during the tenures of CEO’s John Bookout and Frank Richardson. This story does not surprise me one bit. I do believe John Bookout was knighted by the Dutch Queen shortly after retiring from the Shell USA CEO position in 1988. It was also during this time period that Shell USA was fighting the USG over the cleanup costs of their Rocky Flats pesticide (their ‘drins facility) production facility. Shell tried to shift the costs to their insurance companies but lost on the grounds that the pollution of that site was done knowingly and deliberately. The 1980′s were not a proud period in the history of Shell USA. I know because I worked for Shell at that time.
on Nov 25th, 2012 at 19:04
John: Noted your stats on hits and views. They keep increasing. Congratulations.
on Nov 23rd, 2012 at 12:31
Forgot to add – how much of the money screwed out of various companies by the Ogoni “elders/leaders” has actually been received at the coal face? Very,very little I would imagine. Most has no doubt been put in some fat Nigerian’s Swiss/UK bank account. All these guys do is to aggitate the youths to cause problems (aka the “area boys”) and then reap the rewards from the aftermath.
on Nov 22nd, 2012 at 17:03
Ikari, you need to shorten your response!! Way too much waffle & repetition. Bottom line remains as others have already stated – Nigeria is rotten to the core and the Ogonis aren’t much different.
on Nov 22nd, 2012 at 06:01
LondonLad? again with Ogoni in your mouth. Well,if you have an iota of the truth in you, you’d agree Ogonis have a solid record of championing a just and nonviolent struggle against the nigerian govt/$hell. Your anacondic precursor, $hell has a principle and teaching in Ogoni/Niger delta that says people can lie, destroy their very existence to be able to eat. This is because $hell has exploits and siphons the peoples’ resources in conspiracy with the nigerian govt, thus destroyed the peoples’ livelihoods by degrading the environment to making poverty and diseases endemic. This sad development permits weakness and gullibility. To say the least you’ve continued to be prevaricatious with frivolous or spurious assertions about my Ogoni people. I bet you will fail like $hell has continued to fail! When I asked you how many percentage of oil spill $hell has caused in 46 years (1958 to 2004) before the issues of oil theft, which $hell and the govt are reportedly involved and sabotage find their way into Nigeria’s lexicon you couldn’t reply to date. Saro-Wiwa’s work will stand the test of time to show how he stood up to the Nigerian govt I have numerously lambasted for its incompetence, corruption and deadliness among other ills. $hell, which designs most of nigeria’s oil industry legislation that favors not Ogonis and other oil bearing communities was also exposed by Saro-Wiwa due to the unholy alliances between the govt and her. Saro-Wiwa died because he refused $hell’s overtures and didn’t bow to its threats. Some Ogoni politicians and $hell lured/groomed leaders are susceptible to $hell’s bribery and corrupt practices and so could parley with your master. What do you expect in a country where $hell rules; a place where $hell’s-led corruption and violence for profit-making is an epidemic? Notwithstanding the corruption practices enshrined and instilled by $hell, Ogonis, which include myself have continued to demand openness, honesty, direct and competent communication, accountability from Ogoni politicians and leaders. The record is obvious. Therefore, stop lying against the Ogoni people,even though we aren’t perfect people,and no group or people have been nor will be perfect. $hell’s influence is corrupt and violent influence, but where there is a government as the current Obama government corporations such as $hell,BP are made to cough some of their blood money from Ogoni/Africa out, though they still use most Republican party lawmakers to seek legislation that may protect them from doing the right things.
on Nov 20th, 2012 at 16:47
Absolutely correct and well stated “old EP hand”, I have often stated such facts before on this website, particularly to those such as the Ogoni’s who cannot vent their anger & frustrations with their own dreadful government and therefore rely on attacking the likes of Shell. Another clear objective is to take Shell, and others, to court in order to make as much money from them by attempting to sue on often fictitious facts. Most notable is the pollution in the Delta region (which I admit is awful) that is now caused primarily by the locals who attempt oil theft and vandalism of the pipelines. Corruption, corruption, corruption is the cancer of Nigeria, but, as you say, Nigerians will blame anybody but themselves. Having spent time in Lagos over many years it is awful how a large majority of Nigerians are just out for the quick (now-now) fast buck and are totally unwilling to help their fellow Nigerian. I remember helping out at the “Friends of the Disabled” for a number of years and if it wasn’t for external help (e.g. Shell, the occasional foreign volunteer) these people would have been totally discarded by the state and local community.
on Nov 20th, 2012 at 16:41
John: I read the recent exchange between Nigeria Laddy and Old EP Hand with some interest. Having worked for Shell for years, and having worked the exploration plays of West Africa, I think that I have some knowledge about the problems in that terribly screwed up part of the world. The truth is that both of these parties are correct. Nigeria is in every sense a failed country. But Africa is in every sense a failed continent. However, the past is water under the bridge and nothing can be done about it. Life is not fair, if you have not yet noticed. Nigerians and Africans cannot go on forever blaming the white man for their failure to get their act together, take charge of their futures, and put together functional governments that serve the needs of the people. Nobody is going to do this for them. So, these people indeed need to quit ‘whining and whimpering’ and get on with the business of building a future for themselves. The time for excuses for is long over.
on Nov 19th, 2012 at 16:14
Nigerian Laddy, my brodder! How now, how de Madam? Eeh, my headengine, him go disappoint me big-oh how you be talking to your brodder. No peppersoup and goatstew wid de foo-foo for you today!
I cannot let your silly remark go like that. I have looked after many good Nigerians in my time. And I have looked (like many others) after the wellbeing of your country as much as possible. But you must admit that your country is about the most corrupt in the world and going down the drain rapidly. This is the root of all the problems. So, you go to your village and stop the extended family palaver and instead you go fix the big ogas in YOUR government. At all levels. And if it does not work via the democratic ballot box (which it won’t) you take up arms. Plenty arms around, just look at all the gangsters running Lagos. Area boys they call themselves.
No point looking at others to solve YOUR problems. Those problems are indeed very big. I wish you good luck. And don’t wait for my pension to be wasted on the Nigerian corruption. It could be the most beautiful and rich country in the world, but you people have chosen to screw it up and I can tell you, you have succeeded! And in good fashion you blame it on the white man, the Syrians, the Lebanese, the Ghanaians, slavery, other countries, churches, koran, bible, the Igbo, the Yoruba, the Haussa or whatever else and then you hold up your hand begging for a hand-out. It never appears to be you guys who are to be blamed yourself. I have no time for your whining. I read the book of Peter Enahoro ‘How to be a Nigerian’, I suggest you do the same. Enahoro was a decent man, who saw very clear what was wrong. And he had a great sense of humor!
on Nov 18th, 2012 at 18:22
So, Peter Voser think there is enough gas to largely replace petroleum and provide cheap fuel for at least 250 years. Hmmm…. At the rate climate warming is occurring we will need all that gas for air-conditioning.
on Nov 18th, 2012 at 18:19
John: Heavenly intervention ?? What does the Book of Revelations say about the form the Anti-Christ will take ?? Hmmm…Me thinks Sir Phillip is a wolf hiding in a sheepskin. Keep a close eye on your valuables.
on Nov 18th, 2012 at 11:06
Old EP Hand: It’s guys like you that screwed up Nigeria years ago – that is what my friends here tell me. Thank you very much. Don’t blame management of today – go look in the mirror. Perhaps giving back your pension would the decent thing to do instead of bad mouthing the current generation, incl. management.
on Nov 9th, 2012 at 16:13
To ‘Old EP Hand’: Amen, Brother. Shell is nowhere near the company it once was. And as a result I don’t think its future is anywhere as bright as senior management would like everyone to believe.
on Nov 8th, 2012 at 17:08
To LondonLad:
While you may not appreciate John’s ‘blasts from the past’ I find them interesting. They are an excellent source of information that allows one to compare current corporate conduct with past corporate conduct. As far as I can tell, not much has changed in the last ten years or so. At Royal Dutch Shell it is still ‘business as usual.
on Nov 8th, 2012 at 17:02
To LondonLad:
FYI – I too used to fly, although my license was limited to fixed wing aircraft. The notion that Shell would not specify that it contractors have aircraft equipped to fly in the adverse conditions routinely encountered is appalling. It clearly demonstrates a lack of regard for the welfare of not only contractor personnel, but also its own employees. As I said in a previous posting, conduct of the part of Shell management is not only grossly negligent, but close to being criminally negligent.
on Nov 7th, 2012 at 19:28
Inference remains from “Outsider” – no legal action taken by the authorities, nobody killed, more up-to-date conversation on this website. Job done. Off to watch Braga then to NY for some R&R – have a quiet week. XXX
on Nov 7th, 2012 at 17:28
Inference was made by “Outsider” – quote “Shell sent….” Would have been more honest to state that “the PHI operated choppers being used to transport Shell staff etc.” Again tabloid reporting. I am sure there is probably some 100 pages of requirements for flying in icy conditions let alone 10 pages. Point is that it would be great to have a clear statement from the authorities that PHI Inc. flew illegally – I do not think the newspaper article inferred this illegality. REPLY BY JOHN: As I said, you are trying to defend the indefensible. You seem to have about as much regard for the safety of Shell offshore employees as Shell does. Touch F*** All. Let other visitors be the judge.
on Nov 7th, 2012 at 16:48
Having now read that excellent article from that well known rag, the “Anchorage Daily News”, it would appear that the PHI Inc. operated choppers (NOT owned by Shell??) were working within the law. No mention is made of the legal requirement to have de-icing equipment in the area at that time of the year in those weather conditions. So I again believe that my comment about “Outsider” rumour mongering are correct. REPLY BY JOHN: No one said the helicopters were owned by Shell. They were however carrying Shell employees as passengers. “Outsider” is a pilot and has the expertise and experience to comment on such matters in an authoritative manner and in fact has kindly supplied me with a 10 page document by the Joint Aviation Authorities Europe entitled: “Operation of Helicopters Certified for Flight in Limited Icing Conditions.” “Outsider” has a personal interest having been on board a Shell helicopter in the North Sea when the crew lost control due to icing. Don’t you think that Shell has a responsibility for the safety of its employees when traveling on Shell’s business as helicopter passengers? Should Shell not have ensured that the helicopters were equipped with “critical deicing equipment.” With all due respect, I think that you are trying to defend the indefensible. “Outsider” has also made the following points: (1) Flight in icing conditions requires de-icing equipment, and additional certification of the aircraft/helicopter (2) Shell is responsible for specifying the level of de-icing equipment installed on the helicopters provided by a subcontractor (3) the fact that the helicopters contracted by Shell could not fly under the prevailing conditions suggests, yet again, that Shell’s planning was grossly inadequate (4) the absence of a “known band of positive temperature” in the Beaufort Sea precludes the use in icing conditions of helicopters certified for flight in “Limited Icing Conditions”
on Nov 7th, 2012 at 14:36
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!! REPLY BY JOHN: I can only guess that you did not read the linked Anchorage Daily News article. Here is the relevant extract: “All too often, fog socked in the helicopters Shell used to rotate workers on and off its vessels, stranding them for extra time at sea or onshore in Barrow and Prudhoe Bay. While the choppers, operated by PHI Inc., have instrument-flying capability, they weren’t equipped with critical deicing equipment that would allow them to soar into the clouds. And whenever fog rolled in — as it does roughly half the time in the summer — it was often impossible for the helicopters to stay below the clouds while still flying sufficiently above the water. The solution next year will be to put rotor heating on the equipment, allowing Shell to keep the helicopters flying on a more predictable schedule.” So no “rumour-mongering” but reported undisputed fact by a major title belong to Hearst Newspapers. As to the publication of archive material, it serves as an excellent reminder of Shell’s past exploits, including some that you have commented on and one occasion went as far as “welcoming“. Re-publication of past Royal Dutch Shell corporate sins hopefully makes it less likely that they will be repeated.
on Nov 6th, 2012 at 16:30
Read the comment about Shell’s Helo’s. Where the devil was the Coast Guard and FAA. Those things should not have been allowed to fly in Alaska. Helo’s don’t tolerate icing conditions very well. In fact, they don’t tolerate them at all. They simply drop from the sky if not properly equipped. Let’s hear it for Shell’s management team. They are operating on the edge of criminal negligence.
on Nov 5th, 2012 at 18:48
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?
on Nov 3rd, 2012 at 15:26
To Outsider: Everything is OK now ???? I wouldn’t bet my life or my pension on it.
on Nov 2nd, 2012 at 16:16
Interested observer: your comment seems to refer to the Sakhalin article, but this is from 2005. In the meantime Shell has been through several transformations, so everything is now ok
on Nov 2nd, 2012 at 15:12
Does anyone but me get the idea that Royal Dutch Shell management has a VERY serious lack of project skills ??? If Shell doesn’t get control of the cost over-run issue on big projects they are going to get a big kick in the a** on profitability in the not too distant future. This problem in scandalous, and it calls for a serious house-cleaning amongst the ranks of senior management.
on Nov 2nd, 2012 at 15:07
With regard to the article about plans to export vast amounts of US natural gas in the form of LNG. Don’t bet on it. That gas will be needed in the future here in the US.
on Oct 30th, 2012 at 11:05
Re the Motiva article, so true…..How prophetic that the picture of Voser and the senior execs are sitting there opening a valve at the ceremony…. and ultimately, a valve just like it allowed caustic to get into the unit. This project was terrible from the start…bad idea started by Tom Purves….. Bad project team, led by Tom’s buddy forrest Lauher, who had no idea how to run a project of this size, bad leadership throughout the project….. Tom decides to come save the project when in fact he has never worked on a major project and has no skills to actually deliver what he promised…. his cronies were dropped onto the project in various jobs…..Hartsock, Funkhouser, all with promises of making a difference…. meanwhile no one would speak up for fear of losing their job. The project finally falls on its face, only after Tom gets shipped out to Siberia. Everyone thought he would get paid a nice severance and retire but after this embarassment, the senior Shell execs couldn’t pay Tom a nice payday. Tom then had to move on to Canada where he is now head of mining….. laughable. And his buddy Funkhouser is working on the next mega project…laughable…. he will somehow work his way up to Canada to be with his daddy Tom…. I’m sure he will wait until it warms up…. and old Forrest is now off in El Paso working for a small refinery company after being run off from Shell….. This is Shell’s finest. Tom, you are a joke. I hope you enjoy your stroll to the bank. Everyone else will when you leave.
on Oct 28th, 2012 at 19:41
Seems like we can expect some good profit margins to be announced from Shell. Good news for us share holders eh!! Almost as good as Chelsea getting beat 3-2.
on Oct 28th, 2012 at 18:02
John, Your ‘blasts from the past’ are interesting. By way of comparison with todays news they show that not much has changed in the fundamental way RDS does business.
on Oct 25th, 2012 at 11:40
Exxon must be laughing at all the energy Shell is expending trying to perfect the company. Still it has been three years since the last one.
on Oct 24th, 2012 at 14:16
Engines and Super-buckets. Shell management and their consultants are not much for imagination. Me thinks the engine stalls and knocks a bit, and the buckets definitely leak.
on Oct 23rd, 2012 at 20:24
Hmmmmm, LondonLad? Well, if you’d followed my thoughts or writings you’d agree I’m even more hard on the Nigerian government, politicians or cabal than $hell sometimes.
If a real government and not submerged in greed, corruption and especially incompetence of gross proportion. It will not allow $hell Oil, a foreign monster to overtake and dictate for her how it deals with its own people. $hell is most powerful in Nigeria than the federal government. And the government acknowledges this fact. $hell get the best of treatment and protection from Nigeria against its own population. The company takes advantage of ignorance and greed couple with the ethnic division and tension in the country.
Meanwhile, the corruption you pointed to and other ills are noted as common in the country.
But mountainous evidence also shows $hell is at the center of most corruption, bribery and violence. Lastly, your claim of locals involved in donkeys of years oil theft is vague. It’s only reminiscent of $hell’s attitude of scheming, spinning and tricking with a mischaracterization and misleading intention.
Can you honestly point to when your company, $hell started reporting oil theft or sabotage in Ogoni or Niger delta? This is, bearing in mind that these issues weren’t heard of during Ken Saro-Wiwa’s campaign that preceded the Ijaw-Niger delta militancy we saw emerged in 2004 due to $hell/government’s irresponsibility, greed and neglect.
on Oct 23rd, 2012 at 18:10
Yep, Shell absolutely correct when it states that theft and sabotage BY LOCAL NIGERIANS is a prime cause of loss of production. This has been a problem for donkey’s years and will continue until NIGERIANS stop thieving and vandalizing private property/products. Additionally this is now the prime cause of pollution in the Delta region. Hey ho at the end of the day Nigerians deserve all they get – corrupt politicians, corrupt “chiefs”, corrupt State Governors, poor infrastructure, poor education etc etc. Such a shame when so much could have been made of the country by NIGERIANS. Of course they blame everybody but themselves for the shambles the country is in. Pity they don’t use their undoubted skills in working for the country rather than for the individual. At the end of the day I really wonder what will happen to all the money they no doubt will get (and have already got) from the US/Dutch courts from Shell. No doubt in some fat Nigerians bank account in Switzerland!!
on Oct 22nd, 2012 at 21:56
$hell should stop lying and spinning because they will not stick.
It’s the same environmental pollution caused by $hell oil spills, unchecked 24 hours a day gas flares and other unprofessional practices Ken Saro-Wiwa exposed and he’s killed when he refused to withdraw his campaign at the request of $hell is that, which exist in Ogoni today. This high level and first of its kind pollution was confirmed by UNEP report and not the frivolous oil theft case the killer company makes of late. $hell’s claim about oil theft,thus calling on the Nigerian govt to help stop the act as reported herein, is a big ruse.
The company and the govt are the popular oil thieves. They stole Ogoni/Niger delta oil at gunpoint and with draconian laws made possible by $hell and other multinational/Euro-American corps since 1956/1958 to date.
$hell should honestly tell the world when oil theft started or when it first reported the incident. It claims between in the last 5 years less than 30% of oil spills were caused by its recklessness. Meanwhile, how many percent of such spills happened between 1956 and 2008 (last 5 years) or when militancy started for the company be blaming the locals for spills due to alleged theft? Also, is it not $hell’s greedy policies and the take-all syndrome of the company and govt (both in joint venture) that led to militancy; meaning poverty and hardship created by $hell while it rolled billions of the peasants money into its coffers?
There is no way $hell can truly and legally escape liability, but for its influence and connections. By the way reports have it that $hell staff, govt officials and politicians including officers of JTF $hell is praising are involved in organizing this theft since they no longer openly extract oil in Ogoni. In other parts of Niger delta their gang of govt-prone and corporate thieves have also engineered the elicit trade of stealing oil and then look for locals who are granted local implements to refine so as to have the premise of making such frivolous claims $hell makes. Finally, the same environmental pollution Ken Saro-Wiwa exposed and he’s killed by $hell and Nigeria exist in Ogoni today. These spills and gas flares took place between 1958 and when $hell began reporting oil theft recently,when Ijaw-Niger delta militants struck due to $hell and govt’s lackluster attitudes,greed and genocidal policies.
on Oct 21st, 2012 at 02:35
Ms Dilbert, It is half time for Voser. So he is putting on his thinking cap to change out some players who are not performing. Dont worry about the engines. It is all about people and delivery. We hope he got it right this time.
on Oct 20th, 2012 at 19:05
LondonLad: The ‘silly story’ about Jiffy Lube is not so silly. Many thousands of their customs have suffered serious damage to their auto’s because of the way these clowns do business. Humdreds of people have had their auto engines damaged beyond repair. Jiffy Lube is one of the worst ‘quick service’ outfits in business, and they should be put out of business as far many a State’s attorney is concerned.
on Oct 19th, 2012 at 17:35
Its been nearly 4 years since the last ‘transition’ I wonder if these superbuckets are just a way of preparing us for yet another org change
on Oct 19th, 2012 at 17:10
Why the “Fred the Red” picture associated with this silly story about Jiffy Lube? I think that if Mr. Donovan has invented this link between the two then that nice Sir Alex Ferguson, and many millions of MU supporters around the globe, will turn their backs on this website.
P.S. much better versions of Fred can be found :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/murrayer2011/5927391019/
http://www.3drivers.com/catalog/353/7852/
http://www.manutdnews.org.uk/gallery/news-photos/MjAxNDA0-manchester-united-badge/
This “green” surcharge that was applied is getting to be more and more commonplace and would even appear to be an excuse for raising taxes for various Governments around the world, particularly here in the UK In the UK many garages are adding similar charges for “disposing” of old engine oil, old tyres etc. Some of these practices are probably fair enough as long as the punter is told upfront about such charges and if they have a legal foundation.
on Oct 16th, 2012 at 00:18
Shell super bucket? If Voser runs Shell like a business, then he should quickly revert to the Country buckets in most developing countries. By doing that, he will remove at least 30% of super overheads and super frustration of poor accountability.
on Oct 15th, 2012 at 21:53
Superbuckets, growth pipelines, funnel strength, capability focus, optionality, powering progress together, CVP, commercial mindset, core engines. Looks like someone has been reading Dilbert, Peter! What on earth happened to ESSA?
on Oct 12th, 2012 at 15:28
To LondonLad: Hmmm. Got up on the wrong side of the bed, did we? Or did YOU forget to take your Exlax last night? At least you have a sense of humor, on occasion. Have a good day.
on Oct 11th, 2012 at 18:44
Say “Relieved”, have you ever worked in Nigeria? I guess not by the way you pontificate erroneously about the problems in the country!! Keep taking the exlax as at the moment something is going in the wrong direction in your body.
on Oct 11th, 2012 at 14:27
BBC America just did a nice piece on Royal Dutch Shell and Nigeria. It was well worth watching. Needless to say, Shell took a big hit on the way they conduct business in Nigeria.
on Oct 10th, 2012 at 15:52
One thing this ‘bucket list’ does is reiterate Shell’s intention to continue operations in Nigeria for many years to come. This policy is key to understanding why Shell is trying so hard to limit litigation under the Alien Tort Statute. A Shell loss before the US Supreme Court would require Shell to clean up the way they do business in Nigeria or face further litigation in the future. It is obvious that Shell wants to continue to do ‘business as usual’ in Nigeria. They have gotten away with plundering the country, rape, murder, etc., and made 10′s of billions of US$$$’s in the process. Why would Shell want to change a business model that has been and continues to be so profitable ???
on Oct 9th, 2012 at 22:26
Is this ‘bucket list’ a list of wishful desires before something or someone ‘kicks the bucket’, or is it just a very poor choice of metaphors by mentally challenged HR types?
on Oct 9th, 2012 at 18:53
Looks like this article / leaked email has stirred up a hornets nest!! For one of the few times (and do not let this go to you head Mr. Donovan) I welcome this publication. It would be interesting to know if other majors (e.g. Exxon) or FTSE 100 companies are weighed down by this HR nonsense. Anyone know?
on Oct 9th, 2012 at 16:27
Read your blog about Mr. Voser’s message. Now you know why I left that company long ago. At times management suffers from collective mental incapacitation, runs amock and turns the organization into a ship of fools.
on Oct 9th, 2012 at 15:57
With the concept of buckets, Shell is preparing for the ever shrinking volume of production (despite the preachings of the former beloved Bearded Brinded to the opposite). If they continue on this reorganisation for reorganisation sake, they need only a few buckets to move all oil they produce.
The fact that Voser was prepared to put his signature under all this drivel shows he has lost it. If he has lost his marbles, perhaps those can be passed around, I am sure he can find a consultant to design a learning event on the theme of passing marbles.
Or is Voser shrewder than most and is this the start of another major upheaval that will see more americans in the key and high paying jobs?
Let me point you to this youtube: in 1960 it was described already how it will go by Harry Belafonte: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD-ffhvefsw&noredirect=1
on Oct 9th, 2012 at 15:31
“Superbucket” motivational message from Voser : Have to agree for the most part with the source of the leak that this once again highlights not only contractors attempting to show their worth, BUT, also Shell’s HR department trying to justify their vast numbers within the organization. It really is a continuing case of “Buzzword Bingo” – most of which remain from the time I was working for Shell. The main outcome will be that minions down the system will have most of these buzzwords engrained on their end-of-year scorecard and will therefore help the technical staff to take their eye off the ball for what should be their main driver – technical excellence. So, more meetings, brain storm sessions, camp fires etc. etc. and all for HR to pontificate the added value they (HR) have created!! It really is the case that 90%+ of these buzz words were being “discussed” ad nauseam 10 years ago – time to tell the Emperor that he has no clothes on.
on Oct 9th, 2012 at 13:03
I note that Peter Voser’s encouraging words make no mention of ethics, integrity, or competence.
on Oct 7th, 2012 at 20:50
Read your interesting piece of history about the power of protest. I also note that the Dutch courts recently reaffirmed that right in The Netherlands, despite the desires of Royal Dutch Shell.
on Oct 1st, 2012 at 00:24
I would note that Allseas is a Swiss based corporation. It is therefore no surprise that connections with the Nazis of a bygone era should crop up. The Swiss were heavily involved with Nazis. And truth is not slander. So, let the fact speak for themselves.
on Sep 30th, 2012 at 15:46
Great article in the Sunday Telegraph (by Christopher Booker) “The great Arctic ice scare melts away as Antarctic ice hits record highs”. Yet another piece of evidence that the likes of The Guardian, BBC and of course Greenpeace will attempt to refute. This time it’s satellite evidence from NASA that has shown : (1) a severe cyclone this August played a key role in the Arctic ice melt (i.e. not global warming), (2) the Arctic was far warmer in the 1930’s than today, (3) last week Antarctica’s sea ice area was only just short of the greatest extent ever recorded at either pole. Bottom line for Shell is that they had better get drilling before the next Ice Age appears.
on Sep 24th, 2012 at 19:16
To LondonLad: I do enjoy trading barbs with you, but all good things must end eventually. No I am not on Garden Leave, but I could use a good vacation. Unfortunately, I have too much work to do and not enough time to do it. So, it seems I must bid you a fond farewell. It has been interesting. Perhaps we shall do this again some time. Best of Health and Luck to you, even if you are a rabid RDS fan.
on Sep 24th, 2012 at 05:53
Do you have anything on your web site or can you send me to a place where I can get
information about extending the life of a well?
Thank you
Bill Myers
info@timberlineassets.com
on Sep 21st, 2012 at 18:08
Seems like “Amused” has plenty of time to twaddle and block up Mr. Donovan’s blog – lost your job and on “Garden Leave” ? On a more serious note, I am glad that pump petrol prices in the UK are going to be investigated by the “powers-that-be”. Indeed they do not really appear to follow crude prices too well. Costs me a fortune to get up to Old Trafford now.
on Sep 21st, 2012 at 14:57
So Shell has decided to harass Greenpeace, and is all this lawsuit is about – harassment. While Dutch courts have jurisdiction in the Netherlands they have no jurisdiction in the US or US territorial waters. Shell needs to sue in the US. But the best way to handle this is the US is to obtain a temporary restraining order. IF RD Shell thinks they will intimidate Greenpeace leadership I think they are sadly mistaken. The PR angle on this is that Shell is opposed to freedom of speech and assembly. And given their stance with the US supreme court, is in favor of legally indemnifying corporations for criminal misconduct. Shell is making itself look like an organization run by thugs.
on Sep 20th, 2012 at 15:35
Read the article about Shell’s argument that corporations should have no liability for human rights violations. Is that so?? I thought this issue was dealt with at the end of WWII when I.G. Farben, and it management, was held liable for their participation in the wholesale extermination of Jews, Slave, and other forms of ‘sub-humans’. But then Shell ratted out its Jewish employees to the Waffen SS and they went to the slave-labor work camps and the ovens. I take Shell management doesn’t think there should be any criminal liability for that kind of behavior. Gee, what a great company to work for. Sieg Heil !!!!!
on Sep 19th, 2012 at 17:24
To Shell Veteran: Who I work for now is none of your business. However, you are clearly curious about my background so let me tell you something about myself. I did work for Shell for over a decade, and I did very well. I left Shell because of my dissatisfaction with the way the company was being managed, which in turn was leading the company into a financial crisis. I discussed my reasons for leaving with several GM’s and VP’s at Shell, because there were somewhat surprise at my decision to leave. To a man they wished me good fortune in my future endeavors and stated that if they were my age they would do that same thing. Within two years of my departure Shell USA did indeed have a serious financial crisis, resulting in annual operating losses and significant layoffs. None of this was necessary. A few years later Royal Dutch Shell went through its reserves scandal. I have absolutely no regrets about leaving Shell. I could never have accomplished, personally or professionally, what I have had I remained at Shell. I most certainly would never consider going to work for the company today. It was a far better company to work for when I left many years ago than it is today.
on Sep 19th, 2012 at 17:06
To Shell Veteran: I am doing very well, thank you. Long time Shell employees, and you appear to be no exception, are noted for their very limited perspective. I know and have known, many long time employees of Shell and your opinion is not universal shared. I would also say that the very high historical turnover rate amongst Shell employees, and I am now referring to professional staff, speaks volumes about the company.
on Sep 19th, 2012 at 08:12
I would like to repeat a warning I have mentioned before about postings on this blog. Websites allowing aliases to be used are especially vulnerable to manipulation. That includes Wikipedia and blogs, such as this one. It follows that I can only vouch for the bona fides of postings made in my name or by contributors such as Paddy Briggs, who choose not to use an alias. Some contributors using an alias have built up credibility over the years e.g. “Outsider” and “LondonLad/Musaint.”
on Sep 19th, 2012 at 08:11
REPLY TO USCitizen: There was 10 hours of filming at multiple locations in the UK and Russia involving several people, including my father. All edited down by the TV people to what you have seen. So far, there are two versions broadcast. A film crew from the USA have also spent several hours filming an interview with me. Still to be broadcast.
on Sep 18th, 2012 at 22:54
John – saw your interview – thanks for the entertainment. Did not even mention your dad?? Wow!!
on Sep 18th, 2012 at 22:53
Amused – who do you work for??
on Sep 18th, 2012 at 17:02
To the newcomer from Devon – sorry your time at Shell did not work out. It has worked out for many of us. Many friends who have worked here over 30 years and many people who came from elsewhere and appreciate Shell. To Amused – good luck to you – you need it.
on Sep 17th, 2012 at 17:38
John: Read the article about Shell’s containment vessel tests. One can only imagine what could possibly have happened if the Coast Guard was not involved in the certification process and that vessel had had to deal with a real problem. After 5 years you would think Shell could have done better than this.
on Sep 13th, 2012 at 18:24
Anyone know how to get the latest E&P organigram for senior Shell staff at Group level – surely this isn’t too much of a secret? REPLY BY JOHN: It is self-evidently not information entrusted to you. If you don’t think its too much of a secret, why not ask Shell? Though I wouldn’t bother doing so unless you use your real name.
on Sep 13th, 2012 at 16:43
For USCitizen: I used to work for Shell USA but now work for DEVON ENERGY. There is NO comparison. It would take a court order, a team of mules, and a gaggle of Sheriff’s deputies to drag me kicking and screaming back to Shell. Wake up Dude.
on Sep 13th, 2012 at 15:25
To US Citizen: You are quite correct, Ignorance is Bliss. That is clearly why you are so happy working for Royal Dutch Shell.
on Sep 12th, 2012 at 19:12
Amused – why do you make this so easy.? So you want to hold the folks who developed the global warming theories to the sames standard as you do Shell. Look up the data manipluation that London Lad referred to, quite ethical huh?? Geez, do your homework.
on Sep 12th, 2012 at 19:09
For USCitizen: There is an old saying that goes something like: ‘Ignorance is bliss.’ Cheers, pal.
For Amused – you would know huh?? LMAO. This is too easy. Come talk to some of our recent joiners who can Contrast Shell with others, they would never go back!
on Sep 12th, 2012 at 15:13
To “Amused” or perhaps that should be “Bemused” – global warming is indeed happening (although not today in the UK as it’s certainly a bit chilly), but, is not all down to the oil companies and those of us that burn/use fossil fuels – do you burn/use fossil fuels or perhaps you produce enough hot air yourself to keep warm!?. Historically global warming and global cooling have occurred – fact. Interesting to note that people have falsified the data to attempt to prove a point e.g. http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterferrara/2012/03/01/fakegate-the-obnoxious-fabrication-of-global-warming/
As I have stated many times previously, people like yourself and others that hug trees seem to want to put us back to the stone age and make us live in caves. The majority of us want to develop ourselves, travel, have some fun and to do this we require the use of fossil fuels and their by-products. This Corrib project is a good example of “green” idiots refusing to realize the vast benefits to the community & country if this project goes ahead. Now I hope that you breathe slowly when responding else you will burst your blood vessels. Breathe in one-two-three, breathe out one-two-three.
on Sep 11th, 2012 at 16:03
To LondonLad & USCitizen: I know you guys (rabid RD Shell fans both) probably don’t or refuse to believe the scientific data linking the burning of hydrocarbons to global warming. I have only one comment : Even little birds are smart enough to know that it is fatal to sh*t in your own nest. This fact seems to have escaped you two.(No, I most certainly did NOT infer that you guys are ‘bird brains’. No compliment was intended).
on Sep 10th, 2012 at 18:41
I just love the picture of 3 (yes THREE) people demonstrating outside “Corrio House” – just goes to show the amount of support these demonstrators have in Ireland over the Corrib project. Perhaps the sensible majority realize that developing a gas field close by to Ireland can bring jobs and wealth to a lot of people. Might even reduce the cost of gas to the consumer. REPLY BY JOHN: Hello LondonLad. Have added another photo, this time with 150 protestors according to RTE News Ireland. Anything to please you.
on Sep 10th, 2012 at 15:46
Prices in Europe are indeed much higher in the State because of government taxation. But here in the States it is much easier to manipulate markets because there is far less government control of them. Price gouging is not new here, and the BIG OIL companies are not at all bashfull about playing the trading game to their advantage.
on Sep 9th, 2012 at 18:19
To “Curious” : I also worked in the oil/gas sector (yes, “Amused” it is past tense!!) and the local market is indeed also a factor, BUT, this is driven by market traders, of the Stock Market variety primarily, and not by Shell or other oil companies. THE problem in pump prices remains the taxation rip off the customer has to pay to the tune of 60% of total cost in the UK.
P.S. Phew that was a close call at 24-21 ………….. worked it out yet!!
on Sep 9th, 2012 at 15:43
John: A short while ago you posted a series of articles about Shell’s deliberate theft of IP and an ongoing lawsuit between Shell USA and the owner of that IP. My guess is that in a Texas state court the owner of the IP would have no problem winning a case against Shell based on the expectation that Shell would abide by its publicly stated business principles. In the state of Texas your word is your ‘bond’, literally and legally. Texaco discovered this to their dismay in the 1980′s and it cost them something on the order of $6 billion (about $12 billion in todays $’s).
on Sep 9th, 2012 at 15:02
I read the letter from Mr. Wiseman with great interest. RD Shell and Shell USA might want to rethink their policy, particularly in the state of Texas. Texas is an unusual state in that for legal business purposed your ‘word’ is your ‘bond’ and is legally binding. Case in point, the legal dispute between Texaco and Pennzoil over Texaco buyout of Getty Oil way back in the 80′s. The CEO’s of Texaco and Pennzoil had agreed that Texaco would not interfer in the takeover/buyout of Getty Oil by Pennzoil. This was a ‘handshake’ agreement. Unfortunately for Texaco they decided to go after Getty, and eventually took over the company. Pennzoil sued for $6 billion for ‘breach of contract’ in Texas courts and won. Texaco had to fork over $6 billion in cash to Pennzoil. Joe Jamial was the attorney for Pennzoil. So, in the state of Texas Shell’s stated business principle can be taken as their ‘word’. i.e., a publically stated business contract, on how the company operates by any of their partners, suppliers, etc. Shell can be expected to follow those principles, otherwise they are engagin in deliberate fraud. Failure to follow thos stated principles could cost Shell very dearly. I don’t yet think anyone has yet challenged Shell on this concept, nor do I think it has been tested in Texas state courts, but the day is coming given the way Shell operates. And I expect that Shell could find itself on the wrong end of the legal stick. Fraud is fraud.
on Sep 9th, 2012 at 14:50
To LondonLad:
I worked in the Oil and Gas industry at one time. I know all about what you mentioned.
But you missed the point about local market manipulation. Try again.
on Sep 9th, 2012 at 13:38
To “Curious” : the ones who are (to use your words) “buggering the public” are the Governments at either end of the supply chain. Petrol costs in the UK comprise of more than 60% in taxation. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19489908) Sure Shell (AND other companies) make large profits from the sale of petrol/diesel and other petroleum products, but, the investments required for exploration and production requires eye-watering amounts of money. Drilling a dry exploration well offshore can amount to costs greater than $50m. At the end of the day these companies require these profits to : (1) keep shareholders happy and (2) discover & produce oil/gas to keep the consumer (such as yourself) happy and cosy in their little world. Big problem is the taxation rip-off.
on Sep 9th, 2012 at 01:45
Price gouging by RD Shell ?? What is their PR motto ?? ‘Let’s go.’ As in let’s go bugger the public ??
on Sep 7th, 2012 at 15:29
For LondonLad: Back in the 80′s Shell USA had an unwritten policy of providing lifetime employment for anyone who was or had been in management. As a result they had former managers running log libraries, etc. Those promoted to management but whom proved to be failures were usually exiled to Shell’s Information Center, i.e., it computerized services center. That worked for awhile, but only until computer services became important to the functioning of the company. At that point Information Services became a drag on corporate performance. Shell management had a nasty habit of blaming failures on its technical staff when most of the time it was management policy and decisions that were to blame. The end result was bad long term investment strategy and a host of failed projects. That in turn led to the poor financial performance of the last 80′s and 90′s and the downsizing.
on Sep 6th, 2012 at 14:34
To Amused : Larger organizations do not necessarily mean better productivity. Smaller is often better (faster moving, less bureaucracy, less layers etc.) and is not always the result of poor management, as you are trying to imply with Shell in the U.S. during the 1980’s. Shell unfortunately had way too many staff (1980’s and beyond) with local staff often far too reliant on the expat performing the work. Recent reduction in Shell’s expat numbers, in order to increase the numbers of local staff (and thereby appease Governments, unions and local stirrers) has not always been successful unfortunately. In a similar vein the incorporation of Shell Oil staff over the last 20 odd years into the RDS Group has also often been painful with too many Americans believing they were God’s gift to the company. Some were indeed excellent and great contributors but there were far too many who were not. Really was a case of “over paid and over here”.
Great to see that Shell is reducing its onshore Niger Delta holdings for what appears a good amount of money. Who will the harbingers of doom start to blame for all the Nigerian woes if/when Shell reduces onshore acreage and becomes less of an operator?
on Sep 5th, 2012 at 19:56
John picked up that info thank you watch this space for Shell Corrib Gas Project
Halting bombshell just around the corner not content with jailing local farmers now threatening small local vendors with imprisonment if they reveal
Police alcohol supply details top man in KPMG sent to deliver the threat
on Sep 5th, 2012 at 16:02
I now note that Shell USA has somewhere on the order of 10,000 plus employees. Back in the 1980′s it had over 20,000 employees. Poor management (particularly in the 1980′s) has taken its toll on the company and it has contracted considerably.
on Sep 4th, 2012 at 17:56
John in the uk who is ethics and compliance person within Shell. Reply by John: I have now been able to post the information you are seeking.
on Sep 2nd, 2012 at 01:46
With reference to the article on the lawsuit requesting the release of safety data: Someone is wasting time and money with this lawsuit and is completely unfamiliar with the way the US government operates. So, don’t hold your breath and bet on the courts siding with the plaintiffs regards a failure to respond within the statutory time limit for the release of information under FOIA (freedom of information act) requests. The courts routinely side with governmental agencies in failing to release data within the supposed statutory time limit. The courts are very lenient with governmental agencies in this regard. It is not uncommon for agencies to take 2 or 3 years to respond to FOIA requests although the law states they have 30 days to do so. All an agency is really required to do within the statutory time limit is to notify the requestor that they are working on the request and will forward the requested information as soon as they have time and resources to process the request. This is the reality of life in the BIG CITY.
on Sep 1st, 2012 at 08:07
I would like to repeat a warning I have made before about postings on this blog. Websites allowing aliases to be used are especially vulnerable to manipulation. That includes Wikipedia and blogs, such as this one. It follows that I can only vouch for the bona fides of postings made in my name or by contributors such as Paddy Briggs, who choose not to use an alias. Some contributors using an alias have built up credibility over the years e.g. “Outsider”, “LondonLad/Musaint” and our biggest fan, “USCitizen.”
on Aug 31st, 2012 at 19:02
To LondonLad: Nobody is forcing you to visit this website. If you find it so offensive why don’t you just quit visiting it ?? Or is that not an option ??
on Aug 29th, 2012 at 15:55
For LondonLad: Not ‘conspirators’, my confused friend, but standins for Royal Dutch Shell’s propaganda organ.
on Aug 25th, 2012 at 17:49
For once, well done to the Obama administration for backing Shell against these environmentalists who merely want a fight because they see mileage in it and thus allow themselves to justify their own existence. There are far far too many examples of these idiots, and Nigerians, attempting to make money from US courts. Earth Rights group really need to look at themselves seriously and be honest as to how much time (and tax payers money) they are wasting with some of their nonsense. They complain about Shell (and no doubt other companies) trying to influence governments, but, what do they ALSO try and do!! Assume “Relieved” is still taking the exlax and that “Amused” is still attempting to connect all contributors to this website who attempt to defend / argue for Shell as conspirators. Finally, why are so many articles continuing to be from 7 or 8 years ago – so very repetitive and I fear show that there aren’t enough negative articles in the press to attempt to slag off Shell. REPLY BY JOHN: You are of course entitled to your opinion. I have already explained the circumstances behind the archive material being republished. It is in my view a good thing to remind Shell senior management of past sins and I will continue to do so. Anyone who visits this site regularly knows there is no shortage of negative news emerging about Shell. We also publish or provide links to ALL positive news stories about Shell.
on Aug 25th, 2012 at 15:35
To Wck Waldo: Way back in the late 1980′s Shell USA was facing the embarrassing prospect of posting the first annual operating loss in the history of the company. To avoid that problem Shell sold its facility at Woodcreek (which was originally named Turkey Creek, but the PR guys didn’t think that name appropriate). This sale was not announced to the staff but the information leaked anyway. So, my question is this: Did Shell buy back this piece of property, or are they simply leasing it ?? I suspect it is still being leased.
on Aug 24th, 2012 at 20:05
So it appears Shell Real Estate didn’t get the email about saving money. Only weeks after spending millions on landscaping at Woodcreek they announce they are going to dig it up to make way for roads and walkways to Woodcreek Alcatraz Blocks E and F along with the long awaited basketball court. Amazing planning !
on Aug 24th, 2012 at 17:59
John: I would pursue whatever legal action is appropriate with regard to any threats you have received. The issuance of such threats is meant to intimidate you. Without any direct knowledge of this situation it is my educated guess that they are motivated by Royal Dutch Shell. REPLY BY JOHN: I don’t think Shell has anything to do with particular matter.
on Aug 24th, 2012 at 16:47
Sgayoyo: There is a program beging aired on American television (through the PBS system I believe )that documents on film the environmental damage done by Shell in Ogoniland. What I found to be particularly interesting was the large number of abandoned oil wells that have never been plugged. The wells still have tubing in them and the well heads are so old they suffer from severe corrosion. The corrosion is so bad the wells leak both gas and oil. The gas pollutes the air and the oil pollutes the well sites, soaking the soil and running off into streams. Shell apparently didn’t want to bother with the expense of plugging these wells, so they just walked away from them. This is completely irresponsible conduct of course, but who is going to hold Shell responsible ?? Not the Nigerian government. It will cost millions to plug these wells properly, and millions more to clean up the damage, but Shell isn’t going to spend a dime doing so unless the government forces them to do so. That is not likely to happen in the near future. So, the uncontained release of gas and oil into the delta environment continues. If Shell were to pull this stunt in the States they would be fined billions and put out of business.
on Aug 24th, 2012 at 16:35
For USCitizen: There is an old saying that goes something like: ‘Ignorance is bliss.’ Cheers, pal.
on Aug 24th, 2012 at 00:32
Relieved
on Aug 22nd, 2012 at 15:38
USCitizen: You are back! The world of Shell loyalists has missed you terribly. Where oh where have you been? Vacation? Finishing school? Oh, well, it doesn’t matter. LondonLad needs help fending of the anti-Shell barbarians that clutter this blog with their anti-Shell propaganda. You two should team up. Come to think of it, I bet you guys already know one another.
