Royal Dutch Shell's Brent oilfield, among the largest fields ever found in the UK North Sea, is set to be decommissioned in the near future, a company official said on Tuesday.
February, 2012:
Brent oilfield to be decommissioned
This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website,
johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net,
are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.
EU to vote on oil sands pollution
BBC NEWS: European Union officials are expected to vote on draft legislation that would label Canadian fuel as more polluting than oil from other parts of the world. Oil extracted from "oil sands" is regarded by some as energy intensive and environmentally damaging.
Shell CEO Peter Voser warns Brussels on flood of regulations
Tuesday 21 February 2012
Anglo-Dutch oil giant Royal Dutch Shell has warned the European Commission that Europe’s competitiveness will be ‘paralysed’ by the flood of new financial regulations currently being introduced.
CEO Peter Voser told the Financieele Dagblad he has sent a warning letter to Brussels with a copy to the parliament in The Hague.
Voser decided to raise the matter now because he is concerned the new regulations for the financial market will be widened to include other industries.
Inspection report on spill pipeline ‘overdue by three years’
THE PRESS AND JOURNAL: PAGE 6. MONDAY, February 20, 2012
BY ROSS DAVIDSON
An inspection report on the safety of a pipeline at the centre of the UK’s biggest oil leak in a decade was overdue by three years, officials revealed.
Operator Shell was supposed to assess the integrity of pipelines at Gannet Alpha every four years, but the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said the audit had not been carried out since 2004.
HSE has issued SheIl with two improvement notices after the firm did not keep the report up-to-date.
Shell’s Gannet Alpha leak pipeline audit three years overdue
An audit of a pipeline which leaked more than 200 tonnes of oil into the North Sea was three years overdue, an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive has shown.
20 February 2012
An audit of a pipeline which leaked more than 200 tonnes of oil into the North Sea was three years overdue, an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive has shown.
The incident at Shell’s Gannet Alpha oil platform, 113 miles (180km) off Aberdeen, happened in August last year.
The HSE said an audit of the safety management system due in 2008 had not been carried out before the accident.
The leak was discovered about 300ft (91m) below the surface.
A joint investigation into the leak by the UK’s regulatory authorities is currently ongoing.
Royal Dutch Shell attempt to undermine anti-corruption initiative
Royal Dutch Shell has taken action in an attempt to neutralize planned anti-corruption transparency rules that would force Shell, and other natural resource companies, to disclose all payments to foreign regimes.
By John Donovan
The Financial Times reports that Royal Dutch Shell has taken action in an attempt to neutralize planned anti-corruption transparency rules that would force Shell, and other natural resource companies, to disclose all payments to foreign regimes.
The new rules are intended to cover EU and US quoted businesses.
Their purpose is to identify corrupt regimes receiving major income from extractive industries, including oil and gas, who siphon off the proceeds.
According to the FT, Shell CFO Simon Henry has written to the UK business minister, Norman Lamb, setting out the oil giants concerns and pushing a series of alternative proposals, which would dilute the anti-corruption rules.
Shell employees sterilized by dibromochloropropane – DBCP
RELATED LINK
Shell and Dow were aware for more than 20 years that DBCP caused sterility in animals and the shrinking of testicles… A Shell official had instructed that speculation about possible harmful conditions to man should be omitted from registration of the product with the United States Department of Agriculture.
By John Donovan
On 11 February, we published an article about current litigation underway in the USA courts against Shell Oil Company and Dow Chemicals relating to the extremely hazardous chemical pesticide, dibromochloropropane (DBCP).
We have carried out some research into the background history of Shell’s association with DBCP, which stretches back almost 60 years.
In August 1977, an Associated Press syndicated article described DBCP as “A pest-controlling chemical suspected of causing sterility in men and cancer in animals…” It said that The Washington Post had revealed that Shell and Dow were aware for more than 20 years that DBCP caused sterility in animals and the shrinking of testicles. Laboratory tests were carried out in 1952 and the findings reported to Shell in 1954.
City of Carson to sue Shell Oil over contamination
The city of Carson has decided to sue Shell Oil more than two years after hundreds of residents brought a suit against the company, alleging health hazards from widespread contamination…
Carson to sue Shell Oil over contamination in Carousel tract
By Sandy Mazza Staff Writer
Posted: 02/18/2012 06:16:14 AM PST
Updated: 02/18/2012 03:10:17 PM PST
The city of Carson has decided to sue Shell Oil more than two years after hundreds of residents brought a suit against the company, alleging health hazards from widespread contamination in their Carousel tract neighborhood.
The City Council has authorized Girardi & Keese, the law firm for residents in the 285-home community, to represent the city in a new suit alleging that Shell created a public nuisance by leaving contaminants at the site.
Shell Clears Major Hurdle in Its Bid for New Arctic Drilling
By JOHN M. BRODER and CLIFFORD KRAUSS
A version of this article appeared in print on February 18, 2012, on page A15 of the New York edition
In a crucial step toward the ultimate approval of new oil drilling off the North Slope of Alaska, the Interior Department on Friday tentatively approved Shells plans for responding to a potential spill in the frigid Arctic waters.
