Royal Dutch Shell Plc .com Rotating Header Image

Groningen Earthquakes

Oil Giants Shell and Exxon Dump Groningen Like a Bad Date

Nov 16th, 2024
by John Donovan.
Comments are off for this post

Posted by John Donovan: 16 November 2024

In yet another move that screams “corporate villainy,” Shell and its BFF ExxonMobil, under their joint venture NAM, have officially noped out of their responsibility to help Groningen recover from decades of destruction. You know, the region they gleefully exploited for gas, leaving behind a legacy of earthquakes, shattered homes, and residents who probably Google “how to stop tectonic betrayal” every other week.

The Dutch “Debt of Honour” They’d Rather Forget 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’s Earthquake-Inducing Gas Field Shuts Down, and Now the Netherlands Is Crying About Productivity?

Oct 17th, 2024
by John Donovan.
Comments are off for this post

17 Oct 2024

Oh, poor Netherlands, it seems like shutting down a gas field that was literally causing earthquakes has finally caught up with them. Who could’ve seen this coming? Groningen, the gas field operated by the environmental saints at Shell and ExxonMobil (under the cutesy name NAM, because nothing says trust us like an acronym), was pumping gas and shaking houses for 60 years. But when the earthquakes got too hard to ignore, the Dutch government dared to prioritize people’s safety over profits. The nerve, right? 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 and ExxonMobil Throw Tantrum Over Dutch Gas Field Closure

Oct 11th, 2024
by John Donovan.
Comments are off for this post

Shell and ExxonMobil Throw Tantrum Over Dutch Gas Field Closure, Because Destroying Homes and Causing Earthquakes Just Isn’t Profitable Enough

In the latest episode of “Oil Giants Throw a Fit,” Shell and ExxonMobil, ever the champions of corporate compassion, are up in arms about—wait for it—the Dutch government having the audacity to shut down the gas field that’s been wrecking homes and sparking earthquakes. Yes, the Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij (NAM), the dynamic duo’s beloved 50/50 joint venture, is finally winding down after a humble 60 years of profiting from the Groningen gas field, the literal ground zero of Dutch seismic misery. And now, these poor multi-billion-dollar corporations are crying foul because they won’t be able to squeeze out every last drop of profit before their time is up. 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 Offloads More Dirty Business: Tenaz Energy Buys Dutch Offshore Assets for $180 Million

Jul 18th, 2024
by John Donovan.
Comments are off for this post

Posted by John Donovan: 18 July 2024

In a move that’s as surprising as rain in the Netherlands, Shell and ExxonMobil, the environmental knights in shining armor, have decided to pawn off their offshore assets in the Dutch North Sea to Canada’s Tenaz Energy. For the low, low price of €165 million ($180.33 million), Tenaz Energy gets to inherit all the shiny shares of NAM Offshore B.V., a joint venture that also involves the Dutch government.

NAM operates the infamous Groningen gas field in the Netherlands. But wait, there’s more! This sweetheart deal, expected to close by mid-2025, includes all of NAM’s offshore exploration and production businesses, the pipeline infrastructure, and the onshore processing facilities—just not the assets in the Ameland area. Apparently, even Shell has to hold onto something. 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 Left Sputtering as Netherlands Closes Groningen Gas Field for Good

Apr 17th, 2024
by John Donovan.
Comments are off for this post

Posted by John Donovan: 17 April 2024

Well, well, well, looks like the Netherlands is finally saying “buh-bye” to the Groningen gas field, leaving Shell scratching its head and counting its losses.

Yep, you heard it right. The Dutch Senate has slammed the door shut on Groningen, putting an end to decades of gas extraction in the region. No more tapping into Mother Earth for those sweet, sweet fossil fuels.

Why, you ask? Oh, just a little thing called seismic risks. Apparently, all that drilling was causing a bit of a ruckus underground, leading to earthquakes that made buildings shake like a leaf in a hurricane. 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.

Dutch Senate Hits Snooze Button on Closing Groningen Gas Field

Apr 7th, 2024
by John Donovan.
Comments are off for this post

Posted by John Donovan: 7 April 2024

In a move that screams “procrastination at its finest,” the Dutch Senate has pushed back the vote on permanently shutting down the Groningen gas field, citing concerns over the country’s energy security. Because who needs timely decisions when you can kick the can down the road, right?