You would know if you bother to ask pal, there are many many Shell folks who are very proud to work for this company. Many have come from other companies and are very pleased with the choice they made, I do not blame them. Have no idea who he is, could be one of thousands bud. I check this site once in a while and the need to comment on repeat drivel is not worth it, just like your bashings. Enjoy your life, I do!!
on Aug 22nd, 2012 at 16:09
I find it indicative of Shell leadership’s understanding (or lack thereof) of their financial responsibilities to their shareholders, etc., to operate safely in a very high risk Arctic environment that senior management decides to resurrect (on the cheap) three beat-up and rotting derelicts ready for the breakers to form their Arctic drilling and spill containment fleet. And now, after 7 years of work and what – 4.5 billion ??, They still don’t have their rusting bird roost barge/spill containment barge refitted for Arctic service. Who planned this operation ??? So, guess what ??? Shell might not be able to drill this year. How much will this cost the company ??? Great going guys !! Let’s hear it for the water-walking management team running this show. Is anyone really surprised ??? Time to promote these people to positions where they can do no harm. All I can say is that I am glad I own Exxon stock and not Royal Dutch Shell stock.
on Aug 22nd, 2012 at 15:38
USCitizen: You are back! The world of Shell loyalists has missed you terribly. Where oh where have you been? Vacation? Finishing school? Oh, well, it doesn’t matter. LondonLad needs help fending of the anti-Shell barbarians that clutter this blog with their anti-Shell propaganda. You two should team up. Come to think of it, I bet you guys already know one another.
on Aug 22nd, 2012 at 00:04
Oh yeah , the advertisement with Shell name and the Nazi emblem is copyright infringement. Our lawyers will be calling you, oh never mind you talk to them every day!!
on Aug 22nd, 2012 at 00:02
Whew – I sure am glad we were able to hold off that Total hostile takeover, had me nervous. Sure am glad this weakened company has survived!! And I am distraught to hear that we spent a lot of money on security in Nigeria, wow, never would have guessed. Keep up the good work!! These 10 year old news flashes are keeping me current!! PS – Why are you advertising for the Nazis gas company on your web page??
on Aug 21st, 2012 at 18:38
Jeeeez this website and more particularly the likes of the Guardian / tree hugging societies need to get realistic. So what if Shell (and many other oil companies in Nigeria) spend vast sums of money trying to protect their (AND shareholder) property/facilities from trouble makers and activists / thieves. I am sure that most law abiding people on this planet would like to do the same to defend their investment / prpoerty. Bottom line is that the Delta region is uncontrollable at the moment due to corruption and inept Governmental control (local and country). At the end of the day, even if the likes of the Ogoni’s and other tribes got what they wanted (i.e. independence from Abuja), the Delta tribes would continue to bicker, argue and “fight” each other. It’s just a continuation of past history. Yes, Ben Akari, this has nothing to do with “colonialism” but is a typical African tribal problem where everybody else is to blame but themselves. Seeing people killed by whoever is NOT acceptable. However, people AND companies have the right to defend their livelihood from thugs and thieves (be they politically motivated or otherwise).
REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN: “This website” is not responsible for any of the articles relating to Nigeria. We publish or provide links to all articles, positive or negative about Shell. Since you have raised the subject again, I would make the following points. A Shell VP Ann Pickard, bragged to American officials that Shell had embedded spies throughout the Nigerian government. A confidential independent report prepared for Shell by experts admitted that Shell activities have “inadvertently” fueled corruption and feeds the violence in Nigeria. It is also a matter of record that Shell has broken pledges to end gas flaring in Nigeria. Of course it is tough to do business in Nigeria. You have cited some of the reasons. Is it not right, under the circumstances, that Shell should have announced long ago that its business principles, pledging ethical trading, including respect for people, and environmental impact, do not apply in Nigeria. That would be a more honest approach. Shell cannot have it both ways.
P.S. I do NOT like this guy Fellaini.
on Aug 21st, 2012 at 16:31
Dear LondonLad : I read your note to Jim Footner of GreenPeace. Tsk, Tsk. Life is too short for this sort on nonsense. I would suggest that perhaps you need some anger management counseling. Peace, brother.
on Aug 19th, 2012 at 19:05
To Jim Footner, Head of Greenpeace climate & energy campaign, can you please confirm if you spend time, energy and money liaising/meeting/campaigning with governments and various “powers-that-be” over various “green” issues in order to try and persuade these governments and organizations to believe some of the ideology and clap trap you pontificate about? If you do, how do you do this? Walk? Bicycle? Of course not, you fly / wine & dine like everyone else on this planet who wants to put across their case. Bottom line is that once again Greenpeace / Guardian advocates one rule for themselves and one for others.
Got to end there as it’s so hot here (climate change and all that) and switch on the aircon.
P.S. Saints won yesterday and hopefully Utd. do the same tomorrow – these are THE important aspects of life not Green peace & Alaska
on Aug 16th, 2012 at 17:15
That was a nice article about Shell’s ‘guano’
barge. I could suggest some appropriate names for this resurrected ‘bird poop’ derelict, but I am certain Shell wouldn’t appreciate the humor.
on Aug 10th, 2012 at 01:53
Who would have thought the Girl Scout’s involvement with Greenpeace would have aroused such passionate reactions. Give it a break people. Go eat some of their cookies. They are pretty good. I buy them every year.
on Aug 9th, 2012 at 16:46
To compare Greenpeace to ruthless dictators is a little bit over the top, even for rabid Shell fans like yourself. That is like saying it was Little Red Riding Hood who ate Grandma, not the Big Bad Wolf. I would remind you that it was Royal Dutch Shell that willingly jumped into bed with the Fascist regimes and funded their rise to power in the early part of the 20th century. The end result was the carnage of WII and the death camps. And Shell did rat out its Jewish employees. I wonder how many survived the slave labor and death camps.
Shell’s history of cavorting with thugs when such conduct is profitable is long. It continues today in countries like Nigeria, where millions of children suffer as a result. And let’s not forget how Shell knowingly poisoned workers in its pesticide plants in Brazil after they were force to close their plants in the US because of the well document environmental and worker health issue.
You should seek a job with Shell’s propaganda machine, if you don’t work there already.
on Aug 9th, 2012 at 10:34
I assume “Amused” that you realize that dictators use children in front of their tanks. Greenpeace seem to be no different then by using children in front of their political agenda and to defend their often violent ways. Bottom line is that people still need to use fossil fuels and their by products – even nutters such as Greenpeace. Nobody on Earth can guarantee anything for 100% and in the case of Shell’s Arctic activities I am sure (<100% of course) that they will explore, drill and produce safely and environmentally well. Mother Nature has generally been able to cope with past oil spills – far better than the tree huggers who can’t cope with the situation.
P.S. too many seals around anyway, particularly with this new strain of flu they are spreading.
on Aug 8th, 2012 at 15:47
Royal Dutch Shell vs the Girl Scouts (and Greenpeace). This is something I really want to see. RD Shell has already lost the PR battle. This be would something akin to the clubbing of baby fur seals to death just so you could sell their snowy white hides for a small fortune.
on Aug 6th, 2012 at 19:18
Delusion at Shell? Please say it ain’t so. I remember years back when Shell hired a consultant to give it advice on how to retain top staff and point management problems/failings. Well, guess what. Shell refused to accept the report because it was so blisteringly critical of the ‘Shell way’ of doing business. They paid for the report, of course. But they refused to accept the conclusions and recommendations. This is ‘so Shell’.
on Aug 6th, 2012 at 01:07
Londonlad, well, thanks for your opinion, though Ogonis aren’t fighting any other tribe in Nigeria. You are not honest to have said that.
My honesty saying that there is faction in MOSOP doesn’t construe fighting against other tribes or ourselves. Ogonis disagree like the British,if you’re from there,and other people.
More importantly, Ogonis aren’t seeking independence via Goodluck Diigbo’s MOSOP faction Declaration,but local autonomy or self-rule that is popular in Nigeria and other parts of the world including USA.
If we seek independence we have what it takes to succeed, yet with human imperfections.
Note also that Ogonis have always peacefully and nonviolently demanded their rights; it’s the government and $hell,your seeming precursor which have over the years oppressed the Ogonis and have used communities such as the Andonis, Okrikas as proxies to kill us.
Currently, the many deaths recorded in Sogho,an Ogoni village is caused by the imposed activities of the illegal governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi, who didn’t contest any election but with long legs or “man know man “as synonymous with Nigeria, he’s declared governor by the court,which claimed he’s the one chosen by his party, same party (PDP),which dropped him and picked someone else as its candidate.
Meanwhile, Amaechi wants to construct a banana plantation Ogoni don’t want, even as he relocate universities and other people-based development projects to or near his village. Because Ogonis are resisting such imposition and disrespect they must die by the guns of local and foreign thugs he employs.
This is the story of the Ogoni people from when the British colonialists illegally and criminally invaded and conquered our people in early 1900, destroying all we have and handed things over to Nigeria,which makes things worse than under the British.
on Aug 5th, 2012 at 18:52
Same as for the Jocks in Scintland, I would really like to see the Ogonis get full independence and see how they progressed / survived ON THEIR OWN. In Scotland they failed centuries ago to retain independence because of continuous infighting and mistrust between the clans. Fast forwarding to present day I doubt very much that the Ogonis will progress as they are continually fighting other tribes AND themselves. Ben Ikari and his comments on Goodluck Diigbo highlight this problem as far as I am concerned. Once again I can only reiterate my opinion that indeed Shell (AND many other oil companies / NNPC) screwed up with oil spillages, but, THE major problem now with the Delta region is tribal infighting (i.e. finger pointing to everyone and anyone but themselves) and locals who want to steal oil from pipelines via sabotage (of course as with most Nigerians they will deny their illegal and dangerous actions). So to Ben Ikari I say go for independence and let’s see who you can blame for any problems that you encounter on the way.
on Aug 4th, 2012 at 21:37
Although Goodluck Diigbo and his MOSOP faction didn’t do this in good faith considering the ill-consultative and awareness creating methods and sharp division in MOSOP.
The Nigerian Tribune and other media should get it right and be accurate in their reporting, as baseless and trouble-shooting hot captions such as the above will take us nowhere.
What the Goodluck Diigbo MOSOP faction in Ogoni declared on August 2, wasn’t Ogoni Republic rather, as the declaration states, was/is self-rule or governance for Ogoni within Nigeria.
This is like the many ethnic groups such as Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo or the Ijaws and Ibibio which have self-rule by having multiple states created for their ethnic groups (the first three so-called majority especially).
The media and confused public must therefore get it right. Self-rule or self-determination within the framework of a sovereign state such as Nigeria isn’t an offense or treason and treasonable felony as the Rivers State governor Chibuike Amaechi,Ogoni oppressor and other Nigerians have ignorantly claimed.
Ogoni had self-rule in 1947 under the leadership of Timothy Naakuu Paul Birabi, and within the protectorate under colonial British rule, though it wasn’t the kind of free self-rule it had before colonial control.
on Aug 2nd, 2012 at 15:09
Correct London Lad, its almost as sickening as Culpeppers email yesterday to all staff threatening “a more vibrant, engaging and productive workplace” What a joke, and once again so so wrong. People survey talks and Shell doesn’t listen. Chevron tried and failed, lets hope “open plan” goes the same way and takes Culpepper with it.
on Aug 2nd, 2012 at 08:55
What sort of Shell HR crap is this “Empowering Innovation through Meditation”!! Hope it’s a joke….. Yet again HR come forth with some brainless idea to take technical staff eyes off the ball. Unfortunately I bet HR have again brainwashed some board member to have it implanted in his end-of-year scorecard so that it gets “forced” downwards through the system.
on Aug 1st, 2012 at 23:42
RD Shell does not nourish innovation. It encourages and promotes industrial espionage at any opportunity. Like all large companies, thinking outside the box and being a ‘non-conformist’ entails taking ‘risk’. Taking great calculated risk is what has made Silicon Valley so successful. This is a completely foreign concept to a company full of, fawning, posterior venerating managers whose only real skill is the politics of climbing the corporate ladder.
on Aug 1st, 2012 at 23:34
Well, what can we say about RD Shell’s barge problems ? To fracture a famous quote how about – ‘For the want of a functioning barge a kingdom was lost ? ‘ Perhaps not. But one does have to wonder about the future of a company whose ‘star’ management team cannot get their act together after how many years of planning ? 7 ? Or was it only 5? RD Shell’s poor project management skills clearly threaten the long term health of the company.
on Jul 26th, 2012 at 17:33
Can LondonLad or USCitizen or any other rabid fan of Royal Dutch Shell explain why RDS has failed to waive the $75 million limit on damages related to any oil spill in the US Arctic. Come to think of it, maybe Marvin Odum or Peter Voser would like to comment on this. Me thinks RDS wants to put the USG on the hook for cleanup costs in the Arctic if they should have a major problem. Am I not correct???
on Jul 24th, 2012 at 20:35
Royal Dutch Shell is going to sue Greenpeace where ? In the US. The US is NOT Nigeria. The courts and the law are not for sale in this country. Citizens and organizations do have the right of freedom of speech, and the right of freedom of assembly. That means the Greenpeace folks can run their little boats around Shell’s ships shouting slogans and waving banners, and so on. If Shell has to put up with walruses ‘disturbing the peace’ and making a nuisance of themselves then the same holds true for the Greenpeace folks. Like it or not in territorial US waters US law is the name of the game and Royal Dutch Shell has to put up with Greenpeace.
on Jul 24th, 2012 at 17:10
I see that Royal Dutch Shell is planning to challenge the $5 billion fine for an oil spill. I think Shell is getting off cheap given all the damage they have caused. And I suspect the Nigerians are using this spill to make up for past ‘oversights’. Eventually, the chickens do come home to roost.
on Jul 24th, 2012 at 08:11
for Texvette: you are completely right. But as an old cynic (realist?) I like to remind you of that nice english saying: None so deaf as those who will not hear. I fear this is applicable to most directors in the current world.
on Jul 23rd, 2012 at 23:24
A good safety leader would coach Marvin and tell him where he is going wrong. The last two have been incapable of doing that. You are 100% correct though about it starting at the top.
on Jul 23rd, 2012 at 19:51
LondonLad: Are you by chance Dutch ? Just curious.
on Jul 23rd, 2012 at 19:38
Reply to LondonLad: The quoted statement does not mean that we are in possession of every conceivable item of information about Shell. We do not have the information you are seeking.
on Jul 23rd, 2012 at 19:32
Do any RD Shell insiders know when Shell will pull out of the UK completely ?
on Jul 23rd, 2012 at 18:52
With the oft repeated advert that this site is the “Worlds leading source of information about Royal Dutch Shell”, can I again ask if J.D. could provide me with an updated organigram of the E&P organisation as the official Shell website no longer allows such information to be open to the public domain.
on Jul 23rd, 2012 at 15:28
LondonLad: You have a sense of humor ! Who would have guessed. In case you are wondering, not being ‘full of it’ I have no need for EXLAX. Have a nice day.
on Jul 23rd, 2012 at 02:42
I cannot speak to Saro-Wiwa’s case specifically, but I can address the Shell mindset from around 1990 when I worked for Shell Western E & P in Houston (one of literally dozens of Shell entities in Houston). I was commissioned to write event-tracking software for safety incidents and environmental incidents. One quantity to be tracked was exceedances (exceedences? no one was ever certain of the spelling), i.e., cases in which spills or upsets of dangerous substances exceeded legal thresholds for those substances. How did the project manager decide to handle exceedances? He created a number called “opportunities for exceedance,” the number and total amount of spills that could be committed without exceeding the law. For each relevant substance, my program was to report not just the number and quantity of spills, but the number and quantity that could have been committed without violating the threshold set in law. Of course the laws were lax, and always made Shell look good, however many spills there were.That was their corporate attitude, and my program was required to reflect it… I had no say in the matter. It does not surprise me that Saro-Wiwa’s life was regarded primarily as a business matter for Shell. That seems to be the nature of multinational corporations, and Saro-Wiwa paid with his life for fighting against one of the largest of them.
on Jul 22nd, 2012 at 19:50
With an acronym like “Relieved” I assume you have great experience of Exlax??!! Whilst I’m at it, can John D. provide any update on the Shell E&P organigram? – used to be able to piece bits & pieces together when the Shell website (the real one that is) was more “open”, however, it seems impossible to find out who is where and doing what.
on Jul 22nd, 2012 at 18:24
LondonLad: You need to take your EXLAX on a regular basis. It will do wonders for your overall disposition. Sorry, but I don’t have a remedy for intellectual constipation.
on Jul 21st, 2012 at 11:49
After the BP Oil Spill in 2010 Shell laid off people only over 40 at their IT office in Houston, TX (OST). Denied it was discrimination, denied it was because of the Oil Spill then implimented a policy in effect now, not to rehire any severanced employees. Shell Oil just needs to take it down hard and leave. I will never, ever buy Shell gasoline or any other product from Shell or one of their many Joint Ventures or sister companies.
on Jul 21st, 2012 at 09:45
Hello John
nice video from Deutsche Welle. For other viewers: fast forward to 20 minutes.
You are doing a great job, keep trucking!
on Jul 20th, 2012 at 18:20
To Also Relieved: You seem to imply that sacking the safety manager will improve safety. Safety has to be the focus of the top leader of the organization. I cannot understand how Marvin Odum continues to have one of the worst safety records in Shell (perhaps industry) and all he does is change safety managers and focus on the use of handrails on the stairs of the Woodcreek cafeteria. The “tone” for safety HAS to start at the top. This is not — and has not been happening in Americas EP
on Jul 19th, 2012 at 18:57
“or other fraudulent scheme” – covers a multitude of sins and thus legally will not allow any suing. Jeeeez Donovan what sort of journalism would allow you to encourage such actions?!?! AGAIN the chip on your shoulder appears to be very very large indeed!! You also use the words “over-excited” – you need to look at yourself in the mirror occasionally. At the end of the day I hope Shell sue these idiots who make fake videos and make a lot of bullshit statements. REPLY BY JOHN: Hello LondonLad/Musaint, you seem rather agitated. I have explained the precise grounds on which the people behind the fake adverts may have a legitimate claim for defamation against Shell. Since we have successfully sued Shell twice for libel, I have some credibility in such matters. What precisely are your suggested legal grounds for Shell being able to sue the perpetrators of the campaign? What credibility do you have. Have you ever sued anyone for libel? Are you a barrister? Or are you just an undeclared paid or unpaid Shell spokesperson defending the indefensible, as you often do here. You even attempt to defend its conduct in Nigeria when an independent 93 page report prepared and paid for by Shell, made a series of admissions about the companies dire impact on Nigeria. Yes, there are background problems in Nigeria in terms of endemic corruption and yes Shell does have to compete against its rivals. But it should drop the claim to operate within a set of business principles pledging honesty, integrity, openness etc when it actually engages in all kinds of unethical activity, including arming Nigerian police spies and conniving with Nigerian militants, embedding spies in the Nigerian government and repeatedly promising to end gas flaring, but failing to do so. As for operating in a country with endemic corruption, my guess is that Shell much prefers it that way. It has expertise in handing out big bribes e.g. to the Sultan of Brunei.
on Jul 19th, 2012 at 16:43
So Hurricane Denise finally blew itself out and ran out of energy. Such a shame it did so much damage by not listening to people. One year on and the Americas safety performance is worse and a lot of good people benched. At least Marvin did the right thing.
on Jul 18th, 2012 at 22:00
Ah, LondonLad, you possess some degree of curiousity. My remarks were clear and stand as is.
on Jul 18th, 2012 at 18:32
Assume “Relieved” that your last sentence applies to just the PR group of RDS? If not you are way, way, wide of the mark. That said, have you, or do you work for Shell? If that’s a no then how do you manage to make such a pontificated remark?
on Jul 18th, 2012 at 15:25
Londonlad: You need to face reality, boy. The fact of the matter is that RDS’s genius media guru’s got brilliantly stung, and big time, by GreenPeace. So, much for the ‘Let’s Go’ campaign. This is, of course, a huge embarassment for RDS. Face it, RDS doesn’t have the ‘best and brightest’ working for them in their PR group. Lot’s of shameless, groveling suckups YES. Talent NO.
on Jul 18th, 2012 at 11:40
Strange that if the idiots from Greenpeace conduct an elaborate (and illegal??) hoax against Shell it’s met with stupid comments from this Gabrielle Levy such as “yet another successful viral campaign” and “pranksters” – hardly madam. These people again act illegally and defend their actions as though once again (and incorrectly) they are defending the majority. Adding the word “brilliant” to the headline story is once again tabloid journalism!!
I love the sub-article in Wikipedia on Greenpeace : “They have worked to create awareness of important environmental issues since the 1970’s, but their methods, accuracy, and effectiveness have ranged from controversial to comical to scandalous. Greenpeace activism is based upon the simplification of complex issues into epic battles between good and evil. Rather than devoting a lot of resources into educating the public, Greenpeace, like most political activist groups, tries to create sensationalist drama to grab attention and put simplistic issues in the headlines.”
on Jul 17th, 2012 at 12:24
Better informed than Greenpeace and tree-huggers at times. I still chuckle when I think of the vast volumes of pollutants Greenpeace stated were in Brent Spar. Bottom line at the end of the day is that most normal people want / need fossil fuels to lead a life they desire. Even Greenpeace use it to fuel their ships, fly around the world to tree-hugging conferences and drive to Shell petrol stations to create havoc. As for being paranoid and intolerant, that should be levelled at the likes of Greenpeace and other “scruffy” organizations who, as a clear minority on this planet, seem to want to dictate to the majority that their views are the correct way ahead. Wonder how many votes a “Greenpeace” party would get in a countrywide vote – very few aka other UK Green parties.
P.S. well done to John in his speed of posting – pity it’s not an Olympic event!!
on Jul 16th, 2012 at 22:14
For LondonLad: Back again ! Great ! I do so enjoy your opinionated and ill informed posts. FYI – I am a hugger, but I am not into trees. You, my friend, are paranoid and intolerant, and appear to have been watching too many cheap and cheesy corporate propaganda flicks. Tree huggers are generally harmless folks, no matter what you may think of their views on politics or the environment.
on Jul 16th, 2012 at 21:45
LondonLad: I think you’ll find that many of the people contributing work in the oil industry, and simply resent the damage done to the reputation of all in the industry by the actions of a few unscrupulous incompetents.
on Jul 16th, 2012 at 18:54
Methinks that some of these “contributions” below concerning Shell drilling in the Arctic are from Greenpeace and “tree huggers” as they have suddenly / rapidly been posted (OR is someone asleep and not posting these quickly enough?). As far as I am concerned (yet again) these buffoons have to travel around the world to make their complaints so how do they travel? – by bicycle? All I can say is watch out Bradley Wiggins for these tree huggers – yellow jersey in the Tour de France for the uninitiated. REPLY BY JOHN TO MUSAINT/LondonLad: Your contribution was published within 9 minutes.
on Jul 16th, 2012 at 18:31
Ancient Mariner: fair point, although the published specs for the vessel show 10 identical anchors. If Dutch Harbor is known for poor holding, why were no suitable precautions taken? Why was no pre-laid mooring available? Was anyone on watch on either the Discoverer or the tugs? Even the cheapest marine GPS units have a facility to warn of a dragging anchor. And this all took place in broad daylight. It seems all too similar to the Exxon Valdez, albeit without the spill. Poor planning, and unprofessional execution.
on Jul 16th, 2012 at 16:24
John,
It is clear from your article on the risk Shell is taking in its Arctic exploration program that investors and shareholders are being misled. This is no different than the ‘reserve fraud’ scandal that shook Shell 8 years ago. Shell management has a bad habit of engaging in deliberate deception when it suits their needs. A major spill in the Arctic could take the company down, but have investors and shareholders bought into this policy through informed discussion. No. Shell management is hiding the ‘downside’ potential of these activities.
on Jul 16th, 2012 at 16:13
This is for Shell’s propoganda organs regarding the grounding (yes the darn thing obiously was grounded) of the Noble Discoverer :
“Lier, Lier pants on fire …..’
Now, if this ship had been a US Navy ship, or a Royal Navy ship, the entire wardroom would have been relieved for gross incompetence. I presume Shell is going to insist on a change in the command structure for this vessel. Or am I p**** into the wind??
on Jul 16th, 2012 at 15:12
Presumably Shell will now prosecute everyone on the beach at Dutch Harbor for breaching the court ordered exclusion zone?
on Jul 16th, 2012 at 13:45
Insider, the Discovery was not using the same mooring system as it will use during drilling operations. The drilling operations are controlled by the use of a 8 anchor system not the single one used for mooring the vessel in Dutch Harbor. Many ships have problems anchoring in Dutch Harbor as it has very sandy bottom and as such does not have good holding.
on Jul 15th, 2012 at 19:30
London Lad – Where oh where have you been ? It is so good to see that you have not disappeared on us.
on Jul 15th, 2012 at 18:33
You state Donovan that : “Some contributors using an alias have built up credibility over the years e.g. ‘Outsider’ “ – so only those who choose to bemoan Shell for this that and the other are credible. Hmmmm what about MUSaint who spoke such words of wisdom.
REPLY BY JOHN: Paddy Briggs seems to be very well thought of by Shell colleagues bearing in mind that he was elected to his current function as a Trustee of the Shell Contributory Pension Fund. All of his postings here have been in his own name. That says a lot. He is prepared to take responsibility for what he says. I am perfectly happy to acknowledge you and MUSAINT as being examples of alias users who have built up credibility here. As previously mentioned, I have suspicions that you are one and the same. Certainly share many opinions including on Shell in Nigeria. Comments above would then amount to self-praise… 
I am sorry, but, Paddy Briggs at times has got a very big chip on his shoulder against Shell – it would be of great interest to know why!! At the end of the day there are many who have worked for Shell or have a vested interest in Shell (shares) who support the work they are doing worldwide. The oil industry is, at times, unfortunately a “messy” business that requires oil companies to (including Shell) join in the necessary business approach. This includes the likes of Signature Bonuses, Corporate Boxes at sporting events and most importantly the giving of vast sums of money to countries to attempt alleviate the lack of funding by corrupt countries (e.g. Nigeria) on their own people for basics.
Gawsh, I wish I had a corporate box at Old Trafford……
on Jul 15th, 2012 at 11:00
If the Discoverer’s mooring system cannot even hold position in a 35mph wind, what is this rig doing in the Arctic? Loss of position while drilling, and especially during a well control incident would create a very dangerous situation.
on Jul 15th, 2012 at 10:42
Shell bought the Discoverer through its subsidiary Frontier Drilling and operated the vessel for several years before selling the rig with Frontier Drilling to Noble in 2010. It is therefore somewhat disingenuous of Shell to blame Noble for the failure to meet the emissions standards. Does anyone really believe Shell’s comment that there are no generators on the market that meet the current emissions standards?
on Jul 14th, 2012 at 20:36
On April 27, I described as “a gushing farce” Shell’s supposed “impressive achievement” in managing to “clock up just shy of one million Facebook fans in under two months?” There is now a question mark over the possible manipulation of “Likes”in regards to brands featured on Facebook. Websites allowing aliases to be used are especially vulnerable to manipulation. That includes Wikipedia and blogs, such as this one. It follows that I can only vouch for the authenticity of postings made in my name or by contributors such as Paddy Briggs, who choose not to use an alias. Some contributors using an alias have built up credibility over the years e.g. “Outsider”.
on Jul 14th, 2012 at 19:01
Everyone working in the refining business (I have never worked for Shell) knows that refineries can be dangerous places if you don’t stay on your toes. So, can you Port Arthur Shell guys tell the rest of us non-Shell guys what happened to Shell’s process hazard reduction plan ? Surely, they have such a plan at that new $10bln facility ? Hello ? Can anyone in Shell management explain what the F*** happened ? Or perhaps simple, wonton, gross imcompetence on the part of senior management is the only and best answer.
on Jul 14th, 2012 at 15:45
Shell knew all along that their drilling ship couldn’t meet the required clean air standards and apparently made no effort to upgrade and meet those standards. Switch and Bait ???? This is way beyond that. This is utter contempt for the regulatory system and the pristine environment Shell will be working in. They are scaming the system and making the requlating proffesions look like ITS all their fault.
on Jul 14th, 2012 at 10:47
The Discoverer is a 1960′s era vessel – it should come as no surprise that it cannot meet current emission requirements (any more than a 1960′s vintage automobile would be able to pass a current emissions test)
on Jul 13th, 2012 at 16:38
This Shell porn thing is too good to let go by without making a few more comments. One can imagine how the terminology and slang of the oil field will fit into Shell’s new business. These terms take on a whole new meaning. For example, ‘dry hole’, T&A’d, ‘nipple up’, ‘gusher’, ‘exploratory test’, ‘blowout preventer’, and so on, and on. I better stop or John won’t print this. Sorry, folks but this was too good to pass up.
on Jul 13th, 2012 at 03:30
Read the article on 5 years and $10b later…. this comment is made….
I’m really having a hard time wrapping my mind around what happened at this Motiva plant. A few things puzzle me. ….
This is not a puzzle to us that are here. This project was bad from the start…. Tom Purves put all of his old cronies on this project to allow them to end their career on a high note…. He was told repeatedly by people in the know that Bechtel was the wrong choice…. this issue with the caustic was missed in the PHA…. Also, his biggest crony, Jeff Funkhouser, a fundamental joke, was brought over here to get him out of Norco and apply his heavy hand on the leadership team who was here trying to make this project / plant run. Jeff has no clue and neither does Tom for that matter re how to run big projects. Yet they were the two leads at the end of the day on this project. This project flopped at the end of the day, is a big embarrassment to the owners….and where are Tom and Jeff now? Are they being held accountable for this mess? Nope. Tom is now in Upstream. He left as soon as they swept up the confetti from the celebration. Jeff is now in Global Solutions working on….Operational Excellence in project startup. This is so Shell. Jeff is such a part of the problem on this one and he rides out under the night cover to do it again in another part of the world….and we wonder why Shell has this big fiasco.
Tom and Jeff should both be fired…. Shell is not and will not change because of their terrible leadership at this point in time. A great company in the past but not anymore.
Tom, you should be ashamed of what you created.
Jeff you should just be ashamed.
on Jul 12th, 2012 at 22:59
My comments on Bruce Culpepper were just my opinion, I respect that others may have different ones. Personally, I’ve seen him do the right thing on a couple of different occasions where there have been difficult individual & HR issues. Obviously not things i’d share on a website, but I assure you that when i’ve seen him have the chance to screw someone over or use the system to get the fair answer, he did the latter.
Obviously others have seen a different side, but I stand by my view.
on Jul 12th, 2012 at 21:49
For TexasExpat: You must not have been around Shell much. Culpepper is one of the biggest “suck ups”/”yes men” in the company. He presents a facade that he is representing the employee, but he is 100% “company”. Please give examples of when he stood up to his bosses in The Hague that resulted in a change.
on Jul 12th, 2012 at 17:26
I was going through the links on the porno article and ran across comments about the ‘Baptist Mafia’ at Shell USA. It is there, no doubt about it. And it was there in the early 1980′s when I first went to work for Shell. Many a promoted incompetent got his ‘reward’ for simply being ‘one of the true believers’. And many people, particularly support staff took in the teeth at evaluation time if their conduct was deemed to not be ‘morally sound.’ The situation has worsened over the years. It reminds of Gulf Oil (which is now extinct). At Gulf you had no chance of any decent career with the company unless you were a Mason. This Baptist thing at Shell has got to go. I agree w/ the Brits and the Dutch. It is like a cancer. These people are the most duplicitous,
!@#$%^&**().
on Jul 12th, 2012 at 17:07
First is was sex and drugs at DOI, now it is whips and chains at Circle K/Shell.
Makes one wonder about senior Shell management and their recreational habits.
on Jul 12th, 2012 at 17:04
What an interesting blog !!! How does Shell survive this kind of PR ???
Somebody in top management needs to seek employment elsewhere. Peddling porn ??? Before we know it, Shell will form a subsidiary that will be a ‘private’ backer of the porn making industry in S. California, and will reap the profits that come with porn production. Maybe they already have. Rumor has it that ATT has such a subsidiary, and that it is HUGELY profitable. Selling sex for big $$$ is definitely easier and quicker than exploring for oil and gas.
on Jul 12th, 2012 at 16:55
And another inquiry for some intrepid investigator: Maybe these 240 Shell stations in Florida are also now selling ‘behind the counter adult sophisticate’ magazines. Can anyone verify this ?? It would not surprise me one bit given Circle K’s policy on porn in its branded stores.
on Jul 12th, 2012 at 16:31
Now that we know Shell is attempting to set moral standards when it is profitable to do so, we should probe a little deeper on this issue. Circle K stores also generally have ‘behind the counter’ porno mags for sale. Hustler magazine being one of several. Can anyone verify that these Circle K stores that sell Shell gasoline are still selling the ‘behind the counter adult sophisticate’ magazines ?? Maybe Shell’s moral hypocrisy runs deeper than is acknowledged.
on Jul 12th, 2012 at 13:00
Thanks Bruce for your response! So what is the point of a Shell People Survey if it is going to be ignored ? It is the only feedback forum people have and it is a joke. Fully agree about Hague driven decisions but senior leaders need to grow some and stand up to this. Culpepper is one of the ones who is afraid to do that and is quite happy working from his large office and managing his own career. Has anyone seen any conclusive evidence that open plan offices are more “collaborative” apart from open trading floors. I doubt it, The real truth is that it is all about space occupancy and cost. Yes the sea will come in but the tide will turn back again, unfortunately long after we have lost some great talent and potential.
on Jul 12th, 2012 at 03:56
Thanks for the clarification Regular Contributor. I was exposed primarily to Downstream and I can attest that Rolex watches were not presented as anniversary awards. I fully agree with everything else you said in your posts. Loyalty is a two way street. Shell US used to be totally loyal to it’s employees and the employees were totally loyal to the company. Post John Bookout (primarily during the Phil Carroll tenure) we learned that employees were no longer a “valued asset” of the company. While we still get new employees to join the company, they are looking for a pay check/”punching their ticket” vs. enjoying working for Shell and wanting to pursue a long term career. This is — and will continue, to cost the company from an experience standpoint. While all companies have made a shift from employee loyalty, I know of no other oil major that has done it to the extreme as Shell.
on Jul 12th, 2012 at 03:08
To be fair to Bruce Culpepper, I think someone should put a different perspective across. Firstly, the Shell Real Estate strategy isn’t something that I suspect he gets to define or decide, but like most people has to make the best of what is (I agree) a bad job. I didn’t hear his comments, but I know that there are fights that won’t go anywhere, and arguing against open plan offices in Shell is like complaining at the sea for coming in – however passionately people argue, it ain’t gonna change anything, so the most honest approach is to work out how to make the best of the situation as is really is.
Secondly, I’ve worked around a whole bunch of HR folks, and trust me, he is one of the good ones. Not someone who just focuses on HR and doesn’t have any personality or balls, and given some of the alternatives – i think you guys should count your blessings!
Bigger issue for me would be the constant flow of Hague dominated decisions that then can’t be stopped, even at these senior levels, when the don’t make any sense on the ground, outside of Holland.
on Jul 11th, 2012 at 15:48
To Texvette – You have got to be kidding me. This was standard procedure in E&P operations for the professional staff when I went to work for Shell USA in the early 1980′s. A very nice dinner was included where senior division management attended the award. Surely, you must have seen senior Shell personnel wearing Rolex watches with a Pecten and diamonds on them. It was quite a common site when I worked for Shell. But then Shell USA was a different company than it is today. People actually used to like working for Shell. It was fun. I loved working for Pecten Int., Shell USA’s international division. Shell treated their valued staff quite well. And Shell only very rarely hired experienced personnel from outside the company. They preferred to hire them straight out of college, train them in the ‘Shell way’, and to promote from within. Exxon still follows that method.
In my day at Shell, John Hofmeister (remember him) would NEVER have been hired or given the position he was. It would have been absolutely unthinkable. He knew little if anything about the oil industry. Shell trained personnel were also in great demand within the industry, and it was difficult to keep good staff. And in a perverse way, Shell management used to say that they had trained half the people in the oil industry. There was a good deal of truth in that statement. For several years I taught both exploration and production engineering courses at Bellaire Research Center. Those were much different times, it was a different generation, and clearly it was a much different, and much better company to work for.
on Jul 11th, 2012 at 02:52
TO: “Regular Contributor” – Could you please let me know when Shell US presented Rolex watches to commemorate a service anniversary. This is the first I ever heard of this and I have great grandparents, grand parents, parents and relatives that have worked for Shell and never heard of this. I do agree with your comments about Shell totally and completely ignoring the results of the Shell People Survey. Like Culpepper, the Survey is a joke.
on Jul 10th, 2012 at 22:32
And while I am making comments, when I first went to work for Shell I had my very own office, with a real desk, 3 office chairs, a large book case for my technical reference material (I am an engineer) and two full sized filing cabinets, along with a private phone line. Hello???? What the F*** is HR up to these days. Get your heads out of your backsides and breath some good air for a change.
on Jul 10th, 2012 at 22:21
There was a day when Shell USA handed out a Rolex wrist watch for the 10th year anniversary of loyal service. After that they handed out diamonds that went on the watch for every additional 5 years of service, I believe. I did stay around long enough. Shell has really gone down the tubes if all they hand out for 10 years of service is crap like photos. They might cost $10.
on Jul 10th, 2012 at 11:38
Mr Culpepper strikes again and tells senior leaders to suck it up and support the new Shell Real Estate vision of the future. The new open concept is a tremendous step backwards for all of those less than LC but is widely supported by senior management. So Culpepper, why do you not listen to the staff on these issues, is it just pure arrogance when you totally ignore the last three years of Shell People surveys, which quite obviously show you that people DISLIKE their working conditions. Instead SRE go off on a multi million-dollar campaign to plant trees and flowers to make Alcatraz Woodcreek Branch look appealing. The truth of the matter it that it is the inside which needs to be changed. Do you really think we like sitting three feet away from each other. Are we expected to lay eggs next? Where is the Employee Value Proposition which has been quoted so often in the past? In my opinion it has been so eroded and then you wonder why we struggle to recruit new staff. How many graduates would be thrilled when they see their new portable office ! No desk of their own just a portable container. Wake Up Culpepper, start listening for a change. Oh and while I am ranting do you really think Upstream people want a picture of a gas station as a long service award !! I recently got my 10 year award and was so disappointed it went in the trash. A gas station!!!! Just shows you how out of touch HR is as well.
on Jun 29th, 2012 at 16:47
Indeed Shell was not mentioned in the article, however, they have repeatedly been linked to fracking by yourself and tree-hugging societies in the past. I should have used your approach and “added” the title : “Shell effectively given go ahead for fracking by expert societies”.
on Jun 29th, 2012 at 14:16
Seems that you missed an article on fracking in today’s Daily Telegraph (but still continue to produce old stories about Shell due to lack of negative material against them). It states that scientists from the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society say that the method for extracting gas should be approved, subject to tight regulations and continuous monitoring. They also state that fracking can trigger small earthquakes but that at ground level these tremors would be no more than those caused by a lorry passing a house. Additionally the chances of water being contaminated were very low. Of course I will no doubt get some tree-hugger telling me they know more than the Royal Academy of Engineering and The Royal Society – very much like Greenpeace got the “correct” numbers (NOT) for the pollution potential of Brent Spar!! REPLY BY JOHN: Added a link to the article you mention, which does not include any reference to Shell. That must have been a tongue-in-cheek comment about a lack of negative material bearing in mind current articles e.g. the $10 BILLION Motiva debacle. Due to IT incompatibility I am currently manually importing over 7,000 articles from an earlier incarnation of this website. Will be doing so on a daily basis until end of April 2013. Currently transferring articles that appeared on 29 June 2004 and 29 June 2005. Consequently many articles covering the relevant Shell AGM’s held at that time each year, the 2004 AGM dealing with the reserves scandal and the 2005 AGM, the unification arising from the scandal. Almost all articles negative about Shell. Sometimes give into temptation to feature some of the juicy ones in current news. Now that I know it upsets you, the temptation will be even greater.
on Jun 27th, 2012 at 20:59
Port Arthur — Shell UPPER MANAGEMENT at its “finest”!! How many more bi$$ion will it take before you get it right !?!?!?
on Jun 27th, 2012 at 16:27
Re: Motiva Refinery Debacle – Unbelievable. Lock-out, Tag-out, the most basic safety rule, strikes again. The same thing that blew-up Piper Alpha. Caustic – the same thing that blew up Norco. Unbelievable. And Caustic doesn’t just pit stainless, it causes cracks in stress areas. They will have to use advanced ultrasound techniques on every millimeter of hundreds of miles of piping because a hidden crack will propagate and cause a failure days or years in the future. Might as well melt it all down and start over.
on Jun 18th, 2012 at 08:33
The image of Marvin Odum with pecten shaped bubbles emanating from his lower back says it all…. (See article Marvin Odum blathering on)
on Jun 17th, 2012 at 20:46
Let me comment on the Niger Delta’s Environmental Problems and gas flaring in general. If half of the bile directed at the oil majors had instead been directed at the Alams, OBJs, Odilis, etc, perhaps the people of the Delta would have had a little breather from the perpetual flames of the gas flares. Instead, they continue screaming their guts out at Shell, Chevron, etc, when in fact it is the responsibility of the State (FG) to improve infrastructure in their poverty-stricken region, to enforce tight environmental regulations, etc. I believe the oil companies are doing exactly what other multinational companies anywhere would do – taking advantage of lax laws in a region with some of the poorest black Africans anywhere. What profit-generating company would not do the same. These are, afterall, the most nameless, faceless, voiceless people in a voiceless country. And as long as the people of the Delta continue turning out in the millions to welcome Alams, Odili, etc from prison or the drag-ball (in the case of Alams), it’s business as usual.It is not Shell’s responsibility to build houses, hospitals, roads, or to guarantee the quality of air in the oil producing regions. Indeed, it is not their responsibility to put an end to gas flaring by building gas pipelines into a country that essentially has no industrial capacity, particularly when a substantial chunk of Nigeria’s money-generating industry is faraway in Lagos. The FG is responsible for enforcing these laws, and even here in the US, when (in the early 1970s) it became clear that lead (in leaded fuels) was bad for three-way catalysts that removed unburned hydrocarbons and also could get into drinking water, the Feds enforced the laws – they did not wait around for ExxonMobil and oil companies to change their stance on leading petrol. That’s a Government. Nigeria hasn’t got one.And as for the people of the Delta, they can keep screaming their guts out. They’d better get used to the death, destruction and oppression they’ve been saddled with for the past 50 years. There’s plenty more where that came from, and as long as the world has its insatiable thirst for oil, it’s coming!
on Jun 16th, 2012 at 23:40
Well, for Motiva, CEP isn’t woth $12B if the crude unit can’t run. It was filled up with caustic and caustic washed the whole unit. There are thousands of feet of pipe that have to be replaced. The fire started due to leaking pipe. What a mess. So ironic to see Uncle Tom Purves talking about us getting rates up to planned levels as we are bringing the unit down. This unit was the worst part of the whole project. I guess we will get to see Jeff Funkhouser come over to “help” the new leadership team. Tom won’t since he got the hell out. Needless to say we won’t be starting this unit up anytime soon. We got it up in time for the senior execs to get off the clock and then back down to rebuild the unit. Geez…..
on Jun 12th, 2012 at 02:03
Is anyone surprised with the current issues with the new crude unit at Port Arthur. Word has it that: 1) the problems are much more severe than being reported, and 2) this is just “the tip of the iceberg”. Some wonder if the new $13 billion worth of units will ever start-up
on Jun 5th, 2012 at 22:32
Dear Susa,
I completely agree with you in your presentation about the involvement or complicity of the Nigerian government in the $hell’s crimes against Ogoni and Niger delta. I have, of course, repeatedly mentioned this involvement or slick, killer alliance. My current campaign focusing on Nigeria and not $hell alone speaks to this effect. In short, I have a protest coming up at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC, Wednesday, June 13, at 10am. This is to let the embassy know what Ogonis and their friends in the US know about the role of government in the crimes against our people and the degradation of our environment. We shall be sending a message to the government in Nigeria through the Ambassador.