Shell still needs to cross several more regulatory barriers before it will be permitted to begin drilling as many as six exploratory wells in the Chukchi Sea in July. But the green light from the Interior Department on the companys oil spill response plan is a clear sign that the Obama administration is disposed toward allowing the drilling despite the dogged opposition of many environmentalists.
Shell Wins Approval for Oil-Spill Response Plan in Arctic
By Katarzyna Klimasinska – Feb 17, 2012 5:29 PM GMT
Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA) won U.S. approval for its oil-spill response plan in the Chukchi Sea, bringing the company closer to winding up a five-year quest to drill off the north coast of Alaska.
Shell must obtain drilling permits from the Interior Departments Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement to start work as early as July. The company also needs U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service permission for incidental disruption of polar bears, walrus, whales and seals.
Royal Dutch Shell still furtively buying Iranian oil
…Shell has avoided public comment on its position… The Anglo-Dutch major is one of the biggest consumers of Iranian crude worldwide… Shell Chief Executive Peter Voser declined to elaborate on how much Iranian crude the company was still buying…
Exclusive: Europe’s big buyers cut ties with Iran oil
By Alex Lawler and Peg Mackey
LONDON | Thu Feb 16, 2012 12:50pm EST
(Reuters) – Iran’s top oil buyers in Europe are making substantial cuts in supply months in advance of European Union sanctions, reducing flows to the continent in March by more than a third – or over 300,000 barrels daily, industry sources said on Thursday.
France’s Total (TOTF.PA) has already stopped buying the crude, which is subject to European Union sanctions from July 1 and market sources say Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) has scaled back sharply.
Whistleblower accuses Shell Executive Director, Malcolm Brinded
“Van de Veer was in a tricky situation. The Shell reputation was already in the gutter after the reserves debacle and Brinded was the white knight in shining armour who was to help in the recovery process.”
Introduction by John Donovan
Former Shell International HSE Group Auditor, Bill Campbell (above right), provides more information about the background to his career with Shell and why he blew the whistle on the Brent Bravo scandal.
By Bill Campbell
I left Shell in 2002 for health reasons and was granted VS on grounds of partial incapacity. During my 24 years with Shell I was promoted regularly and held senior positions. During that career I was never subject to any disciplinary action for wrongdoing or poor performance.
Showa Shell Sekiyu to decide on Iranian oil after Japan-U.S. talks
Shell (Showa Shell) petrol station in Japan
(Mainichi Japan) February 15, 2012
TOKYO (Kyodo) — Major Japanese oil company Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. said Tuesday it will decide on whether to cut oil imports from Iran after seeing the outcome of bilateral talks between Japan and the United States.
Showa Shell Sekiyu is the largest Japanese importer of oil from Iran with 100,000 barrels per day.
In the face of a U.S.-led sanctions drive over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Jun Arai, president of the company, told a press conference, ‘We will closely follow the bilateral talks and respond after an announcement is made (on the outcome).”
Scottish Police focus on Bill Campbell challenge to Scottish Prosecutor
By John Donovan
Interesting to see that the article “Retired Shell HSE Group Auditor challenges Scottish Prosecutor” is currently featured on the Scottish Police website…
http://www.scottishpolice.info/category/grampian/
Retired Shell HSE Group Auditor challenges Scottish Prosecutor Royal Dutch Shell plc .com
RELATED SHELL BLOG POSTING TODAY BY “an observer of Shell”:
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.
Shell Oil Company Invests Nearly $4 Million in The University of Texas at Austin
Feb. 14, 2012
AUSTIN, Texas Shell Oil Company executives visited The University of Texas at Austin on Friday, Feb. 10, to present a check in the amount of $3,963,250, representing the companys investment in the university for the year.
About $3.5 million of the total was designated for sponsored research. Shell has active research partnerships with the universitys Cockrell School of Engineering, Jackson School of Geosciences and Marine Science Institute. Those partnerships include the Shell-UT Unconventional Research (SUTUR) initiative.
Retired Shell HSE Group Auditor challenges Scottish Prosecutor
I do not speak for Mr Campbell, but the impression I have is that he believes that Shell has influence in high places within the Scottish establishment. It was extraordinary that after an investigation lasting over two years, the notification of your decision not to prosecute was first conveyed to the whistleblower who sparked the investigation, Mr Campbell, by a General Counsel representing the accused company, Shell. That was an unfortunate development.
By John Donovan
I received the email below from Bill Campbell, the retired HSE Group Auditor of Shell International in response to my recent article:
Mystery of how Shell escaped Brent Bravo criminal prosecution: 7 Feb 2012
In 2005, Shell was fined a record £900,000 at Stonehaven Sheriff Court, for a series of safety failings on the Brent Bravo platform, which led to a gas leak inside the giant platforms utility leg and the tragic deaths of two workers, Keith Moncrieff and Sean McCue. Prior to the explosion Mr Campbell had informed Shell senior management that a safety audit he led had revealed a Touch F*** All safety culture on the Brent Bravo platform and that safety records had been routinely falsified. Shell management’s failure to take appropriate remedial action led to the subsequent explosion.
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