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October, 2013:

Shell pulls back on Arctic drilling near Russia’s Sakhalin Island

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Alaska Dispatch: October 18, 2013

An environmental group opposed to drilling in the sub-Arctic says that Sakhalin Energy has pulled back on plans for two new oil drilling platforms off Sakhalin Island. Pacific Environment says Royal Dutch Shell and Gazprom decided not to move ahead with a new mobile platform in 2014 and delayed a decision on a permanent platform until 2017. Pacific Environment says that the platforms would threaten the survival of the Western Gray Whale, of which there are only about 150 alive. read more

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.

Shell train wreck in sight?

Screen Shot 2013-07-15 at 07.03.50TIME TO PUT ON THE HARD HATS?

Overall, Shell’s strategy now seems to involve stopping capex and unloading assets in something resembling a fire sale – perhaps to cover the losses in the US, perhaps because it sees a need to fight off a hostile takeover, or perhaps because of the potential liabilities if it is found to have been manipulating the oil price.

ARTICLE BY A SHELL RELATED SOURCE

John

The issue of the licence to operate the Corrib plant should be no more than a formality, but it seems that the EU has become involved in the matter. Giving approval to operate the plant prior to the environmental impact assessment is not very clever, as it implies that the EIA is a formality. On its own, this would be less significant but taken with the warning from the Norwegian government that Shell is in danger of being removed from their list of approved investments, the recent refusal by the UK government to agree to the planning approvals for Shell Centre, and the cancellation of the Chinese project suggests that something more serious is going on.
 
Of course it may be the potential liabilities associated with the EU price fixing investigation (and the EU has shown repeatedly that it is not beholden to Shell in the same way as the UK and Dutch governments) and it may also be the scale of the US shale gas and Arctic losses. The costs of these losses will fall partly on shareholders, but also to a large extent on the Dutch and UK  governments in the form of reduced tax receipts.
 
Shell (Voser) has admitted that its investments in unconventionals are not performing and will be sold – although Shell have acknowledged “impairments” of about $2bn this would represent less than 10% of the amount invested: it should be fairly obvious to anyone that after Voser’s comments a much larger loss should be anticipated. Added to the $5bn spent in Alaska, the losses are comparable in magnitude to BP’s losses on Macondo… The difference seems to be that the stock market (but presumably not sovereign wealth funds) does not realise that there is a train wreck coming, or is deluded by Shell’s maintenance of its share price by its continuous stock repurchases. Shell may actually have been operating at a loss for the past couple of years as a result of the Odum/Lawrence US projects.
 
Total has made no secret of its desire to break free from its franco-centric roots, and has announced that it will be moving some of its operations from Paris to London. Total also complained to the EU about the oil price issue, initiating the current investigation. Could a merger be on the horizon? Perhaps headquartered in London? There is space available! Normally any merger of this nature would involve disposal of some assets, and perhaps Corrib is now on the block along with the Nigerian assets – Chevron might also be interested, but with their ongoing problems in Ecuador and their own disposals in Nigeria, it should not be a surprise that they would not want to take on Shell’s Niger Delta assets.
 
Overall, Shell’s strategy now seems to involve stopping capex and unloading assets in something resembling a fire sale – perhaps to cover the losses in the US, perhaps because it sees a need to fight off a hostile takeover, or perhaps because of the potential liabilities if it is found to have been manipulating the oil price.
 
All of this is summed up quite well in the series of articles from the Daily Telegraph, together with your links at the end of the article. What a mess…. read more

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.

EPA confirms Shell can still use original Corrib emissions licence

The Environmental Protection Agency has confirmed that Shell E&P Ireland can fall back on the original emissions licence for the Corrib gas refinery, following this week’s quashing of a modified version of the permit in the Commercial Court.

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A section of the Corrib gas line at Aughoose, Co Mayo. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill

Lorna Siggins: Friday, October 18, 2013

The Environmental Protection Agency has confirmed that Shell E&P Ireland can fall back on the original emissions licence for the Corrib gas refinery, following this week’s quashing of a modified version of the permit in the Commercial Court.

The original licence was secured in late 2007 before new legislation on environmental impact assessments (EIA) was introduced, and expires in late 2014. read more

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.

Setback for the Shell Corrib gas pipeline

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Another setback for the Shell Corrib gas pipeline

Mayo Advertiser, October 18, 2013.

The Commercial Court on Tuesday granted an order quashing a revised licence which was issued for the Shell gas terminal in north Mayo.

The refinery site at Ballinaboy was granted a revised licence by the Environmental Protection Agency last June to construct a gas terminal, however it is now accepted that that there were defects in relation to how an environmental impact assessment (EIA) concerning the terminal development was carried out.

The EPA conceded in court that Martin Harrington, Doohoma, Ballina, was entitled to that order due to defects in the how the EIA concerning the terminal development was carried out. read more

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.

