January, 2007:

By JULIANE VON REPPERT-BISMARCK
January 31, 2007 5:56 p.m.

BRUSSELS — The European Commission opened a second front in its fight against climate change with a call for binding rules that will force oil refiners to cut carbon-dioxide emissions from vehicle fuel 10% by 2020.

The commission is facing resistance from Europe’s auto industry and national governments over a plan to cut emissions from new cars. Now it is picking a potential fight with oil companies.

If endorsed by European Union governments, the law will take effect in 2011, EU officials said. The plan represents another step toward the commission’s goal to cut dependence on imported fossil fuels by increasing the use of biofuels and curb the economic impact of global warming. read more

Crude-oil futures surged to a new four-week high Wednesday after U.S. government data showed distillate inventories, which include heating oil, fell more than expected amid continued forecasts for cold U.S. weather.

Here is Wednesday’s roundup of oil and energy news:

* * *
CNOOC UNDER PRESSURE: Domestic production troubles are putting pressure on Cnooc to raid its multibillion-dollar war chest and make an acquisition, but potential targets are unlikely to come cheap despite the recent fall in oil prices. China’s largest offshore oil producer by output is facing a shrinking field of midsize companies that it could buy following a flurry of corporate activity globally in the past year. It may have to content itself with bidding for producing fields that come with neither the prestige it wants nor significant size, analysts say. read more

EXTRACT: An investigation of companies in which the foundation invests £16.8 billion led to accusations that it was profiting from firms whose activities contribute to the problems, such as poverty, debt and disease, that it was trying to solve.  IN EARLY January an investigation by the Los Angeles Times found that the foundation had invested over £254 million in oil companies such as Royal Dutch Shell, Exxon Mobil, Chevron and Total, whose practices are being blamed for causing health concerns in Nigeria; problems the Gates Foundation is contributing money to solve. read more

19:01 | 31/ 01/ 2007 

ST. PETERSBURG, January 31 (RIA Novosti) – A decision on whether to set up a state holding to oversee the development of Russia’s offshore oil and gas deposits could be made in the first three months of 2007, a deputy natural resources minister said Wednesday.

Russia has moved to tighten state control over its mineral resources in recent years, cutting foreign participation in the oil and gas sector. State-controlled giants Gazprom [RTS: GAZP] and Rosneft [RTS: ROSN] have been appointed to control all hydrocarbon deposits on the continental shelf. read more

January 31, 2007
Carl Mortished: European Briefing
 
Every morning as he brushes his teeth, a European oil company chief is reminded of the big question: is his business more like a tube of toothpaste or a glass of water?

If the latter, his job is to make money by being efficient, to keep the tap flowing, the water clean and the glass adequately replenished. 
 
A glass half-empty or half-full is the conventional view of integrated oil companies. These are utilities: there is plenty of oil and gas about and the job is to invest adequately, not overfilling the glass, in order to maximise the amount of money that flows from the taps and pipes. read more

Project a Joint Venture of Gazprom, Shell, Mitsui & Mitsubishi

LONDON, Jan. 31, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) (PRIMEZONE) — CO2 Tech (Pink Sheets:CTTD) President, Ms. Helga Schotten, today announced that CO2 Tech, a UK-based provider of cutting-edge, anti-global warming technology solutions announced that CO2 was commissioned to perform environmental effects monitoring and analysis and develop environmental solutions to the Sakhalin II Project, one of the largest new energy development projects in the world today.
 
Sakhalin II, one of the biggest new energy developments in the world, is a joint venture operated by Sakhalin Energy Investment Company Ltd. (SEIC) (owned by OAO Gazprom (Gazprom), Royal Dutch Shell plc (Shell), Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (Mitsui) and Mitsubishi Corporation (Mitsubishi)). Phase I of the project produces oil from an offshore platform, while Phase II includes two further offshore platforms, 1800 km of pipelines and Russia’s first LNG plant. Peak production is expected to reach 180,000 barrels per day, and 9.6 million tons of LNG per year. read more

05:49 AM CST on Wednesday, January 31, 2007

HOUSTON – At least 32 Shell Oil Co. workers were injured early Tuesday when a train collided with a bus carrying contract employees at the company’s Deer Park refinery.

The workers were taken to area hospitals for observation or treatment of injuries ranging from bumps and bruises to a possible hip dislocation, officials said. They said the bus was carrying contract workers to work sites from satellite parking areas and was crossing tracks inside the plant when it was hit by a Port Terminal Rail Authority train. read more

A SHEFFIELD man was released with a police caution after mounting a balcony protest at the Irish Embassy in London over plans for a gas pipeline.