Originally slated for closure on October 1, 2023, and then extended to this October, the Groningen gas field was supposed to bid farewell to its gas-pumping days. But alas, the specter of earthquakes and energy insecurity looms large, prompting the government to consider keeping the field operational just in case winter throws a chilly tantrum. 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.

Dutch Government Reluctantly Flicks On Groningen’s ‘Pilot Light’ Amid Chilly Weather

Jan 10th, 2024
by John Donovan.
Comments are off for this post

This backtrack comes after they boldly declared they would end Groningen’s production last October, winding it down over the years because of the pesky earthquakes. But now, they’re exercising their ‘just in case’ option, like someone keeping an ex’s number ‘just for emergencies.’

Posted by John Donovan 10 Jan 24

In a move that screams ‘last resort,’ the Dutch government, like a reluctant parent turning on the night light for a scared child, has decided to fire up the ‘pilot light’ at the Groningen gas field. This decision comes amidst the impending cold snap, reminding everyone that sometimes, even governments have to go back on their word.

NAM (Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij), the prodigal child of Shell and Exxon and operator of the Groningen gas field, has a bit of a shaky history, quite literally. This gas field is infamous for its earthquakes, which have been more than just a minor inconvenience for the locals. Picture this: a 3.6 magnitude earthquake back in 2012 near Huizinge, which residents felt more intensely than their morning coffee. No wonder the Dutch cabinet, in a moment of environmental awakening, announced the field’s closure in 2018. 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 and Exxon’s Symphony of Denial and Delay: Groningen Gas Field Closure Confirmed

Sep 24th, 2023
by John Donovan.
Comments are off for this post

…the province of Groningen has endured over a thousand earthquakes in the last couple of decades, while the Dutch government and our beloved Shell and Exxon raked in a mere €360 billion.

Posted by John Donovan 24 Sept 2023

In a stunning display of corporate responsibility and government foresight, the Dutch government, along with energy giants Shell and Exxon Mobil, has finally decided to end the Groningen gas field. But, of course, it’s only after years of ignoring the pesky little problem of earthquakes and building damage.

A mere seven months ago, a parliamentary inquiry dared to suggest that the Dutch government and the dynamic Shell-Exxon duo had been a bit too negligent in their gas production escapades. Apparently, they didn’t quite grasp the notion that drilling for gas might have some, shall we say, side effects on the residents of Groningen. How adorable! 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.

Groningen Gas Field: Shell and Exxon Mobil’s Monument to Greed and Disregard for Health Risks

Jul 5th, 2023
by John Donovan.
Comments are off for this post

Posted by John Donovan July 5, 2023

The Groningen gas field, a behemoth boasting a mind-boggling 2.8 billion cubic meters, serves as a glorious testament to the insatiable greed of Shell and Exxon Mobil, the illustrious partners responsible for its management. With their joint venture company NAM overseeing extraction operations for over six decades, these oil giants have accumulated immense profits while leaving behind a trail of devastation and despair.

The State Supervision of Mines (SodM) has called for the complete closure of the Groningen gas field as early as this fall, challenging the arbitrary deadline of October 1, 2024. It appears that the painfully slow progress in reinforcing infrastructure and compensating for earthquake damage has had a noticeable impact on the health of residents in the quake-stricken area. State Secretary Hans Vijlbrief, tasked with overseeing mining affairs, must urgently address these concerns and put an end to the uncertainty that plagues the region, as per the authority’s advice. 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’s Reluctant Closure of Europe’s Largest Gas Field to “Solve” Decades of Inconvenience for Groningen Residents

Jun 28th, 2023
by John Donovan.
Comments are off for this post

The people of Groningen have faced unrelenting earthquakes for decades, but don’t get too excited—the earthquakes will continue for years to come.

Posted by John Donovan: 28 June 2023

In a remarkable act of goodwill and empathy, Shell, the renowned oil giant, has finally succumbed to the incessant pleas of the long-suffering people of Groningen and decided to halt gas extraction from the Groningen gas field. The Dutch government, displaying its unwavering commitment to the welfare of its citizens, announced that the extraction will come to an end on October 1 after a staggering 60 years of operation. Of course, the wells won’t be immediately shut down; they will remain open for another year, just in case the possibility of a freezing winter or the Ukrainian conflict demands a sudden resurgence in gas extraction. 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.