Meanwhile, it is instructive to note that most of government’s behavior in Nigeria as they relate to oil and the people are influenced by $hell, which evidence shows places its staff everywhere in government that is sensitive to its business so as to influence and manipulate decisions, laws or rules and regulations affecting her interests. One example is the current petroleum minister, Alison Madueke, who is reported to have been trained in school by $hell. The joint venture between government and $hell makes matters worse. In nutshell, both government and $hell are responsible for the predicaments of Ogoni and so are liable, thus must be held accountable. Nigerian government is one of such baby or kitchen governments in the world, which allows corporations to dictate the lives of their own people. This government is not worth calling a government, but shame and sham-a corrupt ,deadly and ever incompetent entity.
on Jun 2nd, 2012 at 19:03
While I believe SHELL should be held responsible for ruining countless Ogoni people’s life and degrading the environment in the Ogony land, I believe the SO CORRUPTED Nigerian Government must be held accountable as well. It is sad that all of these slaughtering and complice to corruption have been ongoing for more than 5 decades and the world is just now learning about it. Ben, I command your courage and determination in getting the word out, and shedding some lights into SHELL’S practice in Nigeria. Practices that are unacceptable, shameful, and for which it is totally fair for you, Ogony people,to seek justice for. But, just for your information, SHELL wasn’t the first, nor the last that have taken advantage of AFRICAN people’s wealth,and contibuted to degrading the environment carelessly in Africa. ELF oil has done the same thing in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the past, and got away with it, leaving those Congolese in the poorest health conditions. It is only fair to seek for justice and I wish the Ogony people Good luck.
on Jun 2nd, 2012 at 14:36
Well, finally…. not the announcement that we all wanted to see, but good enough for us. Tom Purves…GOOD RIDDANCE. He is going to Upstream as an Operations Excellence VP. What a fall for this guy!!! We had hoped it would be a retirement notice. He now can slither off down I-10 and go ACT like he is adding value to Shell’s Upstream. This gets him finally out of Motiva and out of Port Arthur. Tom, your legacy is a joke. You leave us nothing. This project ended up being overspent( $12B, not $10B as Shell says in the media) and 2 years past due. Tom, you ruined many people’s good careers in this march to the top of Mount Purves Ego. I hope you look in the mirror and see the real Purves one day and can live with what you have done. Good riddance. You are a non event and that is how you will go out. Buried in Shell with a nothing job…. But, you were actually good at doing this your whole career so it will work out fine. To see you being operations excellence VP over projects is a joke but typical Shell. Do us all one last favor and take Funkhouser with you. We all know where he will go if you do…. We also know where he will go if you don’t.
Prayers answered!
on Jun 1st, 2012 at 19:14
With respect to the WSJ (one of Rupert Murdoch’s stable of unimpeachable “journals”) article on the strike in PDO one glaring error stands out. PDO is 60% owned by the Government of the Sultanate of Oman. Shell’s share is 30%. Shell discharges a role of technical adviser and seconds a (diminishing) number of staff to the company which is directed by a 12 man board, seven members of which represent the government. The Chairman is the Minister of Oil & Gas, someone who does not shrink from a leadership role. This picture does not fit with the statement “Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSA) – led Petroleum Development Oman.
on Jun 1st, 2012 at 02:58
Motiva CEO and Saudi Aramco states that cost for the expansion are in the range of $10B…… give or take $2B. This sounds like the rubbish that Purves keeps feeding these goons. Purves, you looked old today…. Go home and cash in your worthless Shell stock. Enjoy your tea!!!
on May 31st, 2012 at 17:30
“Londonlad,” well you dodged my question about your name like $hell will dodge every genuine attempt by Ogoni to ask for respect and that it adhere to its own business philosophy of honesty, integrity…
Be informed, and you may have known by now that Ogonis are victims of $hell business.
The company has made billions of dollars like the Nigerian government. Or do you forget that the government do not know the actual number of barrels of oil $hell extract daily; that $hell just give what it pleases?
Finally, Ogonis are not interested in getting anything from $hell rather, we are rightfully seeking justice for the harm the company has done us. It is factual that $hell collaborated to kill Ogonis and poisoned, degrade our environment. It was at $hell’s behest that Ken Saro-Wiwa was murdered-the facts are there; Abacha was only used by $hell to achieve that. The company thought once Saro-Wiwa was out of the way it can rest from Saro-Wiwa’s campaign that exposes the degradation, which UNEP report confirms and other abuses (human rights violations) caused by $hell. The company’s spy network and deadliness, even lies and other corrupt practices are not synonymous with Ogoni situation alone. Records are revealing the company exhibit similar attitude everywhere except its home-countries of Britain or UK and Netherlands, other states of Europe and America.
Interestingly, the Ogoni struggle is just and so will succeed in exposing $hell, demanding justice and adequate compensation. Where there is a crime there is remedy, and where there is law there should be justice. All Ogoni seek is justice and not an extraneous wealth we do not deserve.
on May 31st, 2012 at 12:23
Re Motiva Port Arthur, I hope people don’t believe the propaganda that the CEP project created 300 permanent jobs. It did create some new jobs, not close to 300. It also doesn’t account for the many jobs that were lost. The only way this project pays off is if Port Arthur brings on the additional capacity with the same basic fixed costs that the facility had prior to the project. There are 2 jobs that the project does need to eliminate, Tom Purves and Jeff Funkhouser. That may help pay for some of the overage of the project costs. I’m sure we will never hear the true costs of the project. Clearly over $12B.
on May 31st, 2012 at 09:08
As regular visitors will be aware, it is not our practice to censor postings on this blog. Unfortunately we have received a posting from “Esther” which we will not publish because it contains threats of violence.
on May 30th, 2012 at 17:40
To “Ben Ikari” – I think I understand your rant, however, as ever with Nigerians the attempt is to blame everyone else but themselves. The approach is almost always of attacking the foreign companies and at the same time attempt to extract as much money as possible from them via the courts. The Ogoni’s often appear to be no different in this respect. The undeniable problem with the Ogoni’s AND other tribes in the Delta region is YOUR OWN GOVERNMENT. They have denied you a proper education, decent housing, basic medical care etc. etc. Above all they have taken billions of US$ out of the country that should have been invested in the place. Foreign companies (particularly Shell) have invested and given billions of US$ into the Delta region – no doubt some of that has also been siphoned off by corrupt Nigerian officials. I have said most of these points before to you and others, it seems like we’ll have to agree to disagree. I do agree that the killing of Saro-Wiwa was an awful and unacceptable crime. The perpetrator of this however was your very own Sani Abacha not Shell. Again it’s a case of blame everyone else rather than your own ex-dictator.
Some of your articles with the added tabloid headers clearly show you do not always want to merely challenge/object to Shell’s activities but would rather attack them at every opportunity for every alleged misdemeanour. Shell does a great deal of excellent community work around the world, particularly in places like Nigeria, but like every organization run by human beings is prone to mistakes and errors. As to me using a pseudonym this is what any website with a blog element should expect, including yourself, so tough-luck with that. I have to say however that in this respect well done to you for posting comments. REPLY BY JOHN: The truth is that you don’t always get it right and neither do I. This is the reason why despite the bluster on both sides, I have always appreciated you putting time into offering criticism and balance. The same applies to USCitizen. Your views, particularly on Shell in Nigeria, are strikingly similar to a person who posted here for many years under the name of MUSAINT before declaring he would no longer visit the site because he objected to the focus on Shell’s connection with the Nazis. COMMENT BY “OUTSPOKEN” (A FORMER SHELL EMPLOYEE): Hey London Lad:
To Donovan – I hardly think my comments are defamatory, more like honest. I have to say I liked your response of “sometimes totally unfounded” – so sometimes I am right then
You need to read your articles more carefully. There is nothing the royaldutchshellplc.com article about William Hague that is not already in the public domain. And my goodness, but you truly have a mean streak in you. Where do you find the time and emotional energy for all of this? Me thinks you need to get some sort of private life. Have you considered consulting a ‘pshrink’ about your irrational anger toward someone you have never met? Maybe an anger management course is in order here. Might help you a great deal. However, I think you don’t really exist and are simply a fake spokesperson for RDS’s propoganda organ.
Have a Nice Day.
on May 30th, 2012 at 05:39
Mr “londonlad,are you really a londonlad? Candidly, is this your real name? If no, why can’t you unmask? If yes, proof by an affidavit. Meanwhile, Donovan is right to state that William Hague is trying to help $hell, which looks like your precursor get away with murder. The rogue and deadly company will not escape justice even after the US Supreme Court. If in doubt or think Donovan is wrong and should or could be sued, start by presenting an alternative fact to wit Hague is innocent and not a former $hell’s employee. How I wish you were Ogoni to see and feel how our shoes hurt, and the many lifeless bodies Ogoni has dug to mother earth due $hell’s recklessness and racism. You are not Ogoni and will not be, so will not understand despite the fact that the same blood that run through oppressed Ogonis run through you and your people, wherever you may come from. Ogoni deaths orchestrated by $hell and now backed by the British government is beyond politics and so stop attempting politics with it. You will not be happy watching your people and their environment die because of the recklessness of Ogoni, if there was any.
on May 29th, 2012 at 17:03
Hope you get sued Donovan for that stupid and outrageous add on comment about William Hague trying to help Shell get away with murder. Once again it shows you to be someone who has a severe chip on your shoulder over Shell allegedly screwing you in the past. Next move for you is the nut house I think!! REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN: That’s the difference between me and you. I make a statement in my name and the parties at whom my statement is directed are free to sue me for libel if they contend that what I have stated is untrue. You make frequent defamatory comments about me, sometimes totally unfounded as per your previous posting, but always hide behind an alias so that you cannot be held responsible. And when you are dead wrong, as you were last time, you don’t even have the grace to apologize. The Sunday Times did not mention that William Hague is a former employee of Shell. I believe that information is salient. I have no fear whatsoever of being sued for libel by Hague or Shell. The UK and Dutch governments have gone to a lot of trouble in the hope of preventing these matters (Shell’s crimes in Nigeria) being aired in open court, so the prospect of Shell or Hague taking any action that would result in that actually happening is ZERO.
on May 22nd, 2012 at 21:09
This is amazing. This story is getting exactly zero coverage in the mainstream press of the United States. While I am not exactly surprised it is just one more incidence of keeping Americans ignorant of the true nature of the oil world. Thanks for your efforts to inform and educate. All the best. (ASSUME THIS COMMENT BY SAMOU RELATES TO THE SHELL TOX STORY)
on May 22nd, 2012 at 15:13
Executive pay. Dear Anon, I happen to have been around when Linda Cook was the token woman in Shell. Let me tell you one more time: she did NOT make any clever decisions. She behaved like a czarina. Her meetings were something to be seen, she had more testosterone and hate in herself than most other male directors. Her presentations where completely pre-cooked. Never seen so many yellow stickers on the plastic viewgraphs. She did all the management things that she read in a management book: walking up and down in front of the audience. Smiling all the time. Not wanting to be interrupted with questions since this would disturb the flow. And every question was answered with ‘ that is a very good question but unfortunately I cannot answer it now since I did not read the plan (or some other lame excuse). And when she got stuck, up popped Lew Watts or another slave of hers and answered it eloquently. And then the time was up and she had to leave. Busy, busy, busy. I would not be surprised if she shagged Phil Watts, they were never more than a few meters apart and adored each other.
I asked many americans who knew her career in the US what was so special. There has been zero response, they simply did not know. She did make a promise (which was broken of course) that exploration costs would remain low forever and EP would grow forever. This is what Phil Watts (sorry, SIR Philip) wanted to hear.
She was simply a social climber, making full use of the fact that Shell wanted some token women. All clever work was done by others, she just did not have the brain to do it. And nice projects you mention, both came in 4-6x the projected cost and are only saved by the high oilprice…..
Good riddance of her, bonus for the guys who decided she had to go.
on May 21st, 2012 at 16:41
Marvin Odum has consistently had one of the worst safety records in Shell. How does he continue to get by ? Firing your Health, Safety and Environment Managers does not fix the safety culture, nor does “making a scene” when folks do not use handrails on the way to the cafeteria. Good safety practices should be followed EVERYWHERE !
on May 17th, 2012 at 11:57
One year on and I wonder how much longer Marvin will wait for his safety record to improve.
Will Denise follow Libby?
on May 7th, 2012 at 05:31
The oil companies are right to flare off gas – it’s very cheap to do so. Apparently because it’s cheap makes it right for them to right? A dictator was right to commit mass murder and plunder the economy because it was easy for him to? (I will resist all temptations to name you appropriately for making such a nonsensical argument). I find your line of reasoning absurd: The people of the Niger delta asked for it by welcoming Alamaesigha in their number? What has that got to do with anything? I agree that the people of the Niger Delta are responsible mostly for what is going on now. The major misfortune of the Niger Delta is the failure of its present leaders and those of it’s recent past. Here are some things to consider: They were conveniently ignored during the decades of Scholarships Abroad from FG (believe me, there were a multitude of school cert holders who were willing but who had to make do with little jobs in Lagos). The culture of Looking out for your tribal brother didn’t help the idea of federalism. What I am trying to say is that the level of illiteracy in the Niger delta hasn’t been entirely without cause. Try to think Here is really the question I want to ask: Is it the responsibility of the Niger Delta citizens to negotiate with oil companies issues about pollution, environmental regulations? Does the government not owe that duty of care? Isn’t it the government’s duty to insist on cleaner technology? If the Niger delta is expected to take care of itself in this sense, shouldn’t it as well be self governing? I know fully well that The Federal Government will rather have the oil companies pay the fat penalty for not meeting up to standard, which also is cheaper for the company which would rather not invest in costly cleaner technology. Lastly: There are no affirmation actions or free rides to Federal universities for people of the Niger delta. No such things exist. Scholarships are being claimed and used. And the universities there are flooded with students, as badly maintained as they may be.I wish we had time for facts, numbers, so we are more empirical instead of all the unnecessary emotion. I am not denying the senselessness of the Niger delta politician (thieves all of them). Or that illiteracy is rife and poverty too. Nice breeding ground for crime, gangs etc. Niger delta people need to get off their lazy asses and stop crying victim. Yar’adua needs to know what he is doing. And you need to try to understand first. We all the need to ask the right questions before we can get right answers. Else we all end up with wayward results. Plus Ken Saro-Wiwa was something of a literary giant and intellectual. Many young people of the Niger Delta will join that list. You watch and see.
on May 7th, 2012 at 05:15
i want to thank everyone of you who has been iettresend in this our struggle with shell.i want to say it here that we are not only demanding these that is already on the news but i want to personally see that shell nigeria and international is brought to an international court to bring shell to justice and make them pay for the destruction of our ecosystem.gas flaring,Oil spills and every other environment pollution due to their oil exploration and exploitation we need help and all the links to take shell to court especial a court in the USA..as shell has been made to pay the ogonis so i did want shell to pay us .your support and links will help us to take shell to court in a foreign..shell dont obey court rulings in nigeria this is why we desire to have them prosecuted in a court in the US if you are willing to help us in this please feel free to contact me.PASTOR RANAMI AFAGHA.EMAIL:pastorranami@aol.com PHONE: +2348083743386, +2347061127571.THANKS
on May 6th, 2012 at 20:33
It is totally uelvbienable that a world highly respected organisation such as the UNEP could collude with Shell and the Nigerian government to condemn the natural owners of the resources that has sustained the country for over 50 years. I think that Mr Mike Cowing should re-examine his position rather than planning to take more money from Shell and the Nigerian government to do the remediation work. The UNEP claim with destroy stakeholder trust instead of building good relationship with the communities that has been persecuted for their resources. The Ogoni people are calling on the international community and all people of goodwill to come to their aid to stop their being stigmatised as polluters of their own environment. Oil operation started in the Ogoni area in about 1956 and the campaign that Mr Ken Saro-Wiwa wages against oil pollution could not have been caused by Ogoni people. the so-called oil bunkering started only about 5 years ago and every investigation carried out by Ogonis and the authorities have revealed that these bunkerings are supported by the same cabal who have always being in-charge of spending or mis-managing the national resources.
on May 6th, 2012 at 16:43
I doubt the letter is genuine. The excerpts that were published makes it sound as though it was written by an activist group. Shell employs thousands of people in Nigeria, and it is unlikely that the only people who know the truths as to what Shell is doing in Nigeria are a few activist groups, Shell’s brutal management elite, and nobody else.
on May 6th, 2012 at 11:55
So the title of this somewhat misleading article (“Shell admits funding Niger Delta warlords”) was NOT made by you but by Ben Amunwa? REPLY BY JOHN: The headline came with the article. It was not made by me. Just click on “SOURCE”.
on May 5th, 2012 at 17:11
“Shell admits funding Niger Delta warlords” – yet again this is tabloid titillation Donovan and not what Sunmonu said!! All he states (in your reprinted article) is prefaced by “could have”. Yet again an expansion of the facts to suit the objective of this website. As an add on Donovan, I am sure you (and probably a large percentage of the UK population) have inadvertently contributed in some way to causes that are illegal, dodgy or unliked. By using the word “could have” the person is being honest and realistic. Your reporting at times with these tabloid add-ons is not honest. REPLY BY JOHN: You see to be getting over-excited again. I am not the author of the article in question. I have not changed a single word of what the author stated. I have not added a single word to the article. Only a link to a related article. The author is careful in what he has stated and provided links to a video containing what he describes as an “admission”. Visitors are able to watch the video and draw their own conclusions.
on May 4th, 2012 at 16:52
On the IT reorganisation of 2004. It would be nice to hear from some insider whether the huge IT reorganisation (or was it change for the sake of change) in 2004 and beyond has achieved what it set out to do and if not, what lessons were learned? I have the suspicion that it all turned out much more costly and did not achieve its objectives. It did create a lot of pain with the IT staff involved and the benefits for the business were not too clear. I seem to remember there was a lot of management speak and the leading lights of that day presumably have looked after themselves and moved on, leaving a mess behind.
on May 3rd, 2012 at 16:36
Rumour has it that Shell Canada is planning to sell Retail unit
on Apr 20th, 2012 at 00:17
Nice John, just another attack – you stick your neck out the way you do and people will respond. Do you see us running a hate Donovan website ??- we certainly have enough reason and material too, but we do not. Enjoy your hatefull life, I can not imagine letting unjustified hate run my life. REPLY BY JOHN: Glad to see that you are still paying attention. If you set up a Hate Donovan website will it be presented in your own name, so that you take legal responsibly for what you publish, as I do, or will you still hide behind an alias? For the record, I don’t hate anyone or any company. I am simply campaigning for Royal Dutch Shell executives to act at all times in accordance with Shell General Business Principles which include the claimed core principles of honesty, integrity, openness and respect for people in all of Shell’s dealings. This is surely not an unreasonable ambition given that the principles were devised by Shell, are promoted by Shell and are supposedly current and binding on all Shell operations everywhere. In other words, we are only asking Shell executives to do what they already claim to be doing. The SGBP is being used as a PR tool to promote undeserved confidence in the scruples and honesty of Shell senior management. For example, the SGBP featured in the Form 20F Declarations filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission thereby generating confidence in the proven reserves volumes which had been inflated i.e. were false.
While Shell execs continue to make pledges of ethical trading which they flout, we will continue our humble efforts to expose their hypocrisy.
on Apr 19th, 2012 at 13:43
Hmmm. Seems like Donovan has accepted defeat and now doesn’t want me to make any further comments on this biased site. Heh ho his loss. REPLY BY JOHN: Visitors can read my responses to your recent postings and decide for themselves if I have conceded defeat as you claim. I have told you before that your postings are welcome because they provide some balance. The same applies to USCitizen, the other unofficial spokesperson for Shell. If you choose to make a personal attack on me, then I will point out that it is a cowardly act on your part when hiding behind an alias. Something I have never done. You said that I had tried to stick the murder of Neil Heywood onto Shell. That allegation was completely false and you are self-evidently not enough of a gentleman to withdraw the allegation. As to this site being biased, it certainly is towards pressing Shell management to act at all times in accordance with Shell’s own Statement of General Principles, pledging honesty, integrity, transparency ect in all of Shell’s dealings. If Shell management had done so, it would not have been responsible for so many scandals, including the reserves securities fraud when Shell was found guilty of market abuse and received massive fines from the US Securities & Exchange Commission and the UK Financial Services Authority.
on Apr 16th, 2012 at 07:57
Not hysterical or a troll just sometimes fed up with the tabloid “reporting” you make with innuendos, titilation and insertions with the word “Shell” highlighted to try and make the reader believe Shell are full-on involved. Why do people that disagree with such reporting have to be trolls? Seems that most of the hysteria on this site is generated by its owner!! REPLY BY JOHN: You make personal comments about me hiding behind an alias. Comments that you do not have the courage to make under your real name. With regards to this particular story involving corruption, I have never accused Shell of being implicated in the murder of Neil Heywood. I have had an acrimonious relationship with Shell for nearly two decades and have seen the dark side of the company. I do not believe that the current (or any recent) Shell management would have anything to do with murder. Shell does however have a track record of getting involved in corruption in host countries e.g. paying a $48m fine for corruption in Nigeria. Also sponsorship of sex, drugs, gifts fueled corruption of USA regulatory authority employees. It has a track record of close association with Hakluyt, the sometime employer of Neil Heywood. It has used Hakluyt for undercover operations on an International basis. Shell is still a client of Hakluyt. Shell’s global head of security returned to Hakluyt not long ago. Shell also has a track record of infiltrating agents into the governments of host countries e.g. Nigeria. Shell has done business with the China National Petroleum Corporation, which until this scandal broke, was under the control/influence of the faction mired in the corruption scandal. It seems likely therefore that it has done business with the faction accused of corruption. It does seem reasonable, given Shell’s track record of getting involved in intrigue and corruption in host counties to put the questions I have to Shell about any possible connection with the unfolding events in China. Remember Shell preaches openness, but for some reason is tight-lipped on this subject. Why? One final comment to LondonLad. You knew full-well that your comments would generate further focus on this “tabloid” story. My guess is that Shell management would prefer for you to refrain from comment on this subject.
on Apr 14th, 2012 at 18:36
Why don’t you start writing a new series for the X-Files for TV Donovan? With your ability at trying to stick all sorts of crime on Shell (e.g. the murder in China of Neil Heywood) fiction seems just right for you!! REPLY BY JOHN: LondonLad, you seem to be turning into a hysterical troll, making nasty comments and an outright false allegation all directed at me personally while hiding behind an alias. Please point out where I have alleged that Shell is implicated in the apparent murder of Neil Heywood? I put legitimate questions to Shell based on the background facts, as stated in the articles I published. If Shell had replied to my first email giving a categorical denial of any connection with Heywood/Hakluyt in relation to Shell’s activities/plans in China, that would have been an immediate end to the matter as far as I am concerned. I have no idea why Shell has treated this as a taboo subject instead of responding as it has many times in the past and did so on two other matters I raised in correspondence at about the same time, replying on one occasion when no response had been requested. One final important point: Shell’s name had already been brought into this matter by the news media before I published my first article.
on Apr 9th, 2012 at 05:35
motivawatcher: You’re absolutely right, the Motiva guys and gals that got the big fat bonuses were the happy bunch, especially those who were secretly approached by their manager and asked would they accept a severance package if one was offered before it officially came out. The severance program was not suppose to be a volunteer program, but some managers conveniently rated some people low or redundant so they could receive a severance package. This information was leaked out by several of the folks that received a severance package.
on Apr 8th, 2012 at 10:20
oldwhitemale: and what about all the Motiva guys and gals that got big fat bonuses?? Seem to be a happy bunch but nobody mentions that.
on Apr 5th, 2012 at 02:56
sure will be interesting to see how far a lawsuit against Shell for age discrimination goes! i say: not gonna happen.
on Mar 26th, 2012 at 05:12
Motivawatcher, I recently read on this website about the employee at Motiva Port Arthur who has a pending lawsuit against Motiva Port Arthur for age discrimination. I
on Mar 25th, 2012 at 09:50
Motiva staff (at least some) seem to a bunch of whingers. Get a life and do some decent work for a change.
on Mar 23rd, 2012 at 16:51
Oldwhitemale,
Actually spoke to this person last week about the lawsuit. Motiva tried to get it thrown out but they were not that lucky. A trial date has been set by the court for sometimes at the end of the year, and he is not backing down. From what he was telling me the company does not have a leg to stand on. Joey D did so many crooked things that I would not be surprised if more lawsuits start appearing.
on Mar 23rd, 2012 at 08:20
To Outsider: these eco-activists are not the public opinion, they try to influence the public opinion to their side. That is exactly what happened with Brent Spar – if Greenpeace would have gotten their facts right and understood upfront that the proposed solution was the best one for the environment overall, they would not have created a fuss and Shell would not have been in the horrible situation they were in… The eco-activists, but also all other types of such movements (anti-globalists etc.) sell 1 product – fear & distrust. And if a couple of truths have to be killed to achieve this, then that is “just” collateral damage. I do not say that Shell or any other large corporation is better than this, but what insults my brain is that these eco-warriors claim the moral high ground while in reality they are at best just the same as the corporations…
on Mar 22nd, 2012 at 23:17
I agree that Carol Pierson needs to check her facts – for an environmentalist she seems remarkably ill informed. However, even if the environmental activists may not have all of their facts 100% correct, they are no less guilty of spinning the news and holding politicians to ransom than Shell. Shell may have been right about Brent Spar from a purely technical/economic perspective, but they were horribly wrong in their assessment of the public’s reaction to the idea of simply dumping the platform in mid Atlantic. The environmentalists knew exactly what they were doing, and in contrast to Shell were completely in tune with public sentiment.
on Mar 22nd, 2012 at 16:49
This latest article from Carol Pierson again clearly exposes how the treehugging community does not base its actions on facts nor does the effort to get a good understanding of them first… Some examples: 1) there are no penguins in the Artic, they only live on/close to Antarctica. 2) there was no Shell CEO named James Smith – if I recall correct there was someone with that name in Shell holding the position of UK Countrychair. 3). Shell is not suing anyone, as far as I understand they are asking the court for confirmation that due process was followed and that people/organisations that dispute have to come forward now and not at the last minute – of course the treehuggers are upset that they apparently are outsmarted and the legal system is used so they can’t abuse it… 4) reference is made to the Brent Spar case but nowhere is mentioned that Greenpeace in the end had to admit that the initial Shell-proposed solution was the best – technically and environmentally. but as was proven not from public opinion point of view.
I am not here to blindly defend Shell, although I work for the company in a technical position outside the USA. My post has nothing to do to defend whether or not Shell should be allowed to drill (I have my opinion on that one though), but to expose the sneaky way the treehugging community is waging their war (they call it relentless activism..). Even during my student days several years ago I got upset with this way of influencing the public opinion with lies/cheats/half-truths by the treehugging community. I was active in one for some years in my highschool time and I can tell that they are just a business as Shell is. They don’t do it for the betterment of all, as they claim constantly, but just to proof their existence and ability to keep themselves employed with salaries paid from the donations they get… Michael Crichton wrote a book about this “business” – he is not far from the truth how he portrays.
on Mar 22nd, 2012 at 12:02
If anyone is counting, power outage #3 in the past few weeks happened again for the motiva port arthur facility. Tom, why aren’t you adressing this? or are you too busy with getting feed in to the new refinery so you can get off the clock? It’s a shame that we are starting this new refinery up with a flat tire. Hilton, are you counting how many times we are in the flare?
on Mar 19th, 2012 at 16:04
“You self-evidently decided against commenting and have only done so now after being cornered. If you have done nothing wrong, why not reveal your identity so that your admitted track record of accepting valuable gifts from vendors can be investigated?”
I had not seen it, correct. I am flattered that you used my comments. I did not comment because there is nothing to comment on, my orginal posts speak for themeselves. Do not have any energy to debate with someone who does not listen and use rational thoughts. You are beyond hope with your blind bias.
PS – you just do not understand executive compenesation so, enough there, you are wrong, but can not see it. Later , done with this conversation #losingbattle
REPLY BY JOHN: As I said in the article, I believe you are sincere in your views about Shell Motiva managers accepting gifts from vendors. You do not, as I do, consider it to be a slippery slope. On the other subject, you are right in saying that I do not understand executive compensation. It is a mystery to me how some execs get away with colossal sums e.g. the reported $400 MILLION package for Lee Raymond on his retirement from ExxonMobil. He was not even a founder of a company, just an grotesquely overpaid employee.
on Mar 18th, 2012 at 03:04
Londonlad, Ogonis will not get justice in Nigeria or any other part of Africa. In short, such law as the ATS isn’t anywhere in Africa. In Nigeria, $hell controls everything that has to do with its interests. It will use its fiat to stop the case as it’s tried many times in USA. The govt is a conspirator, so will not allow the case proceed. So what’s wrong with using the law provided in USA, which foresaw such crimes as $hell’s? Also, be informed that Ogonis didn’t even know they’re going to sue $hell when they (we) arrived USA. When the ATS presented itself ten years ago (2002)we applied it. American lawyers helped and still helping us. Importantly, where there’s law there’s justice, so we are seeking it. Greed, as synonymous with the Nigerian state and $hell isn’t the foundation of our suit. Holding $hell accountable so corporation will change the way they do business in the so-called Third World, is the reason we’re in court. Yes, we didn’t sue $hell because we want money. Rather what we want and will always ask for is justice. Note also that Ogonis are far different from other Nigerians. On the one hand Ogonis are distinct in language,culture, landmass and territory. On another hand, we don’t have the luxury to extract or benefit from our oil and gas. So corruption, which isn’t synonymous with one group alone, but all peoples isn’t prevalent in Ogoni society. Also, Ogoni don’t have a state nor had the position of governor of Rivers State, where we are located (as our national location) not by treaty but by British colonial imposition because we’re forced into the Nigerian contraption. The few Ogoni politicians may have tasted corruption, but not without National/state government, party approval. In short, they’re caught up in the corrupt Nigeria system. Our fate in America is, however, different from other Nigerians, as Ogoni is, of course, different from other Nigerians.
on Mar 16th, 2012 at 19:42
Interested to read that Greenpeace (they who overestimated the Brent Spar oil volumes!!) have boarded a Shell contracted icebreaker in Helsinki. Wonder how they got there
on Mar 16th, 2012 at 18:57
Salary $2.06
Bonus $2.40
Other $5.27 mil
Stock Gains NA
Total Compensation $9.735 mil
Good lord John, how can you compare apples and oranges so badly. This does not include his long term stock options; Which Peters did.
Rex W Tillerson Ownership Of ExxonMobil
Industry Medians
Stock Owned (% Of Co) 0.03%
Stock Owned $129.1 mil This his total Stock ownership granted over several years. I did not see what each years breakdown was, but as you can see this is huge!! By the way it has gone up $70mm in two years, compare that!
Ps – Vosers base pay with bonuses and other compensation, not the long term stock grants comparable to Tillersons was 7.0 mm. Again – Apples to Apples is the Key john.
Ps – I just ignored your other posts – tickled pink that you exposed your self trying to compare my posts to taking bribes, any sane person will read those and laugh at you!!
REPLY BY JOHN: The total compensation of Tillerson in 2011 was $9.73 mil. The total compensation of Voser in 2011 was $16.3 mil. Straight-forward comparison. With regards to corruption at Shell/Motiva, I provided links so that readers could see for themselves your defence of the vendor sponsored freebies/bribes and draw their own conclusions. Guessed that you had read the article, as you now confirm. You self-evidently decided against commenting and have only done so now after being cornered. If you have done nothing wrong, why not reveal your identity so that your admitted track record of accepting valuable gifts from vendors can be investigated?
on Mar 15th, 2012 at 23:27
Good lord folks – at least do some homework, what was the Exxon CEO paid, have a clue? Over 2.5 times what the Shell CEO was paid, and historically has been 5-8 times what the Shell CEO is paid. Is Exxon 2.5 times or 5-8 times bigger than Shell. I thought not. Do not hurt your brains coming up with the your reply. Shell CEO pay is not the one you want to use for excess complaints, many many worse examples out there. What do you think they should be paid wise ones?? RELY BY JOHN: Voser received substantially more for the last year ($15m package approx) than Rex Tillerson at $9.73m . Surprised we did not receive any comment from you in regard to the article: “Alleged bribery and corruption at Shell Motiva“?
on Mar 13th, 2012 at 12:58
Nothing to attack Shell with so we now have to revrt to articles from 11 years ago!! Jeez, even the tabloids seldom stoop to these sort of levels of “jounalism”. REPLY BY JOHN: The Reuters article published yesterday referred to the spying by Hakluyt on behalf of Shell and BP, which was the subject of The Sunday Times article. Flattered of course to be equated with journalism when we are mere bloggers.
on Mar 12th, 2012 at 19:27
There was an interesting article and a link to documents describing a race discrimination lawsuit by a Motiva Norco operator a couple of weeks ago on this site. I can’t seem to find it anymore. It stated that an operator was terminated for breaking one of the life saving rules at the Motiva Norco Coker Unit. He was terminated by his supervisor Joey D. It went on to say that two black operators had broken the same life saving rules some time later and were not terminated by Joey D. The operator that was terminated was a white male. I guarantee that this will never make it to trial. They will settle out of court with a gag order. REPLY BY JOHN: Have now found the article you are seeking: Motiva refinery worker files discrimination lawsuit
on Mar 11th, 2012 at 05:23
With Malcolm B retiring, Andy B coming..lets hope there is good changes coming.
By the way , What is there to handover?
To Malcolm- Happy Retirement!! write a book- see who are your friends after you retire. Save the trips , let the business do their work.
Cronies of Malcolmn – Watch out – you are next.
To Andy- show us you mean real business, you are not another Fade. Clean up HR and IT, reorganise new businesses and exploration..there is so much wastes and fuzzy accountability.
on Mar 10th, 2012 at 12:37
Well Ben, some very fine words indeed. However, I think you have missed my point. The US are international bully boys and their legal system is there to make money as much as it is to attempt justice
on Mar 9th, 2012 at 05:29
Londonlad, Great name indeed! Ok. If $hell had committed the egregious crimes it committed in collaboration with Nigerian govt (against Ogonis)in your country (where ever it is), would you prefer the company go unpunished? If yes, good for you, but the law of crime, especially when the culprit is visible and unrepentant like $hell doesn’t apply if in a yes case as could be your position. If no, then you’d be speaking to why Ogonis are using this American law that helped to reduce the speed with which such crimes occurs. Keeping the law will checkmate greedy and deadly corps such as $hell.
on Mar 8th, 2012 at 12:01
As you can see, another power outage at Motiva Port Arthur. Going to really be interesting to watch this new albatross come up on rates and then have this 100 year old power supply keep shutting it down. Tom, why didn’t you fix the electrical system when you had the opportunity? Too busy counting your stock options I guess. Let Jeff do that for you and try to make a difference in your final days.
on Mar 6th, 2012 at 19:51
About time the American legal system did
on Mar 5th, 2012 at 08:37
With Brinded now gone, might CIO Alan Matula now come under scrutiny ? The parallels are there: years of over-promise/under-delivery, aggressive suppression of bad news, and the intimidation of critics through behaviour bordering on the psychopathic. There’s little doubt that the cost of Matula’s vanity projects is playing a significant role on the demise of Downstream, where businesses like Retail make margin on cans of Coke. It’s sad to see DS businesses being divested, but at least one can share their sense of relief as they leave Shell and start divesting themselves of all this junk.
on Mar 3rd, 2012 at 14:14
The article re Brinded and Nigeria on “why Shell can’t build a refinery in Nigeria” is comical. Though the justification is correct, the reality is Shell can’t build a refinery anywhere. Just look at our own Port Arthur project. Under Tom Purves’s leadership, this ill fated concept got hatched. Everyone was happy in the early days, taking Port Arthur back to the glory days. Alas, the cit leaders didn’t plan on Tom and the project team bringing global help in here via Bechtel to do the work and therefore not impact the locals nearly as much as what had been advertised. Now, some 2 years late on the commitment for start-up and a price tag that will ultimately grow to $14B, Shell might just as well say ” Forget Nigeria…we can’t build a refinery anywhere. ” Tom’s legacy goes down the toilet with this project. He would do well to retire and at least give our team half a chance to run it well.
By the way, for any that are watching…. Tom’s #2 boy, Forrest Lauher, aka Forrest Liar, resigned from Shell as Botts sent the anticipated note out yesterday. Forrest was in over his head from day 1 on this project, given to him by none other than Tom Purves. He lost control of the project and got removed back in 2009. Should have been fired. Instead he got saved and was placed in our plant manager seat. Again, couldn’t handle the top job and they pulled him last year. We can only wait for the notice on Tom’s #1 boy Funkhater and then ultimately Tom himself. 2012 is starting to be a great year!
on Mar 2nd, 2012 at 19:03
John, the EU oil sanctions don’t take effect until July, so I guess that Shell are in full compliance with the letter, if not the spirit, of the sanctions. And Shell will no doubt continue to buy as much oil as they can until the very last minute… REPLY BY JOHN: The US embargo of Iranian oil announced in December will come into effect on 28 June. It may not be wise of Shell to upset President Obama by continuing to buy Iranian crude in the meantime bearing in mind Shell’s plans to drill in the Arctic Ocean. Iran is a very hot topic with Obama this weekend. Shell would be well advised to also bear in mind that given the overall circumstances, many will view its conduct as immoral. Shell is well aware of how bad it looks, hence its furtive conduct.
on Feb 23rd, 2012 at 16:58
The quote from a named spokesman for Shell PR (quoted here, but also on Bloomberg and many other sites) that the directors had
on Feb 23rd, 2012 at 16:24
Oh dear oh dear. Now who are
on Feb 22nd, 2012 at 20:50
Good Riddance to Bully Boy Brinded! The biggest mierenneuker imaginable. A very nasty man, arrogant, conceited and a downright bully. Shell will do well without him. Stay off Network rail trains with Brinded on the Board!
on Feb 22nd, 2012 at 16:58
It appears that Voser finally got fed up with Mr Overpromise/Underdelivery. Despite all the nice words about him, he is clearly kicked out. Plenty of sycophants around him are now fearing for their jobs and positioning themselves whom to kow-tow now.
This bearded fellow wasted his great brain on very small details and he was unable to delegate. I think his only real good project was the SLIM project. This was many moons ago and launched him to the top jobs. And there he failed as frequently and eloquently pointed out on the Donovan site.
Big brain, a micromanager on par with the pointy haired boss in Dilbert, a vicious and vindictive attitude to those that were of no use to him or that might talk back.
In summary: Good riddance and now the legal system of Scotland can go after him. But I doubt they will.
on Feb 22nd, 2012 at 12:37
What goes around comes around…. The announcement of Brinded has long been anticipated. We now wait for the next much smaller announcement…. Tom Purves to retire….. This will make our day when that moment happens.
Shell never deals with the issue of bad leadership until it is too late and the havoc has been wreaked…. However, as we say in the US, Every dog has its day….. and today that was Malcolm.
on Feb 16th, 2012 at 21:43
So early retirement then after all that ……. REPLY BY JOHN D. You are still playing a point scoring game. You seem to forget that the avoidable deaths of Shell offshore workers on Brent Bravo is at the heart of this matter. The deaths occurred after a safety audit led by Bill Campbell exposed a shambolic, illegal and shameful safety regime on Brent Bravo. They occurred after Shell senior Expro management had promised Bill that Shell would bring an end to the “Touch F*** All” culture and the falsification of safety records. The explosion and record breaking fine provide proof that the promises were not kept. There is NO commercial aspect to this matter as far as Mr Campbell is concerned. He is driven solely by a fear of an even worse event due to the same policy by Shell of putting production and profits before the safety of offshore workers. Please give Bill some credit for his integrity and for his long campaign, which has rightly received cross-party support from many MP’s.
on Feb 16th, 2012 at 09:31
Agent provocateur indeed!! Never been called that before, and I am most certainly not in league with Shell in any way! I again reiterate my point : was Campbell fired or given early retirement from Shell and thereby lies his grudge or did he reach full retirement age in the company? An honest answer might convince many that his continuous aggressiveness against Shell is genuine or just an ongoing grudge. This is not a “slanging match” merely a point of clarification.
REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN:
Mr Campbell has made it clear that he does not wish to get into discussion with someone making insulting comments while hiding behind an alias. With regards to his comment that you may be an agent provocateur, perhaps he gained that impression from checking your history of postings. Just so there is no misunderstanding, we welcome contributors who provide a counter-balance to negative postings about Shell. I have provided some links to further information about the Brent Bravo scandal. Despite all of the promises by Shell senior management about safety, which including appointing a safety Czar, its track record remains atrocious. Years after the Brent Bravo debacle, it was revealed that the lifeboats for a Shell North Sea platform were not seaworthy. You could not make it up.
on Feb 16th, 2012 at 09:11
LondonLad: In many cases “Reaching Retirement age” in Shell simply means being unable to find a position outside Shell -nowadays the most competent people generally move on long before reaching retirement age and pursue a second career elsewhere.
on Feb 15th, 2012 at 17:57
To : an observer of Shell, you state “It is commonly known that a great many employees of Shell Expro are freemasons”. Where did you get this “fact” from – smoking whacky backy?? I doubt very much that a great many are indeed freemasons. Even if they are (wich I seriously doubt), so what? Let’s face it they are a society that provide one of the largest contributions to charities in the UK. I think you very clearly have an axe to grind against Shell. In that context why does Campbell have such a chip on his shoulder over Shell? Was he sacked for some reason? Did he actually reach his retirement age in Shell? Would be nice to know so that we can believe more that his rants are genuine problems he has with Shell rather than caused by some hidden grudge.
on Feb 15th, 2012 at 03:57
GTW, I know you are right, TP and others will get their due. What is painful is that those whose lives have been changed and whose spirits have been destroyed because of his actions, will not be compensated. Tom is not the only one taking credit for this new cruel process of forced ranking, by claiming credit for what market demand has meant for profits. There are promotions taking place right now because credit is claimed by those executing Tom’s plan for performance ‘refirings’. I worked in manufacturing sites where management and performance was a joke, and profits were above forecast. It’s always been market demand and the hard work of the folks on the ground that make manufacturing successful, Tom is not a pioneer in taking undue credit for local successes, but he has certainly been the cruelest!
on Feb 14th, 2012 at 22:23
I have no proof nor will I ever find that proof, but this reprehensible conduct of the legal authorities smells to high heaven of masonic lodges. It is commonly known that a great many employees of Shell Expro are freemasons. The police forces all over the world are well presented in the various lodges. I would not be surprised if Brinded himself is a member.