The 26-year-old climbed on to the balcony of the ambassador’s office at the Embassy to protest against a controversial Shell gas pipeline in north Co Mayo.

He initially refused to leave but was eventually talked down by police.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “A 26-year-old male was questioned under Section 9 of the Criminal Law Act, 1977, for trespassing on a diplomatic premises. read more

By ALEX NICHOLSON 01.31.07, 7:13 AM ET  

The Russian government gave tentative approval Wednesday to long-awaited draft legislation that would restrict foreign companies’ access to oil and gas fields and mineral deposits that are deemed strategic.

The new regulations, which will also limit foreign access to over 40 sectors of the economy, such as military hardware, aviation and atomic energy, will for the first time clarify the rules under which foreigners will be allowed to invest in strategic Russian projects. read more

By Barbara Powell

Jan. 30 (Bloomberg) — A lone locomotive struck a van carrying Shell Oil Co. contract employees at a refinery near Houston, causing minor injuries to about a dozen workers.

The accident in Deer Park, Texas, occurred about 7:40 a.m on Shell property, company spokeswoman Emily Oberton said. As many as a dozen workers were taken to five hospitals and 20 more were evaluated at the scene by emergency medical personnel, she said.

The Port Terminal Railroad Association reported that a locomotive traveling at 10 miles per hour struck the van after it failed to stop at a railroad crossing, said Felicia Griffin, a spokeswoman for the Port of Houston Authority. There was no rail arm at the at-grade crossing, but there were stop signs, the railroad association said in a statement. read more

Jan 31 2007
David Williamson,
 
ONE of Russia’s most ambitious and controversial energy projects will use Welsh fire safety technology in a “seven-figure” link-up with Pontypool-based Flamgard.

Its products will protect staff extracting oil and gas in sub-zero temperatures on the island of Sakhalin, north of Japan.

The $20bn venture made headlines worldwide last month when Russia’s state-owned energy giant Gazprom wrested control of holding company Sakhalin Energy from Anglo-Dutch operator Shell. read more

By  Ian Talley: WASHINGTON

The U.S. government will likely investigate to see if Royal Dutch Shell’s (RDSA) upstream services agreement for a $4.3 billion liquefied natural gas project in southern Iran violates its sanctions laws, a State department spokesman said Monday.

The deal may become the next test case for the State Department, accused by the new Democrat-controlled Congress as having been too lax in applying laws that prohibit investment in Iran.

Current U.S. law bars companies from doing more than $20 million a year in business with Iran, and since the project is likely to exceed the parameters, State Department spokesman Scott McCormack said he “was sure” the government “will take a look at this particular deal.” read more

Ed Crooks, London
January 31, 2007

THE US authorities would “take a look at” a controversial agreement signed by Royal Dutch Shell which could ultimately lead to a multi-billion-dollar investment in Iran, a US State Department official said.

Shell and its partner, Repsol of Spain, have signed a service agreement with the Iranian Government to continue work on developing blocks 13 and 14 of the giant South Pars gas field, despite mounting international pressure over the country’s nuclear program. read more

By Stuart Hampson: Published: January 31 2007 02:00 | Last updated: January 31 2007 02:00

An invitation in 1992 to join a group of leaders from 25 big UK companies to look at the role of business in a changing world would normally have seemed instantly resistible. But the facts that the invitation came from the Royal Society of Arts, that Sir Anthony Cleaver of IBM was chairing the inquiry and that the list of other individuals who had already signed up was impressive all made me think again.I am glad I did. read more

By Graham Bowley
Published: January 31 2007 02:00 | Last updated: January 31 2007 02:00

The urge to predict the future goes back to the oracle in the temple at Delphi, to Nostradamus uttering his gnomic quatrains and to the Romans consulting the entrails of slaughtered bulls.

Today, those working in the “futurist” profession glean insights from more earthly sources, such as fringe newspapers, websites and newsletters; from human experts; and from the world around us – which in futurist parlance contains “memories of the future”. read more

31.01.2007 01:28

Press Release

Today, supporters for the Anti-Shell Campaign took their protest to the Irish Embassy. The action was to target the Irish State; Shell; Statoil and Marathon who are attempting to construct a dangerous and experimental onshore raw gas pipeline and refinery in County Mayo; a beautiful remote part of North West Ireland.

There is massive opposition to this proposed pipeline by the local community, Ireland and internationally. A campaign of direct action against this plan has been ongoing since 2005. read more