At least 40 in Canadian Shale gas protest

Screen Shot 2013-10-18 at 10.15.40At least 40 people were arrested after a protest at a shale gas development in the Canadian province of New Brunswick turned violent, say police, BBC News reported. A shot was fired, petrol bombs were tossed and police cars torched at the blockade near the town of Rexton. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said arrests were made for firearms violations, threats and intimidation.

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October 18, 2013 – 09:33 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – At least 40 people were arrested after a protest at a shale gas development in the Canadian province of New Brunswick turned violent, say police, BBC News reported.

A shot was fired, petrol bombs were tossed and police cars torched at the blockade near the town of Rexton.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said arrests were made for firearms violations, threats and intimidation.

Protesters have blockaded a staging area where an energy firm stores its equipment since 30 September. read more

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.

U.S. ‘over-fracked and over-drilled,’ Shell technology official says: Hype ‘dangerous’

The United States’ oil and gas industry has “over-fracked and overdrilled”, according to Matthias Bichsel, projects and technology director at Royal Dutch Shell Plc.

Screen Shot 2013-10-18 at 10.02.38 By Yadullah Hussain, Financial Post October 17, 2013 11:00 PMThe United States’ oil and gas industry has “over-fracked and overdrilled”, according to Matthias Bichsel, projects and technology director at Royal Dutch Shell Plc.

“The reservoirs don’t need that many wells. The reservoirs don’t need that many stages of fracks, because not all the pieces of the rocks are as good,” Mr. Bichsel said in a telephone interview from Vancouver last week, where he was speaking at a company event.

The United States is on course to become the world’s largest oil supplier, according to PIRA Energy Group, a New York-based energy consultancy.

“The U.S. shale liquids growth of 3.2 million barrels per day over the last four years has been nearly unparalleled in the history of world oil; only Saudi Arabia in 1970-74 raised its production faster,” PIRA said in a statement. read more

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.

Floating was only Browse option: Voser

Royal Dutch Shell chief executive Peter Voser has pushed back against criticism by West Australian premier Colin Barnett over plans to develop the Browse gasfields using floating LNG technology instead of building the project onshore...

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Royal Dutch Shell chief executive Peter Voser has pushed back against criticism by West Australian premier Colin Barnett over plans to develop the Browse gasfields using floating LNG technology instead of building the project onshore, according to The Australian.

Mr Barnett has been vocal in criticising Shell and Woodside Petroleum Ltd for planning to construct the project offshore as the onshore option would result in more investment and jobs for the state.

However, Mr Voser, in his first public comments on the spat, said the onshore option was never financially viable, leaving developers with little choice but to pursue the floating option if the project was to be constructed at all. read more

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.

Shell to Sea tender for oil and gas review

Screen Shot 2013-09-24 at 18.48.35“Corporations like Shell focus on what they call stakeholder buy-in, in layman’s terms this means cultivating relationships with key civil servants, political hacks, and PR teams persuading them to keep government policy tilted in favour of the industry – and not the citizen.”

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Mayo Advertiser, October 18, 2013.

Shell to Sea has submitted a tender application to the Department of Energy in response to Minister Pat Rabbitte’s call for expert advice to review the generous oil and gas terms that are currently on offer to oil and gas companies.

The Shell to Sea tender undertakes to “initiate the most thorough, far-reaching inquiry yet into the fiscal regime governing resource extraction in Ireland, taking all voices into consideration and evaluating all available data”. Shell to Sea stated that it would build on the work that had been published in its in-depth 44 page report entitled Liquid Assets, in which the 69 publicly known prospects and discoveries were analysed. This report showed that energy companies estimate the potential fields could contain 21 billion barrels of oil equivalent. Shell to Sea’s tender bid is free of charge as it feels that “assisting Ireland in getting an adequate return from its own oil and gas is payment enough”. read more

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.

Peter Voser: cheap shale gas is a myth

Screen Shot 2013-03-23 at 09.15.15Shale gas will not change energy pricing structures across the world, according to the chief executive of Shell

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Emily Gosden

By , in Geoje, South Korea: 8:30PM BST 16 Oct 2013

It is a “myth” that exports of cheap shale gas from America will cut gas prices in Europe and Asia, Peter Voser, chief executive of Royal Dutch Shell has warned.

America is sitting on a glut of shale gas that has seen prices plummet to as little as a third of UK prices. It is now in the process of developing export terminals where the gas will be cooled for shipping abroad as liquefied natural gas (LNG).

UK politicians have hailed the prospect of Britain importing cheap gas from the US as one solution to help consumers struggling with rising energy bills as domestic gas production dwindles. read more

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.

Today at Irish Police Headquarters in Dublin

Desmond Kane of OSSL at Irish Police Headquarters today, Thursday 17 October 2012… Still campaigning for Shell to pay for alcohol festive gifts (bribes) distributed by OSSL to thirsty Garda officers on Shell’s instructions.

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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.