Bill Campbell is a very courageous man taking on these evil forces. We in Shell all knew him to be a completely honest and competent Maintenance manager and HSE auditor. But he loses against all the parasites and sycophants whose sole job is to protect the directors. And then live well on the spoils of their abhorrent activities.
Top marks for the Donovans who keep this festering sore in the spotlight. To some it maybe a lot of repeating old stories, but those that want to hide and bury their bad actions know that time is on their side. And Shell has deep pockets and knows how to procrastinate.
on Feb 14th, 2012 at 11:03
John, there is no issue with my post. This is the same GTW that has been providing updates for some time on the ill fated project CEP and the ill fated Tom Purves, both of which should be going fading into the background this year as old worn out news.
on Feb 13th, 2012 at 09:21
I retract my previous statement. COMMENT BY JOHN DONOVAN: WE HAVE REASON TO SUSPECT THAT THIS POSTING IS NOT IN FACT FROM THE PARTY WHO USES THE ALIAS “GOLDENTRIANGLE WATCHMAN ON THIS BLOG, BUT IS FROM AN IMPOSTER.
on Feb 8th, 2012 at 12:12
With all of this money spent on the CEP expansion, it has been built on an old electrical infrastructure. I guess no one is counting how many times you read about a “short” electrical outage at the plant. Tom Purves and the Motiva leadership know exactly why this is happening and how to fix it. They don’t want to pay for it. They have been given the project and have turned it down at least twice. Meanwhile, we just keep having outages. Going ot be interesting when both refineries come down in the future.
on Feb 7th, 2012 at 15:54
LondonLad: the lack of stories concerning Shell should be welcomed, if it implies that Shell are cleaning up their act, perhaps due in part to the efforts of the Donovans.
on Feb 5th, 2012 at 18:49
US Observer, surely almost all (NOT all)contributors to this website have an axe to grind against Shell, particularly those who have a perception that they have been screwed by Shell in times gone by. As for Itchy Woman, she clearly has a femanistic / burn-the-bra approach to work in Shell. AND I would like to add that once again an old old article (from someone who has an axe to grind against Shell) has to be republished due to lack of news against Shell (I refer to Briggs 2009 article). COMMENT BY JOHN D. Would it not be fairer to say that everyone posting on this blog, including you, has an axe to grind. It is easy enough to look back over your contributions and reach a conclusion.
on Feb 4th, 2012 at 18:11
It is easy to figure out who Witchy Woman is (LC). She has an “ax to grind” and is using this forum
on Feb 4th, 2012 at 10:07
@uscitizen
Voser is a competent and amicable chap. You claim Shell has delivered on its deliverables. Let me tell you everyone delivers on their deliverable…. But joking apart, look at the promises over the years and how well Shell has delivered on these promises. Their trackrecord is not very good over the last 15 years or so. They are a good money making machine. And sofar they have delivered on their constant or increasing dividend payments. Sometimes by increasing their debt but they have done it. A nice high oilprice has helped, don’t you agree??
So my only observation was that his ‘promise’ to extend North Sea fields is quite opposite their activities in this area. And they have promised this before and done the opposite. It was a nice promise to build a new and expensive office in Aberdeen, more jobs for the UK and more activity and extending of production. Just check back what they have done.
And predicting future productionlevels by Shell in general and Brinded in particular is nothing but a sick joke.
on Feb 3rd, 2012 at 23:10
To – an observer of Shell
Shell has been delivering on its deliverables – why would you paint Voser as some one who is not??
on Feb 3rd, 2012 at 23:08
This was not a personal attack now was it Witchy one??
#133 Witchy woman
on May 8th, 2011 at 1:42 pm
Marvin Odum who probably has the worst safety record in Shell goes for a diversity vote and someone who has no safety experience to replace the VP of safety he just fired. Clear message where his priorities lie.
on Feb 3rd, 2012 at 23:06
Witchy Woman – you blase me for personal attacks???? That is so rich! I am defending people that are attacked if you had not noticed – and yes I do slam the folks who are throwing garbage out! Live with it!! Enjoy your retirement! Shell has a good retirement package in the US dont they??
on Feb 3rd, 2012 at 23:03
I feel the value of your posts is also minimal, just a complainer. PS – here is where you bash Denise – remember – or do we need to question your integrity the way folks question Shell leaders??
Witchy woman
on Dec 7th, 2011 at 12:35 pm
In GOM we thought that hurricane season was done. Why is Hurricane Denise causing so much damage then? Like all Hurricanes though they move on the professionals are left to pick up the pieces.
on Feb 3rd, 2012 at 17:03
According to the Independent article posted today the boss of Shell is telling us all not to get too emotional about fracking. Has he not seen the confirmation that fracking causes earthquakes? You have cited the Reuters article. There are others including coverage of a fracking earthquake in Blackpool England. I have to conclude that Voser is a fracking idiot.
on Feb 3rd, 2012 at 06:03
Good morning John. I read this morning in Barrons that Lynn Elsenhans is now the ex-ceo of Sunoco. The public announcement by Sunoco, here,
lists her accomplishments as selling assets, shutting down plants and getting out of businesses.
on Feb 3rd, 2012 at 00:16
US Citizen
Thank you for your unsolicited feedback. It was typically of zero value.
I think you need to learn how to read before commenting.
I don’t see any mention of Denise there, and as far as I am aware Deepwater would appoint the VP.
Typically you have it wrong again and incidentally the new appointment is great. If it was Denise, she did well.
Maybe its about time you left as you contribute little apart from personal attacks.
on Feb 2nd, 2012 at 14:02
Is Voser now also being jinxed by the famous Brinded spell? This decent and down to earth Swiss financeman is trying to tell the world that Shell will increase production from North Sea fields by extending the life of these fields (Sky Sunrise interview). I am taking bets with some friends this will not happen. All observable actions by Shell is that they are retrenching from the North Sea. Voser emphasised that there will be a lot of job creation in the UK….. Now, where have we heard this before????
And he says (Bloomberg story):
‘Shell will increase production to about 4 million barrels of oil equivalent a day in 2017-2018. Last March, it said daily output would rise to 3.5 million barrels this year and 3.7 million barrels by 2014′.
Promises, promises, promises. This translates into bonuses and a bit later in ‘new insights’ or other factors that could not be foreseen. I give it to him he is not as audacious as Brinded who predicted 7-8 years ago that Shell would be doing close to 6 mln bbl/d around now.
I am not calling the man a liar. I would not dare to with his army of lawyers in Shell. But how should we call someone who ‘not speaketh the truth’?
Shall we keep it as ‘tarred with the same brush as Brinded?”
on Feb 1st, 2012 at 12:33
US Citizen, you are probably right. I expect it will be higher than the $10b I shared. Everyone over there knows that Motiva has had a spinfest on the information. Contractors have been told to shut up and not report the facts. That is what happens when the Tom Purves came back and took over. Everybody knows it. You are a suck up and everyone knows that too. I’m glad that you remain oblivious, even to the day that Shell reaches up and drops you over the cliff like they have done so many in the last several years. Shell….good people and crappy leadership. We all know it!
PS… Stay tuned for the Purves retirement announcement coming soon to a garbage can near you!!
on Feb 1st, 2012 at 01:00
Uncle Tom – your data on CEP at Port Arthur costs is wrong – so stop spreading lies. Just quit if you are that unhappy.
on Feb 1st, 2012 at 00:56
To Witchy Woman – get off the Denise Rants. She is a very talented hard working woman of integrity. Not every HSSE position needs to be filled by HSSE career folks. In fact – folks with line experience, which she has, are in a very good place to lead HSSE organizations. I did and did just fine. You are just an unhappy person who is mad you or yours did not get that job, give it up and let the biased outsiders do their shell bashing, not shell people who are simply bitter at their lot and should realize how darn lucky they are. Or – please quit and become a shell outsider – might help us both out.
on Jan 31st, 2012 at 19:19
Having read that the former RBS-CEO, Fred Goodwin, has been stripped of his knighthood by UK authorities. Makes you wonder if and when Sir Phil Watts will stripped of his one. No doubt Phil’s selfish behaviour at the helm of Shell did more harm to the industry and private investors than Fred.
on Jan 30th, 2012 at 02:42
Are there cases where UK employment lawyers have won against shell? REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN: Don’t have knowledge of any such case, but I recommend you to a lawyer who has sued Shell many times on our behalf. Four High Court cases for IP theft and breach of contract. Two for libel. All settled by Shell with damages and all legal costs paid. The lawyer is Richard Woodman, a partner at Royds Solicitors, 65 Carter Lane London EC4V 5HF Tel: 020 7583 2222. Richard knows Shell well and all of the tricks of their legal department. Richard is head of Royds Employment Department and specialises in all aspects of employment law. He was recommended to me and turned out to be a great asset and kind friend in our years of successive legal battles with Shell. Thanks in great part to his dedication and expertise, we never lost a single case against Shell. Also had a great barrister team led by Geoffrey Cox MP QC, a courtroom orator who verbally bashed in open court a High Court judge who was blatantly biased in favour of Shell. Judge forgot to declare that his life long friend had Shell as a client. The judge also had an undeclared commercial connection with Tom Moody-Stuart, the barrister son of Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, the then Shell Chairman. By coincidence, or otherwise, the Judge shocked the legal world by unexpectedly resigning after we had made a formal complaint to the Lord Chancellor. The Judge joined the aforementioned friends company, which worked for Shell. Apologies for rambling on.
on Jan 29th, 2012 at 17:38
I hope we get an SE/SD professional as the new VP of Deepwater SE/SD and not another import to a senior position.
on Jan 28th, 2012 at 18:19
Old Timer – I am afraid that there clearly is very little news (i.e. aspects of Shell’s work) for the Donovan’s to rant on about recently. A great deal is re-printed as though it’s new but is merely old stories and anti-Shell propoganda that is old history. Yes, we learn from history but we don’t have to regurgitate it repeatedly. The lead story today linking Shell with Jewish skin lamp shades is really gutter press and totally deplorable nonsense from the Donovan’s. REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN: You are entitled to your view. Considerably more evidence is being accumulated as a result of many newspaper archives from Europe and the USA, and books as far back as the 1930?s, all being made available and searchable online. In a few months time, we will publish all of the additional evidence. Those who are interested will be free to read it. The evidence is overwhelming. It includes information and documents from Shell
on Jan 27th, 2012 at 13:14
John
Great stuff to re-post some historical events in Shell. It shows that your network has mostly been spot-on predicting what was wrong and what would happen.
It also shows how long a big company can continue on a substandard level and still do reasonably well. Could it be that a high oilprice has helped a bit?
I remember that evil Watts still very well. He has gone completely silent the last few years, exactly what can be expected of a small minded man. Presumably he is working his Japanese garden and repenting in his home church, trying to buy absolution and still hoping not to go to hell but instead a very long time in the purgatory…. I fear in vain!
It would be also be nice if you could dig out some old records in which the man with the facial hair (aka Mr TFA) has been promising increasing production levels and if I am not mistaken, he even projected more than 6 million bopd to be reached about now. But he never delivered and still is on seat!! He has been at it for some 15 yrs or more by now. In the past we learned faster in Shell but then there was less fear and more decent people at the top.
Keep the good work up!
on Jan 23rd, 2012 at 14:22
SHELL EXPECT US: REPLY TO WILLIAM TELL BY JOHN DONOVAN. We have exchanged email correspondence with you. As I believe I have pointed out to you previously, if you supply any Shell internal emails, we would insist on giving Shell sight of the emails before publication of the emails or any related information. It is our normal practice to give Shell the opportunity to comment on authenticity unless the information comes from a trusted source.
on Jan 18th, 2012 at 17:46
Well, well – if anyone wishes to get a flavour of what is possible in the wild west of Ireland I suggest you watch the wonderful John Michael 2011 film “The Guard” starring Brendan Gleeson. Anything & everything is possible out there.
on Jan 6th, 2012 at 11:56
Are we to understand that the violent conduct we witnessed on Irish newsreel shots from Corrib in Mayo were fueled by Shell supplied alcohol to Irish policemen …tell me no …innocent decent people protecting their homes
on Jan 6th, 2012 at 11:40
John saw your reply it all happend ok problem is the Hague is now in charge of the situation all Irish corrib staff have been silenced four people have been let go over their part any one who speaks or produces evidence will suffer big time the cops who got the booze are watching from the sideline also in silence hoping for a clean outcome . If it was all exposed the project be stopped that came from the horses mouth Shell .
on Jan 6th, 2012 at 10:38
I am ashamed by the conduct of Shell HR in the Anti Discrimination case. As a company we should honour these issues. The mentioned HR rep (Van Barlingen) in the article did much more damage to Shell’s reputation by her cold reply and non-action.
I truly hope that senior HR management will overrule this decision and decide in favour of Mr Gatti.
on Jan 6th, 2012 at 09:16
Mr Donovan are you aware that a one thousand euro reward is on offer in Mayo for the name of the supplier of large amounts of alcohol to local Garda on behalf of Roadbridge Shell. REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN: I have seen the various allegations and comments posted here, but no evidence. If anyone has any evidence to support these allegations, please sent it to me: john@shellnews.net
on Jan 5th, 2012 at 12:04
Still criminal offence to bribe Gardai Rb who supplied it? next you will say you didn’t pay for home improvements or will you ?
on Jan 5th, 2012 at 11:12
Roadbridge supplied no booze to Garda on Corrib others supplied it Roadbridge were told to pay for it get your facts right jp
on Jan 4th, 2012 at 23:47
Corrib Project comments from G Hamilton not correct Roadbridge Shell main contractor supplied large amounts of booze to police protecting the project now the press have a hold of the story and panic has set in….oh what a tangled web we weave when first …etc ect
on Jan 4th, 2012 at 23:18
Roadbridge Shell main contractor supplied booze in large quantities to cops on the corrib frontline now cops in a panic because press have a sniff of it cops not pleased with Shell
on Jan 4th, 2012 at 19:42
In in response to George Hamilton, Shell Corrib have bigger problems than Gardai gifts. The lead project planners RPS have informed Shell that every land owner agreement they have could be deemed to be invalid because certain landowners got special disguised extra payments by way of cash, home improvements..etc… whilst the rest got the bare minimum for access to there land. The Irish Shell CEO is gone over this matter.
on Jan 4th, 2012 at 18:35
Shell Corrib Gas Project losing the much needed support of the local police force. By leaving them in a very embarrassing position over Illegal Christmas gifts. Heads are rolling Peter Voser CEO now involved – Shit is hitting fans everywhere
on Jan 3rd, 2012 at 12:55
John D, Someone should tell Mr Wallach of Beaumont enterprises that the Motiva project has long surpassed the $7B dollar price tag. This project will come in north of $12b, 2 years late and is being tagged as one of Shell’s worst projects. The project would have been killed by both partners of Motiva but too much money had been sunk into the effort, notionally $4B, to walk away from it.
on Dec 24th, 2011 at 18:43
We would like to wish all visitors and contributors a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
on Dec 22nd, 2011 at 19:54
The Bonga spill obviously is unforgiveable. A relatively young facility should not leak oil. But the disaster as mentioned by many journalists will be minute. It is light oil and most will evaporate and disappear before hitting the beach.
In 1979 there was a spill of another magnitude: the bottom of tank 6 had dropped out in Forcados. There was 1 meter oil in the terminal and Bert Ockeloen, the General Operations Manager flew over it the next day and stated: I may lose my terminal so break the wall and flush it into the sea. We talk of 100,000 tonnes of Forcados crude. Fortunately it was in the middle of the rainy season, there were no spark arrestors on the export pumps and the oil was lapping at the base of these…. God took a kind eye on Forcados that day. After flushing the lot into the sea, it all disappeared within weeks. Not a trace to be seen. Some small money and fish was given to local villages. Only the channel used to move the oil to the sea remained polluted and was cleaned up many years later. It all was possible because there was a military government suppressing the press and life was good for Shell!
So, bad marks for spilling oil on Bonga but it is not the end of the world. Nigerian bacteria are very strong and will eat it all up!
on Dec 20th, 2011 at 02:41
I absolutely love your blog and find the majority of your post’s to be precisely what I’m looking for. Would you offer guest writers to write content in your case? I wouldn’t mind producing a post or elaborating on a lot of the subjects you write regarding here. Again, awesome web log! REPLY BY JOHN: All are welcome to submit articles for publication, relating to Shell, this website, its owners and related matters. Does not matter if the content is positive or negative. Any allegations must be substantiated with evidence. Links can be inserted. Please note that we will not allow the forum to be used for advertising purposes.
on Dec 8th, 2011 at 19:59
What the hell are you two talking about with these hurricanes? Just hot me thinks.
on Dec 8th, 2011 at 05:21
yes Witchy Woman, and just like after a hurricane you can pick up the pieces, but the casualties are gone forever
on Dec 7th, 2011 at 12:35
In GOM we thought that hurricane season was done. Why is Hurricane Denise causing so much damage then? Like all Hurricanes though they move on the professionals are left to pick up the pieces.
on Dec 2nd, 2011 at 15:47
So Golden Triangle MAN – Lets assume Purves and Smallwood are as bad as you say and assume that the project execution was lacking – over budget and overschedule, one editorial comment for you – I assume you would have known how to pull off the most complex US refinery project in the last 50 years with better results – but you do not seem to grasp the magnitude and size.
Having said all that – you state – ” Because of the decisions of Motiva leadership, and Tom Purves in particular, this project could have done so much more for the city of Port Arthur. They decided not to.”
Decided not to what? How can any one debate that this Shell investment – late and overbudget, is a huge coup for Port Arthur in jobs and tax base?? How?? More permanent and contract jobs for years and years? What on earth are you doubting about that. Look in the mirror and realize your hatred for Purves is clouding your view on the long term big picture.
on Nov 30th, 2011 at 11:40
Read this Shell spin…..
When Motiva Enterprises completes it
on Nov 25th, 2011 at 14:48
Fracking will be good for South Africa, especially since it will provide plenty of gas that will displace expensive imported gas. I have heard that there will be in excess of 2500 jobs from start up of the project, a vast majority of whom will be South Africans. All-in-all a good piece of business for the country despite all the negative press provided, in the main part, by ill-informed and people with political agendas.
on Nov 24th, 2011 at 10:52
Fracking in the Karoo by Shell how is it a good project for South Africa? How many people will be employed on the project?
on Nov 3rd, 2011 at 17:03
Thanks John for sharing the Nigeria spills link with us. It brings back happy memories from the old days when I was involved in many of the wells that are now being sabotaged or are failing. From the photos it is clear we should thank Huub van Engelshoven who decreed that Shell would use solid block trees even on land. Normally these are used offshore but he knew way back to not rely on good maintenance and honest nigerians. Solid block trees are much more sturdy than composite trees. The extra costs must have paid off. But now there is a genuine mess for a whole host of reasons. Nigeria needs to sort itself out first methinks.
on Oct 31st, 2011 at 13:27
Oil players told to toe the line to earn licence to operate (Brunei Times)
EXTRACT: OIL and gas players must toe the line if they want to secure a licence to operate from the government, the energy minister yesterday warned as he scored Brunei Shell Petroleum Sdn Bhd (BSP) amid allegations of irregularities in the tender process and for not fully contributing to local business development despite its long presence in the Sultanate.
In a speech at the Brunei Shell Vendor Forum, Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office (EDPMO) Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Mohd Yasmin Hj Umar urged oil and gas contractors to strictly observe the government’s policies on local business development, business integrity and safety. “They are essentially the ingredients for licence to operate,” he said.
on Oct 31st, 2011 at 13:26
ALSO FROM THE BRUNEI TIMES:
Zero tolerance on corruption
EXTRACT: Energy minister voices gov’t displeasure over transparency issues at Shell vendor forum:
QUESTIONS on business integrity, transparency and checks against corruption in the relationship between Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) and contractors have surfaced…
on Oct 30th, 2011 at 15:16
“Sucking up” (as you put it) to potentially massive new emerging markets (e.g. China, India & Brazil) is exactly the way to go for any company. I am also sure that a great majority of Shell’s shareholders (myself included) want this to happen – why allow the likes of Exxon, BP etc. to do this and not Shell?
REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN: I am sure most will agree with you, but in the case of China, is it prudent to inject huge funds, as we are all doing, into a regime with an abysmal human rights record, which is vastly increasing its military power, including naval forces and its nuclear arsenal, and has acted recklessly in pursuit of its ambition for orbital weapons? I guess we are all hoping that the Chinese government and its aggressive military will decide that it would not be prudent to destroy its customer base, bearing in mind that almost all consumer goods these days seem to be manufactured in China. Wal-Mart is probably its best customer. Greatest respect and affection for the Chinese people, but its leaders are another matter. Remember Tiananmen Square. Remember Tibet. Is it morally correct to deal with governments who have no respect whatsoever for human rights?
on Oct 28th, 2011 at 10:53
Verna leaving to go to Bechtecl would surprise me. She knows how bad Bechtecl is and have been on this project. The only reason Bechtecl is still around is due to the relationship between Riley Bechtel and the Saudis. I hear Funk will leave in the dead of night, which tells me Uncle Tom isn’t too far behind with his retirement. You can bet he will take care of his little boy. As for the article on timing, just like Shell….. Everyone knows that the project is 2 years late. They continue to push start-up dates into 2012. Everyone involved with the project knows it is a bust. I’m now hearing numbers in the $11-12b range. It has gotten so bad that the Motiva folks won’t even share the cost numbers with anyone. The contractors feel that Motiva doesn’t want to hear the truth and that is fine with Bechtel. What a shame! Uncle Tom, I hope this is what you were looking for. I hope they include Tom’s severance package in the cost of the project and just do us all a favor and dump him. Give him his big retirement party so all the old Shell cronies can show up and tell their good stories and act like none of this matters. Tom, you stink, have stunk for awhile, and everyone I talk with over here in PortArthurville looks at you as a plague. Your are spoiled meat and no one will align with you…… except Jeff. You 2 deserve each other.
on Oct 27th, 2011 at 14:12
To Par Cepper & Triangle Watchman: I hear that Purves and Funk have now aligned thoughts on Motiva for project reduction. Means Rutherford could leave Port Arthur for Betchel. Good news eh!
on Oct 25th, 2011 at 17:05
The Americans really are THE bully boys of the planet. What right do they have to have legal jurisdiction over what happens elsewhere on the globe, particularly when the plantiffs are not American. Yet another example of Nigerian’s trying to get a fast buck.
on Oct 23rd, 2011 at 22:29
Comment received in response to the article: Will Malcolm Brinded be attending the funeral of his friend Gaddafi?
Maybe Brinded’s not going to the funeral but is he going to be the next Chairman of Network Rail?
(Name and email address supplied)
on Oct 23rd, 2011 at 01:13
PAR Cepper, trust me, I know what I’m talking about. Uncle Tom is the root problem. Funk is just hanging on. As soon as they get rid of Tom due to a failed project, some say one of the worst ever in Shell, Funk will be gone quietly….. Lauher has already been dumped.
on Oct 21st, 2011 at 21:51
triangle watchman: you don’t know what you are talking about. Funk is about to strike and you are still on about Uncle Tom. The problem really is that there too many druggies on the work site. Gee what a mess.
on Oct 20th, 2011 at 19:53
“Dr. Goodluck Diigbo points out:
on Oct 19th, 2011 at 14:41
Message to Monday N.K. We have received your comment criticising Shell’s conduct in the Nigeria Delta. Unfortunately we cannot decipher some of the points you are making. Can you please resubmit it after seeking help in re-drafting so that our readers can understand what you want to say.
on Oct 15th, 2011 at 09:14
Good to see that Shell (SPDC) has a website that reports on oil spills in its operational areas in Nigeria. Covers operational oil spills, theft, sabotage and other illegal attacks. Clearly shows that each year between 2005 and 2010 the very large majority of oil spills is from sabotage (despite the twaddle coming from Amnesty, environmentalists and Nigerians with an axe to grind with Shell). Even the Dutch newspaper “De Telegraph” has praised the website.
on Oct 14th, 2011 at 11:37
Re the article of Motiva getting funding from the Enterprise funding, Unlce Tom Purves and the Motiva leadership knew exactly what they were doing. They had the same game plan with the city of Port Arthur and the tax abatements. They showed all the upside of the Crude Expansion project with promises of 300 new jobs and a bunch of local commitments for local workers. As soon as they received the Enterprise funding and the tax abatements, they let Bechtel bring in workforce from outside the area. Re the 300 jobs, they did not include the many jobs they were cutting in the base plant, forcing retirements and reducing positions…. all the while advertising the new jobs for the new sections of the expansion refinery. A shell game to say the least and shows the capability of Shell’s senior leaders, especially the one Tom Purves, who no longer has a career. He is just hanging on until the last few checks are signed for this elephant of a project, now ballooning to over $10BILLION. A reminder that Tom promised it would not go a penny over $8.5BILLION. My my my… if you want details on this one, just ask Ms. Verna Rutherford…. Remember Tom……. I’m watching……
on Oct 8th, 2011 at 14:28
Zebulon John Egai: the only one that can fix this is your own government. So to all Nigerians, revolt against your own corrupt government and try to get a rule of law in your beautiful country. Once that is achieved (more or less) the rest will improve too. After all the demonstrations in arab countries, it is now time that you guys start this too in Nigeria. Only Nigerians can fix this. As long as you have that massive corruption (at all levels) life will be hell for everyone.
on Oct 7th, 2011 at 11:56
shell and its partners, in niger delta, have violated united nations framework convention on climate change, GAS FLARING is regularly going on,who can help us. thank you.
on Sep 15th, 2011 at 07:00
Hey dutchdude, good point on survivors of indiscretion in shell ranks. But let lowly team leaders push back when managers are disingenuous and we are swiftly severed. There is no justice. Even if SR restores some of the morale and spirit; nothing will compensate those whose spirits were disgraced after being subjectively ranked then terminated. What self-appointed organizational development ‘guru’ convinced whom that this was a way to improve the Culture? 1.5 x 1y pay was an insult to those who were not given a choice. I guess the only remaining hope is that karma or God and the heavens, mete the ‘justice’ deserved by the ignorant souls who enacted this heartless process! As detached from the current conversation as this may seem; please consider my comments as further example of how Shell seems to contort Priorities!!!
on Sep 13th, 2011 at 16:44
To retiree: No sir, I don’t want any more fatalities or spills in Shell. The sad fact is that inside Shell and outside as a society we have become too foregiving to inferior HSE performance. Who still blinks an eye when 1 person is killed in our business? The HSE staff use a matrix that only when more than 3 or 4 are killed the incident becomes major. The BP oil spill showed that even such a worse case scenario is survivable for the company and most of its senior managers. How many BP managers lost their jobs over that incident? Reality is that the oil industry is building up for the next Piper Alpha, (many current managers don’t even know about that incident anymore; outside UK this is a fact). Dear retiree, we want the same. No fatalities, no big oil spills and no more managers who get away with it all….
on Sep 12th, 2011 at 14:46
Sorry Itchy woman I have no idea who you are talking about! I am sure most other readers of this site have no idea.
on Sep 11th, 2011 at 05:59
Macannon, you know very well who I am referring to. The Ego has landed in Houston.
on Sep 4th, 2011 at 13:44
Probably due to the fact the boss was a woman “Twitchy Woman”? That said, what are you referring to and where are you referring to?
on Sep 3rd, 2011 at 15:24
So, no-one wants to work in HSE then. Strange how only two people applied for a senior position. I wonder what caused that?
on Aug 30th, 2011 at 23:22
As some commentators have said, abandoned and old fashioned facilities and pipelines exposed to the oil surface that they become impacted by natural agents (sun, rain, etc)will definitely leak and spill most oil considering the chain of pipelines in Ogoni. More importantly, reports have it that $hell staff and government officials, the Rivers State military taskforce and buyers from outside and within the state are behind this oil bunkering, which has been only few year in operation. By and large $hell and the government are still the culprits, because they use outdated, exposed materials and hungry youths in the community to still get this oil, while pretending operations in Ogoni have been stopped.
on Aug 28th, 2011 at 04:09
dutchdude’s comment: “Unfortunately this UK spill was too small.”
So you would prefer that the North Sea take on a 5 million barrel spill to prove a point?
on Aug 25th, 2011 at 20:42
Oldtimer, you are too forgiving towards Glen Cayley. His HSE record is truly terrible, and one wonders how many chances a senior managers gets in Shell to demonstrate he is incompetent in manageing safety? Seems Shell needs a “BP moment” to wake up, as they did not (want to) learn from the BP spill at all. Unfortunately this UK spill was too small.
on Aug 25th, 2011 at 16:55
So according to this sites main headline pipeline sabotage prevails yet again in Nigeria. Seems like these so called
on Aug 24th, 2011 at 19:41
Macannon: As I said, if the wells had been properly suspended or abandoned, and the flowlines and infrastructure cleaned and removed (in accordance with standard industry practice – especially in Holland) there would have been no corroding, leaking, flowlines and production facilities, and no possibility of leaks due to corrosion or sabotage. Whether or not sabotage took place, corrosion alone has resulted in the release of huge quantities of oil in Nigeria, as it did at Gannet. The facilities and flowlines in Nigeria were left full of oil. Over the years most of it has leaked into the environment.
on Aug 23rd, 2011 at 12:23
Outsider, I have never stated that saboteurs were responsible for the Gannet leak so like others on this website you should not exaggerate or add words to what has been stated. It is the amount and impact of the leak that is important and it is this that may well have been overstated to get a story or prove the
on Aug 23rd, 2011 at 09:47
Macannon: if the wells in Ogoni land had been abandoned (or properly suspended) and the surface flowlines and infrastructure removed, there would have been no possibility of sabotage. Instead, wells were left filled with oil and gas under pressure, as were corroding, leaking flowlines and production facilities. Whether or not sabotage had taken place, corrosion would have ensured that large quantities of oil and gas would leak into the environment, as happened at Gannet. Or perhaps you prefer to have us believe that the Gannet leak was also the work of saboteurs?
on Aug 22nd, 2011 at 14:31
Question is Outsider are you, WWF, Greenpeace or anyone else able to say how much has been spilled? Wait until the correct numbers have been ratified by the authorities. As I said earlier the likes of Greenpeace are often way out with their numbers as they know very little about the subject. As for Nigeria (particularly Ogoniland) most of the problem is not from (ex-Shell) wellheads but from damaged pipelines. For damaged read sabotaged by locals for their own gains. Please provide evidence of widespread negligence by Shell in their responsibilities in Ogoniland for securing wellheads. Indeed wellheads, flow lines & other facilities in Holland, Malaysia etc. etc. were adequately sealed. HOWEVER, these countries did not have the saboteurs that caused the subsequent pollution. As ever with Nigeria the cancerous corruption prevails and do-gooders and tree huggers jump on the band wagon as they have little or no knowledge about the subject. All they can see is an opportunity to bash an international company. Let’s see them attempt to blast the Nigerian Government – result would be that they got nowhere.
on Aug 22nd, 2011 at 12:52
So Cayley feels the inspection and maintenance programme let them down? This would infer that changing some ink on paper will fix the problem.
Now Glen is a nice fellow and a geologist so he maybe forgiven for being so ignorant. I would expect these farcical statements from HR folk but not from petroleum professionals.
I bet that the inspection and maintenance programme is a very good one. Developed and improved over many years and checked by the outside agencies. The management of this programme however is clearly lacking. And management is made up of people. And people can be hassled in doing the wrong thing as long as you scare them sufficiently.
Brinded, who set the scene many moons ago with his insisting on processes rather than common sense, has created an army of frightened drones who always agree with the boss and are happy if a series of boxes can be ticked off so all will be well. Those drones have also blindly followed the TFA policy of Brinded. And being an ex Exxon guy, Crayley knows all about following orders. The mistake he made is to think the orders from his current bosses are of the same quality as in Exxon.
on Aug 22nd, 2011 at 12:31
Macannon – are Shell really able to be so precise about the volume of the Gannet spill, or should their figures be considered as comparable with the 5000 barrels/day of the initial MMS press releases on Macondo. In Nigeria, as elsewhere, the operator (Shell) was responsible for securing their producing wells and infrastructure when production was stopped. The pollution which occurred after Shell stopped production was only possible because Shell failed to fulfil its obligations. It is striking that Shell did not leave leaking wells, corroding flowlines and collapsing production infrastructure in Wassenaar or Schoonebeek when they stopped production from the fields.
on Aug 21st, 2011 at 16:32
At the end of the day the very small amount of oil allegedly leaked (“estimated at 218 tonnes”) will disappear very rapidly and cause very very little damage to the environment. Of course now Greenpeace (they of the over statement of Brent Spar pollution!!!!!) will continue to exagerate volumes (as will others) to the extent that the entire Gannet Field reserves have leaked into the North Sea. It really is that time of the year when there is so little news to report on. Ho Hum.
on Aug 20th, 2011 at 19:31
Outsider it seems to me that you’ve read way too much into what Veritas said in his post. He didn’t say that since it was stopped after 10 days all was OK. As for Nigeria you appear to have joined the uninformed Tree Huggers in accusing Shell of the pollution. A vast (yes vast) majority of the oil spills in Ogoniland post date (yes post date) Shell’s involvement in the area. Sabotage by Nigerians who want to steal the oil and also get damage money are the primary causes.
on Aug 20th, 2011 at 16:14
Veritas: you seem to be implying that because Shell have finally managed to stop the flow after 10 days, then everything is OK? How long must a well flow and how many thousands of tonnes of crude oil need to be released into the environment before a problem exists? I guess the Nigerian leaks should not really be a problem either – it’s only a matter of a few thousand barrels of light, sweet crude after all.
on Aug 19th, 2011 at 23:11
John, I normally appreciate your site for its neutrality, but it’s clear now that Shell’s North Sea leak is fixed that at least two of your “experts” you cited in your August 16 post, and possibly all three, were very very wrong. I think you have done very well in the past verifying your sources, especially the chap from Malaysia, but the folks cited that day were full of hogwash and speculation. Other than that, keep up the good work. REPLY FROM JOHN: Some people might be surprised at your assessment that we are neutral in relation to Shell. As to your other comments, stay tuned. More information will emerge shortly about how far Shell can be trusted in relation to the safety and integrity of its North Sea Platforms. The information, includes a recent document supplied to me on Friday by the HSE offshore division. It is a letter from a very senior UK government official sent to a senior person at Shell Exploration and Production. We will put the letter into the public domain and also bring it to the attention of relevant U.S. regulatory authorities and Alaskan state senators.
on Aug 16th, 2011 at 16:32
Suggest you put a different picture on your lead story concerning Shell still being in Syria. I’ve got one of Assad if you want one. REPLY FROM JOHN: Appreciate the offer, but have found one, unless yours is more appropriate. Thanks.
on Aug 12th, 2011 at 16:52
Boy oh boy, part 7 sure has a lot of very lengthy argumentation but in honesty (and I do have Shell shares) I read nothing in there that really convinces me that you should continue to rattle on about some connection between Deterding and Hitler. An alledged connection that happened some 65 years ago. I really believe you keep this on the “front page” as a form of tabloid press titilation. Come into the present and concentrate your continued sniping at Shell based on the present system. REPLY BY JOHN: You are entitled to your view. Considerably more evidence is being accumulated on an almost daily basis, as a result of many newspaper archives from Europe and the USA, and books as far back as the 1930′s, all being made available and searchable online. We will publish all of the additional evidence. Those who are interested will be free to read the evidence, which is overwhelming. It includes information and documents from Shell’s own archives, which Shell was concerned would come into our possession. We have Shell internal communications obtained by us under the UK Data Protection Act revealing Shell’s anxiety at this prospect. Shell has threatened action in relation to this subject. We are 100% confident that for obvious reasons, no action will be taken. We are not talking about allegations, but historical fact. Deterding/Royal Dutch Shell pumped funds into the Nazi regime for many years and Shell continued to do so after Deterding resigned as Director General. Deterding remained a Shell director until the day he died in Nazi Germany. He had a Nazi funeral attended by Nazi officers and senior Royal Dutch Shell officials. A personal message from Hitler was read at the grave.
on Aug 12th, 2011 at 14:33
John, Regarding your response to “Austria1″ that you do not believe that current Shell management sympathizes with the Nazis… If this is indeed the case, why are you so affixed on this topic. “The past is the past”, there are enough present issues that you could direct attention towards. Why do you “live in the past” ? REPLY: A legitimate question. The answer can be found here: Royal Dutch Shell Nazis Secrets Part 7: Why does it still matter?
on Aug 11th, 2011 at 18:27
I have read with concern that the current Shell management sympathises with Nazis. Is this correct? REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN: I have not read that and I am sure that they do not.
on Aug 11th, 2011 at 17:50
The comment that “SPDC has not produced oil in Ogoniland since 1993″ (from Andrew Vickers) reafirms my point that all subsequent oil spills (last 18 years) have been caused by sabotage from the Ogonis themselves. In many cases encouraged by the village elders and MOSOP leaders. Their aim? To get large amounts of money from Shell et al. About time these people were held to account and not Shell. I am also amazed that Shell is still responsible for these pipelines if they no longer produce from the area, surely the Nigerian Government is now responsible? This is certainly the case in the likes of Malaysia where Petronas takes over full responsibility where a company has stopped production (yes I know, and made the well heads etc. safe) and relinquished the acreage. Heh ho no doubt it’s the age old problem of mega corrupt senior Nigerians seeing an easy way to fill their Swiss bank account, likewise lawyers (most being the leach scum of this earth) and tree huggers thinking they’re doing good (idiots).
on Aug 9th, 2011 at 23:43
Get over the alias thing John, or start calling out 95% of your posters. Be consistent – is that not what you ask of Shell?? Live up to the standard you ask others to live by! SMH: REPLY BY JOHN D: The vast majority are not as personally abusive or blinkered as yours self-evidently are, as can be confirmed by glancing through your record of postings here. I have the courage to post outspoken comments using my real name. You do not. Since you make more postings here than any other visitor and are by far the most outspoken – a self-proclaimed Nemesis – it really is time that you worked up the courage to reveal your real name? What’s the problem? What are you afraid of by coming out into the open? If you have told us the truth about accepting gifts/hospitality from Shell suppliers, I am sure you have nothing to fear. With a deluded outsize ego like yours, how can you bear to remain anonymous? Don’t forget to supply a nice colour pik along with your name.
on Aug 9th, 2011 at 23:41
Right John – do hot share your background data, cant share that – but clearly ID the person with your links. Swell job of high integrity posting. Get that point! Of course you will tell us you have lots more facts, can not share them, but I can tell you who it is with my links! Wow – crazy that you can not see that behavior is shady and that if Shell did something like that, you would call out the lynch mobs. Trust us, we have more data, but we can not share it!! REPLY BY JOHN: Same reply as previous: Your analysis of the situation was based partly on an inaccurate assumption. You are unaware of the background facts. I have not revealed detailed content of extensive emails on this matter with an insider source, emails to the Fat Cat in question, nor my entire related email correspondence with a top lawyer at Royal Dutch Shell, Michiel Brandjes. I have nothing further to add at this time regarding the allegations other than to say that I have to be rather more careful than you in what I say, bearing in mind that I do not hide behind an alias, as you choose to do.
on Aug 9th, 2011 at 15:35
That’s right Goodluck Diigbo you weren’t given N10 million, it was probably more like N20 million. The MOSOP organization is well known for it’s corruption – again, where does all the money they ge in various compensations? NOT to the Ogoni people who are hoodwinked into believing MOSOP is doing them good.
on Aug 9th, 2011 at 06:05
I hope the county commissioners understand and more importantly the people of this area understand the implication of supporting this pipeline. Besides the environmental effects, this pipeline will take jobs away from the precious Sabine Neches Waterway.
A pipeline project that could create thousands of American construction jobs and lessen the country
on Aug 8th, 2011 at 23:30
Wow – a new low – no facts – just unsubstantiated claims by someone with initials that match the initials of someone else and John is willing to accuse a shell “fat cat” of sexual harassement and having affairs. You keep topping your self John. Show me how this is fact based reporting? But you only post facts right John? Shell does something like this and you add this to our eveil portfolio right John? Geez, give me a break. You indict your self over and over, making this way too easy John. Evil huh?? REPLY BY JOHN: Your analysis of the situation is based partly on an inaccurate assumption. You are unaware of the background facts. I have not revealed detailed content of extensive emails on this matter with an insider source, emails to the Fat Cat in question, nor my entire related email correspondence with a top lawyer at Royal Dutch Shell, Michiel Brandjes. I have nothing further to add at this time regarding the allegations other than to say that I have to be rather more careful than you in what I say, bearing in mind that I do not hide behind an alias, as you choose to do.
on Aug 8th, 2011 at 16:57
I bet that of the “potential”
on Aug 7th, 2011 at 01:30
Refer to Shell Malaysia’s comment dated 24th July ” Their shared services centre (now known as Shell Business Services Centre) is a fine case study of how unsuspecting employees are hired, used and disposed. Long work hours, under incompetent team managers, guarantees quick turnover. Staff turnover at this entity has remained high for years
on Aug 4th, 2011 at 22:44
Go read the posts I have made where I state that all individuals and companies make mistakes, of course we have. No attempt to hide from that at all John, come on, read the posts and stop looking uneducated!!
ALL articles are gathered – sorry – not even close – but nice try!
