Posts from ‘May, 2005’

Sunday Telegraph: Shell’s auction of its LPG business could raise £1.6bn

By Sylvia Pfeifer (Filed: 29/05/2005)

Shell, the Anglo-Dutch oil giant, is to auction its liquid petroleum gas (LPG) business and is hoping for bids of up to $3bn (£1.6bn).

It is understood that relevant information will be sent to prospective buyers in the next two weeks. Some of the world’s largest private equity players have expressed an interest in the business, which generates earnings of about $400m. Analysts believe Shell could get as much as $3bn for one of the largest players in the global LPG market. read more

AP Worldstream: Are we there yet? Some see the beginning of the end of the road for oil

MATT CRENSON

May 29, 2005

Could the petroleum joyride _ cheap, abundant oil that has sent the global economy whizzing along with the pedal to the metal and the air conditioning blasting for decades _ be coming to an end?

Some observers of the oil industry think so. They predict that this year, maybe next _ almost certainly by the end of the decade _ the world’s oil production, having grown exuberantly for more than a century, will peak and begin to decline.

And then it really will be all downhill. The price of oil will increase drastically. Major oil-consuming countries will experience crippling inflation, unemployment and economic instability. Princeton University geologist Kenneth S. Deffeyes predicts “a permanent state of oil shortage.” read more

The Guardian (UK): Fast forward

Interview by Eileen Sheridan

Saturday May 28, 2005

“I’ve done best in the jobs I’ve most enjoyed, so I think carefully about the jobs I want to do and try to make sure I’m passionate about them,” says Sally. “I’ve learned to take soundings and trust the views of others as I’ve made decisions about what to take on. Having a few people in the organisation you can rely on to give you objective and honest feedback is something I’ve valued. read more

Irish Times: Shell link to ‘independent’ consultants for gas pipeline

28 May 2005

Lorna Siggins, Marine Correspondent

“Independent” consultants hired by Minister for the Marine Noel Dempsey to review the safety of the Corrib gas onshore pipeline are part-owned by the project’s major shareholder, Shell.

British Pipeline Agency (BPA) Ltd is jointly-owned by BP and Shell UK, and was commissioned earlier this year by the Minister to conduct an “independent” evaluation of the high-pressure onshore pipeline which will transport gas from the Corrib gas field off the Mayo coast to the proposed terminal at Bellanaboy. read more

The Guardian (UK): We don’t like … … no rollover relief

Phillip Inman

Saturday May 28, 2005

Potential problems loom for savers who have stashed share certificates in oil giant Shell under their bed, in a safe deposit box or electronic nominee account.

Anyone investing in the the Netherlands-quoted Royal Dutch arm of Shell will be faced with significant CGT liabilities. It follows the merger of UK-based Shell Transport & Trading and Royal Dutch to create Royal Dutch Shell plc, says stockbroker Charles Stanley.

Royal Dutch shareholders get 60% while Shell Transport owners get 40%. read more

THE TIMES: Constitution is in a mess, the Briton who wrote it says

28 May 2005

By Bronwen Maddox

What started out as a simple statement of principles turned into a monster out of control

THE European Constitution should still be praised for setting out Europe’s common values, and defining the powers of the institutions that run it.

But key sections “got out of control” in two years of drafting. Its authors took on too much, and tried to solve problems they were not equipped to tackle. They were too ambitious, and they started two years too late.

That is the verdict of Lord Kerr of Kinlochard, one of the main authors of the tome which polls suggest will be rejected by French voters on Sunday, very likely followed by the Dutch on Wednesday. “Why did it get so big? We tried to do it all,” he said yesterday. read more

THE TIMES (UK): Shell delays target to end gas flaring in Nigeria by a year

28 May 2005

By Carl Mortished, International Business Editor

SHELL has risked the ire of the environmental lobby by delaying its target date for the end of gas flaring in Nigeria by a year to 2009.

The oil company blames a failure to invest by its state partner, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, for the delay in cutting out the wasteful flaring of gas from more than 1,000 wells in the Niger Delta.