Shell, Chevron Pay Millions To Settle Contamination Claims

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By Jeff Sistrunk

Law360, Los Angeles (October 16, 2013, 4:19 PM ET) — Shell Oil Co. and Chevron Corp. have agreed to pay $4.5 million and $1.1 million, respectively, to settle claims by the Crescenta Valley Water District that their gasoline contaminated the utility’s wells and nearby groundwater, according to court records.

U.S. District Judge Josephine L. Staton on…

ACCESS TO FULL ARTICLE SUBJECT TO SUBSCRIPTION

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.

SHELL RESERVES FRAUD

Shell’s reputation was destroyed in 2004 after FIVE consecutive cuts to its hydrocarbon reserves covering 55% of its total reserves.

US and UK financial regulators imposed $150 million in fines on Shell for securities fraud. Shell was also rocked by class action lawsuits.

Sir Philip Watts and Walter van de Vijver (whose headcut images appear courtesy of The Wall Street Journal), were among the Shell executives forced to resign.

MONTAGE OF MEDIA COVERAGE (CLICK LINK TO VIEW LARGE IMAGES OF NEWSPAPER ARTICLES)

SHELL RESERVES SECURITIES FRAUD UNFOLDS IN SIZZLING NEWS HEADLINES

Daily Telegraph: Shell drops ‘bombshell’ on reserves: 9 January 2004

The Times: How Shell blew a hole in a 100-year reputation: 10 January 2004

The West Australian: Investors howl for Shell’s blood: 12 January 2004

London Evening Standard: Shell bosses lied to the City: 19 April 2004

Houston Chronicle:‘Sick and tired about lying’ at Shell: 19 April 2004

Bloomberg: Shell Loses AAA Credit Rating: 19 April 2004

BBC News: Shell bosses ‘fooled the market’: 19 April 2004

The Guardian: Trail of emails reveals depths of deceit at the heart of Shell: 20 April 2004 read more

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.

Court ruling a setback for a project which has overrun on costs and time

Court ruling a setback for a project which has overrun on costs and time… at least nine years behind schedule… Work remains suspended on tunnelling this final section of pipeline…

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By Lorna Siggins: Wed, Oct 16, 2013

Shell E&P Ireland Ltd (SEPIL) has played down the significance of yesterday’s Commercial Court decision quashing an emissions licence for the Corrib gas terminal, but the ruling is a setback for the €3 billion project.

Were the project not at least nine years behind schedule, the setback would be far more significant.

However, the lead developer has already conceded that it could be early 2015 before gas is flowing commercially from the field – and that was before last month’s (sept) fatality during work on the final stages, when a German sub-contractor, Lars Wagner (26), lost his life. read more

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.

Shell loses licence to operate controversial Mayo gas terminal

Harrington had argued that the EPA failed to carry out a proper environmental impact assessment before granting the licence for Shell to operate the Mayo gas refinery and the Commercial Court found there were defects in the carrying out of the assessment.

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SHELL HAS LOST a licence to operate a gas terminal at Bellanaboy in Co Mayo after a court challenge by a local resident.

The licence had been issued by the Environmental Protection Agency in June of this year but today the Commercial Court conceded the case brought by Martin Harrington and rescinded the licence.

Harrington had argued that the EPA failed to carry out a proper environmental impact assessment before granting the licence for Shell to operate the Mayo gas refinery and the Commercial Court found there were defects in the carrying out of the assessment. read more

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.

South Africa Says Fracking Fluids Must Be Disclosed by Explorers

Royal Dutch Shell Plc and other explorers have applied for permits to explore the semi-desert Karoo region. South Africa, which in 2012 ended a ban on the practice known as fracking, estimates shale gas may generate 1 trillion rand ($100 billion) of sales in 30 years.

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South Africa proposed regulations for hydraulic fracturing that would require disclosure of chemicals used and meet standards set by the American Petroleum Institute, a year after lifting a moratorium on the technique.

“Equipment used in hydraulic fracturing operations must be fit for purpose and must meet relevant API standards,” the government said today on the website of its national gazette. “Fluids and their status as hazardous/non-hazardous substances” must be submitted as part of an impact assessment, it said. read more

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.

Corrib tunnel works still suspended

OVER five weeks after the tragic death of a Corrib gas tunnel worker, operations still have not restarted on the sub-sea tunnel. Twenty-six-year-old German national Lars Wagner sustained fatal injuries early on the morning of Sunday, September 8, when a compressed air-pipe attached to the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) exploded.

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Áine Ryan: Tuesday, 15 October 2013 11:48

OVER five weeks after the tragic death of a Corrib gas tunnel worker, operations still have not restarted on the sub-sea tunnel. The work entails digging 1.8km under Sruwaddacon Bay in order to complete the last section of the controversial pipeline and connect it with the refinery at Bellanaboy.

Twenty-six-year-old German national Lars Wagner sustained fatal injuries early on the morning of Sunday, September 8, when a compressed air-pipe attached to the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) exploded. Mr Wagner was a mechanical fitter attached to the maintenance support crew for Herrnknecht, the German sub-contractor that built the TBM, christened ‘Fionnuala’ by Shell E&P. read more

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.
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