Later -
REPLY FROM JOHN: You ask me to go and read your posts again. If you don’t mind, I would rather accept that you have already conceded on that point. Apart from posting articles ourselves (over 20,000 on this website) we pay for a live news feed of Shell related articles and take all that are gathered, irrespective of whether they are positive or negative in relation to Shell. That is a fact.
on Aug 3rd, 2011 at 16:50
Ironical – oh that is sweet – that word should be your middle name John! Oh – I just love those old buried links from 2009 for a Wikipedia article, come on John, you can do better than that. Posted anything since then? All kinds of articles you can link to that are posted every week about Shell activities in the community. Love this – look at his lead in;
Royal Dutch Shell is responsible for many important initiatives in relationship to the environment, encouraging business start-ups, supporting charitable causes and other good works. With regard to the environment, Shell has however been accused of [1]greenwash
on Aug 2nd, 2011 at 18:42
John, I am still looking for your posts telling the world that Shell does good deeds, come on – post them again!! From your nemesis – a lazy, uneducated and evil Shell employee!! Please keep the compliments flowing. Did I have any spelling/typing errors – whew – I sure hope not – John might cast mean thoughts about my capabilities again!! I am so hurt! REPLY FROM JOHN: I just found it ironic that you castigated another person on this blog for making an “undeducated” post. I accept that your spelling errors were caused by laziness. Don’t worry, since you hide behind an alias to insult people, no one will be able to identity you personally. Is there any chance that you will ever work up the courage to make postings under your own name, as I do, taking legal responsibility for everything I say? You cannot claim with any shred of credibility to being my Nemesis, when you hide behind an alias and are entirely dependent on my goodwill to permit you to make postings on this website. Based on your overall postings, I do not believe that you are evil or uneducated. Delusional, perhaps. Certainly proud of the company you work for. There is nothing wrong with loyalty, even if sometimes misplaced. As to Shell positives, there is a permanent link: ROYAL DUTCH SHELL INITIATIVES
on Aug 2nd, 2011 at 18:37
Thanks for the tip and for showing again the pettiness(sp??) that defines who you are John. I sincerely apologize for trashing your site with my poor speed typing skills! Trust me, I know how to spell these words! But the content of my comments got through just fine, you even seemed to be able to grasp them John and know what words I mis typed! Thanks for the help, but I am too busy to type in word, proof and then post, I will pass on your tip of the day. Got any more value added tips? PS – lazy implies you did not put forth the effort required for the job, the effort I put into posts on your site was just right. Nice try though! Keep living in the past and the future will pass you by, oh it already has, my bad.
on Aug 2nd, 2011 at 12:19
Misspelling (or is that Miss Spelling, who actually cares) does not mean an uneducated post. (I have to say that it would help by having a larger “box” to comment in so that more of the typed sentence can be viewed and not located halfway down the page.) I have to agree with the comments from “uscitizen” concerning the repetitive, and now somewhat boring, link of Shell to the Nazi’s from over 60 years ago. I think it shows more about your mentality than that of present day Shell. It is also very clear that “shell malaysia” is someone with a major grudge against the company, perhaps sacked for under performance? Poor spelling? Shell continues to provide handsomely to the local communities throughout East & West Malaysia, above and beyond government requirements set in PSC’s etc. Shell cannot be blamed for the oppressive nature of the Malaysian system / government. Rather than quoting a load of legal court/case numbers, can “shell malaysia” please expand / describe what employees have been unfairly dismissed for? My experience with Shell is that dismissals are for pretty serious offences, most of which are included in the contracts that staff sign on joining the company. REPLY FROM JOHN DONOVAN: Shell used to have an internet discussion forum – “Tell Shell” – supposedly for uncensored lively and open debate. It had a nice wide space for each posting. As I have previously pointed out, Shell was caught secretly censoring postings. Shell then suspended the facility before it finally disappeared without trace. As to Shell’s historical association with the Nazis, no one is forced to read the articles and related evidence we provide. It is not compulsory. With regard to postings in the box, you can type your comment into a Word doc then copy and paste into the box. This would enable uscitizen to identity typing errors. Visitors can click on “All” at the top of the Shell Blog column to read the postings in a wider box.
on Aug 1st, 2011 at 20:08
I know John – you would never imply anthing underhanded with your main page lead in stories on our alleged Nazi affiliations from WW2 about current leadership. Read your own posts where you say the behavior you post about WW2 still exists today. Right John?? And outspoken – your post of course made no sense. The hard working E&P folks do not have time for this, but they are of course the ones John is bashing the most fella! Make up your mind.
That is it, I am part of the Shell propganda bot! Just can not accept that there are many many good folks, all up and down our chain of command, who do things right to make this a good company. One that many many smart folks want to work for.
And Shell Malysia, if you really think my fellow employees acts of giving back to the community are part of a shell cover up, god bless your poor bitter soul, you have of course slammed many many good peoples intentions with your callous undeducated post. I know John, you have tried so hard to point out the good deeds of Shell, so very very hard. Keep it up John, we really really do believe you!! Right! REPLY FROM JOHN DONOVAN: You have the cheek to accuse others of making uneducated posts when you cannot spell uneducated (or for that matter, “anything”, “Malaysia” or “propaganda”). Or perhaps you were just being lazy? Senior management at Shell does still trade with the enemy – see Royal Dutch Shell Nazis Secrets Part 7: Why does it still matter?
on Jul 31st, 2011 at 14:03
This is in response to the erroneous statement by ‘Macannon’ regarding unfair employee dismissals in Malaysia.
“I am sure that some (probably a majority) got their just desserts and are now merely joining on the bandwagon of some genuine cases.” – Macannon
Every case of unfair dismissal is sent to the courts by the local Labour Office in Malaysia. Only the local Labour Office can do so after investigating the merits of the case. The process is lengthy and costly for the employee who was unfairly dismissed.
Please read the details to avoid being misinformed. (Just Google ‘Malaysia Labour Department’).
Due to outdated employment laws, it is impossible for any employee to ‘join the bandwagon’. The dozens of cases of unfair dismissals of Malaysian employees is testament to how Shell is putting up a public show (via ‘works of charity’) while ignoring its own Business Conduct Guidelines.
Shell Malaysia’s modus operandi is very similar to the Ken Saro Wiwa case. When it is obvious that Shell is not going to win the case, it offers to settle ‘out of court’ just before the start of the trial.
Don’t take my word for it. Check the evidence.
http://www.mp.gov.my/ (Type Shell in respondent).
on Jul 30th, 2011 at 11:02
Some very fair comments from “Viktar” and “uscitizen” – all companies and people (including the Donovans) have their faults. The more you are in the public limelight the more you are able to be attacked. Shell does a great deal of good charitable work and projects that Governments (particularly African ones) should be doing them selves. Unknowledgeable idiots such as “outspoken” clearly have little or no close knowledge of the company or have a gripe against the company (lack of promotion, poor performance etc.). Why is it that if anyone praises Shell on this site he/she is classed as “fictional”, “shameless”, “grovelling” or “part of Shell’s propaganda organ”?? I think “outspoken” is someone who has a problem with Shell and cannot accept anything good said about them. Remind you of someone else?? REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN: No individual has done more than me to highlight the good works of Royal Dutch Shell. I collected information over a number of years and included it all in a Wikipedia article “Royal Dutch Shell initiatives” providing many reference sources confirming the authenticity of the information. The article was deleted on the basis that it was biased in favour of Shell. I have previously stated that the vast majority of Shell employees are decent hard working people. My concern is in regard to the rotten apples who remain in senior management positions despite serious misdeeds, including for example, participation in the management of a rigged tender for a major contract (Tim Hannagan) or involvement in the cover-up (Malcolm Brinded). Tim Hannagan – currently Global Brand Standards and Performance Manager at Shell International Petroleum Company – was not the mastermind (Shell executive Andrew Lazenby), but he went along with the planned deception designed to steal IP information from several companies and stop them from approaching rival oil companies. Hannagan attempted in a subsequent Witness Statement to distance himself from the corrupted process in which the contract was miraculously awarded to a company that never participated in the tender. David Pirret is another senior Royal Dutch Shell executive with skeletons rattling around in his closet. All of these individuals are free to sue me if they dispute what I am stating. I still have the evidence. It still smells. For an independent view of Shell’s activities, including its horrendous record in Nigeria, this article is worth reading.
on Jul 30th, 2011 at 08:55
John, I saw USCitizen’s recent comments on your blog. This ‘gentleman’, if he is a ‘real’ person and not a fictional product of Shell’s propaganda organ, is living breathing proof that being a shameless, groveling suck-up apparently pays off big time at Shell. I wonder which part of the company he works for. Doubt he works for the ‘real’ part of the company responsible for finding and producing oil. Those folks are too smart and too well educated to swallow that kind of crap. Besides, they simply don’t have time for this nonsense.
on Jul 30th, 2011 at 06:56
Bad news, guys. I hear Funk is out but Koontz is in. Folks at Convent are goin to screem! Funk is a bad dude, but koontz is worse. His sneakyness is only surpassed by his union hate.
on Jul 29th, 2011 at 16:38
Thank you for your post Viktar, but you will never be able to convince these poor Donovan folks that Shell and its people are anything but evil nazi lovers bent on destroying the world. I have shown repeated examples of good, but old man Donovan says, oh I am not bashing the people, there are lots of good people, just the company – he does not realize they are the same thing! There are many many examples of good – and I am headed out to one now, helping a shelter for battered women, with a lot of evil shell folks. Thanks again – and I am sure Donovan will have a rebuttal on your example on some ulterior motive we had. And if you say it increases our chances to make more money – guess what – you are right – and do things the right way! They do go together. We all make mistakes, people and companies. Key is to learn from them – and despite Donovans insistence – we do. I can hear the response now, oh well – we are proud of our company! REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN: Please cite any comment or posting on this or any other website where we have made the comment you falsely attribute to us i.e. that Shell and its people are evil nazi lovers bent on destroying the world. People will be able to draw their own conclusions if you fail to provide an example. You will not be able to do so because we have never stated or implied that this is the case. That false accusation destroys any credibility you had here. I can only surmise that you have been too lazy to read what we have said in historical context about Shell and its Nazi past that the company would prefer to forget.
on Jul 29th, 2011 at 12:22
Shell was helpful in coordinating a JV between I.M. Skaugen and InQtel called HUSH LLC.
It’s an enterprise aiming to stop piracy and terrorism on the high seas. It’s a good example of an ethical oil initiative. Not all oil news is bad news.
We installed the HUSH Hub on Norgas Carine almost a year ago, it saved crew morale, delivered security, and new revenue. Everyone is happier and safer. Now all of our ships have this equipment. All our crews are safer and we’re fighting terrorism and piracy.
We are offering the HUSH Hub to other maritime fleets and thereby doing our part to increase global stability.
Google: inqtel skaugen HUSH
Google: shell inqtel HUSH
on Jul 24th, 2011 at 17:03
Shell entities in Malaysia have yet to prove themselves to be worthy employers. Getting a lawyer who deals with employment issues in Malaysia is hard enough, what more spending a decade pursuing your case in the courts. Only genuine employees who were unfairly dismissed would pursue this path.
The fact that the Malaysian employment laws, the product of neo-colonialism, favours the employer is good news for multinationals like Shell. A ‘gold mine’ of sorts. Most multinationals have been taking advantage of this for decades. However, Shell has taken it to a new low.
Their shared services centre (now known as Shell Business Services Centre) is a fine case study of how unsuspecting employees are hired, used and disposed. Long work hours, under incompetent team managers, guarantees quick turnover. Staff turnover at this entity has remained high for years….at one point, exceeding 40%. It is essentially a sinister tactic to keep costs low.
Shell Malaysia is where it is today thanks to the hardworking people that built it over the past 100 years. And what did they get in return ?
Shell’s mercenary tactics against its own people is well documented (refer civil cases in previous post and elsewhere on this site).
The question is, how many more lawsuits have to be filed before Shell cleans up its act?
Is it another Nigeria waiting to happen ?
C’est la vie!
on Jul 23rd, 2011 at 02:15
Shell’s announcement ( Reuter) of a Manufacturing JV Service company with a CNPC to avoid paying low value drilling is applaudable. However they are in the wrong business. They should leave to people who are good at it. It take years to perfect this. Shell expats who are highly paid and lack of business acumen will sure see the demise of the JV before it starts. Furthermore why Singapore? Trust me. Of course this is not important to Peter Sharpe as he has scored his brownie points, as usual ( capitalising on BP’s Macondo as well ) and would have retired and blame it on others like the CNPC Chinese.
Its not to late- Shell Voser- suggest you focus on your core business and aim at reducing your own Shell overhead and let the service companies do their work for you more efficiently. Dont leave it to Mr Sharpe.
on Jul 20th, 2011 at 17:37
London Lad- the expats today are no longer the professional expats we have in the 70s/80s. The expats then worked very hard and are sincere in coaching locals. The expats today except a handful I am afraid knows nut.
We shall find out who is right soon. Why are IOC partnering with NOC everywhere? They see they no longer can survive by themselves. We shall see.
on Jul 20th, 2011 at 17:21
I used to love working for Shell but no longer anymore as there is so much internal process and not enough external focus. I thought I am the only one but alas about 80% of my colleagues feel the same… we are tired and are thinking of leaving..before we leave. Suggest Shell to do a people survey and ask the above question.
on Jul 19th, 2011 at 11:48
Hey Shell team – Respect to you for having such an open comments policy. Shows you dont’ have as much to hide as some may think! REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN: Sorry to say that there is a misunderstanding on your part. This is not a Shell website. “TellShell” – Shell’s internet discussion forum for claimed open and lively debate was first secretly censored by Shell, then “temporarily” suspended, then closed. This was because the discussions became too open and lively for Shell management.
on Jul 18th, 2011 at 10:37
Why were these Malaysians dimissed? Malpractice, fraud, poor performance etc. etc.? I am sure that some (probably a majority) got their just desserts and are now merely joining on the bandwagon of some genuine cases. Shelll in Malaysia is a good employer and a vast majority of their staff would agree.
on Jul 17th, 2011 at 14:50
Unfair Employee Terminations in Malaysia
Despite being the world’s number one Fortune 500 company, Shell has a long way to go to comply with its own Ethical Guidelines.
The previously well respected company has taken the stand that if there are no local labour laws to protect its employees, then, ‘anything goes’. Unfairly dismissing employees is a rampant practice in Malaysia. It is so common, that Shell Malaysia has appointed multiple legal firms to defend itself. In the capital of Kuala Lumpur alone, it has appointed at least three separate legal firms to deal with the piling cases.
Unfortunately, these are only cases that went to courts. For every such case, there were many more that never reached the courts. The losers are not Shell…it is the victimised employees. Unlike Western countries, the only legal remedy Malaysians have is to go through the legal process, which sometimes take more than 10 years. Many victims don’t bother with this and just accept their fate and try to move on.
Employees are often bullied into resigning or given poor performance evaluations by their incompetent supervisors. Usually, the management needs a scapegoat to put the blame on. The lax employment laws in Malaysia makes it an ideal place for Shell to literally do as it likes.
The following are just some of the cases that are pending in the Malaysian Labour courts. (Claimants names removed to protect privacy). For full details of each case and findings, please go to the court website http://www.mp.gov.my/ and type ‘Shell’ in respondent. This is publicly available.
I would strongly recommend potential Shell employees to consider carefully before signing the dotted line.
Case No. 8/4-234/97
50 employees vs Sarawak Shell Bhd
2 8/4-406/97
4 employees vs Sarawak Shell Bhd
3 8/4-653/97
5 employees vs Sarawak Shell Bhd
4 8/4-8/98 Miss G vs Sarawak Shell Bhd.
5 8/4-166/98
5 employees vs Sarawak Shell Berhad
6 8/4-334/98
2 employees vs Sarawak Shell Bhd.
7 7/4-732/11 Mr K vs Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn. Bhd.
8 14/4-1996/07 Mr M vs Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn. Bhd
9 3(15)(3)/4-1461/04 Mr J vs Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn. Bhd./Shell Malaysia Limited
10 22(19)/4-2884/04 Mr N Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn. Bhd.
11 8/4-653/98 C & 5 others vs Sarawak Shell Sdn. Bhd
12 8(17)/4-770/00 Mr R vs Sabah Shell Petroleum Company Limited
13 1(15)/2-155/02 Workers Union vs SHELL Malaysia Trading Sendirian Bhd., SHELL Refining Company Bhd., SHELL Malaysia Limited dan Tiram Kimia Sendirian Bhd.
14 27(12)/4-851/02 Ms R vs Stesyen Minyak Shell Jana
15 12/1-357/04 Workers Union vs Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn. Bhd, Shell Refining Company Bhd, Shell Malaysia Limited & Tiram Kimia Sdn. Bhd
16 20(28)(12)/4-733/04 Mr A vs Shell Refining Company (FOM) Bhd.
17 8/4-1377/04 Mr H Sarawak Shell Berhad
18 17/4-2322/04 Mr A vs Sabah Shell Petroleum Company Limited
19 22(6)/4-2455/04 Mr J vs Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn. Bhd.
20 8/4-2607/04 Mr J vs Sarawak Shell Berhad
21 17(8)/4-2622/04 Mr Y vs Sarawak Shell Berhad
22 10/4-3272/04 Mr P vs Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn. Bhd.
23 20(13)/4-618/06 Mr M vs Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn. Bhd.
24 26/4-1017/06 Mr A vs Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn.Bhd
25 1/1-1329/06 Ms R vs Stesyen Minyak Shell Jana
26 11/4-1879/06 Mr M vs Shell Refining Company (Federation Of Malaya) Berhad
27 10/4-2258/06 Ms L vs Clamshell Dredging Sdn. Bhd
28 2/4-201/07 Mr V vs SHELL AUTOSERV MALAYSIA, A DIVISION OF CHAMP DISTRIBUTORS SENDIRIAN BERHAD
29 1/1-912/07 Shell Employees Union vs Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn. Bhd. Shell Malaysia Limited & Shell Refining Company (F.O.M) Bhd
30 20/4-307/08 Mr M vs Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn. Bhd
on Jul 16th, 2011 at 02:49
Another round of cuts coming to Convent, poor Stan, you thought your were safe because you are black, but they finally see the lazy no good phuck you really are you lying bastard. I don’t feel sorry for you one bit. I have a better job now and I don’t have to put up with all the lazy protected race and gender scumbags. I hope David is proud to have kept you so long. They let go some really good guys and kept ignorant lazy ass trash like you. Roxanne, Jill, and Connie I still can’t wait to but ya’ll in the mouth.
on Jul 14th, 2011 at 12:05
Is there a career path in HSSE?
Only time will tell when we see who the new people are in these senior positions. Time to send the right message to HSSE staff
on Jul 7th, 2011 at 19:02
Well Joe McBloggs I guess the problem is that key people in the Scottish authorities are more concerned with their independence from England than some old story about Shell.
on Jul 7th, 2011 at 14:52
Why is it that the Scottish authorities are so lax when calling Shell to task? It has been many years since the two workers died on Charlie and it took the site of Donovan and actions of retired auditors to keep the attention going albeit at a very low level. Otherwise all would have been forgotten and swept under the carpet.
One almost would believe that many operators and members of the policeforce are member of the same masonic lodge and we all know that the brothers are there to help each other?
I bet that nobody in the UK authorities will ever take Brinded to task for his TFA policy and other hypocritic remarks on ‘Safety is our top priority’. It is disgusting. The feeling of justice has gone.
on Jul 7th, 2011 at 08:38
Risteard O
on Jun 30th, 2011 at 12:56
Read an article from about this time last year… wanted to share it with the readers of this site as it is becoming a prophetic reading…. Steve cleaning up the Gulf Coast. He has alot in common with the groups that helped BP last summer… except the scum he is cleaning up are bad leaders, not oil on the beach….. Tom, when does your time to come to get cleaned up and leave?
By Joe Blow
It was with some elation that I heard of Mr. Purves
on Jun 28th, 2011 at 11:45
I wonder what value/reserves Shell will be attributing to last year’s multi-billion dollar shale gas acquisitions now?
on Jun 27th, 2011 at 08:01
The third company in the NYT list of shale gase producers is EOG Resources. EOG Resources is the new name for Enron Oil and Gas Company
on Jun 19th, 2011 at 04:04
Motiva paid him $3mm into CIDA. But trust me, he has no idea about the oil sands crude coming as Shell has kept it quiet until the pipeline can get approved. Everyone thinks it is Saudi crude that will fill up the CEP. It will be oil sands crude and all the environmental emissions that will come from it. John D should try and contact Hilton and get his feedback
on Jun 18th, 2011 at 23:26
I wonder how much Shell has paid Hilton Kelly? He hasn’t said much about CEP.
on Jun 16th, 2011 at 01:22
I’m glad Shell refuted the statement re Saudi Aramco being the sole supplier of crude. As soon as the keystone pipeline gets approved, Shell will exercise it’s 50% equity rights and push Canadien oil right into Port Arthur. I’m sure my environmental buddies in Port Arthur are not aware of the oil sands crude coming to Port Arthur or they would already be screaming. There was another article that came out yesterday that stated that Saudi Aramco is pushing oil to China more and more. Get the facts straight or Shell will….
Oh and by the way, there is no way in hell that the project will be finished in 1Q 2012. Everyone knows it. Ask Shell for a retraction on that one.
on Jun 15th, 2011 at 16:46
There’s a certain irony in Ann Pickard’s lecturing of the Australians. I believe her previous assignment included responsibility for Nigeria? Have her views on greenhouse gases really changed so significantly since she arrived Down Under?
on Jun 13th, 2011 at 17:50
Watching Tom:
Also wanted to ask how are you guys doing with the Life Saving Rules. Are the whites being fired for breaking a life saving rule and blacks keeping their jobs like in Norco?
Wow – this site reaches new lows. Some of you Shell folks just need to take care of your business and stop trying rationalize things away. Geez, if you raise your kids like this we are in big trouble with the next generation. Have Mom and Dad handle any problems, its ok Johnny they are just picking on the (fill in the blanks) portion of the population. Give me a break.
on Jun 13th, 2011 at 17:45
It’s a little odd that the news is dominated by the first (very small)shipment from Pearl, while Shell is invoking force majeure on very large volumes normally exported from Bonny.
on Jun 11th, 2011 at 14:33
The article titled “Saudi Arabia will be sole source supply for Motiva Port Arthur” doesn’t tell the whole story over here that we see on the ground. Firstly, Saudi Aramco, during 2008, cut crude supplies to the US, and therefore Motiva as it’s largest supply base, and sent incremental crude to China, namely for better profits. Secondly, if Shell ever figures out how to get Canadian oil sands crude down to Nederland, the Arab heavy will back out pretty quick. Shell owns so much equity in the crude supply bbls for Port Arthur. A lot of stumbling blocks exist to finish the pipeline from Cushing down to the Gulf Coast. Until that time, I expect the answer is Arab heavy. When that pipeline opens up to the GC, you will see both oil sands and Arab crude filling up the crude unit at Port Arthur….
of course, that assumes that the infamous VPS-5 crude unit ever gets finished. The article talks about 1Q2012. Anybody over here with a real view on the ground knows the only thing that will be complete is the Coker. My my, the spin doctoring that Shell tries to do is sickening……
Has anyone seen Funkhouser lately? We don’t see him doing any work…..
on Jun 10th, 2011 at 11:57
It should be noted that Mr Jim Hartsock has now been placed in a role called Turnaround Manager – Operations Integration. He knows nothing about turnarounds nor operations. He only knows Tom. Tom Purves is a joke and continues to show the impact of his heavy hand on our site. There is no way that Jim Hartsock ought to even be here. Those in the know like Mr Steve Sanders understands how this played out. Steve gets a visit from Purves some time back and gets told that he will make a job for Hartsock. All the while, Tom is actively working to cut the throats of several people over here trying to make a difference and delivering severance packages to these people by adjusting their performance factors. Tom, time may move on. Your legacy doesn’t. It died with your credibility. We all now count the days when you are gone. Limp off into the sunset, with your tea jug and enjoy your wife and family. You have done enough damage here. And take Jeff Funkhouser with you. I hear he got into a little bit of trouble with the police over here and Tom helped send him to Saudi Arabia for a little bit of work to calm the issue down.
Keeping our heads down and waiting for true leadership to show up.
on Jun 9th, 2011 at 19:07
Watching Tom:
Also wanted to ask how are you guys doing with the Life Saving Rules. Are the whites being fired for breaking a life saving rule and blacks keeping their jobs like in Norco?
on Jun 9th, 2011 at 19:04
Watching Tom:
Please tell me you have met Mr Joey D, from NORCO. Funks right hand man. If you have not met him yet, you are missing a real treat. He is a Douche Bag. Funk pulled him out of Norco after he was given a manager job that he could not handle, got himself in too deep, and had to bale. Chances are if you see Funk, Joey will not be far behind like puppy. He is on special assignment (special project there) cause Norco had enough of him and he knew it. He is getting paid big bucks for nothing cause he is a piece of garbage. Talk about a chump. Before he was promoted, he could not even quality on the easy CR-1 job in Norco, had to go out on disability and sucked his way up the ladder after that. NO one likes him and he knows it. I am hearing they have enough of him there, I can only imagine. If you get a chance, go check out that snake, but dont turn your back on him, he is just a bad or worse than Funk or Tom.!!
on Jun 9th, 2011 at 17:21
The people @ PAR understand it all.
on Jun 8th, 2011 at 18:51
JEEEEEZ WatchingTom Purves can you please use some language that most people that use this site can understand. (e.g PAR = ? Funkhouser is who? Lauher =? etc. etc.) I am sure you have good intent with your rambling, but, please make it more understandable to the wider audience. I would suggest, for example, a bit more titilation (aka the Sun newspaper – that’s over the pond newspaper for you or aka the nonsense correlation STILL used as titilation by this website for Shell and the Nazi’s). To be quiet honest I have never seen such a rambling on this website with names that 99% haven’t got a clue who they are!!
on Jun 8th, 2011 at 02:24
Just a quick update from the little town called PAR…. As it has been well documented by now, Tom Purves has set up shop back over here in Motivaland after his demotion….. i mean transition back to PAR to quote “help get this project straightened out”….. never mind the fact that he has never ran a project of this size or anything comparable. So the very next thing that he began to do is try and suck up all of his buddies, which some call minions, to come help him….. The most notable chump is his main side kick Jeff Funkhouser. Believe me, he is staying low until he can slide out of town. All of Shell knows he is a joke…. yet the senior leaders of our company have let Tom have his way. The 2nd stooge, Forrest Lauher, just got ran off and will leave the site shortly. He should have never been given the project, was not equipped to be successful, should have been fired back in 2008 when they took the project away from him. He failed miserable as site leader for PAR and was finally found out. Funk, you will be next.
Now, we have an audit team come in from the Hague to review how our pipe module project went. The lead honcho for this part of the project, Mr Jim Hartsock, another one of Tom’s boys, mysteriously gets an opportunity to go to the NPRA in Denver instead of participating with the audit team. Can you imagine that one? Why would it be ok first of all for one of your project managers( re Hartsock, I say this lightly) to go to NPRA while this pitiful project tries to stumble across the finish line. Secondly, wouldn’t you think Jim would have useful information to share with the audit team? Where is Jim for his interview? “I’m sorry… he is in Denver at an NPRA conference….. Seriously Tom???? And who would Hartsock be meeting with in Denver….. none other than Jerry Crail of the infamous Tom Purves gang.. Jim, I guess you were setting up your next gig with Crail and the Upgrader outfit up north…… May be you can do better than you’ve done here…. This is the guy Tom saved from Tosco when they dumped him at Wood River. He got Crail to hire him at SGS, then made Quinn give him a job at Convent, and when Quinn finally got tired of him there, forced the PAR gang to take him in on the project. He gets assigned to watch the pipe modules at remote locations, all the while working from his home in St Louis….. and low and behold, the modules are screwed up….. Lots of questions that need to be asked…. Can’t get answers from Hartsock because he is in Denver following Crail around….. for some of us, this is getting really old Tom. Do us a favor, come clean, and retire. You are done man…. You are no longer da man! and haven’t been.
Shell execs who read this still….. find out about Jim Hartsock…. and while you are at it, look into Jeff Funkhouser…… These 3 are bad and need to be dealt with.
John D, why don’t you send these 3 an emil and ask about this one? Share their responses with us…..
on Jun 6th, 2011 at 15:21
Me thinks JanBlauu that you’ve been smoking something you shouldn’t be smoking!! There is absolutely no way that IOC’s will disappear in 5-10 years or less. The likes of Petronas (very well trained by Shell & Exxon in the 70′s & 80′s) are good performers. Most others (e.g. those NOC’s in Oman, Venezuela, Indonesia & Nigeria) have very lazy incompetent local staff who remain still very dependent on the expat doing the work while they themselves cream off millions. Long live the IOC’s and the expats. Local staff need to get realistic with their dreams while at the same time thinking of theor country and not just their own Swiss bank accounts.
on Jun 6th, 2011 at 05:39
John- I think I know what Mirilad is talking about..in 5-10 years ( or maybe earlier), there will be no International Oil companies (IOC) and all the National oil companies ( NOC ) will be fully independent and contracting the service companies to extract oil/gas. Why need IOC as middle man? This is an outdated business model. Its time to replace the high overheads and expensive expats who do not add values but add costs. JB
on Jun 1st, 2011 at 11:59
well Mr. London lad, u seem to think all national oil companies fail…why not quote successful ones.. REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN: Have not got a clue what you are talking about?
on May 22nd, 2011 at 09:43
REPLY TO “Google” and “Googler”: The reason why we have not published your comments/allegations is because to the best of our knowledge they are baseless and therefore seriously defamatory of the relevant third party. You are also wrong in stating that the relevant article has been deleted. It has just moved down due to the posting of new articles. We researched the background of the person in question and found nothing to substantiate your allegations. If you have any such evidence, send it to me by email and we will reconsider the matter. You want to make allegations hiding behind an alias using our facility, under our name. That is not something we are willing to do. We also note that you have submitted comments under multiple aliases, not just the two most recent ones. With regard to the subject of publishing allegations, our attention was recently drawn to an article published by Time Magazine: “The Caligula Effect: Why Powerful Men Compulsively Cheat.” We have decided not to publish the related allegations.
on May 22nd, 2011 at 00:16
An excerpt from the Port Arthur news at the end of 2010…..
PORT ARTHUR
on May 16th, 2011 at 20:27
John – Further to the comment by Anonymous. I am not arguing if Shell did or didn’t get involved with the Nazis. I used to be a frequent visitor to this site but rarely visit anymore since you seem to be totally obsessed with Shell’s Nazi involvement. This is very old news and it is time to move on to news and topics that are more timely. REPLY BY JOHN: Thanks for taking the trouble to comment. The focus on Royal Dutch Shell’s Nazi past will be expanded with further facts resulting from more research. Other significant developments are in the pipeline. This is not a subject we have any intention of dropping, as will become abundantly clear in coming months. If you find the subject so objectionable, simply ignore it and just stick to current news and events, which are still covered. Someone is interested because site traffic has increased, not declined, since we highlighted Shell’s close association with Hitler and the Nazi party. Nothing staggering, but still well over 2 million hits every month.
on May 15th, 2011 at 18:16
John, this growing obsession with Nazism is trivialising of other people’s suffering and has nothing to do with Shell as a company at all. It is, frankly, a bit weird. It is also immensely hypocritical to accuse Shell of insensitivity while expropriating the suffering of others in the service of your personal crusade. REPLY FROM JOHN: It is absolute nonsense for you to claim that Shell as a company had nothing to do with the Nazis. If you read the book “A HISTORY OF ROYAL DUTCH SHELL” authored by historians paid by Shell who were given full access to Shell archives, you will see for yourself that Shell had a great deal to do with Hitler and his henchman. Shell pumped funds into the Nazi coffers. The evidence is confirmed and expanded by a variety of independent reputable sources, including numerous newspaper reports. You seem to be in complete denial.
on May 8th, 2011 at 22:55
John,
I saw the article stating that a blow in the Artic from one of Shell’s propose wells would not produce more that 9468 bbls/day.
Who is the manager and/or PR moron at Shell that released that statement? 9468 bbls/day, max. Really? You don’t say? That level of accuracy and precision impossible to obtain. How about you folks at Shell trying again to come up with a ‘meaningful’ estimate, instead of this kind of useless crap.
on May 8th, 2011 at 13:42
Marvin Odum who probably has the worst safety record in Shell goes for a diversity vote and someone who has no safety experience to replace the VP of safety he just fired. Clear message where his priorities lie.
on May 8th, 2011 at 08:58
John, has it ever occurred to you that your increasingly frequent evocations of Nazism and the Holocaust to score points against Shell might itself be considered deeply offensive and insensitive? REPLY BY JOHN: A number of valued contributors to this blog have complained about the focus on Shell’s Nazi past. “Musaint” decided to stop visiting. Another said he was thoroughly bored. The subject is controversial and the header graphics designed to shock. Shell managed to escape the public odium it was due from its financial support for Hitler and the Nazis. The blame was all heaped on to Deterding even though Shell continued its financial dealings with the Nazis after his resignation as head of the company and even after his death. This is all becoming clearer as a result of evidence emerging from the transfer of newspaper articles from microfilm to searchable online digital archives. We have gathered many more articles from newspapers in the USA, Canada ant the UK (The Scotsman, The Daily Mirror, The Daily Express, The Guardian, etc) and they will all be incorporated into a revised single reference source. We intend to make sure that what you describe as “scoring points”, but is a history of Nazi party funding which contributed towards tens of millions of horrific deaths, is brought to the attention of the world. We note that only one item was highlighted in the many Shell internal documents Shell recently supplied to us in response to our 2011 SAR application under the DATA PROTECTION ACT. It was a reference to our article on this subject. Because we consistently keep a link to the Nazi Secrets article as the top feature on our site, it ensures that the Shell/Nazi/Hitler subject appears at number 6 or 7, dependent on browser, on the first page of a Google search for “Royal Dutch Shell” out of 2.6 million results. For obvious reasons, its the subject that Shell would least like attention drawn in such a prominent rankings position when people Google “Royal Dutch Shell”.
on May 7th, 2011 at 14:16
@Londonlad,
Maybe what Omani 1959 is trying to do is gather enough information so that he and his other idle, non productive friends can take to the streets of Oman again, to try and blackmail the government into cancelling the production sharing agreement with Shell, and then the Omani government can sell 100% of its Oil and Gas and thereby gain far higher revenues.
This in turn (he is hoping for, or surmising at this stage) will lead to higher salaries for the woefully inept and unproductive, Omani nationals, but I must admit not all the Omani nationals are lazy and unproductive. By and large most of them try to do their best, but their
on May 7th, 2011 at 14:07
to LondonLad answering your question so what if Shell takes it’s contracually agreed oil in Oman, we Omanis (80%) are living on poverty line and Shell is stealing and sucking our oil, this oil fortune which Shell sweeps (34% share) from under our feet should go back to us Omanis not to this giant oil leech.
thats why we initiated an oil nationalization campaign in our country to get back this valuable natural resource.
I coud not find in PDO’s annual report any evidence on how much exactly Shell takes from our oil.
if you have any reference on how much Shell takes from our oil I will be thankful to you.
on May 5th, 2011 at 16:09
To Omani1959 :So what if Shell takes its contractually agreed oil in Oman? All facts and figures can be found in the company (PDO) annual reporting. Instead of trying to cause trouble (have you been sacked or passed over for a position?) just get on with an honest days work.
on May 4th, 2011 at 00:04
Trying being an experienced floorhand, welders helper on the pipeline and an Occupational Safety and Health Tech in the oil and gas industry as a FEMALE…I dont care what anyone says, its still the “good ole boys world” in O & G…wish me luck that maybe an honest job will come my way. Safety isnt a game people and the next time you look at missing hands and caved in sculls you’ll remember how much you need peope like me. It all turns to the right but that cant happen if no ones alive. Ya’ll be careful out there and LISTEN.
on Apr 25th, 2011 at 18:33
can anyone give any evidence or a proof that Shell:
(The company takes around 200,000 barrels of crude per day
on Apr 21st, 2011 at 03:08
Alot of international workers on our site working this project, coming from the team who said they would hire locally for the tax abatements…… and the city officials bought it….. Wonder if this guy lived on downtown Port Arthur???
A contract welder working on the Motiva plant expansion in Port Arthur who was found dead Monday was identified as Arnel Ocampo.
Ocampo, 52, was from the Philippines, said Justice of the Peace Brad Burnett.
Contractors said that they saw him slumped over on a scaffold at about 5:15 p.m. and tried to yell for him, but he was not moving, Burnett said. The contractors told the judge there was welding equipment on the scaffold with Ocampo.
Emergency responders were contacted and Ocampo was taken to Christus St. Mary’s Hospital in Port Arthur where he was pronounced dead at 6 p.m., Burnett said. The judge added that he did not notice bruises or any sign of a fall, but did order an autopsy.
Ocampo was a contract worker with International Plant Services, said Burnett.
Autopsy results are still pending.
Read more: http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Contract-worker-who-died-at-Motiva-plant-1342631.php#ixzz1K7SuwGYU
on Apr 20th, 2011 at 17:47
to Elias777 thanks for your solidarity with the campaign to nationalize our oil and rightly said oil leeches like Shell should stay away from our country.
All the best.
on Apr 19th, 2011 at 03:59
@KuchingKid,
Spot on with your comments regarding the Omani’s.
They all have this attitude that they get sent overseas to complete their degree, and then come back to Oman and expect to walk into a (Manager’s) job, with an office, a computer, two cell phones, and a group of workers below them to do all the work. The expats just have to sigh and get on with what they were employed to do.
on Apr 18th, 2011 at 07:17
To Elias777 : You state that “Venezuela have done pretty well to nationalize oil” – tell that to the people of the country who are only just waking up to the fact that Charvez has wasted most of the money on pet projects & sponsoring other evil regimes (& his own overseas bank accounts)whilst at the same time leaving the people in poverty and with very little human rights. If Omani 1959 wants his country to go the same way so be it. Perhaps they will eventually see sense and go on the streets to get rid of such stupid ideas. Fact is Omani’s tend to be very lazy people and get others to do the hard work.
on Apr 16th, 2011 at 13:45
To Oman 1959, I wish you all the best with your campaign and I hope you succeed to get all the documents, I’m sure you have the knowledge and technology to process your own natural resources. If UAE and Saudi Arabia did it why not Oman? Venezuela also have done pretty well to nationalize oil, why not Oman? Is time for developing country to take care of themselves, OIL LEECHES should stay away from Middle East.
on Apr 13th, 2011 at 08:02
To omani1959 – let’s face it Iraq, Yemen and now Libya have NOT improved their oil production under nationalization and most certainly have reduced production recently. Corruption and laziness of locals make nationalization very problematic. By the way, if you blog on this site (or others) expect other peoples views, even if you don’t like them.
on Apr 13th, 2011 at 03:03
to Kuchingkid I did not ask about your opinion on nationalization, I only wanted some information about the2004 agreement between Shell and Oman government.
there were too many oil nationalization success stories in the past :
Saudi Arabia nationalized its oil from Aramco
UAE nationalized its oil from Adnoc
there is also Iran, Iraq, Libya, Yemen who all had success stories with their nationalisation.
hope you fail and our campaign wins.
on Apr 13th, 2011 at 02:29
It may be a pain, but, is it illegal to spy on someone just to gather information? I don’t think so. The problem comes when there is something to hide!! REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN: Witness intimidation and related burglaries are illegal and amounted to a criminal conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. The conspiracy continued even into the three week High Court Trial heard by a Judge who failed to disclose that his lifelong friend, the founder of an IP firm, had Shell as a client. The Judge also neglected to disclose his connection with the barrister son of the then Shell chairman Sir Mark Moody-Stuart. The Judge expressed not the slightest interest in Shell’s spying activities. He allowed Shell to engage in a carefully contrived deception at the climax of my three day cross-examination designed to entrap me. The case was settled. Shell paid all legal costs, said to be over
on Apr 12th, 2011 at 06:34
To omani1959 : like many fully nationalized companies they often fail miserably due to incompetence of the locals who are put inpositions they cannot cope with. Additionally they are finacially raped by senioe local staff who take most of the profit and squirrel it away in Swiss bank accounts. PDO will be no different – lazy / corrupt locals will be the beneficiary. Hope your campaign fails.
on Apr 10th, 2011 at 14:18
we are leading a campaign in face book to nationalize our oil company in Oman “PDO” :
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_194036703966156&ap=1
we desperately need any information about the 2004 agreement signed by our government with Royal Dutch Shell which owns a staggering 34% share in PDO.
I will be very grateful for anyone who can give us some details about this agreement.
on Apr 9th, 2011 at 04:59
“Refugee from Shell slams fracking” – what scientific knowledge does Wuganalee have to state such drivel? That said, the article has very little substance to make me support his arguments. He seems to be yet another Ogoni trying to get money from an international company. Perhaps he should try and do an honest days work to get some cash.
on Apr 8th, 2011 at 11:47
So it will be interesting to watch as Uncle Tom Purves has to come clean on the cost of the Motiva CEP project. He originally sold it as a $7B project as the clown Lauher and the rest of the project team put their pencil to paper and came up with the costs. Of course, all of those people have been run off the project. Meanwhile, the owners gave Uncle Tom a chance to come clean back in Dec 2008 when they shipped him back over to clean up the mess. Most of his check estimates came in north of $10B. What does he do? He goes back and says “Not a penny more than $8.5B and we can get this project complete.” Well, he has had to go back to the well several times since then and the project stands at an approved budget of something north of $9B. He is going back for another $0.5B soon. The estimates still say north of $10B. Uncle Tom, we wish you well. Glad to see you are a big project guy much like your buddy Forest. And let’s not forget that the start-up plan for this albatross is pretty bad. Who is running that show? Take a guess….. Uncle Tom’s sidekick “da Funk”. This is going to be a hoot to watch as it comes across the finish line. All I can say is No clue.
on Apr 5th, 2011 at 22:29
REPLY TO USCITIZEN: You seem to be deliberately trying to mix up what i have stated and what “OUTSPOKEN” has alleged. I authored the article “Shell is very different from Enron“. There were a number of articles by various publications comparing the Enron scandal with the Shell reserves scandal. The article by The Economist “Another Enron” is one such example. “OUTSPOKEN” provided related comments as a result of reading my article. OUTSPOKEN has already responded to your comments. You have acknowledged that there were former Shell employees at Enron who you describe as traders. In any event, I am not responsible for other contributors opinions/comments, whether from OUTSPOKEN, you, or anyone else who supplies comment for publication on this website.
on Apr 5th, 2011 at 17:58
God Bless Donovan and the person Outspoken who can not post for himself on this site. First Outspoken – shame on you for doing consulting work for Enron – you day out of one side you did not know how they made money , clairvoyant one, and then work for them as a consultant. Using the Donovan connect the dots skills, you are crooked. Secondly – as a lowly consultant, I am sure you had no real insight to how folks behaved or did business. But wait, if you claim you did, then you reinforce my orgininal thought, shame on you for doing business with them? So which is out oh outspoken one – indict yourself or admit you really did not know how they did business???
John, John , John – must you continue to dig while you spin, – nice try – Managers vs Execs. The guy was clearly implying that Shell managers/Execs worked for the corrupt Enron and Shell is corrupt – so any questions. Please. Name on ex Shell Manager who had anything to do with the big Enron decisions! Thought so , the silence is deafening.
I feel for folks like you! Have fun spinning this one!!
PS – maybe Shell survived our crisis , and it was a crisis, because there was no comparision to Enron, ya think?
Later – I may change my tag and send my thoughts to John so he can post for me – Come on Outspoken – if you are so Outspoken post for yourself!!
NOTE FROM JOHN DONOVAN. USCitizen included within his posting the comments made by “OUTSPOKEN”. I have deleted the repeated relevant OUTSPOKEN comment about ENRON, which can be read below. All that is left here is the latest comments of USCitzen.
on Apr 4th, 2011 at 14:15
POSTED On BEHALF OF “OUTSPOKEN”, A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA: John,
I read the comment by the one reader about doing a criminal background investigation of your family.
Sounds like Shell at work here. Slander and defame those that would question the good name of Shell. Cast aspersions upon their good name. Destroy their credibility. Break them and their allies. What a tired and tawdry way of doing business.Thuggery disguised behind a thin veil of respectability provided by the carefully crafted corporate image.
As a doubter of Shell management’s quality of character and their manner of doing business you have become one of the feared and despised ‘OTHER’. The OTHER are to be neutralized so that they can not cause difficulties for the Shell corporate family. The OTHER are the enemy of all good Shell loyalists.