The practice has been a blot on Shell’s copybook in Nigeria and the conflagration, visible on satellite images, is a big source of greenhouse gases. read more

Houston Chronicle: Shell has fewer spills, deaths among workers

28 May 2005

By STEPHEN VOSS

Bloomberg News

The Royal Dutch-Shell Group of Companies reported fewer oil spills and worker deaths, no change in greenhouse gas emissions and an increase in bribes in an annual assessment of its corporate responsibility.

The company, which operates in 140 countries, spilled 6,600 tons of liquids in 2004, down from 6,700 tons in 2003. U.S. offshore pipelines damaged by Hurricane Ivan spilled 1,500 tons alone, making it overshoot a global target of 6,100 tons.

“The growth of energy companies in the decades ahead will depend on their ability to operate with integrity and to listen and respond to society’s expectations for their operations and products,” Shell Chief Executive Jeroen van der Veer said in a report published on Shell’s Web site Friday. read more

Financial Times: Shell admits second downgrade more serious

28 May 2005

By James Boxell

Royal Dutch/Shell has underlined the seriousness of its second reserves cut last year by estimating that the barrels of oil and gas removed were more valuable than those in its first, far bigger reduction.

The Anglo-Dutch oil group was initially forced to cut its proved oil and gas reserves by about 4.5bn barrels early last year, but was embarrassed in October when it admitted that a further restatement would be needed.

The second cut overshadowed the historic proposal to merge Shell’s Dutch and British holding companies in response to investor criticism about the reserves scandal. read more

Daily Mail: Now Shell spells out swap deal

CITY INVESTMENT

Saturday, May 28, 2005

SHELL shareholders have some reading to do as the oil group sends out documents on welding its two companies Royal Dutch Petroleum and Shell Transport into a single, £120bn giant called Royal Dutch Shell (RDS).

You need to get your vote back to Shell by June 26. That means filling in a proxy form for the agm on June 28 (you can still turn up at the ExCel Centre in London Docklands on the day).

Most UK holders have Shell Transport shares. Shell gives an example of how their holding changes, based on midweek’s share price of 470p. For each share held, you get roughly 0.287 B shares in RDS. If you had 100 Shell shares, worth £470, you would get 28 RDS B shares. If these trade at £16.36 each, your holding would be worth £458.08. Shell would send you a cheque for the remaining £11.92. read more

Daily Telegraph: Shell scrutinised again

28 May 2005

CITY BULLETIN:

Shell put its environmental record under fresh scrutiny yesterday after conceding it would miss targets to end the controversial practice of burning off unwanted gas in Nigeria.

The Anglo-Dutch oil giant blamed a lack of funding from the country’s government and project delays for pushing back the elimination by 12 months to 2009. Costs have so far reached $2billion (£l.lbillion) and further costs of $1.8billion are expected.

Shell also reported more oil spills in the past year than at any time since the turn of the millennium, although the majority of the 236 incidents were caused by sabotage. read more

San Jose Mercury News: Oil firms boost spending on personnel

27 May 2005

Major oil companies including San Ramon-based Chevron Corp. (CVX), BP Plc and Royal Dutch/Shell Group are spending more than ever for workers and equipment as surging energy consumption increases demand for geologists, drilling rigs and pipe.

Finding and pumping a barrel of oil — including labor, equipment and seismic testing — cost a record $17.12 last year, up 43 percent from a year earlier, data compiled by Bloomberg show. One example: A rig that can drill in mile-deep water averaged $183,217 a day in the first quarter, up from $127,990 the year before, according to Houston consultant ODS-Petrodata. read more

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Repsol Plans to Make Bid For Shell’s LPG Business

Posted 27 May 2005

By ANDRES CALA

Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

PARIS — Repsol YPF plans to announce next week it is partnering with other investors to bid for Royal Dutch/Shell’s liquefied petroleum gas distribution and marketing business, a move that if successful would make the Spanish oil and gas company the largest LPG distributor in the world, a person familiar with the negotiations said Thursday.

Repsol, the fifth-largest European energy company by market capitalization, plans to join forces with United Kingdom-based CVC Capital Partners and other undisclosed investors to coincide with a general meeting Tuesday at which Repsol’s new chairman and chief executive, Antonio Brufau, will disclose the company’s strategy for the next five years. read more

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: FTC Clears Shell In Refinery Closure

Posted 27 May 2005