REPLY BY JOHN: I have no idea who made the comment.
on Apr 3rd, 2011 at 08:01
I wonder, has anyone investigated the Donovans for previous bad / criminal past family members? I am sure there must have been, but, does that make them responsible for the past family behaviour? REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN: No one has said that current Shell employees or descendents of Sir Henri Deterding have any responsibility for his actions. They do not. Royal Dutch Shell boasts of its long history. Check out “Our History” on shell.com. As can be expected, although praiseworthy events are rightly covered, there is no mention whatsoever of Royal Dutch Shell massive financial support for Hitler, which saved the Nazi party from oblivion. The dark side of Shell’s history is hidden in the closet along with millions of skeletons. Due to the same driving motive – GREED – Shell has continued throughout the years to do business with evil dictators and still does. e.g. in June 2009, Shell settled a US Court case for $15.5 million in respect of complicity in torture, murder and human rights violations in Nigeria. As for “criminal past family members,” there are none of which I am aware.
on Mar 31st, 2011 at 17:35
I would suspect that Mr/Ms Lao is speaking in a perspective very relative to his or her own experiences. I guess Shell has done an ‘excellent job’ in the ‘relative-subjective’ opinion of all who only value the profits of their behavior. Too many contributors to this site have cited personal experiences with unethical behaviors in Shell’s local and corporate/global-level ‘systems’.
on Mar 31st, 2011 at 09:22
First time on this website. What is the matter with the site owners? So bigoted persons. Shell does an excellent job in poor countries despite all the anti-Shell nonsense posted here.
on Mar 30th, 2011 at 23:17
POSTED ON BEHALF OF AN OUTSPOKEN FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA: Yes I have something to say to uscitizen. Get a life. And learn to read and think for yourself. You come across like some Hitler Youth PR manager. Hail Mighty Shell. You also might want to read a book entitled ’1984′. It is a good read.
Not that it is any of your business but I used to consult for Enron. I did so for years so I know of the beast of which I speak. Unlike many former Shell employees I refused to take their job offers because I could not figure out how those clowns were making money, outside of their gas pipeline business. As it turned out, they weren’t. And for your information, some of Shell’s former senior level managers who went to work for them couldn’t figure that out either and left in short order. But these were the honest former Shell managers, some of whom I knew quite well.
However, as is always the case, birds of a feather flock together, and the slimier of the former Shell managers stuck around at Enron to begin second careers. Eventually, the big bad Wall Street wolf huffed and puffed and blew their house of cards apart. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer bunch of crooks. The sad part of the story is about all the good, hard working employees that got ‘f***’ by their own management, not to mention all the investors that lost their investment. In that regard RD Shell management and Enron management come from the same ‘rape’em and stab’em’ school of business economics. They make off like bandits with their inflated salaries and stock options, leaving the investors and employees holding the bag. It is fortunate for RD Shell investors and employees that Shell had the resources to survive their own massive corruption scandal. Aside from that, RD Shell management and Enron management were not that dissimilar in the way they operated. They still aren’t.
on Mar 29th, 2011 at 14:36
Geez, John Strikes again with a headline full of spin. Name one member of their senior or central leadership team who was a Shell exec. Sure they had some traders, but I guess you think traders set company policy and are the ones who mislead the world on Enron earnings, right John. Your integrity is not up to the standard you seem to want to hold others. Tip – your headline makes the uneducated think that leaders of Enron were ex Shell folks. Either change your headline or admit you mislead folks, that is the standard you espouse! But you will not, we know you too well. The spin meister!!
REPLY TO USCITIZEN FROM JOHN: You accuse me of spin, but engage in blatant spin yourself. This was not a comment made by me as you purport, but by a former employee of your company. The headline was a direct extract from the comment in question. The former Shell employees working for Enron were described in the comment as Shell managers, not Shell executives as you wrongly state. Hope you don’t mind me correcting your inaccuracies. I am sure “OUTSPOKEN” will have something to say in reply.
on Mar 27th, 2011 at 07:11
Dilbert, you must be joking ! If you are in Shell long enough, you know it is just lip service. Those Whites with skirts are preferred over colored in key positions. Since when you do you see a colored SEG in the EC. It will never happen. We have given up long time ago.
on Mar 26th, 2011 at 14:48
Peter Voser really knows how to motivate the hired hands:
Announces that DIVERSITY is top on his agenda. Odum (US Country Chair) follows with the statement that “persons of colour” are his top priority.
Sweet! Now my incompetent management will be incompetent females “of colour”!
What am I supposed to tell young white male hetrosexual engineers when I interview them? That they will love watching the diversity candidates promote past them because diversity is a wonderful thing? Sure it is, now get back to your cubicle and make your boss her bonus.
on Mar 21st, 2011 at 15:34
So, when are these Nazi secrets exposed. I am still waiting! So far nothing worth reading!! REPLY FROM JOHN DONOVAN: Sounds like your alias should be “NOT INTERESTED”. Can only surmise that you have not read the entire 9 part article. Or perhaps you are unconcerned that Shell helped finance the Nazis and hence the concentration camps, where millions perished in horrific circumstances. We have already provided copious evidence from independent reputable circumstances and much much more is in the pipeline. The Internet will prove to be a disaster for the reputation of Royal Dutch Shell. More newspaper archives from around the world are being made available on a searchable basis online. More books are available online on a searchable basis. Same applies to foreign language books and articles including from Germany. We have further confirmation of Shell’s direct contact with Hitler and Shell’s funding of the Nazi Party. Shell is certainly interested. Shell senior management was in contact with me on the subject earlier this month, after discussions with the paid historians responsible for “A History of Royal Dutch Shell”. It is obvious from the comments made by Fat Cat CEO Peter Voser about current events in Libya that Shell is still prepared to deal with the devil, driven, as always, by unscrupulous greed.
on Mar 16th, 2011 at 16:28
From RIA Novosti:
Russians Rush for Iodine Pills:
Russian military units stationed on the island of Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands, which are disputed with Japan, prepared for a possible evacuation because of the nuclear threat, only days after they were warned about the tsunami.
on Mar 15th, 2011 at 12:47
amazed nothing on this site about Kashagan; another mega-project quickly going down the pan in Shell’s hands
on Mar 11th, 2011 at 21:53
No tsunami impact on Sakhalin projects says Upstream Online:
Oil and gas projects near Sakhalin Island off Russia’s far-eastern coast have seen little impact from the tsunami triggered by a massive earthquake in Japan, supermajors operating in the region said. Russia ordered a tsunami warning in three …
on Mar 11th, 2011 at 16:13
Any news from Sakhalin about the effects of the quake/tsunami? Yuzno Sakalinsk is only about 400 miles from the epicentre
on Mar 3rd, 2011 at 01:25
John, how bad is the trouble in the Middle East going to hurt Shell on crude? I know the deal with there partners on Motiva crude but what about other areas? REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN: Others contributors to this blog are better qualified than me to answer your question.
on Feb 27th, 2011 at 20:56
uscitizen is right, market demand is significant in setting consumer prices. no evil in working that process to full advantage. No, the upset in the balance occurs when individual and corporate self indulgence exploits other individuals, communities, cultures and the environment, whether on the supply or demand ends of the system. Every expense incurred from entertainment, travel, training, and drilling in deep water impact the supply cost. Responsible citizens understand this and are forever conscious of the impacts of their behaviors on all costs to the community, the environment and supply-side costs as they impact consumer prices.
on Feb 21st, 2011 at 17:06
To the poor fellow who wants to know why coke is more expensive than oil on a volume basis – God help ya! Next product up for his review – bottled water. Market demands , market demands. People will pay , companies will sell. REPLY FROM THE POOR FELLOW IN QUESTION: John, I have a response to USCitzens ‘predictable response. How about a monopolistic duopoly that exists between Coca – Cola Corp. and Pepsico and that prevents the rise of any meaningful competitor????? ‘Market forces’ my ass. The same thing is occurring in the bottled water business only the Nestle’ company has jumped into the fray and that keeps the situation somewhat more ‘fluid’, no pun intended.
on Feb 21st, 2011 at 17:04
I give, I call uncle. I can not continue a debate with someone who clearly is not listening and thinks acceptable ethical, moral and legal behavior with vendors, ie once or twice a year activities at de minimus levels, will drive me to corrupt practices. You win, I am crooked, all folks in all industries around the globe who have business relationships with behaviors identical to mine are crooked and we can not manage the slippery slope. Happy, good. I can see a lot clearer how your logic works and that the black and white world you live in is applied with your assumptions about peoples standards, values and ethics. Later and moving on. Please have your sarcasm meter calibrated before reading this post.
All the other accusations are too numerous to debate, others can engage you on that. I know how I am asked to behave, how I am expected to behave, how I am graded vs that behavior and how I apply that standard to my organization. All in my organization sleep well. Our community neighbors appreciate our behaviors and the stewardship we apply to our business. All I got pal.
REPLY FROM JOHN DONOVAN: For the sake of argument, let’s accept that you are a responsible person of integrity who acts at all times in accordance with the Code of Conduct. Unfortunately some Shell employees/managers/executives are greedy and thoroughly dishonest. Some climbed to the very top of the company. One even received a knighthood while secretly engaging in a multi-billion dollar securities fraud. Allowing vendors to treat Shell employees to freebies and Shell employees to treat government oversight officials to gifts, is a recipe for scandal, as per the notorious Shell sponsored Drugs, Sex & Corruption scandal involving the U.S. Minerals Management Service, which made news headlines in 2009.
on Feb 20th, 2011 at 01:06
POSTED ON BEHALF OF A FORMER SHELL OIL CO EMPLOYEE: John,
FIRST SUBJECT: Can anyone in the US food industry or petroleum industry explain to me in reasonalble and rational terms why Coca-Cola, etc., sells for about $1 US per liter retail, while gasoline sells for about $0.75 per liter US retail, which includes a host of Federal, State, and local taxes. Am I missing something here??
SECOND SUBJECT: John,
After 9/11 the US Congress passed an ill considered piece of legislation called the USA Patriot Act. Provisions of that Act are up for renewal this year. One of the more onerous provisions has to do with the attaining of search warrants. The Patriot Act did away with the protections from ‘unreasonable search and seizure’ that had been in place since the signing of the US Constitution in the late 18th century. That particular provision is set to expire shortly and an extension is currently under debate.
When I think about it, the Fed’s could use this statute to literally walk into Shell USA offices and go through everything Shell has in the way of business records. Everything. The cause would be suspicion of conspiracy to commit espionage. Wonder why that has not happened given that NCIS had/has had Shell under investigation?
Perhaps it was due to high level political connections in the Bush Administration, and continued high level connections in the US government. What do your readers think?
on Feb 15th, 2011 at 18:39
REPLY TO US CITIZEN: Unfortunately the code is meaningless since Shell senior management has a track record of supporting corrupt practices, engaging in corruption, securities fraud, IP theft, price fixing cartels, fictitious trades, putting profits before employee safety, sponsoring industrial espionage, using Shell employees as unknowing guinea pigs in a study of carcinogenic properties at a chemicals plant, informing on Nigerian gangs Shell was secretly funding, disguising Iraqi and Iranian oil shipments which were in breach of UN sanctions. This list is endless and includes involvement in torture, murder and human rights abuses. It really is deeds, not words which count. Shell’s ethical code is a sham. And we can see how Shell treats whistleblowers. I admire your loyalty to Shell, but it is sadly misplaced. As to your acceptance of gifts, free golf and “outings” from vendors doing business with Shell, the intent is obvious. It is to buy influence. That is corruption. It remains to be seen if the level of corruption – the gifts and freebies – are approved by Shell, but in that case it is an unwise unethical enticement to vendors and potentially a very slippery slope.
on Feb 15th, 2011 at 17:35
Nope – will not share that with you. But we have a tracking system where we log all of our vendor contacts and where we log offers that are out of compliance. Violate these polices and you get fired. Questions? We have had to fire folks for these violations. We are expected to flag violations that we see. We do not run to a hate site and post them, we deal with it.
Read the document you posted closer – while it does not list the limits, it refers to them.
ever offer, give, seek or accept G&H
that exceed prescribed value limits,
unless line manager approval has
been obtained. These value limits
are listed at intranet site.
If you are going to post a document read it!
on Feb 15th, 2011 at 00:35
REPLY TO US CITIZEN: Could not find the G&H limits within the Code of Conduct. Apparently published on the Shell Intranet. Perhaps you can kindly tell us what they are provided that does not put you in the position of revealing confidential internal information.
on Feb 15th, 2011 at 00:20
Wow – we went from items described as acceptable in our code of conduct, Yes Joh the standard is always that the activity does not influence your decisions, to visiting ladies of leisure and needing protection. I rest my case. John, you are like some politicians, take an extract out of context. If you read the whole policy , that I review every year, you would see that there are limits that have to be reported if you go over or are invited. That sidetrip to Vegas better have been reported by the person you replied for John. All of mine are reported and logged. You clearly did not understand the reciprocity approach that many of us take. You have a business relationship with a vendor, you ensure that for business entertainment, you reciprocate. That takes out any doubt that you did something for benefit. Try to understand how that works. There is no hole for me to get out of John, but you are in a cavern quoting part of a standard and applying it out of context. How do you know if it impacted my decision or not? I am not about to put my job at jeopardy for a lunch or a golf game. And to the guest that went thru you, shame on you for your accusations. Insulted me and my family. I will not do the same to you, higher standard. Good day. PS – read the whole policy John and then let folks know about the limits and why they are there.
on Feb 11th, 2011 at 21:54
POSTING ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA:
Reply to US Citizen:
When I was working for Shell USA I once had a vendor (who will remain unnamed for the present time), and whose services I was evaluating, offer to fly me out to their corporate facilities in California in their corporate Boeing 727 to ‘look over their operation’. On the return trip they indicated that there would be a stopover in Las Vegas for a little ‘R&R’. Prostitution is legal in Nevada, and they asked if I have ever visited any of the more famous ‘recreational institutions’. Of course, there would be a little gambling, etc., at the casinos. A good time would have been had by all. I declined the invitation. The vendor was not ‘passing the grade’, and they were clearly trying to either buy me off or set me up. It didn’t make much difference.
This sort of thing was, and still is, not uncommon in the oil industry. It is the sort of thing that comes with being a ‘member of the club’, so to speak. The vendors supply the ‘entertainment’ in return for business being kicked their direction. That is the quid pro quo. (Does this remind you of the Sex and Drugs scandal at DoI??).
I am certain that you enjoy your ‘benefits’ and that you have a good time, being that you are obviously ‘a member of the club’. (I presume you ‘use protection’??? Wouldn’t want to give the wife an unwanted ‘gift’.)
on Feb 11th, 2011 at 19:58
yes, every Shell employee that is cowardly silent when they see unfair, unjust, unsafe, unlawful or immoral acts. ..and especially those whom I have seen commit these acts while getting recognized and rewarded for some pretentious accomplishment. Those that get away with political games for their own advancement are the most proud to work for Shell. I was once very proud of Shell, and very proud to be an employee. I earned a very comfortable living,and probably overlooked things while raising my family, that became intolerable as I aged. Be proud of your company, do well and take care of your family. Do all that you can to influence when you see someone violating these values. Hopefully you will never be exposed in the way that I was, to behaviors and activities that you can no longer influence or tolerate.
on Feb 11th, 2011 at 16:52
REPLY TO uscitizen: Every time you pay us a visit, you dig yourself a deeper hole. You admit accepting gifts, lunches and free golf from parties doing business with Shell. This is what it says in the Shell Code of Conduct: “You must not offer, pay, make, seek or accept a personal payment, gift or favour in return for favourable treatment or to gain any business advantage.” Do you think these parties are lavishing gifts on you because of your sex appeal and great personality, or to gain favor? Based on your postings I think we all know the answer at least in relation to the latter. With the time you spend on free lunches, free golf/outings etc plus visits here, currently several times a day, I am surprised you have any time left for work? I have deleted from your comments the inclusion of the postings to which you are responding, because the repeats in my view only cause confusion.
on Feb 11th, 2011 at 15:57
REPLY TO “bware” BY “uscitizen”:
So you just bashed every Shell Employee that is proud of Shell. We are all wonderful, dedicated, self-sacrificing lieutenant or pawns? I have said on here that a company, like people make mistakes. Never said Shell has not. What we refuse to take is the bashing that John and people like you hand out. Stating that the intent of the company is to make money in spite of all the stakeholders. Pure rubbish and if you really paid attention you would know that. I have worked with people like you, we know your type. I sleep very well, you have not read all my posts. If this company was EVIL as you and Johnnie state, then I would have been asked to violate operating permits to make money, look the other way to get the units back up on time, etc. We simply do not do that or allow that. Some operating companies do, that will get you fired at Shell. Now you and John will call me a Liar, but you have not been in my shoes and that is how we and I do business. Simple. And if you can not see how a person who works for a company that trains us to do business right is bashed because of some mistakes as an evil company, so be it, you are the one who is myopic and looking thru some colored lenses. Later, gotta go violate a permit and gas the community – that is what I do every day right?
on Feb 11th, 2011 at 15:48
THIS REPLY IS IN RESPONSE TO THE POSTING BY JOHN DONOVAN COMMENCING “In fact your posting was published hours ago…
My bad – it was not there when I refreshed but one I posted after it was?? Oh my Vegas and Atlantic City – we clearly are not communicating. $20 lunch at the local Mexican place. Sometimes I buy sometimes they buy! $50 round of golf, sometimes they buy sometimes I buy! Oh and I have nothing to hide from the Shell system John, turn them all in. Taking a trip to Vegas or Atlantic City would be against the policy, I do not do that. You chose to start this web page, so I all realize you are in a much different place than folks who come on here. PS – why do you not call out all of the folks bashing shell and not using their real names, I thought so! So I guess the fact that they are hurling abuse while hiding their identity allows us to draw conclusions about their honesty, courage, integrity and credibility. Right John! Now we see how your argument falls apart, as most of your arguments do! See ya, till next time. Enjoyed the distraction!
Headed off to Wimbledon with a supplier soon, RIGHT!! That is what John thinks a Business meeting is to further a business relationship!!
on Feb 11th, 2011 at 06:26
…of folks like uscitizen…no responsible character traits here. All of Shell is always great. If one believes that they exploit, rape, and abuse resources and people, then one must be vindictive. uscitizen is clearly a hopeless patsy. ..or maybe he is a dedicated employee that does not want to see his beloved Shell being immoral… or a manager/director who is trying to defend the charge that he has so proudly stood by. I like others in today’s new shell could no longer live like this. If you sleep well every night, knowing what Shell’s only true motive is, no matter how well you deny it to yourself; and without ever communicating it to anyone, then God bless you. You are one wonderful, dedicated, self-sacrificing lieutenant or pawn. This all boils down to Shell’s ability to irresponsibly disregard communities, cultures, the environment, humanity, and the personal impact on individuals, for the sake of energy exploitation for profit. No, uscitizen, I have worked with people like you, for people like you, and have had people like you work for me; not becoming part of the character-absent, immoral culture, and speaking honestly when you see injustice, is the only way to be truly content. Defending immorality, can only mean internal misery, no matter how much you want to believe that preserving your position and honoring Shell is what’s important. There are far too many observable, irresponsible acts committed by Shell, not to at least admit awareness. Some of us see these behaviors carried out by such a significant player in the exploitation of our resources as EVIL. Something tells me that you may be in a position of some influence. How well are you really sleeping? please forgive me if i have this all wrong; i am just trying to figure out the means of your die-hard , servant position.
on Feb 10th, 2011 at 23:19
REPLY TO uscitizen: In fact your posting was published hours ago. Guess you forgot to refresh the page. We remain keen to have people speaking out for Shell. That should have been plain from the fact that we have continued without exception publishing your abusive comments about us over recent years. What I am pointing out is that there is a vast difference between us making comments in our own names about Shell, which we are prepared to defend in court, compared with you making defamatory comments about us while hiding behind an alias posting name and an alias email address. Shell has our current address for correspondence and the service of legal proceedings. We were in contact with Shell just days ago via our home address and await a response. I am sure visitors to this site would be impressed if you posted under your real name (and supplied us with your address details – not for publication) so that we were in the same position as Shell is with us i.e. able to challenge us in the libel courts. If you have confidence that your personal acceptance of gifts, lunches and “outings” from parties doing business with Shell Oil will not be frowned upon by Shell senior management, then at least declare your name. BTW, are the “outings” to Atlantic City or Las Vegas? If you continue to insist on hurling abuse while hiding your identity, others will be able to draw their own conclusions about your honesty, courage, integrity and credibility. On reflection, bearing in mind the hole you have dug for yourself in relation to the subject of bribes/corruption, you are probably best advised not to disclose your real name.
on Feb 10th, 2011 at 21:31
Oh Donovan – you did not post my last entry. What part of it violated the Blog rules? Yes folks – when you post some hard truths the great hope for ethics will not post it! Wow – pot calling the kettle black, but that would mean your accusations against Shell have some merit, so naaah. Bad analogy! Lets just say you make mistakes that folks can interpret as evil, bad form, low ethical standards. See how tough it is to meet your standard of pleasing everone all the time?. Tough world out here John, come join us.
on Feb 10th, 2011 at 18:22
“Interested
on Feb 10th, 2011 at 2:12 am
What is happening in PA with CEP? I understand there have been talks about this blog. The funny thing is that after the note from Norco about the three new comers all talk stopped. Would like to hear what OSHA had to say about the mishap.”
They might have realized what kind of site this was and realized they were posting in the wrong place and found someplace more credible!
on Feb 10th, 2011 at 18:20
“RELY TO US CITIZEN:
You cannot change now what you have stated here in the past. Fortunately visitors can look back at your comments and decide for themselves whether my statement that you have admitted accepting gifts from vendors and seem to consider such gifts to be an entitlement, is a fair assessment. You have now also admitted accepting free hospitality. Lunch, presumably washed down with free beer or wine. You also mention social outings. The list grows. What next. This is the corporate culture that resulted in the Sex, Drugs and Corruption scandal. With regards to whistleblowing, I suggest that you check out relevant legislation enacted in the USA and the UK to protect whistleblowers. You will then be better informed. Far from being illegal, whistleblowing is protected. Shell has a whistleblower helpline, but unfortunately it is fatally flawed, which is perhaps why Shell employees contact me, rather than Shell. With regards to Shell employees generally, we know that the vast majority are decent hard working people and have said so many times. Our problem is with the Shell fat cats who will deal with the devil and flout Shell
on Feb 10th, 2011 at 02:12
What is happening in PA with CEP? I understand there have been talks about this blog. The funny thing is that after the note from Norco about the three new comers all talk stopped. Would like to hear what OSHA had to say about the mishap.
on Feb 9th, 2011 at 01:09
RELY TO US CITIZEN:
You cannot change now what you have stated here in the past. Fortunately visitors can look back at your comments and decide for themselves whether my statement that you have admitted accepting gifts from vendors and seem to consider such gifts to be an entitlement, is a fair assessment. You have now also admitted accepting free hospitality. Lunch, presumably washed down with free beer or wine. You also mention social outings. The list grows. What next. This is the corporate culture that resulted in the Sex, Drugs and Corruption scandal. With regards to whistleblowing, I suggest that you check out relevant legislation enacted in the USA and the UK to protect whistleblowers. You will then be better informed. Far from being illegal, whistleblowing is protected. Shell has a whistleblower helpline, but unfortunately it is fatally flawed, which is perhaps why Shell employees contact me, rather than Shell. With regards to Shell employees generally, we know that the vast majority are decent hard working people and have said so many times. Our problem is with the Shell fat cats who will deal with the devil and flout Shell’s own claimed ethical code to enrich themselves. In future, if you wish to make defamatory and abusive comments about us, please set up your own website so that we can take appropriate legal action against you. We can hardly do so when the comments are published on our own website (with you hiding behind a pseudonym). We have the courage and integrity to make comments in our own name and at our own cost.
on Feb 8th, 2011 at 23:54
“”REPLY TO
on Feb 1st, 2011 at 10:55
REPLY TO “uscitizen”: Have not heard from you since you admitted accepting gifts from vendors doing business with Shell. It was obvious from your comments that you considered such gifts/bribes to be an entitlement. With regards to whistleblowing, you obviously support the people at Shell like Jeroen van der Veer who knew for years that shareholders were being given fraudulent information about Shell’s claimed oil and gas reserves and did not inform the people who own the company or bring the multibillion dollar securities fraud into the open. Shell Production Geologist Dr Huong, who did blow the whistle internally, was sacked and then buried in court injunctions and prison committal proceedings to silence him.
on Feb 1st, 2011 at 10:45
REPLY ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA: To USCitizen: Read the Wikileaks revelations recently? Or is that an ‘inconvenient truth’? Shell only has its senior management to blame for all of that. Need to watch those ‘loose lips…’, and put your corporate propaganda organs into high gear doing damage control. We thought you had had enough and were through with this website. Promises, promises. That is So much like Shell management. You cannot trust a word they say. Have a good day.
on Jan 31st, 2011 at 20:06
Ahh the conspiracy theorists rise. Oh yes, RD is plotting all kinds of evil things! Geez, you folks need to get a life. Yeah if you leak company confidential information, you might have someone trying to figure out who it is! What a concept. Maybe one the us government may want to look into!
on Jan 31st, 2011 at 00:12
POSTED ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA: This is for shellwaarbenjijnu:
I now live in that mystical land of Shangrila. Thanks for asking. To be honest, I was just being a bit of a smartass with that MI6 comment, but the analogy seamed apt. In the States Shell employs former FBI types for their security group, and they have connections with their buddies at the FBI. Yes, it is indeed a dirty and tangled web RD Shell has woven. RD Shell is doing its best to co-opt and compromise politicians and those governmental agencies that have ‘watch-dog’ functions over the legality of their operations. Call them what you want, RD Shell or the fictional ‘Spectre’, the company still stinks and they threaten the rule of law in those countries in which they operate.
on Jan 30th, 2011 at 13:48
Ah “former employee of Shell USA” – regarding MI6 it is even more tangled than you know. Shell has former UK intelligence service operatives on payroll. A certain Ian “McCreepy” is engaged in tracking down employees who leak to this site. No doubt through his web of connections busies himself with trying to crack open this site and determine the identity of the contributors.
on Jan 29th, 2011 at 22:11
POSTED ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA: John,
The more I read about RD Shell the more they resemble the dastardly fictonal criminal entity ‘SPECTRE’ of Ian Fleming’s James Bond novels and movies. Is this a case of art imitating life, or the other way around? Where is MI6 and James Bond when you need them?
on Jan 27th, 2011 at 01:14
Someone From Port Arthur:
You guys had to have met the infamous Joey D, (He will be found right up The FUNKS ass, cant miss him. Please let us know what you think, Please dont be shy we all know that he is a piece of shit!!!! along with the other two that were shipped over there to save the day…
on Jan 27th, 2011 at 00:33
POSTING ON BEHALF OF AN OUTSPOKEN FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA: John,
I read your latest Wiki-leaks posting. I knew the Dutch government held a significant stake in the giant Groningen gas field in the Netherlands, but did not know it was 40%. That means RD Shell’s stake is 30%, and they pay a boat load of taxes on what they earn from that field as well. Likewise for Exxon.
So, why has Ireland given away the Corrib gas field to Shell and its partners? It seems to me that the Irish government should be able to cut a deal similar to what the Dutch have with RD Shell and Exxon in the Groningen gas field. And RD Shell and their partners should pay income taxes as well.
RD Shell has done a good job of co-opting the Irish government to get the deal they wanted. That much is clear.
on Jan 20th, 2011 at 12:26
I wonder what “associated marketing businesses” to Stanlow can mean?
on Jan 18th, 2011 at 10:55
POSTED ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA:
Hello John,
Your Canadian reader is quite correct about his geography, of course.
However, I bet much of the air pollution from Fort McMurry circles the globe at that latitude and makes it to Prudhoe Bay the ‘long way’, particularly in the summer. No doubt air pollution from the Russian Arctic oil complexes makes it to Alaska and beyond as well.
As a kid growing up near Yellowstone Park there were times when the smoke from the Alaskan forest fires would reduce the visibility in Northwest Wyoming to just a few miles.
Much of Los Angeles’ air quality and pollution problems today are not home grown, but come with the wind all the way across the Pacific from China.
My point here is that air quality in the Alaskan offshore Arctic is not going to be impacted to any measurable degree by RD Shell’s drill ship and small flotilla of supporting vessels in a two month drilling program. The allegation that it will have any measurable impact is probably pretty much of a joke.
My regards to your Canadian reader.
on Jan 17th, 2011 at 21:09
While the former Shell Oil employee may have a point on the motives of the DOI, his geography is a bit off. To say the oil sands in Alberta are “just next door” is a stretch. Prudhoe Bay to Fort McMurray is about 3600 km (2250 miles) or about the same as Los Angles to Boston
on Jan 15th, 2011 at 00:33
POSTED ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA: John,
Read the stories about RD Shell’s air pollution permits being ‘deficient’, thereby delaying the issuance of a drilling permit for next year. This is nonsense. Something else is going on at DoI.
The amount of air pollutants emitted by land rigs, and the Prudhoe Bay complex, not to mention the massive tar sands projects in Albert, which is essentially just next door to Alaska, dwarf anything RD Shell might emit in a 2 month drilling program.
DoI has decided to ‘stick it’ to RD Shell for other reasons. Maybe it has to do with the Gale Norton affair, or the ‘sex and drugs’ scandals, or the current ongoing investigation by DoI and the Navy. Whatever the cause, RD Shell has a ‘political problem’ that they may not be able to overcome. Don’t count on Shell ever getting to drill in the offshore anytime soon.
Maybe RD Shell should contract for a modern drilling rig, that might help their cause. The fact that they are not going after a modern rig indicates they know something else is going on.
When the Republicans lost the White House Shell lost its sponsor. They are on the outside looking in now.
on Jan 14th, 2011 at 14:30
POSTED ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA: John,
I have been reading the continuing saga of Dr. Huong. RD Shell is a vindictive company. Anyone who knows how they operate knows this. But in Dr. Huong’s case the pernicious hypocrisy of Shell management has climbed to new heights. They sued this poor man because they could get away with it in the corrupt Malaysian legal system. The claim of ‘defamation’ is a joke on Shell’s part. Shell’s conduct in this case is a classic example of ‘corporate tyranny’. Nigeria is another.
Keep this story in the public eye. It is a lesson and a warning to all who would ‘cross’ RD Shell.
Beware the ‘Yellow Peril’.
on Jan 13th, 2011 at 09:16
EGrainger, perhaps I’ll help get some response to your questions started. Yes, it is hard for some to see Shell as the responsible party in some of the Niger Delta events. My opinion is that oil exploiters are responsible for collaborative responsibility, with governments, communities, cultures and the environment. Sabotage of their facilities only indicates that they have not completed the whole package. Maximizing profit can mean neglect of stakeholders.
on Jan 12th, 2011 at 00:59
I am currently investigating Shell’s position within Nigeria, more specifically the Delta; when I came across your website. It is crammed with an insane amount of information I can’t even begin to take half of it in, it
on Jan 10th, 2011 at 10:27
POSTING ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA: John, Got an observation and a question.
The observation is that from all the comments you get, and the articles you run, like that on Dr. Huong, it is clear that RD Shell management is highly cannibalistic and has a nasty tendency to jettison their best and brightest for self-serving ‘political reasons’. It was that way when I was at Shell so things haven’t changed much, except to get worse.
The question I have for all the critics of your ‘revisit of yester-year’ is this:
If the clock were turned back to the 1930′s does anyone have any doubt that today’s RD Shell management, European or American, would sell out their Jewish employees? Remember that Shell USA is headquartered in the ‘Deep South’ and in the heart of Southern Baptist Country. Come on folks, be honest. We all know that today’s sterling gang of managers would do it in a heart beat, and without a second thought. And they would do just to suck up and earn the ‘brownie points’ to further their careers.
Think about that for awhile.
RD Shell is such a well led corporation.
REPLY COMMENT BY JOHN DONOVAN: I will duck that question. What I would say is that some members of Shell top management have ruthlessly abandoned claimed business principles out of greed, ambition and/or misguided loyalty to dishonest colleagues.
on Jan 9th, 2011 at 22:27
More on TP…. Trust me, the fact that Tom Purves single handedly ruined the careers and reputations of many in his 4 years at the helm will be his legacy for those in the ranks. For the SEs in Shell, you are right as they will look at the project called CEP and will let that determine what his ride into the sunset is titled. The facts re CEP are this…. Good concept, bad timing, leadership ( Lauher ) that was in over his head ( remember Tom hired his little buddy off the streets after CP dumped him, project’s initial estimate is $3.5b; Tom gets it approved for $7b; the project goes off the rails due to no controls and inadequate leadership with Bechtel and Lauher and his team, the control estimates come in at $10b, Tom gets it re-approved at $8.5b. And we are where we are. Still trying to get it completed, 2 years later. Project will still be over $10b. Start-up will be what it is going to be.
As for leadership being Shell’s finest, I don’t disagree that this is probably the best Shell can put on the front line. This isn’t saying much as most in the trenches know that Purves carries alot of weight with Motiva and the Saudis since he is the only senior left over from the early days of Motiva. But give me a break, the other leaders brought in are the ones Purves brought in, not shell’s best. At least if he is going down, Shell’s senior leaders let him “do it his way”. Trust me, they all deserve each other. the rest of us just will wait it out anddo our best.
on Jan 9th, 2011 at 16:12
Those observing and those being impacted by TP’s needy ego, do not his legacy make. When it comes right down to it, he and the Funk were seen as saviors to a project needing better management. And this is what gets played outside of Shell. If he pulls it off with cost improvement, and is able to connect all upsets to Bechtel (and others), his retirement package will be one to be envied. The Reuter’s article excerpt below eludes to that view; managers brought in to ‘restart’ the project after Saudi ARAMCO became concerned about cost, must be Shell’s finest.
“The $5-billion project, begun in 2007 was stopped for over a year in late 2008 due to concerns by Motiva partner Saudi Aramco about the cost and management of the expansion. Work resumed in 2009.”
on Jan 9th, 2011 at 02:30
Mr. Donovan, here is what I can tell you since the PR spin on this was pretty shallow…. The crane, a part of the CEP project, and being operated by Bechtel, toppled over backwards, falling into and across a piperack. This damaged the piperack extensively, taking out power lines, collapsing into a resid tank that we had just put back in service. This also trapped an individual in one of the vacuum trucks in the surrounding area. A very bad event indeed but played down to the external community for obvious reasons. Another problem due to Bechtel which should have been fired from the project back in 2009 instead of all the people Tom Purves ended up letting go that were trying to help. Maybe Purves and Funkhouser with their little tag-along plant manager can help to right this one. Believe me, it is going to get worse before it gets better on this project. OSHA is in here investigating. We’ll wait and see what they find.
on Jan 8th, 2011 at 09:29
POSTED ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL: John,
I read your expose’ on Dr. Huong’s ordeal. As a student of history this is the sort of thing you would expect from the fascists or Bolsheviks of days gone by. The two ideologies are different sides of the same twisted coin.
RD Shell’s cultural roots show clearly in the way they treated this poor man. And their conduct was and is despicable. That man did not slander Shell. Truth is not slander.
on Jan 6th, 2011 at 03:23
Dr. Huong, you are not the only one who has been done wrong. The only truth here is that Shell senior mgt is bad. Tom Purves, here in the US, has done similar deeds as you refer to. He has lied about good people in our company and between him and the HR cronies, who sole job these days is to serve senior mgt, created fabrications that led to good people leaving our company. A strong similarity is the level of diligence that senior mgt and HR exhibited going after these people to run them out of the company. Tom also lied and had performance factors changed, after the manager had set them, to allow people to be targeted for severance packages across all of our GC sites. He falls into the same mix of senior managers that you reference; the only difference is the country. Shell senior mgt has changed this company we have all been proud of and have served our entire careers for. Flat out frustrated and no end in sight. Shell mgt won’t respond to you becauase they have no backbone and won’t stand up to be judged by their deeds. Face it, this company is a 3rd rate company with weak leaders. This unfortunately is as good as it gets until major changes happen.
on Jan 5th, 2011 at 09:51
It would be surprising if the Frontier Discoverer meets current emission standards. The vessel was built 45 years ago. Imagine trying to get an emissions certificate for a 1965 automobile…
Shell claims to have spent over $2bn on its Arctic exploration programme, but are proposing to use a vessel which should have been sent to the scrapyard many years ago. A new vessel would cost perhaps $500 million, but would last for 35 years and would include all the latest safety and environmental equipment. How can Shell claim to be serious about emissions, safety, and environmental protection while trying to use equipment constructed when the issues were not even considered – the Frontier Discoverer was built before the first major offshore blowout (Unocal, Santa Barbara channel) occurred in 1969.
on Jan 3rd, 2011 at 20:45
Golden Triangle Watchmen:
Did the Norco TRIO show up yet? Useless Joey D (No degree just like “Funk”, BB- rule breaker, and Gabby Dipp (brainless). They are all coming from NORCO to save the day over there in Texas. Again Funk pulling strings for Joey. His dictatorship at Motiva Norco was too long and over thank god. They were running him out so he had to call his long lost buddy Funk to help him out. This useless piece of shit is like a grade 2 or so making way too much money for a person with no degree who skated on everyone else
on Jan 2nd, 2011 at 18:58
That TP was able to reek the havoc that he did, on the organization and on people’s lives. No justice that no one had the wisdom or guts to stop him. .. Or that he is still in any position at Shell. … but the biggest injustice of all, is that there has not been nor will there probably ever be, reparation for his damage to personal lives! Yep more of the ‘dialogue’ of alignment, being ‘spoken’ in today’s Shell.
on Jan 1st, 2011 at 23:21
Funny is not what would come to mind for Tx City from where I sit if Jeff gets run off from Motiva and goes to hang on to his next apron with KC. Many of us, who read this website, remember the Tom and Jeff show when it was here. Not even close to being funny. I am just blown away that Shell has let it exist as long as it has. He got fired up here when CP decided that he would not be a manager. Peple up here remember what the knife felt like when he was working for Tom 2 levels down in the organization. I’m sure he has a nice little reason to go to BP with his Norco buddy still around. Was part of why he is no longer married I’m sure. The boy is no good. Trust those who know him. And neither is Purves. He is old school Shell with some friends in HR. The only reason he hangs around. Tom must be counting his days.
on Dec 31st, 2010 at 02:02
About Jeff it would be funny if he would end up at Texas City BP with KC and his other friend from Norco. Poor BP.
on Dec 24th, 2010 at 21:24
POSTED ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA: Response to Golden Triangle Watchman: Hey Buddy, you got it right. The Nazi story isn’t about Nazis, or Hitler. It is all about the mediocrity of Shell management, their lack of integrity and character, and how those major personality faults in senior leadership reflect in the corporate business decisions, in how they treat their people, their business partners, and how they deal with governments. It is about the consequences of bad leadership and the need for a serious house cleaning in the management ranks at Shell, and a change in corporate management culture.
on Dec 24th, 2010 at 14:57
Re Interested…. I think you will see a bad start-up because the construction is / has been bad all along. There is no contractor, excluding Bechtel, that feels good about what they have participated in. Re Tom, retirement by end of 2011 or sooner if he is successful in pushing the project to completion sooner. Face it, he got demoted and sent over here to clean the mess up he created. He is only interested in his legacy and his ego, nothing else. Re Jeff, too young to retire and he has an ex wife who owns half of what he gets so he will want to keep working. As soon as Tom leaves, Jeff will be disposed of in a quiet way. He knows it, Tom knows it, and Shell mgt can’t wait. Jeff is bad to the bone and just dirty. Has been as I understand it for many many years. Forrest won’t be too far behind. He is a joke and just does what these 2 tell him to.
Re Shellie… wake up. This story isn’t about Nazis. It’s about how Shell mgt continues to connect themselves with bad people, bad govts, and because the leadership we have for our company is weak and basically programmed to preach the same message, they are bad. Not so much because they are evil I belive; they are just bad and weak leaders. Not much left to say.
on Dec 24th, 2010 at 02:17
Thanks GTW for update. Started some calls about start up people who plan to leave mid-year 2011. I wonder how this will work for TP & J?
on Dec 23rd, 2010 at 23:09
REPLY TO Shellie: What a strange posting. You seem to be under the impression that we are in some way making money from this website. In fact, it costs us money every month with no incoming revenue. No subscription costs. No advertising. No donations. We deliberately operate on an entirely non commercial basis so that no one can fairly accuse us of trying to make money out of telling the truth about Shell. With regards to the Nazi aspect, I note that thus far no one has disputed the facts as stated in Royal Dutch Shell Nazi Secrets. The evidence, much of which has been buried in newspaper archives for several decades, is overwhelming. Shell decided to deal with the devil for financial gain. It is still following the same policy. We have no intention of dropping the subject. In fact, as will be seen in the New Year, we will ensure that the Nazi chapter in Shell’s history is taken up by the mainstream media. I appreciate that some Shell employees may feel uncomfortable about working for a company stained by its Nazi past, and from the plunder, corruption and pollution in Nigeria. And now Shell is in bed with state sponsors of terrorism – Libya and Iran, but that is the history and current business record of Shell. Evil is in the DNA of this company, which pledges honesty, integrity and transparency in all of its dealings. How on earth does that equate with news stories over the last six months alone and even with those published in recent days. If anything we have published was untrue, Shell would have had the website shut down within hours. It does not try to do so, because any court case would only focus more attention on its evil track record. That’s the truth of the matter. With regards to your personal insults directed at my father, he served in the British army for 12 years and fought the Japanese in Burma. He has a disabled pension and medals to prove his record in World War 2. It is rather more commendable than Shell’s.
on Dec 23rd, 2010 at 22:12
John, can you stop this stupid campaign of nazi thing? This is going no where.
Is your cranky, eccentric old man after this? Ask him to enjoy rest of his days or is he planning another duplicate site to keep your extended family fed.
These pictures from the 60 year old nazi grave are annoying. I work for shell and agree/ disagree with
some or many policies. But you have no freaking right to speak on employees behalf. For one thing, shell is feeding us and other at least millions directly/ indirectly
and your attitude stinks with these nazi & other idiotic, stretched stories.You and your kids (if you can have any), have made their
bucks by these dubious & parasitic activity. STOP when you can…Your sight was interesting during shell restructuring last year with different and real people participating but it is
pathetic now. Same people appear to be posting things under different names..same things with different make-up. If you have any sense then look around, most companies
in the world in 21st century work in similar way. I participate in many blogs online but have not seen such a vicious poison in today’s world. Your kids, if any,
will of course be thanking you for arranging their future source of income. Please wake-up, listen, look around and stop this non sense.
You did your job, screwed Sakhalin but now dont screw more ; it has started to hurt as an employee.
on Dec 21st, 2010 at 17:47
What’s the latest on the epitome of morals, KA, that the GEP Folks so dearly loved?
on Dec 21st, 2010 at 12:51
Interested – Nothing is being said because nothing is really happening or different on the project. It is getting built. Uncle Tom Purves got sent over here to “fix it” but everyone who knows Tom knows he hasn’t got a clue how to run these big projects. But him and Jeff are going to fix it. Right… The last feedback I got from my contractor buddies is that Uncle Tom called them all in here lately and told them they would finish by end of 2011. They won’t tell him any different but know that is a farce, which is the fundamental root of the problem. My understanding, when Tom could have come clean with the board, told them the project would get done for $8.5b when in fact every control estimate and check estimate that different groups did for him said no less than 10. He wanted the project to get done and lied to make it happen. Tom has no issues lieing to anyone. He has done that pretty consistently over his career and continues. We all expect he will wrap it up in 2011 or 2012, collect his stock, and retire. This will be one retirement that should raise the company stock price due to ethics and morals getting better when he leaves. Until then, it’s the Jeff and Tom show because all Botts could do to punish Tom was to demote him and send him to Port Arthur to clean up the mess he created. Wow, what a punishment. He was over here all the time anyway.
on Dec 20th, 2010 at 15:42
What is going on with the Port Arthur CEP job? Can’t find out anything.
on Dec 18th, 2010 at 12:11
I am also an exUS Shell staff. I think I know uscitizen from his style of writing. He was one of those continually on the take – bad apple as far as we were concerned. Amazing of him talking about Grofaz!
on Dec 16th, 2010 at 20:27
REPLY TO uscitizen: I guess we both have got a little over-excited in the heat of discussions. What I will do is thank you for all your postings here and wish you all the best for Christmas and the New Year.
on Dec 16th, 2010 at 19:51
“I used to work for Shell USA. The company you describe did not exist in my day, except at the lower level, sometimes, and I seriously doubt it exists today. In fact, the staff was always looking for a little G&C from one vendor or another. (G&C
on Dec 15th, 2010 at 23:10
REPLY TO “dutchdude”: We try to avoid censorship but agree that the insults detract from some excellent and informative postings and lively debate. Perhaps contributors will kindly bear this in mind in future postings on this blog as I will.
on Dec 15th, 2010 at 17:03
To John D.: John maybe it would be a good idea to post a rule for the blogs that personal insults to fellow bloggers are not allowed. Your blog serves a purpose of discussion, that certainly can’t be had in Shell. The returning personal attacks distract from the real purpose of your blog. There is enough in Shell to write about, let’s not attack each other at this forum, since we all took the time to log in to your site (without a doubt from our own machines and not the company’s!!)
on Dec 15th, 2010 at 10:34
POSTED ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA: I have a response for US Citizen.
I used to work for Shell USA. The company you describe did not exist in my day, except at the lower level, sometimes, and I seriously doubt it exists today. In fact, the staff was always looking for a little G&C from one vendor or another. (G&C – graft and corruption, as in: tickets to ball games, free meals, etc. All in return for throwing business the way of the vendor. This was and still is a time honored ‘quid quo pro’ in the oil industry). Senior management always played games, especially with reserve bookings (does that bring back a memory or two?). No offense fella’, but your blathering about how great Shell is kind of reminds me of the blathering the Germans did in the 1930′s about how great GROFAZ was (look that one up). You are obviously a bright guy and the German’s are bright people. But there are: ‘none so blind as those who will not see’, and ‘none so deaf as those who will not hear’. You live in a world of willful self delusion. A fraud. You have ‘bought in’ to the system in order to move up the food chain. If Shell was such an ethical outfit how come all the criminal investigations regarding bribery, and so on. Guys like you always make guys like GROFAZ possible.
on Dec 15th, 2010 at 00:48
REPLY TO “uscitizen”: Still twisting my words. “Lazy and/or unintelligent” was and remains my assessment of you personally based on your postings, and does not reflect at all on Shell employees in general who are loyal to the company and defend its actions when they deem that it is being wrongly maligned. You say the company you work for would never tolerate you taking inappropriate gifts from vendors. This seems to suggest that you take gifts from vendors which YOU consider are appropriate? You go on to accuse me and conscience driven Shell whistleblowers of being on a par with the Nazis. A reference to the most evil regime in history responsible for tens of millions of deaths, including the mass genocide carried out in concentration camps. Is that really your considered opinion?
on Dec 15th, 2010 at 00:05
Agree with DutchDude, the “revelation” that Shell had people in Nigerian ministries etc is not new, and was always well known. Suppose the diplomats have to put something in their reports, but this is not a big reveal.
on Dec 14th, 2010 at 22:45
Nice shot, lazy and unintelligent huh. So that is what you think about Shell employees who have the guts to defend their company. What a useless tool. Let me give you some data. The company I work for – from EVP down – would never tolerate me mis reporting data to government agencies, violating Environmental permits on purpose to make production targets, cooking the books on fixed costs vs capex, taking inappropriate gifts from vendors. That is how I was trained by EVP’s down and that is how I train my folks and the folks who work for them. We will fire people who do that and have. No exceptions. Is there a different standard at the highest levels, I do not have enough data to draw conclusions. Does not stop you, but it does stop me. Now – how will you react? I lie. right. Show me data, sorry John – company confidential. The info you get from Shell insiders violates our business principles, but you are glad to take it right John. Where does that place you and the Shell employees who violate our policies? On par with the Nazis I would say!
on Dec 14th, 2010 at 18:39
REPLY TO “BEMUSED” POSTED ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA: I have a comment regarding ‘Bemused’s’ comment:
Is it just me or does anyone else think ‘Bemused’ is a few bricks short of a full load. (One good cheap shot deserves another).
on Dec 14th, 2010 at 17:15
Is it just me or does anyone else get the feeling that John isn’t married?
on Dec 14th, 2010 at 12:05
I am now retired but I have been at one time a ‘secondee’ to another oilcompany in which Shell had a considerable interest. Occasionally I felt pressure to pass on business secrets. So I did some soul searching and decided that I was placed there to transfer technical knowhow and for the rest act as if it was my own company. (They did pay my salary after all via some convoluted mechanism). Thereafter it always was very easy for me how and on what to communicate with Shell central office (in those days there was no head office) and this behaviour earned me the trust of the employing company. Hence I am still on good terms with them.
But I certainly do know of many people who would simply spy on request of the head honchos in Shell and pass on any kind of business information they asked.
I guess you just make up your mind whether you can still look yourself in the eye while shaving in the morning. In the end even the Shell honchos respected this behaviour, or at least they pretended it since my brief was to transfer technology and help the company to attain a higher level of knowhow.
on Dec 14th, 2010 at 10:30
POSTING ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL: I have a question for RD Shell corporate loyalist ‘dutchdude’:
‘If this ‘seconding’ is as good a thing as you say it is then perhaps RD Shell would like to disclose in which other countries it has ‘seconded’ those governmental ministries charged with oversight of RD Shell and their indigenous oil industries.
I am particularly interested in the Irish, Australian, Canadian, and US governments.
I am certain the US Justice Dept. and the FBI would also be interested given that such ‘seconding’ is very much a criminal violation of US law. Now I wonder why that is? I guess American’s have funny, even ‘Victorian’, ideas about ethics and ‘fair play’.
No? I thought not.
With all due respect RD Shell ‘dutchdude’, although you are a good little loyal drone with a good future at RD Shell ahead of you, you are as we say in Texas : ‘So damn full of it your eyes are brown.’ That is a quaint American saying for you know what.
on Dec 14th, 2010 at 04:35
DutchDude, Certainly ‘being in bed with’, or ‘having people in the Nigerian government could be a good thing. And I’m sure initial intent was probably meant to develop a relationship that served Nigeria and Shell. But it sure sounds to me like Shell abandoned some values and principals, to manipulate this relationship. Would you really expect senior leaders to reveal to you in hallway chat, that Shell is “in the Nigerian government” do whatever it takes to profit from Nigerian oil?
on Dec 13th, 2010 at 15:52
In the corridors I have chatted with a few senior managers and all of them have an explanation why we have people in the Nigerian government, and how this is a good thing for Shell. I have also worked with Nigerian government secondees and we all knew that anything we did or said would go straight to the Nigerian leaders. So not really a big secret revealed here; was always right in front of us. And how can it be “infiltrating” if we all know about this? I know many other issues I can get upset about, but this wikileak is not one of them.
on Dec 12th, 2010 at 03:34
REPLY TO JOHN DONOVAN:- John- entirely agree with trying to keep management on the straight and narrow. With the wikileaks details concerning Pickard and the Nigerian Government it seems however, that the Shell Code of Conduct and General Business Principles do not apply to senior figures within Shell. This is terrible, just so terrible. I thought I was working for a principled company – how naive I have been. Morals do not seem to factor with these people. It shows how cut throat the o&g business is. Shell is and will always be ‘me first’. What about men and women ‘for others’? It’s going to take a complete turnaround of management and behaviour before Shell becomes the company it longs to be.
on Dec 10th, 2010 at 06:47
REPLY TO ROSIED: Our objectives are simple. We want Royal Dutch Shell executives to act at all times in accordance with Shell General Business Principles which include the claimed core principles of honesty, integrity, openness and respect for people in all of Shell’s dealings.
This is surely not an unreasonable ambition given that the principles were devised by Shell, are promoted by Shell and are supposedly current and binding on all Shell operations everywhere. In other words, we are only asking Shell executives to do what they already claim to be doing.
The plain fact is that if Shell executives had abided with the SGBP, scandals such as the reserves fraud involving blatant deceit and cover-up, the preventable Brent Bravo deaths which flowed from the Shell “Touch F*** All” safety culture on North Sea Platforms, and the more recent PR humiliations arising from outrageous examples of greenwash advertising, could not have occurred.
We do not believe that it is morally acceptable that Shell executives are indemnified so that even if they cheat, deceive and cover-up serious misdeeds, treating shareholders and the public as gullible fools, they are still able to walk away as winners. In the case of Sir Philip Watts, with a severance package/pension pot reportedly worth $18.5 million USD. We think that this is disgraceful situation at odds with all ethical norms including the SGBP and will continue to say so on this website.
The SGBP is being been used as a PR tool to promote undeserved confidence in the scruples and honesty of Shell senior management. For example, the SGBP featured in the Form 20F Declarations filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission thereby generating confidence in the proven reserves volumes which had been inflated i.e. were false.
While Shell execs continue to make pledges of ethical trading which they flout, we will continue our humble efforts to expose their hypocrisy and we welcome the support of others who like us are not prepared to put up with such deception.
The gap between Shell rhetoric and reality is evidence from Shell’s appalling track record including a leadership role in price fixing cartels, numerous Clean Air Act violations, repeated environmental infringements, multimillion dollar fines for groundwater contamination, more fines for unauthorised venting and flaring of gas. We also have to add to this litany, Shell’s exploitation and reckless disregard of the safety of its employees and its global espionage operation against its own employees trying to prevent whistleblowers. Shell’s industrial espionage activity in the USA and Nigeria has been exposed in 2010. We first became the target of such activity in the 1990′s. Richard Wiseman, the then Legal Director of Shell UK Limited was the spymaster. Other Shell espionage/dirty tricks operations, including infiltration and undercover activity in Nigeria involving Ken Saro-Wiwa, was also underway at the same time. Shell’s involvement in the murder of Ken Saro-Wiwi has been exposed by the Guardian newspaper. This is why Shell settled for $15.5 million the related US court case in June 2010. It could not allow damning evidence of torture and other human rights violations to be exposed in open court. The rule bending Mr Wiseman was of course the perfect choice for the role of the Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer of Royal Dutch Shell Plc. Poacher turned gamekeeper.
Regarding the Royal Dutch Shell Nazi controversy, as previously indicated, Shell is still following the same unprincipled policy. Recent and current Shell fat cats have continued to deal with the devil in the form of evil dictatorships in Nigeria (who in collusion with Shell murdered Ken Saro-Wiwi and other Nigerians), Libya (a state sponsor of terrorism which blew Pan Am 103 out of the sky), Saudi Arabia (Shell’s US business partner – the largest funder of Islamic terrorists) and Iran, the supplier of roadside bombs maiming and killing American and British soldiers. Iran also trains the Taliban on how to use the IED’s. And now Shell is getting into a closer embrace with the Russian Mafia. Claimed business principles are readily ditched in favour of oil and gas reserves.
on Dec 10th, 2010 at 01:56
I guess I am one of the “hard working decent people ” who works for Shell. I guess I am not “getting” the Nazi issue. Really? We are Blogging about what Shell Execs did during WW2? No doubt, any involvement with the Nazis is regretfull!! I just don’t make the connection with todays issues (and of course issues). I am a young (mid 30′s) staff guy, so I am comming from that perspective. If it matters.
Next, Is the intent of this site to; 1) Destroy RDS, or 2) fix the problems in RDS?
New to the site, thanks!
on Dec 9th, 2010 at 19:56
REPLY TO US CITIZEN: I think we can safely leave it to others to decide who is twisting words. My comments about the vast majority of Shell employees being hard working decent people is already on display for all to read and reflects what I have said many times. I stand by my comments about Royal Dutch Shell Nazi Secrets and have supplied overwhelming evidence from independent reputable verifiable sources. You do not put forward “good arguments” because you are either too lazy or too unintelligent to do so, or perhaps both. Also note there is no comment about Shell’s connection with the rankings you took delight in drawing attention to, ignorant of the fact that Shell is a paying client of the company which produced the rankings. I also note there is no comment from you about the WikiLeak revelations today concerning Shell’s espionage in Nigeria, infiltrating every government department. Add that to recent other news about Shell in Nigeria. Plunder, Murder, Corruption, Pollution. Yet you continue to defend the most evil company on the planet. This is not a glib comment but a carefully considered and researched assessment based on evidence I am fully prepared to present in court if Shell disputes what I say.
on Dec 9th, 2010 at 12:30
John, you are so messed up. You now equate a reputable organization and Shell employees with people who admired Hitler. I do not even have to pose good arguments, people read your words and see how twisted you are. Miserable life you lead. Sleeping well in the US, see ya!
REPLY TO
on Dec 9th, 2010 at 06:30
Thank you Donovans with your own wikileaks website! Shell has been saying for years to want to stimulate diversity. But what they have done is to reduce diversity but simply hire more women. American women in particular. And somehow I cannot shed this feeling that Shell has been less than fortunate about picking those ‘diverse adding’ females. All of them run on high testosterone levels, are presumably frustrated they were not borne male and what is worst: they give the impression of not being averse to corruption or assume the business principles are not for them. They blend in well with the current top as often pointed out by the Donovans. And was Cook not removed because she was not good enough after a string of disasters? Even Boeing had problems and she was on that board too. And then the Miss Boynton, kicked out after cooking the books. It would be better if she had cooked a nice stew. And now Pickard. I bet she will survive in Shell, crooks like each other. Who can guarantee me that she is not selling out Shell to the US government? And the list of bad women is much longer. It has gone a bit quiet on Gale Norton, but she seemlessly fits in with this diversity enhancing lot! The bad thing of all this is that there were (and are) many genuine good women in Shell who could make a difference. But Brinded and his cronies do not want change, they just want to milk Shell as long as possible and get out unharmed. Apologies for digressing but I am a great believer in true diversity.
on Dec 4th, 2010 at 07:43
REPLY TO DANIEL: That was a brief parting. 2 minutes before you returned with another comment. The current generation of Germans obviously bear no responsibily for what happened in World War 2. Same applies to Shell employees and to the vast majority of Shell employees during the war years. However, a stigma will always be attached to Germany, Royal Dutch Shell and the Shell brand arising from the actions of those in leadership positions at that time. Recent and current Shell fat cats have continued to deal with the devil in the form of evil dictatorships in Nigeria (who in collusion with Shell murdered Ken Saro-Wiwi and other Nigerians), Libya (a state sponsor of terrorism which blew Pan Am 103 out of the sky), Saudi Arabia (Shell’s US business partner – the largest funder of Islamic terrorists) and Iran, the supplier of roadside bombs maiming and killing American and British soldiers. Iran also trains the Taliban on how to use the IED’s. And now Shell is getting into a closer embrace with the Russian Mafia. Claimed business principles are readily ditched in favour of oil and gas reserves.
on Dec 3rd, 2010 at 23:01
I was leaving it occurred to me. Perhaps we shall see sites like this disparaging the German people and blaming them for all the ills the are beseeching Europe today. After all there is fairly convincing evidence pointing to the fact that the German people supported Hitler as well. I could try and point out who wrong that would be, but … why bother people will see what they want to see
on Dec 3rd, 2010 at 22:53
Alas adieu adieu
Thank you for the past, some very good info and discussion. I too no longer care to ‘look’ so I shan’t.
I bid thee farewell
on Dec 2nd, 2010 at 01:29
We can look at this history vs present behavior in another way. As I stated previously, the move from whole system/eco-sustainability toward dominance of the fittest, is where corrupt ethical and moral practices displace responsibility. The ‘dialogue’ that is taking place has been loud and clear for the past couple of years: managers play with US regulators, managers indulge in hedonistic self-centered activities, we indulge in the pursuit of energy profits even in Iran, AND rewards keep flowing for top leaders. Mr V enjoys a new +22% salary up from 3.2M in ’09 to 4.4M. Now don’t get me wrong, he did an excellent job of getting rid of ~6000 employees and made sure all who followed the rules were also rewarded, whether they drank too much, sexually accosted their underlings, had sex on company property, or perhaps circumvented environmental regulations. …so… do you hear the ‘dialogue’ of alignment? Are we behaving much different than any other time energy extraction and profit became the idol. We are behaving like this at all levels in the organization (internally) and in our relationship with the world. Dialogue no longer takes place. The conversation for alignment becomes one-sided, and all who want to survive in the big-oil game, become servant to the indulgences required to compete. Don’t look to see a change in Shell’s moral or ethical behavior, internally or as a world citizen, unless it is a change that serves someone, and ultimately the organization. I agree, greed is the evil that replaces responsibility. But let’s face it; the rewards for the skilled and greedy, far outweigh any motivation to care for anything beyond self and the enterprise.
on Dec 1st, 2010 at 22:07
I have to say I agree with John. A) If you don’t like it, don’t look. B) I think the history of a company is it’s genealogy, since a leader to be must accept a companies history and culture to even be considered for a leadership position. If a person really believes that history is justified “for the good of the company” he is going to repeat it. We see this over and over within Shell in spite of their lip service to “adherence to the highest principles”
on Dec 1st, 2010 at 10:55
RESPONSE TO “SIGNING OFF”: NO REFUNDS. Reference your assertion that you can’t subscribe to this site unless we only focus on current Shell misdeeds, I would make the point that there are no subscription fees. We have been operating websites focused on Shell since 1995. Shell issued a press statement in March 1995 complaining about our activities. All of our sites have always been operated on an entirely non commercial basis, with no subscription charges. We turn down on a regular basis companies wishing to pay us to place adverts on the site. We have refused all donation offers including from a Russian source during the Sakhalin2 debacle. Thus, we are free of any influence other than from people like you who hopefully enjoy the spectacle of Shell management being embarrassed and belittled from time to time as a result of our activities. So we listen to what you say, but want more people to be aware of the Royal Dutch Shell/Nazi relationship and will campaign accordingly. There will be a major development in this regard later this month. The site continues to attract astonishingly high traffic for a “gripe site”, with over 2 million hits in November. Many German companies, including Daimler-Benz, had associations with the Nazis. Royal Dutch Shell was a foreign company, yet pumped funds into the Nazi party in a variety of ways saving the Nazi party when it was in danger of going bust. Only one German company – I.G. Farben – had a worse track record. Shell was in bed with I.G. Farben, jointly owning and operating German companies which used concentration camp slave labor in the production of synthetic oil to fuel the Nazi military. Although we accept that the whole matter is controversial, we intend to make more people aware of Shell’s record of funding and supporting the Nazis.
on Dec 1st, 2010 at 03:40
I have to echo the message from Disappointed. The Nazi linkage is tiresome. I love reading about how Shell is a bad guy as much as most that visit this site. But this is out of hand. Daimler-Benz was also associated with that regime (utilizing slave labour) as I’m sure other companies were benefiting from Hitler. I almost have to ask – what brand of car do you or does your family own? I want to hear about current Royal Dutch infractions. I just cant subscribe to this site otherwise.
on Nov 30th, 2010 at 22:30
REPLY TO “USCITIZEN”: Hitler was admired by many, including his financier, Royal Dutch Shell Group. Hitler was arguably the most evil person of all time. So much for being admired. Shell spends tens of millions of dollars on global advertising campaigns, so of course many people are deceived and know nothing about Shell’s conduct e.g. its role in corruption and human rights violations including murder and torture in Nigeria, for which it has recently paid millions of dollars in settlements and fines. That’s the facts, as opposed to the PR propaganda paid for by Shell designed to fool the public. And by the way, were you aware that Shell is a paying client (member) of the organization responsible for the rankings by which you apparently set such great store? I think not. That potential conflict of interest should have been declared alongside the rankings, but of course was no where to be seen. I only discovered the financial linkage as a result of some detective work. Shell contributed towards the cost of the rankings publication you have cited.
on Nov 30th, 2010 at 20:22
Make sure you post this about the evil empire since you post all things good and bad, right John???
Shell Makes list of most admired companies
LINK SUPPLIED
on Nov 29th, 2010 at 23:24
REPLY TO MUSAINT: What is obvious from your comments is that you have not even bothered to read the 9 part “Royal Dutch Shell Nazi Secrets” or otherwise you would already know about the overwhelming evidence from independent, reputable, verifiable sources, confirming Shell’s funding of the Nazis. You have not challenged a single stated fact. Shell’s association with the Nazi is distasteful but it is also factual. Exactly how long do you think the information would remain on display on this website if it was propaganda as “Disappointed” suggests? I can guarantee that unlike you, Shell lawyers have read every word and checked all the quoted evidence. If the facts were untrue, Shell lawyers would have had the site closed down within hours. You have been visiting this website for a number of years and despite what you say, what’s the betting that you will do so again? You and “Disappointed” and your comments will always be welcome. Unlike the Tell Shell discussion forum for uncensored lively debate (closed after we caught Shell lawyers secretly censoring critical comments) we publish all postings relating to Shell and/or us. I do however hope that anyone offering comment on these matters will first read the 9 part article. That would be a much fairer way forward than the blanket criticism offered by a person (whose views I normally respect) who dismisses the evidence without even knowing what it is. As to your comment about having a large chip on my shoulder, I somehow don’t think your revelation will come as a surprise to people who are regular visitors here. Most will have surmised that we are not fond of Shell’s overpaid hypocritical top brass, who put themselves before the best interests of Shell employees (who are ruthlessly tossed out on mass with many being forced to reapply for their own jobs). Or in the best interest of shareholders, who have been defrauded and treated with contempt, particular those in the UK who are now second class citizens as a result of the reserves scandal. They are a bunch of incompetents, who due to their own negligence, have to endure the humiliation of a website using the top level domain name for the company – Royal Dutch Shell Plc – to expose the truth about Shell, including its support for the Nazis.
on Nov 29th, 2010 at 22:47
The Shell-Nazi link focus of this site seems to have reached new levels of hysteria with the human skin lamp shades article. Ironically this could have come out of the propaganda kitchen of Joseph Goebels himself. The swastika on the Shell shop at the top of the page is the last drop for me; I will now remove this site from my favourites list. Thanks anyway for the much higher quality content in days gone bye.
on Nov 29th, 2010 at 20:03
I have kept silent these past couple of weeks whilst some appalling dross is written / inferred by the Donovans linking Shell to the Hitler regime. (I am sure Mr. D. you will now come back with umpteen references to bore me to bits about how you can show this that and the other to show how Shell colluded with anybody / regime on the planet.) Point is that some of your recent “attacks” on Shell (viz Hitler)just show how large a chip on your shoulder (and your fathers) you have. Your bitterness shows very clearly through in recent weeks. Shame, as some of the attacks against Shell and their decision to operate in Iran I agree with – this continuous historical linkage to Hitler gets very very tedious and when you show the lamp shade angle it is way over the top – some would say madness. Perhaps readers to this forum and Wikileaks should investigate past Donovans and maybe / allegedly being able to link their ancestores to other historical disasters / tragedies. Bottom line is that this site is now bordering on the rediculous and has lost its value. I shall sign off permanently as I see no value whatsoever in logging in to this nonsense. Bye.
on Nov 28th, 2010 at 14:34
POSTED ON BEHALF OF “EXSHELL”: John, it is vital in my view that Julia (Australia’s PM) should also be aware of Shell’s terrible track record. FLNG is a new technology and Shell has just announced that they are going to pump in billions in their new FLNG development. I am sure that Shell will destroy this pristine Australian waters.
on Nov 28th, 2010 at 08:37
Donna Getz’ account of problems following a well test mirror an event in Drenthe in Holland when production from a sour gas (H2S) well was released during a well test during the 1980′s, causing a herd of cows in an adjacent field to drop dead. I don’t think it even made the Dutch news after the farmer and local community were reminded of the importance of Shell (NAM) to the local economy. I’m sure there are plenty of readers of this site who can provide additional information.
on Nov 20th, 2010 at 17:43
MESSAGE TO THE SOURCE SUPPLYING US WITH INFORMATION RELATING TO SHELL RELATIONSHIP WITH IRAN. YES, WE ARE SAFELY RECEIVING YOUR INPUT AND ARE DULY GRATEFUL. IT IS BEING USED AND WILL BE INCLUDED IN AN IMMINENT MAJOR MAILING TO U.S. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, SENATORS AND CONGRESSMAN. PLEASE KEEP THE INFORMATION COMING. WE WILL PUT IT TO GOOD USE. WE FULLY UNDERSTAND WHY YOU HAVE USED A SPECIAL EMAIL SERVICE TO PROTECT YOUR IDENTITY AND SECURITY, WHICH DOES NOT ACCEPT REPLIES.
on Nov 20th, 2010 at 17:26
If anyone is interested, we have a copy of a Shell SECRECY AND RESTRICTED USE AGREEMENT from October 2006 involving “IOOC, Iranian Offshore Engineering Company, a company organised and existing under the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Agreement covers: “so called Sulfinol Process which is a regenerative process developed by SHELL and Affiliates of SHELL for the removal of acidic components from a gas stream employing an aqueous solution containing sulfolane and/or sulfolane derivatives with addition of an amine.” The agreement is self-evidently not quite as secret as Shell had hoped. Copies available on request subject to any injunction by Shell and its 1200 strong legal department which includes 720 lawyers, 80 of which are “intellectual property professionals”.
on Nov 19th, 2010 at 01:27
I think that as we weaken toward ego-cenrtic, there is no grey. One immoral or unethical act changes white to black. We have seen this in our behavior in the Niger Delta; this is part of the SHELL system, observable and destructive to the world that we exploit. As 66 stated, living up to moral and ethical practices will become an increasingly difficult challenge as finding and extracting energy becomes more difficult. Many have shared on this site, observations and experiences of internal breakdowns in moral and ethical practices and behaviors, in all levels of the organization. I assert that ‘grey’, is in the dialogue between top leaders and their subordinates and ultimately through the rest of the organization. What is alarming to me, is the present alignment with compromised standards. We do not have a choice about whether ‘alignment’ works, alignment always works. The responsibility of leadership, from the top down, is to insure that Shell’s relationships, practices and behaviors, internally and in the ecosystem (ALL of the World that is not Shell), contribute to sustaining the ‘whole’ (Shell and the world). This dialogue to get to that alignment is the grey. Sustaining the whole is white, compromising any of it is black.
on Nov 18th, 2010 at 20:58
Very interesting posts. I suppose I turn off from debates that describe things in such stark terms as “evil” or “good”…I do think there are just so many shades of grey in all aspects of life that black and white terms hardly ever do any situation justice! But your unpacking of the term evil is a useful way of looking at it as it relates to folks views of Shell at present. I agree with John 100% that the business principles should either be upheld fully (even if it means losing business and/or pulling out of certain countries) of they should be dumped. Shareholders should be told this upfront and get to vote on the issue – either we will uphold the BPs and that may have some impact on short term dividends, or we will dump them altogether, and take whatever reputation hit that may result – I would have an open and honest debate on this whole issue and then put it to the shareholders. I sense that Realybware is right that we are re-entering an era of ‘ get their first, develop it fast’…and the Business principles may come under greater pressure then now! On the pesticides/drins issue – agree it is worrying, but caution again that hindsight is a great thing, and we simply did not know about the dangers of certain chemicals then as we do now. Asbestos is a classic example of that.
on Nov 17th, 2010 at 23:56
REPLY TO “66″.
Pleasure to discuss these issues with someone who makes their points in a reasonable balanced way. With regards to the similarities between then and now, basically Shell is still keen to deal with the devil (e.g. the fanatical Iranian regime and the alleged reformed state sponsor of terrorism, Muammar al-Gaddafi) to achieve its business objectives, irrespective of ethical/moral considerations. The history of Royal Dutch Shell published in 2007 was revealing about the anti-Semitic behavior of Royal Dutch Shell towards it own employees. Its authors came unstuck resting their defense (of Shell funding the Nazis) on the basis that Deterding’s attempts to meet with Hitler were all rebuffed, thereby drawing the conclusion that the Nazis attached no importance to Royal Dutch Shell/Deterding. Unfortunately they were apparently unaware that in fact Hitler had a four day meeting with Deterding at Hitlers mountain top retreat. The Nazis also arranged for an official from the German Foreign Office to be seconded to Deterding as a personal assistant to facilitate liaison with Hitler. In addition, Dr. Georg Bell, a German spy, acted as a joint agent/delegate of Deterding and Hitler. The close relationship between Hitler and Deterding was evident from the wreath that G
on Nov 17th, 2010 at 23:24
realybware: Well said! The moral decline in Shell commenced after van Wachem stepped down. Then there was a succession of leaders with an anglo-saxxon mind. They employed consultants and injected the top with like minded people. And they removed over the years all those who said that the king went naked. And the rest is history. It not only happened in Shell but in many other decent companies. It is hard to believe but in the mid 90s there were still many banks run by decent bankers!
Thank you for your post, I wish I could express myself so well!
on Nov 17th, 2010 at 20:06
66 and Mr D, I think that in order for Shell to remain a sustainable enterprise, there needs to be some philosophical re-alignment in leadership to the moral and ‘good’ vs the ‘evil’ that Mr D refers to. In an organization where profit becomes idolized over all else in the ecosystem, the ‘idol’ becomes all-important to the point that many things and ultimately ALL things will be sacrificed to that end. This is where not only Shell but other oil exploiters have crossed the line in the past. Doing business with the devil is a rewarding affair when we become servant to ego (vs eco). Synergy in an organization, vs individual isolation, competitiveness, (and self-serving greed): are only a reflection of how the ‘whole’ positions itself in the global ‘theater’. Mr Hoffmeister’s pompous attitude about BP is an example of the top down philosophical alignment in Shell today. Although he is no-longer at the helm, his presence definitely still defines SHELL. And no doubt Mr V and his minions ‘align’ helplessly through a new subservient, ordered organization, driven by Mr V’s single-mindedness about the ‘idol’. We will all compete to play that game until we feel our individual morales are being exploited too far. An interesting description of the alignment i am referring to is reprinted below from another source:
Evil is characterized by selfishness and purpose. It maintains that it is both important and correct that those who are worthy should succeed, while the weak and unworthy perish. The efforts of good to distribute wealth generally are viewed as cheating the truly deserving. . Evil characters do not regard other characters (co-workers)–not even other evil characters(co-workers) –as worthy of respect. They are always willing to take advantage of another
on Nov 17th, 2010 at 04:53
Thanks for your resposne John. I do indeed understand that a company’s history in its entirety must be accounted for, and to a certain extent lives on in terms of the companies reputation. However, where I disagree with you is in thinking that the misdeeds of 70 years ago are indicitive of management practices today. Now I know you don’t think much of today’s management, but that is a quite seperate matter to how the place was run 70 years ago. In other words – it has no real bearing on the Shell of today, and how it operates. When I heard first about the Nazi link with Shell, I looked with interest to see if the 100 year history of Shell, published a few years ago, would deal with it at all, given it is not the sort of thing companies want to be reminded off. I was pleased that they did cover it (including a photo of the headquarters in the Hague flying the Nazi flag). Did they cover the issue fully – probabaly not – but I take my hat off to the company for dealing with it at all – I know of many companies who would not have. You describe Shell as “the most evil company on earth.” ….
they have their faults for sure, but in my humble opinion they are a long way from that.
on Nov 14th, 2010 at 23:26
Panalpina and Hofmeister, bribes in Nigeria. I am certain that the top management knew all about the goings on. About 5 years ago a scandal nearly erupted but was quenched. (Or as the say in Nigeria: ‘de disting was quench-oh by de Oga’. SPDC had made around 500 million dollars disappear over the years to all kind of community projects. No trails could be found in the books. And this for a company that should be able to trace every dollar spent anywhere. Because it is shareholder’s or taxpayer’s money. So I am sure that Hofmeister et all just assumed the bribes via Panalpina would disappear in the great wash. I am not an accountant. But as an engineer I know we can and must and do certify for instance every weld on long pipelines. The exact location, date of weld, weldingrods used, name of welder, and an X-ray photo is included. If you can do that, you should be able to trace every dollar spent? Unless you don’t want to?!?
on Nov 14th, 2010 at 22:46
Remind me again…when did WW2 end? Why are you tainting good employees names who work today at Shell with the misdeeds of the company over 70 years ago. Weird. REPLY TO “66″ BY JOHN DONOVAN: As I have said before, the vast majority of Shell employees are decent hard working people. The company is to blame for the misdeeds you mention, which have indelibly stained the name of Royal Dutch Shell for all time. The catalog of misdeeds such as the securities fraud, all driven by pure greed, continue to this day, including dealing with current evil regimes in Libya and Iran. Add to that bribery and corruption in the USA and in Nigeria. And what about the deadly toxic legacy from pesticides, not to mention pollution on an epic scale e.g. decades long gas-flaring in Nigeria and widespread groundwater pollution in the USA. All taking place while Shell pretends to abide with its much trumpeted business principles, including honesty, integrity and transparency. What a joke. I can only assume from your comments that you would prefer not to know about the dark side of Shell. We believe that all Shell stakeholders and the public are entitled to know the ugly truth about the most evil company on the planet, including its role as the financier of the Nazis.
on Nov 11th, 2010 at 21:09
POSTED ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA: IN REMEMBRANCE: I remember walking through the American military cemetery at Normandy one bright summer day many years ago. It was full of American tourists that had unloaded from about a half dozen tour buses. I have never seen so many grown men break down and cry in my life.
My father was in the US Navy and served in submarines in the Pacific theater. 25% of those folks died in combat. In the early days of the war he served in the surface fleet and fought the Japanese Imperial Navy at a place called Guadalcanal. The war in the Pacific was a very dirty, brutal business and not many prisoners were taken, by either side. Your father knows about this, first hand. Many American men who fought in that theater literally hated the Japanese to their dying day. A sad but true fact. My father detested them as a people for what they did, for what he had seen, and for what he had experienced, and would not have a thing to do with anything Japanese, or made in Japan. To his dying day.
10′s of millions of Chinese died at the hands of the Japanese.
In Eastern Europe the Nazi’s were as brutal in their treatment of the Russians as they were in their treatment of the Jews. That war was a war of extermination, and 10′s of millions of Russians died as a consequence.
And the sad but true fact of life is that Royal Dutch Shell, along with other companies here in the US, were ‘invested’ in the Nazi’s and in the Germany economy. That includes Ford Motor, General Electric, and so on. Let us not forget the Swiss. It is not a pretty story.
However, Royal Dutch Shell is unique amongst this rogues gallery of amoral profiteers because Deterding’s support and influence came at a very critical time in the rise to power of Hitler and the Nazi Party. I have little doubt that without Deterding the mid-20th century history of Europe may have been much different. Perhaps the Communists would have gained a stronghold in Germany. We shall never know. However, it is unlikely that this alternative path of history would have been as violent, as viciously brutal, and as destructive as that resulting from the rise to power of the Nazi’s in Germany.
And without the German’s raising hell in Europe and Russia it is unlikely the Japanese would have tried to take on both the American’s and the British Empire in East Asia by themselves. The Japanese lacked the necessary natural resources, especially oil, and the Royal Navy and the US Navy were simply far to powerful.
Royal Dutch Shell has a host of stinking skeletons in their corporate closet, and their management doesn’t seemed to have learned much, or wanted to learn much, from the past conduct of their guiding predecessor, Sir Henri Deterding.
on Nov 10th, 2010 at 11:24
Hofmeister pompous as ever.
Last night I watched the BBC documentary on the Macondo blow-out. It was easy to relate with all that was said by the various participants. But two things stuck to my mind: the media and politicians (Obama included and leading the way) are like a troup of rabid dogs. The moment someone is down, they all attack in a feeding frenzy. All with hidden agendas, all completely oblivious of what their actions might cause. Presumably this is their job and I expect hardly anything else from these charlatans.
But then I saw several times that smug toad Hofmeister dumping on BP in general and Hayward in particular. I have seen this devious american arrive in Shell. He was instrumental in pushing the salaries and bonusses of the top echelons to excessive heights, he introduced the ‘behavioural skills’ at the expense of engineering skills, he pulled in many americans that have generally made a mess of things and when he finally was removed, sorry transferred, he travelled as an emperor through the whole of the USA. All under the title of ‘President’. A non-job if ever there was one. He is a disgrace to the people where he came from (Amish). And now he has become an ugly toad kicking someone who is down on the ground. This shows his real character. I advise all girls NOT to kiss this toad in the hope a handsome prince would emerge. You never know, pigs might fly too.
on Nov 9th, 2010 at 11:32
POSTED ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA: My response to US Citizen is this: As a former Shell employee I know how Shell management functions in ways that would scare the crap out of you. What I have to say about Shell’s very public ‘good works’ (by very well meaning staff) on a local scale versus the conduct of Shell management internationally and on major projects is this: You can make a vampire look respectable and presentable with enough make-up and a good external ward-robe, but lurking underneath that pretty facade still lurks the predatory, blood sucking vampire.
on Nov 8th, 2010 at 21:52
Reply to uscitizen: Back with your usual insults that we have come to expect. You mention about Shell volunteer work in a good cause, then go on to predict that we will accuse Shell employees of having other motives, and based on this false assumption, trot out a put down – “Chew on that” – when in fact we have not said anything at all. I authored a Wikipedia article in 2009 – Royal Dutch Shell initiatives - which included coverage of the help Shell has given to many people, small businesses and charities. It was deleted by other editors on the basis of being biased in favor of Shell. Not that it is any of your business, but we have supported charities all of our working lives, including the Red Cross, and provided help to a US children’s charity on this website. This of course is all beside the point. The reason for your latest rant and rage is the Royal Dutch Shell Nazi Secrets article. If you had read it all, you would know that in the years after Sir Henri Deterding retired as the CEO, Royal Dutch Shell Group continued with the appeasement and collaboration with the Nazis, piling more money into the Nazi coffers, which funded the preparation for war. I suggest before making further comment, you read it all, including the extensive evidence from reputable independent sources.
on Nov 8th, 2010 at 20:47
PS – tell all the folks that we helped out this weekend with many Shell volunteers that we do not resemble in any fashion a “good corporate citizen”. We did this because our moral standards require us to, as employees and citizens. Next thing you will say is that we had other motives, and you can not begin to know how wrong that is or how that insults the individuals who care greatly about our neighbors and their well being. Chew on that. When is the last time you or your blog company did something to help your fellow man, and I am not talking about your hollow rants about Shell to educate the poor common man about how evil Shell is. If you are doing it, tell us about it. I have not seen anything so in true Donovan journalistic behavior I assume you have done nothing. Am I right??
on Nov 8th, 2010 at 20:40
Your determined efforts to connect the alleged individual support of an old RDS exec to today’s company is a huge affront to the people that make up today’s company. We resent and reject your allegations that this is what this company and it’s people stand for. You have done more to destroy your credibility than any organized, does not exist, corporate effort to do the same. Thanks – now the whole world can see what an obssessed irrational family looks like – The Donovan’s!!!
on Nov 8th, 2010 at 19:54
POSTING ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA:
I have a response for ‘concerned shareholder’, and other ‘concerned shareholders’:
Henri Deterding’s only real motivation for supporting the Nazi’s before their rise to power was clearly driven by his desire to recoup his losses, and prevent further losses, due to the Bolshevik revolution in Russia and the threat that ideology posed elsewhere. Deterding was an old style, ruthlessly ambitious robber baron, like Carnegie, Vanderbuilt, and J.P. Morgan, etc. He wanted HIS Russian oil fields in Baku returned to Shell. And Deterding was not alone in his admiration for Hitler. Joseph Kennedy and Henry Ford were admirers as well. And Ford was a financial sponsor, as well as a rabid anti-semite.
Today, Shell’s motivations for dealing with unsavory regimes like the Libyans, the Iranians, etc., is purely based up the desire to secure further access to large reserves of oil and gas. Nothing more, nothing less. Shell management doesn’t give a holy rat’s rear end about the consequences of supporting regimes such as these, just as Deterding didn’t give a holy rat’s rear end about the consequences of supporting the Nazi’s. Deterding’s only concern was for profits, just as it is Shell’s only concern today. Today Shell management doesn’t care that their partner in Brazil, Cosan, has a history of using forced slave labor in their cane fields to support their ethanol production plants, just as Shell in Deterding’s day didn’t care about getting in bed with I.G. Farben in Germany, who use extensive amounts of slave labor.
There are more that just a few parallel’s between the ethical behavior of Shell management today to that of the Nazi era.
Like it or not, Deterding and Royal Dutch Shell played a major role in facilitating Hitler’s rise to power and all that came after. Deterding’s financial help, support and influence were crucial to the rise of Nazi facism in Germany. Without Deterding’s help history may have taken a far different and less violent and deadly turn. That is Royal Dutch Shell’s history. Hiding that history, and the recent history of Shell conduct, serves no purpose other than to create a marketing illusion for the general public. It is an abject fraud. And the conduct of the company, past and present, reflects the quality of character of Shell management (lack thereof) and the corporate culture that promotes such management. By any standard of measure, Shell is not, and historically never has been, a ‘good corporate citizen’.
Remember the old saying: ‘Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them.’
on Nov 8th, 2010 at 11:07
Ha, ha. I think it’s time that Allie Romeo verifies his “sources” as part of his “communication studies”. A funny story , much unlike the current poohah on this site about the link between Shell and the nazi’s. That’s a bit like trying to connect the current British Government (and the current British voters) to the attrocities committed during the colonial era. We have to look back and learn from history, but at a certain point it becomes a bit cheap and meaningless…
on Nov 7th, 2010 at 19:58
It’s also small dash for greedy corrupt Nigerian politicians. About time all their foreign accounts were investigated.
on Nov 4th, 2010 at 17:41
In Nigeria they say ‘pay small dash, finish palaver’. And 30 mln is only a small dash for Shell…
on Oct 31st, 2010 at 00:07
MESSAGE POSTED ON BEHALF OF BILL CAMPBELL: REPLY TO HANS BOUMAN:
Dear Hans
Re the well design you are probably right but having listened to the BP Drilling Engineer and others (he gave good testimony) I am not convinced that they will be proved negligent – their argument will be that other opinions are subjective after the fact and the BP well was fit for purpose. Certainly I do not think their actions will clear the high hurdle of gross negligence (based on the testimony provided under oath) according to the US definition of same.
Interesting to me that BP had every confidence in their Deepwater Horizon Drilling Engineer (also previously Drilling Engineer for Thunder Horse) who handled the two relief wells with Haliburton doing the cement jobs on these also.
With your contacts in the great School of Drillers out there are you aware how the relief wells were completed ? Were these like the Deepwater Horizon well, or did they not have the courage of their convictions.
I am sure if the well design was changed in line with what their critics (including Shell) have stated publicly the ambulance chasing Lawyers will not doubt use this against them.
Many thanks for your positive feedback
regards
Bill
on Oct 30th, 2010 at 16:07
To Bill Campbell:
Thank you for a very good analysis and lucid story. Recently I was asked by a local business club to give a presentation on this blow-out. And I ended with a blow by blow account of the last hours before the mishap, nearly word for word the same as in your story. Obviously we both were guided by the good BP report of the blow-out.
I agree with Bill that with a good execution of the event the well might have been saved but I am personally convinced that the design of the well did not help preventing the blow-out. (No lockdown ring in the wellhead, and not running a liner to be tied back later). When you drill these extremely difficult wells, you will have a very small operating envelope and margin of error. To handle the operations perfectly you need the best people you can get and they must also be kept focussed all the time. It appears that too many critical operations had become routine and or were delegated down to lower levels. The tests were too short and in my view should have been attended by the most senior toolpusher on the rig, this is not stuff you delegate.
Why all this has happened will presumably become clear over the next few years when the lawyers of the three companies involved will get rich in various courtcases.
And I am not convinced with what I have read that this well has been properly killed. Squeezing in all that mud and cement merely created two vertical pancake fracs and oil and gas still may percolate through and surface at a later date. BP had the chance to do a proper circulation kill but it looked as if they and the autorities all wanted to get it over with as quickly as possible.
This blow-out was a classic where many things that ‘never will go happen’ all happened and at the most awkward moment. This is the story for nearly all major blow-outs!
on Oct 28th, 2010 at 18:06
Messers Pals & Kennedy of Bloomberg really ought to research a topic before writing about it. Just what is meant by “Shell is targeting hard-to-reach rock formations in Australia, the U.S. and China”? Coal seams for CBM in Australia are not in the criteria of hard-to-reach. There are undoubtedly challenges in the optimal exploitation of CBM but the technology / techniques are hardly new or “hard-to-apply”. In any case the geoscience and engineering capability in Shell is more than enough to address the task. My comment applies equally well to the (presumably) tight gas assets in North America and China. The tone of the article implies Shell will have trouble delivering meaningful gas production from these “hard-to-reach” formations. Yes, the technical challenge is greater than with conventional gas, but then Shell has invested serious money in researching the technologies and techniques required. Will Bloomberg reporters write an article in the same vein throwing doubt on the ability of the BG-Group to deliver from similar formations in the same countries? One thing is for sure, the BG-Group do not have recourse to the R&D back up in-house to Shell.
on Oct 22nd, 2010 at 15:54
FURTHER COMMENT POSTED ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL USA: ‘The difference between overt ‘bribery’ and the far more subtle ‘influence peddling’ is much like the difference between rape and seduction. It is all a matter of technique. One method is patently illegal and the other is not. But the end result is the same. Someone always gets ‘buggered’. A horse by any other name is still a horse.
Big business is now in the mode of ‘courting’ political officials and ‘appropriate other officials’ with ‘favors’ and ‘special considerations’. Some of those ‘special considerations’ may entail future employment, with all the associated benefits of a favored employee, e.g., Gale Norton, formerly of the Dept. of the Interior in the US, and Pat Doyle, former Irish Garda superintendent.
In the end, it is the public interest that takes it in the teeth, and all to the financial benefit of big business. ‘
on Oct 20th, 2010 at 00:10
REPLY TO MUSAINT POSTED ON BEHALF OF A FORMER SHELL OIL USA EMPLOYEE:
Cheers. Kennedy was a politician and meddled when he shouldn’t have. However, that self serving nonsense was motivated by local Boston politics. But that is old news. The problem with the way the Irish government has (mis)managed its hydrocarbon resources goes back almost 20 years, to radical changes in policy/law by government officials who ultimately spent time in prison for corruption. That too is old news. But I am sure you are aware of that fact already.
on Oct 19th, 2010 at 15:19
Jeeez “Former employee of Shell Oil USA” that’s a lot of words (all I think I’ve read) but, still no hard documented evidence of substantial reserves you state (i.e some independent authority), albeit your geological argumentation may be a plenty it still needs the drill bit to prove it correct. As important is that you do not show/prove that Shell has bribed the Irish Government aka your article. I know fully you are referring to Northern Ireland – Kennedy stuck his nose into both sides of the countries, and as stated helped raise funds for terrorists.
on Oct 19th, 2010 at 13:29
POSTED ON BEHALF OF A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF SHELL OIL USA.
To Mr. Musaint: It does seem like you are a true blue ‘loyalist’. By the way, the Ireland I was referring to was not Northern Ireland so your comments about Teddy Kennedy are irrelevant.
Furthermore, British-Irish politics bores me. It is somewhat like North-South politics in the US. The ‘South shall rise again’ and other such nonsense. The Irish are independent and the Empire is dead. It is time to get over it and move on.
If you are a poor man, $100 is a lot of money. If you are a rich man, it is chump change. The Corrib discovery is on the order of about 1 trillion cubic feet of gas. Not huge by North Sea standards, but nothing to piss away either. For a small country like Ireland those reserves are a considerable treasure. Everything is relative. Until natural gas was discovered the only reliable naturally occurring hydrocarbon fuel resource the Irish had was peat.
We also know the Irish government gave Shell, et al, one of the best tax/royalty deals in Europe. That is a matter of record. Instead of following the Norwegian model of resource development, they followed the Louisiana model for resource development. So, I stand by my assessment. The Irish got
on Oct 18th, 2010 at 18:59
To the ex-Shell employee of Shell USA regarding his/her comments on the Corrib gas controversy. You may not like the way that the Irish Government has handled this issue, however, they are the elected body and secondly you show no hard evidence that they have been bought, bribed, or even buggered as you nicely put it by Shell. You also mention Ireland has “considerable hydrocarbon resources” – please quote a reliable source (with reserve numbers) where such a comment can be believed. Me thinks that you are merely trying to stir some trouble here without any evidence to truly back up your statements. Reminds me of Teddy Kennedy when he kept sticking his big US nose in to Irish politics and attempted to get money for the IRA terrorists!!
on Oct 16th, 2010 at 14:19
Mr engle, helping to maintain honesty contributes to dialogue, “cleaning up negative postings” is censorship as in 1st amendment! Go-away!
on Oct 14th, 2010 at 14:51
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on Oct 13th, 2010 at 13:02
Mr Voser is ill-advised to make such comments on BP / Macondo. He attracts to Shell the headlines seen in the Daily Mail and is now a hostage to fortune just as Tony Hayward became when he told the world “he would focus like a laser on safety for the next two years” on succeeding Lord Browne. In addition his observation ” to correctly investigate the accident one had to examine the thinking behind the particular well design BP used” is interesting in the light of the Brent fatalities. Just what was the thinking behind the “design” of the piping patches which eventually failed?
Do the Swiss have a translation for the expression “people who live in glass houses should not throw stones”?
on Oct 12th, 2010 at 14:39
Musaint: fully agree that The Brent Spar fiasco was nothing more than a publicity stunt by Greenpeace without any factual basis for their claims. My point was that Shell will always be at the mercy of public opinion.
on Oct 11th, 2010 at 16:32
“Alleged Shell deception in Sri Lanka”. Using your own words Mr. D. (in red, in capitals) “it certainly seems authentic” – and the reason you give (in the same sentence) is “it talks about Shell deception and a hidden agenda”. What sort of reason is that to believe the story is genuine and not someone (yet again) trying to cause mischief!! Like the News of the World, it helps sell a story ……
on Oct 10th, 2010 at 16:03
Should be noted that at the time of the “Brent Spar fiasco” the guys from Exxon kept a very low profile as 50% owners of the structure AND Greenpeace admitted that they got the numbers wrong on the amount of residual oil left in the spar. Just proves that the action by thugs and tree huggers, particularly in Germany, was based on incorrect facts. Basically don’t always believe what is printed on paper and in websites!!
on Oct 6th, 2010 at 14:27
At the time of the Brent Spar fiasco, there was a boycott and vandalism of Shell’s filling stations in Germany, which was very effective in bringing the message home to Shell’s management in the Hague that they were at the mercy of public opinion. This website has been publicising Shell’s large scale ongoing business relationship with Iran, so it is hardly surprising that it has been experiencing “technical problems”
on Oct 6th, 2010 at 04:11
uscitizen of poor comprehension, i don’t think anyone objects to IPFs. FORCED RANKING is where mistakes are made. You may have more data and more cards in your deck but you obviously don’t believe anything shared in this forum that exposes destructive ethics and blatant injustices. Great leaders were terminated in the first round that did not have the chance to work a PIP. Unexpected low numbers were given with no forewarning. Having a better retirement than most citizens is far less than some of these folks deserved. Your statement really sounds far more socialistic. Like someone said a while back, it sure sounds like you have a lot of ownership in some of these ‘schemes’. …or maybe you are just naive and delusional. And I’ll tell you how RIFs were handled in the companies of some of my peers: PIPs along with voluntary retirement, ends up yielding more than needed. Keep your judgement to yourself about low performers getting what they deserved. Some loved Shell as much as you do, and would do anything they could to work a PIP and be productive for a few more years. … and again there are people protected that are poorer performers. ….DUDE!
on Oct 5th, 2010 at 16:53
Golden Triangle is spot on about Tom and unfortunately this style of
on Oct 5th, 2010 at 16:29
For – MR no personal ID for Mr uscitizen dude!
real user I
on Oct 5th, 2010 at 16:18
Golden Triangle Watchdog – I am not in HR – so do not try to play cards you do not have. You clearly have an agenda, do not enjoy working for Shell, so be it. Any one as unhappy as you needs to join the ranks of Donovan. And I have my next job, so no career advice from you will help me. Have a good life, if you can. Find some thing you will be happy doing and stop blaming others for your attitude, you own that dude.
on Oct 1st, 2010 at 12:34
US Citizen…. I have no hatred for Tom Purves. What I actually hate is favoritism, lying, egotism, manipulation, hypocracy. Tom exhibits all of these and very little leadership skills. Tom falls in this catagory along with the fact that he flat out lied to get people off the payroll that he didn’t want on the payroll and senior leadership knows that. He also lied about some other things which will eventually come out, like environmental performance at our plant. That has been buried deep to allow for the CEP to get its permit. Just look around and see how many of our past environmental dept from 2 years ago is still in place or with the company. A complete turnover….. Does anyone wonder why? Motiva got rid of them because of what they found. I’m sure Hilton Kelley could get an ear full if he hasn’t already. Alot of this was on Tom’s watch and he knows it as did the Motiva CEO. I’ve worked here at the Port Arthur plant for 20 years. Tom had a good message early on but it became clear pretty quickly that he was no good, had his favorites, and was not interested in changing the culture, just status quo. He ultimately has a few close allies that he brings with him everywhere, like Funkhouser, Laugher, Hartsock. Man, this is the best he has got. My understanding on Jeff is he got sold from the company with Tosco up north and came back in because Tom got him a job with the company. Here you have a man with no formal education, other than how to suck up, getting up to 1 step away from a plant manager. You wonder why. The folks in the rank laugh at this guy. He has long forgot what true leadership is about. Tom created this and has allowed this to grow. And the issue I have with HR is they have become nothing but a group of staffers, hanging on to the senior leaders, doing what they are asked to do, assuming their role is to identify and help develop the leaders of tomorrow, with very little understanding of what true leadership in the field needs to be. The People survey is a joke and all know it. It stopped being useful after the first edition. Senior leaders don’t use it except to update every other year what they heard. And you can discount my feedback all you like….. gas cards were paid to get the numbers up. With you being in HR, I can understand why this whole topic doesn’t feel good. It’s ok…. Go hook up with Jeff Funkhouser, he can find you a job.
on Oct 1st, 2010 at 05:04
real user I’d, REALLY!?! … Like yours? HAh. Yes some packages were bestowed upon folks with lower ‘relative performance’,mostl of these folks were prompted to their humble positions, because of their knowledge, skills leadership abilities. Most did not deserve to be discarded with paltry pensions. These folks are for the most part on their mid 50s+. they gave the best part of their life to shell and were top performers. IPFs were formulated to execute a scheme that someone will claim is the reason for profit improvements. It doesn’t matter what some of these folks are suffering through, that’s too human. This was executed in a suffering economy, on folks who are beyond favorable age. The IPF rate/ranking is no magic, and in in some cases removed the most effective Leaders. There are many ways this could have been executed without abusing those who have given so much to shell. .. All because someone decided to prove that leadership responded to the people survey accountability topic. Forced ranking in our plant environments is destructive to synergy and ultimately devasting to the unfortunate who end up terminated unjustly. Leaders can behave like tp, jf, ka, deserving no respect from their reports, and end up rewarded. But a poor shift team leader, who might be facing respectable upsets in their personal life lose focus for a while and there is no compassion.
on Sep 30th, 2010 at 18:51
Don
on Sep 30th, 2010 at 18:47
sure sounds like you own some of the new schemes being practiced. also sounds like you reside in a safe little fraternal consortium of self accrediting,and probably self-rewarding
on Sep 30th, 2010 at 09:21
I see ex Sakhalin and bully David Greer has resigned from Regal Pet, wonder where he will create carnage next!
on Sep 29th, 2010 at 11:29
Don’t let USCitizen fool you….. The Shell People Survey is a joke and everyone, who takes it , knows it. Most plants have to give our employees a gas card to take it. And I know for a fact that the HR community has told most all of the senior mgt not to follow up on it….. but instead to read it and listen to what the people are saying and what their concerns are, but dont spend the time doing anything with it. Let’s be real…. Shell is a good company with good benefits. The senior leaders stink because they have forgotten the most important principle that kept Shell strong….. the people. Today, you have the people…..and then you have the senior execs and HR.
By the way, Uncle Tom, how is that new job going? Enjoying your little cubicle over in CEP along with your tea pot? All I can say is… count the days till retirement. You are done.
on Sep 29th, 2010 at 09:20
sure sounds like you own some of the new schemes being practiced. also sounds like you reside in a safe little fraternal consortium of self accrediting,and probably self-rewarding ‘dillusionists’. your people survey results are far different from the ones that we have seen for the past three cycles.
on Sep 28th, 2010 at 22:21
To John Donovan – Right!! That is clearly what we are doing – an eveil empire! I am happy and I assume you are! Hard to be with all that hate, but whatever floats your boat.
To the person who used to uscitizen as their id?? ; we just completed our last survey and it was not at all like the Dow feedback. I will not share the details because that is company business, but i will contrast our reality with your Dow comments since you are sure we are the same!
Pros
World class manufacturing capability and processes – Check
Pretty good marketing – Check
Good benefits package – Excellent benefits package – one of the best in the world at Shell – folks can retire with few worries.
Ability to exercise flexibility in work arrangements – Huge focus on family /work balance – I was able to manage a very very sick kid, lots of time off and worked from the house alot and got good reviews. I have enabled many folks who work for me to have alternate work schedules based on a family situation.
Good place for new graduates to gain skills – Check – we get the best of the best still, put up a poster and we get many many applicants – hourly and professional jobs.
Cons
They paint a target on your back after you
on Sep 28th, 2010 at 20:07
bottom line is these “grievances” are in most cases legitimate positions and opinions about ‘management gone wrong’. The new world inside shell is not much unlike Dow and GE. Here is an example from a Dow employees people survey and link to more of this review:
Pros
World class manufacturing capability and processes
Pretty good marketing
Good benefits package
Ability to exercise flexibility in work arrangements
Good place for new graduates to gain skills
Cons
They paint a target on your back after you’re 55 – all of a sudden you become a burden.
The rating system is impossible to succeed in – if you do its because you’re someone’s golden boy or girl.
Once you get a bad rating, it’s almost impossible to make an improvement.
High reliance on contractors for many jobs.
Very limited capital in some businesses – makes for a very boring job if you’re a good engineer.
Pay levels in manufacturing are lower than competitors.
Advice to Senior Management
Realize that many of your people enjoy their work and you’re stifling their contributions by not making the tough decisions. Don’t let them wilt on the vine – either put some money into the business or sell off the ones that you really don’t want. http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Dow-Chemical-Reviews-E207.htm
I’m sure mr voser and others will receive huge bonuses for saving the company from those low performers. you are not hearing from those who have been kept, as they are either now playing the game well, or they scared and keeping their mouth shut. these tactics did nothing for GE’s or Dow’s stock prices, but someone was well rewarded for enacting them.
on Sep 27th, 2010 at 22:05
USCitizen – Are you going to continue defending this
on Sep 27th, 2010 at 21:29
Sure glad all of the folks at Shell plants have found some work to do and stopped posting grievances on this biased gripe site!! Has slowed way down as it should!!
on Sep 22nd, 2010 at 13:38
Drill a relief well simultaneously? Peoples brains must have frozen over in Alaska. A relief well is a exactly the same as a ‘normal’ well, just harder. The odds of a blow out are the same. To drill one in the remote chance a blow out occurs would be to double your exposure?? We can argue over the merits or intrinsic safety of arctic drilling but lets not be stupid.
on Sep 17th, 2010 at 03:34
Infantile? It’s a pity the energy invested in creation & maintenace of this site would have been focused in a more productive venture. As a retiree, I remember joking with other colleagues that if we lost an email, we could probably find it on this site – so this site actually does have some intrinsic value.
on Sep 11th, 2010 at 15:20
REPLY TO “NIGERIA”:
I have provided volumes of evidence including a leaked 93 page Shell internal document containing admissions about Shell’s track record in Nigeria. Also information about a $15.5 million settlement by Shell of long standing litigation by a Wiwa family member and other Ogoni. Plus links to countless independent articles about Shell’s conduct in Nigeria. In response, not a single piece of evidence, just an infantile comment.
on Sep 11th, 2010 at 13:49
as usual: Donovan equals no clue
on Sep 9th, 2010 at 13:03
Both of you seem to have migrated to far on your points of view. Shell is by no means the evil corp that it is made out to be here. In my opinion its biggest fault is that it tries to hold it self to a standard that frankly is beyond it (or any other major). Its record in Nigeria is poor, however, I don’t think any other major would be different. Indeed I wonder why Shell refuses to leave, it makes little profit, has a terrible safety record just as bad press. However, a large amount of blame must rest squarely on the country itself for their own corruption and waste.
On the other hand, I think Shell continues to be profitable despite itself. It is for the most part run these days but a bunch of yes man (and women) that have no balls or convictions. I doubt whether there is a coherent strategy anywhere in management. In my opinion Transition 09 (what a joke) will make things worse as they methodically removed experienced people and disenfranchised the rest which will result in the departure of the remaining competent people that refuse to work in such a company.
on Sep 9th, 2010 at 09:07
REPLY TO MUSAINT:
It is remarkable that you continue to defend Shell’s dreadful track record in Nigeria when even Shell has admitted that it has contributed to the fighting and corruption in that much plundered and polluted country: See CNN Report: “Shell admits blame in Nigeria” published on 11 June 2004. Two other revealing articles about Shell were published on the same day: “Bribery and corruption put fresh dent in tarnished image of Shell” (The Independent) “Memos expose Shell’s years of lying” (Daily Telegraph). And returning to Nigeria, an article published the following day by The Times: “Shell’s gas burn-off targets in doubt“. And here is a leaked copy of a 93 page report prepared and paid for by Shell containing admissions about Shell’s track record in Nigeria: “PEACE AND SECURITY IN THE NIGER DELTA“: You have also conveniently forgotten Shell’s settlement for $15.5 million of the Wiwa case in June last year: “Shell’s blood money settles the Wiwa case“. Here is a link to many more reports about Shell’s conduct in Nigeria. To top it all, here is a list of admissions and apologies by Shell. And yet you persist in trying to defend Shell? With regards to events surrounding Sakhalin2 leaks, continuing to stand by your conclusions and allegations based on ignorance of the facts and related ill-considered assumptions, does you no credit. I would have thought more of you if, under the circumstances, you had apologised.
on Sep 9th, 2010 at 07:53
Your article “Allegation of death threats surrounding Shell leaked emails”, should ideally be read on a stand alone basis. As is I stand by what I said. Your add-ons in response do not change my opinion of the danger you put the informer into. The Russian mob/secret police (whatever you want to call them) are not stupid, but, they are thugs. Yes again I use the word “alleged” as many of your financial statements on how much you’ve cost Shell are not factually proved. Yes I do attack this website and some of its contributors for nonsense reporting on Shell in Nigeria. Fact is that Shell performs far better than many companies throughout the world.
on Sep 8th, 2010 at 18:57
REPLY TO MUSAINT:
With regard to the snide comment about exaggeration “again”, here is the link to the Argus Media article containing an interview with the so called “Kremlin Attack Dog”, Oleg Mitvol when he states in the clearest possible terms where he obtained the evidence supporting the then $10 billion dollar lawsuit (later raised to $50 billion) he was threatening to bring against Shell: http://www.shellnews.net/images/Mitvol.pdf The source had genuine concerns about the project on ethical grounds supported by evidence. I did exactly what the source asked me do to. I have never released anything about the source which might allow them to be identified and have no intention of doing so now. Mitvol did give a subsequent interview to The Sunday Times confirming my involvement. The article was read to me over the phone hours before the Sunday Times was being printed. However, it did not appear in the paper. When I subsequently made a SAR application to Shell under the Data Protection Act, I obtained a copy of a Shell internal email discussing the pending Sunday Times story which said that my actions had cost Shell
on Sep 8th, 2010 at 18:03
“Evidence I provided to the Russian government cost Shell billions of dollars” – perhaps true, perhaps an exaggeration again. One thing I would not be proud to put into print Mr. D is that “the source disappeared without trace” – most likely (I believe the inference) as a result of your disclosure to the authorities. They are a viscious group in Russia and it would appear that your source may well have lost his life as a result of your actions. I would hold my head in shame. These death threats were from Russians and not Shell I would hazard a guess. I hope you sent the sources’ family a letter of condolance.
on Sep 8th, 2010 at 02:05
A few spare minutes, so I used them to browse the last 9 months since last looking in. The big industry change is the DW Horizon and there is plenty of speculation about similarity in Shell – could it happen here etc. I have moved on a couple of years ago, but in Houston 2005-8 I don’t believe that the Shell well engineers would have ever allowed the scope changes and shortcuts that were made by BP. I remember clearly that a “long string” option in one of our wells was categorically refused and we had to run the liner with tieback at cost >$10mln. Safety at stake, and good engineering practice.
What finally drove me (and a good chunk of the Americas exploration leadership) away from Shell was GoM related, however: the inability to hold to a strategy and the imposition of personal agendas from global leadership. For all Bichsel’s faults (and there are many), once he was convinced you had a valid strategy he left you to get on with it. He had a certain trust level. Once he was kicked upstairs Americas completely lost any independence in both strategic and tactical direction and lease sales were micro-managed from The Hague by people with almost no hands on knowledge of the prospects. many man-years of careful effort to prepare for lease sales were over-ruled by telecon by failed explorers sitting across the atlantic who fancied they knew a thing or two about the GoM. Yes, we won plenty of leases, but never the right mix to build a balanced portfolio of opportunities. After this dispiriting experience, plus the parachuting in of the failed explorers back to Houston, it was definitely time to be off.
on Sep 5th, 2010 at 19:13
This Corrib business is starting to get a right old bore!! Firstly the locals should be thankful for the business that it brings and secondly others (such as Tom McAndrew) should realise what benefits Shell provides with it’s donations to the community / schools. NOT everything that Shell gives should be seen as a bribe or sweetener!! The Greens and Tree Huggers on this planet should realise that Shell, and other companies, do add value to the lives of communities throughout the world.
on Sep 5th, 2010 at 11:51
Memo to “Wilt Staph” : Most of the pollution in Ogoni Land (and other areas) is down to malicious pipeline damage caused by locals trying to steal oil, not Shell.
on Sep 5th, 2010 at 11:18
CEP – there was no problem with the concept as originally designed, but unfortunately was blighted (corrupted??) by the short termism and “worship thy boss” ethos which came into Shell in the 1990′s. The result is a devaluation of CEP to mean “crass exaggeration of performance” or “continual erosion of profitability”.
on Sep 5th, 2010 at 08:16
Well done to BP for getting rogue well under control at last so that it poses no further threat. Shouldn’t have happened at all – but in the end it is safe. Good!
Memo to Shell: Why not pretend that your operations in Nigeria are actually onshore USA and apply the same environmental rules and concerns as if it was millions of Americans at risk not millions of Ogonis?
on Sep 5th, 2010 at 05:47
The summary here re HR all rings true from where I sit. It has been documented here well the work of Tom Purves in the Gulf coast. He was able to change people’s performance factors and make them low enough that , when the severance packages came around, they would be eligible to be let go. Tom knew that the packages were coming because of his relationship with HR, specifically the now retired Glenn Gilchrist. Both he and Tom were able to advocate for the severance packages and also customize and pinpoint those that they wanted to get rid of. This is all well known and will always be Uncle Tom’s legacy, not the screwed up CEP project. Ultimately, Glenn retired because HR likes to feed off anyone, including their own. And ultimately, Uncle Tom will get a nice payoff and ride off, or walk off , into the sunset with his little ice teamaker and enjoy his life all to himself. Not the legacy he wanted to end with I’m sure. And for HR, they haven’t served the people in a long time. They are there for senior leadership and somehow through Hofmeister, Dalzell, Gilchrist, and others, fancy themselves as having the ear of the top brass helping to create and develop the future leaders of the company. What a sad state of affairs our company now sits in with HR’s help. Their own brand of competency mapping for leaders ( aka CEP) ended up creating the 600-750 ( or whatever number Voser landed on) of senior executives to get the heave ho…. Makes you wonder what the CEP is really all about. Gilchrist has now gone on to start another business. Glenn, enjoy yourself and hide behind your web page. Uncle Tom, tell Funkhouser to roll over and get you a glass of tea.
Remember, we’re watching….
on Sep 4th, 2010 at 17:35
retiree, no doubt, the recent pension pay-out savings scheme, executed by the very subjective, ‘relative performance’ sentencing, was hatched from one of the latest HR-inspired soup-of-the-day, organizational-performance-improvement plans. When you hear a manager comparing site performance tactics to McDonalds and Starbucks, clearly someone was led to the wrong seminar… and hasn’t the sense to distinguish the difference.
on Sep 3rd, 2010 at 12:18
On the HR business in Shell: after that evangelical Hofmeister wormed himself into the position of head HR, things went downhill rapidly. He kept traipsing all over the world to all the nice and expensive spots and invited planeloads of HR folk to discuss whatever HR discusses. He made statements that he would be proud to see someone at an airport and see immediately ‘this is a Shell HR person’. He destroyed all good systems we had such as evaluation, development and resourcing of staff. The same staff lost their senior focal points whom they could trust to discuss personal matters and instead the HR circus was swamped with outsiders who only could deal with computer systems and told all staff that they were responsible to look after their own career.
Open resourcing became the biggest farce of Shell and I believe it is now called MOR (Managed Open Resourcing). Few people dare say that Open Resourcing never should have introduced because it feeds on the ‘me first’ principle. Nobody would do anything for the company if he or she would not get personally better from it. Where all that led to has been obvious the last 10 years or so.
And then HR people were being promoted into very senior and overpaid positions that were dealing with business. The development of staff had started to crumble and we got a prime example of the blind leading the blind. He received help from Gary Steel who as director for LEAP had the whole CMD dancing the macarena and when he noticed it all went belly-up, left Shell to go and wreak havoc at ABB. Carol Dubnicki came (for a hideous salary caused by a simple mistake of the senior resourcer who keyed in the wrong number) and left in disgrace having achieved nothing apart from leaving more wreckage. And then Hofmeister started to tour the USA as a royal, pretending to know the business. I am convinced he promoted that other silly woman Cook into several levels beyond her competence. She was so bad, she would have made a good modern HR person in Shell! As Shell employs above average intelligent people, these soon followed up and saw what was rewarded: promises over performance, agree with the boss and ‘me first, never mind the company’. A great many low and mid level HR folk are now employed and hired from outside. Presumably for diversification but more likely for ensuring there is no more corporate memory. And these outsiders have no feel for the business nor its people. Neither do they care!
I believe I have said enough. I am very glad to have retired and can look back on the good old days…. I wish all current employees success in dealing with HR (Human Remains according to Sir John Jennings), but always beware of false or silly information, double check yourself and keep looking over your shoulder.
on Sep 1st, 2010 at 19:31
John Dear
My comment on Shell HR. USELESS
Other synonyms . . . .
Non-Existent, Know Nothing, Won’t Help – Keep Redirecting, No experience, Every Question looked upon as Confrontation,
Should I say more! Why have a local HR group who is useless? Bottom line, you end of getting frustrated and quit asking questions after going thru all that BS!
on Sep 1st, 2010 at 15:25
Would anyone like to comment on the HR organisation within Shell? I’ve had a fair few run in’s with them so far- they all seem to be blimmin’ useless! But perhaps that is like most HR organisations in big corporations (?). It seems like they really do not care about the individual. I’ve been pushed from pillar to post when I ask for clarification on a particular policy. We are told to contact the outsourced help desks sitting in Poland, KL etc. as HR in the business don’t seem to either have the time or skill to deal with local employees. What has Shell become?? Any advice please on how to deal with HR and actually get them to help me would be most gratefully received.
on Aug 31st, 2010 at 01:26
Pensioner 009, First, I am a long time user of this web Site myself. Second, I am sure I am not not the only one who has not taken kindly to his condesending and obviously inflated opinion of himself and his put downs of others on this site. His so called “advice” was more of an insult than advise. His “advice” to “primoregggazz” and his Range Rover were thinly disguised insults, not advice. This was not his first time to do this. If you like and respect him, that is your choice but I am sure there are others that do not agree. Read back on how primoreggazz responded to his co called “advice. I will not be commenting further on this issue or Musaint. those that respect his opinion and methods can read his comments. I will not.
on Aug 30th, 2010 at 21:49
Musaint, those who have been viewing this blog for longer than just a few weeks know you as a respected contributor, so pay no heed to the recent comments.
As to Shell Diesel quality, I got shot of my Disco years ago – far too unreliable always breaking down. For 5 years now my deisel X5 has run on nothing but Shell Diesel and is just fine.
I would more likely suspect contamination in the filling station tanks – possibly water in the tank. This is far more common than many people realise. Trouble is you only find out after you have driven away.
As for new formulations of diesel – that’s driven by EU regualtion – the UK should NEVER have joined.
on Aug 30th, 2010 at 17:18
GSAP/GPMR and the HOUSE OF CARDS
When the GSAP project started up in 2003, we were soon drowning in Powerpoint slides. One image in particular stood out. It depicted the existing Legacy MI systems as a “house of cards”, on the point of collapse. And here was GSAP, to the rescue !
The next stage is well documented. GSAP got nowhere trying to replace the MI, and within 4 years had to be rescued itself. The saviour was a new MI project called “GPMR”, which curiously set off using almost the same methods and technologies that had just failed. You can’t keep a good “strategy” down.
3 years later, GPMR itself looks in need of rescue. Delivery to date consists of 2 humble ‘pathfinders’, both plagued by performance problems, and using different client technologies because of an architectural cock-up. The rising sense of panic is unmistakeable. Developers desperately clone whole chunks of legacy structure without really understanding it, while their seniors trim scope and push back delivery dates – in spite of which efforts, published plans still show GPMR finishing the rest of job (a magnitude more than they have done so far) in little more than a YEAR.
Meanwhile, the original MI (the “house of cards”) is still there. 7 years on death row have done some damage, but systems are still running and generally outperforming GSAP/GPMR. Almost nothing has been decommissioned.
Credit where it is due. 7 years of pitiful delivery would have sapped the morale of lesser teams, but GSAP/GPMR have remained true; true to the sense that “strategy” is what counts, not results; true to the belief that if you continue spending shareholders’ funds for long enough, success will one day come your way. And they are still on-message: open a GPMR 2010 slide pack and you find the original 2003 “house of cards” graphic is still there !
on Aug 30th, 2010 at 07:47
I am sure we were all suitably impressed by your condescending attitude and your bragging about your car. Frankly, sir, if you are trying to impress folks, you might want to try a different tactic than condescension and bragging.
Oh yeah, you do not help your credibility by bragging as most who do that do it to cover their shortcomings. From the way you write, i am convinced you must have many to cover.
on Aug 29th, 2010 at 17:33
Well my poor little munchkin (EXSF), my comments were aimed at someone who (a) spouted on about poor performance with a Shell product, for which I merely asked some questions to help understand his problem, (b) on his response & pontification about having a Landrover tractor, merely explaind what car I had and that it had improved with the Shell product. We don’t all dislike Shell on this website.
on Aug 27th, 2010 at 17:49
Musaint, it is only fair to tell you that the reason I found your remarks offensive was your clear strategy of casting aspersions on others comments. You give them no respect at all by casting aspersions on the intelligence of people you do not even know. I am giving you the same respect that you gave them. If you want your comments to be respected, then you should try treating others with the same respect you might want. Right now, you seem like a Shell Troll to me.
on Aug 27th, 2010 at 17:39
Het Musaint, does doing commercials for Shell pay well? Just wondering and I would guess I am not the only one.
on Aug 24th, 2010 at 18:05
Forgot to add that my car is a Audi Q7 V12 TDI. It’s well tuned and runs on Shell. Any time you want to test your tractor against a Shell run vehicle please let me know.
on Aug 24th, 2010 at 13:13
Just offering advice – fact is that others, like myself, have found the Shell product extremely good. Mine is a well serviced vehicle – is that your problem perhaps?
on Aug 23rd, 2010 at 17:41
MUSAINT – what on earth are you on, if you haven’t got any decent advise to add…don’t comment, yes i do have a diesel motor, if i would have filled up with unleaded, the motor wouldn’t work, surely any dimwit would know this! decent car? well i think my landrover discovery tdv6 hse is a prestige model, not some run of the mill family car that you probably drive…..with reference to 3-4 tanks to work the shell fuel out of the system, well my landrover mechanic filled his range rover up with bio fuel and that took 3-4 tanks of normal diesel to clear out the the bio fuel so it was an approximation!
on Aug 23rd, 2010 at 14:03
I have worked in Nigeria and the much used expression there was: ‘You pay small dash, finish palaver’. I see this still holds true. But I am not certain whether this palaver will disappear. The country as a whole is simply too corrupt and all the poor citizens are victims.
on Aug 22nd, 2010 at 21:20
Posting made on behalf of “Jon Alpert”:
One summer, I worked for Shell Chemicals
on Aug 21st, 2010 at 17:24
Well “primoreggazzo”, I can only offer up some suggestions to your problem. (1) make sure you really have a diesel and not an unleaded car, (2) make sure you buy a half decent vehicle – this could be your main problem. That said, who said you would need 3-4 clean tanks to solve the problem – some cowboy garage?!? “I have refilled the tank after almost running empty” – that’s plain stupid you should check the fuel guage!! My car has absolutely no problem with this product, infact its performance has improved dramatically.
on Aug 21st, 2010 at 14:46
POSTED ON BEHALF OF “primoreggazzo”: I have recently filled up with Shell diesel
on Aug 19th, 2010 at 04:14
Well Uncle Tom has shown up now over here at PAR. I guess the mourning over his demotion is now over. He is able to get the Funk to cut off the alarm clock in the morning and they both ride to work to save the day at Port Arthur. Tom, look deep in the mirror, keep looking, deeper… and listen to the voice that keeps telling you that you screwed it up… the whole gulf coast… people’s lives… because of your controlling ways and the fact that the RVP job was over your head….. Now you can manage the Funk…. have Funk tell little boy Forrest and the brit on the project how to eat the cabbage. You and Jeff deserve each other…. I would just watch the knife in his hand and make sure it doesn’t end up in your back…. remember you taught him well.
Boy I can’t wait to see how you finish up doing SPI-100 on PAR since that became your passion over the past few years.
Remember, I’m watching…..
on Aug 15th, 2010 at 19:10
I know that I have commented on this age old story about Shell selling their Rajasthan acreage before (this story and my comments are probably like a cracked record), but, the issue should be put at the doorstep of 2 Shell individuals – namely Messrs. Wildig and Parsley. I know I have been corrected by somebody previously, but, these two individuals killed off Shell’s E&P presence in the sub-continent (that includes Pakistan which has also proved a money earner for Premier Oil). Probably the Swiss inbred & nodding-donkey Bichsel signed the final death-knell for the sub-continent but Parsley and Wildig were the real culprits. Why oh why was an idiot PE (Wildig) by background given the responsibility to defend exploration decisions?? Hard-nosed that he was, I liked the genuine ability of someone such as Murris to decide on entry or exit on a country. The likes of Bichsel / Parsley and most especially Wildig had absolutely no idea.
on Aug 15th, 2010 at 05:00
Musaint, ‘Geismar thingy’ is probably across the pond from you in the southern US. Just not the same morale and energy as there once was. Probably still a better place to be than many other Shell sites. Some of the most committed folks in the organization are disappointed by some leadership decisions.
on Aug 14th, 2010 at 18:33
What, where, is this Geismar thingy that a number of posts are moaning & minging about. Must be a lousy place to work if there’s so many mingers “working” there!!
on Aug 12th, 2010 at 13:14
Useless PTL, I think that the recent change in VP leadership is important. some other things that are important:
1. Some newer employees do not have the respect for Shell and the work ethic that we once knew at Geismar.
2.Some first line leaders are playing the destructive,force ranked competition game and believe in it. The top rated folks are thriving, and love it, no-one else is inspired. This ONLY works in sales groups or piece-work production.
3.Some of the key folks who really understood and believed in the culture of which you speak, have been removed.
4.Some folks currently in key leadership roles,do not believe in that culture, or have no idea of what we are talking about. “Task oriented supervision is better”.
5.Some of the changes in recent years have been good for the site. It would be critical to not destroy all of the changes for the sake of ‘a better culture’.
6. Many of the supervisors currently in place were selected because they are more capable of task supervision and have no idea of what empowerment of their work teams looks like.
I think that your question goes much deeper than this; just wanted to share some thoughts.
on Aug 12th, 2010 at 03:21
hey geismar gator, history says, many were given over-extended periods to qualify, or to ‘get comfortable’, or to re-take tests and walk-throughs. It doesn’t matter what race you were. Technicians in training are now being held to more standardized, specified time frames to demonstrate progressive success in learning and skill development.
on Aug 12th, 2010 at 01:28
For the Geismar Folks…. Do you feel that the “culture” at Geismar will return to what it has been in the past, or is the damage too deep to reverse itself??? I personally see no benefit in staying at a plant that treats supervision the way that we are treated in Geismar. Are the Motiva sites any better? Is there any place in the organization for someone who actually cares about his direct reports and not climbing over the backs of his peers just to get to the next grade??? If so, someone please point me in that direction, I fear that Geismar is a lost cause…
on Aug 11th, 2010 at 21:28
Agree 100%. A Japanese log carrier built in 1965, with a drilling package added in 1975 is not exactly the state of the art in drilling vessels (and I’m sure the cabins don’t measure up to Norwegian standards of luxury!). But I’m also sure it’s cheap (if 300K/day is cheap?). Maybe with the cancellation fees Frontier Drilling (owned by Shell and the Carlyle Group at the time the contracts were awarded) will be able to afford a refit – after ten years it’s well overdue.
on Aug 11th, 2010 at 09:17
I seems to me that there is one Royal Dutch Shell subsidiary that is well acquainted with the stringent and successful Norwegian ‘rules of engagement’ for drilling and production in the North Sea and Arctic. That would be Norske Shell, RDS’s Norwegian subsidiary.
I am certain those folks can operate in the US Arctic far more competently and safely than Shell USA’s Gulf of Mexico ‘run and gun’ gang. And I am dead certain Norske Shell would never approve of Shell USA’s current choice for a drilling operator for their Chukchi exploration campaign.
Shell USA spent $2 billion on leases and now apparently wants to use an obsolete, but refurbished ‘rust bucket’ to drill their exploration wells to ‘save a little money’. Why not contract a Chinese rig? They are ‘dirt cheap’ (if they don’t sink).
Seems to me Royal Dutch should think seriously about how it staffs and manages its US Arctic exploration effort. It may be time to import some operational and managerial competence. It could pay huge dividends down the road. One screw-up on the part of the ‘junior varsity’ and the gig is up.
Just a thought from a former Shell Oil USA employee.
on Aug 10th, 2010 at 23:25
hey justthefactsmaam i guess you represent the historic geismar family. You know how it goes out here in geismar. If you are part of the family you get the best training and all the time you need to qualify. You even get unlimited chances at taking the test. Black technicians don’t get the same treatment. Blacks have a certain time frame to qualify and a more diffucult time during training.
on Aug 7th, 2010 at 23:53
Absolutely False, While I agree David G. is a clown, the two technicians in question were dismissed because of their competency. It has nothing to do with their race, in fact, if the truth would be told they were hired because of their race. The people who should really be terminated are the people in HR who hire some of these “slugs” and send them to an operating unit, where they arent capable of learning and performing the duties of an operating technician. Then someone like a David G. is forced to make a very tough decision, Fire a black tech. or let his/her continued incompetency reflect on his performance.
This is a lose/lose for a Mgr. But in these two cases David G. made the right decision.
on Aug 7th, 2010 at 14:59
Geismar Gator, word is that the first one of which you speak did not receive due process;he/she was even held accountable in a job they were not yet qualified in.??? The word out there also has it that this most recent one of which you speak, just could not meet the requirements, and that due process was followed, via progressive discipline process. If the ‘fly on the wall’ has this wrong, please share it here.
on Aug 7th, 2010 at 03:23
racial tensions brewing over in geismar, David Gates is at it again this time a one of the only four black female technicians is his victim. That’s two black technicians in a year. There’s also been other problems with blacks not gettin promotions over here also. I guess you can say another one bites the dust.
on Aug 6th, 2010 at 00:13
CORRECTION TO MY LAST POST
an important correction to my use of the word retribution. The statement should have read: Forced ranking is subject to favoritism and RETALIATION, not retribution..
on Aug 5th, 2010 at 06:08
CorporateHR, too bad Mr TP will take this as a move in his favor. It seems unfair for those whose lives were changed, some after 30+years of service, that TP gets moved around instead of out. Severance payments do not replace the additional years that some would have worked. Reduced Pensions do not compensate for the years of life that were given to Shell. Retirement and financial plans and goals were destroyed for some. My personal opinion is that there is no reasonable cause for the way that some of these staff reductions were executed. Many team leaders that were terminated were far more effective than some that were kept.
on Aug 3rd, 2010 at 11:14
Word is out on the street….. Tom purves moves back to Port Arthur to take the lead on the project, rathweg replaces Tom, Farid moves to west coast, and unbelievably a Mark Byrd takes the helm at The flagship. My thoughts….. Clearly a demotion for Uncle Tom but he won’t look at it that way. This is where he wants to be, buried deep in motiva central where he can hide out in a small office on Savannah with his little tea pot barking orders to funkhouser and helping(?) out. Trust me uncle Tom doesn’t look at this as a demotion. He just gets to drop his knapsack off full-time now in the apartment with Jeff and ride to work together instead of playing MLT boy. Big win for uncle Tom. Re rathweg, good move for Steve but boy he has his hands full…. This isn’t geismar. Uncle Tom leaves him the keys with 4 years of baggage and mistrust. Also uncle Tom has been clear that he thinks Steve is a doofus saying it public ally many times. No love loss between these 2. Now Steve on his trips to port Arthur has to get in the middle of Tom, Forrest, and da funk on issues. 3 is a company 4 is a crowd and Steve will see first hand what that relationship looks like. Re farid, he gets to move home to the west coast so he is happy…. Not sure his Martinez replacement will find it the same way. Re bird, ……good luck.
on Aug 2nd, 2010 at 18:49
CorporateHR,thanks for affirming this for me. I would have been shocked to hear if the SR that I knew had compromised his values and morals.
Some very welcome news just out on reassignments of SR and TP will help to re-instill some trust, collaboration and energy in the gulf coast sites. Too bad this took place after we suffered through TP’s rank & yank slaughter. Those who no me will probably recognize me when I say that the dedicated, energized morale that we once knew can only be returned by rebuilding the reciprocal loyalty that TP’s tactics have so efficiently destroyed. The biggest challenge for SR will be dealing with TP’s minions that have been advanced and rewarded for their subservient dirty work under TP. They are still in place and the working folks in the organization will have a hard time being inspired by these cowards that they have watched execute the humiliating destruction of the personalities and lives, of the first line leaders that they respected and admired.
Hopefully the adage, ‘good Shell, bad leaders’, evolves to ‘good Shell recognized bad leaders’.
…..bad leaders will ultimately destroy an enterprise…..