The Groningen Scandal: Shell and its partners, unleashed devastating Earthquakes in Pursuit of Profits

Jun 10th, 2023
by John Donovan.
Comments are off for this post

The seismic activity caused by this relentless extraction has led to the destruction of over 85,000 homes, leaving countless families displaced and their lives shattered.

Posted 10 June 2023 by John Donovan

The Groningen gasfield, boasting a colossal 2.8 billion cubic meters, stands as a testament to the insatiable greed of Shell and Exxon Mobil, the companies jointly responsible for its management. With the extraction operations by their joint venture company NAM spanning over 60 years, these oil giants have raked in huge profits, leaving a trail of destruction and misery in their wake.

In a stunning display of disregard for human safety and the environment, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte now faces mounting calls for his resignation as evidence emerges of his government’s decision for NAM to proceed with gas extraction in the northern Netherlands, fully aware that it would result in devastating earthquakes.

Despite mounting evidence of the cataclysmic consequences, Rutte’s government shamelessly continued to exploit the gasfield, leaving the people of the region to suffer the consequences. The seismic activity caused by this relentless extraction has led to the destruction of over 85,000 homes, leaving countless families displaced and their lives shattered.

Even in the face of overwhelming evidence and pleas from experts, Rutte stubbornly defended his government’s actions. It was only in 2018, when a monstrous earthquake measuring 3.6 on the Richter scale struck the town of Huizinge, that Rutte finally acknowledged the magnitude of the problem. But his belated realization does little to absolve him of the years of lies and disregard for the rights and safety of the people of Groningen. 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: Gas field in Groningen must be completely closed this year, in light of earthquakes

Mar 27th, 2023
by John Donovan.
Comments are off for this post

NL TIMES

Shell: Gas field in Groningen must be completely closed this year, in light of earthquakes

SUNDAY, 26 MARCH 2023 

The gas field in Groningen must be completely closed this year, said the CEO of Shell Netherlands, Marjan van Loon. Currently, the gas field is still supplying minimal amounts of gas to keep the wells usable, but she doesn’t think that’s necessary. “It can and must be done, so the field has to be closed,” Van Loon said on the TV program WNL Op Zondag. 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.

Damning report slams state, oil companies for Groningen gas failures

Feb 25th, 2023
by John Donovan.
Comments are off for this post

DutchNews.nl

Damning report slams state, oil companies for Groningen gas failures

February 24, 2023 – By Robin Pascoe

The interests of the people of Groningen were systematically ignored by both the government and oil companies, and making money remained the dominant concern when natural gas extraction started causing earthquakes, according to the parliamentary commission set up to investigate.

The worlds of those making the decisions and the locals were ‘miles apart’, commission chief Tom van der Lee said at the presentation of the report into the problems, which has taken two years and hundreds of interviews to complete.

Gas extraction has become an ‘unprecedented system failure’ and both the public and private sector have failed in their duties, Van der Lee said.

Ministers were not properly informed and that meant that MPs could not fulfill their role as guardians of the public interest. The damage, both material and mental, suffered by locals was consistently underestimated and the maximalisation of profit was the guiding force. 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.

Dutch gov’t, Shell and Exxon ignored Groningen risks for years, inquiry finds

Feb 25th, 2023
by John Donovan.
Comments are off for this post

“Gas extraction in Groningen was so successful and lucrative for the Dutch government, Shell and Exxon Mobil that they hardly took any notion of the long-term risks and the ever-clearer signs of the detrimental effects for the people in Groningen…” 

REUTERS

Dutch gov’t, Shell and Exxon ignored Groningen risks for years, inquiry finds

AMSTERDAM, Feb 24 (Reuters) – The Dutch government and energy companies Shell (SHEL.L) and Exxon Mobil (XOM.N) ignored the risks of gas production in Groningen for years, to the detriment of people living in the province, a parliamentary inquiry concluded on Friday.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte and others involved “gravely underestimated” the urgency of the problems in Groningen, said the committee set up to investigate the decades of lucrative gas extraction that caused tremors damaging thousands of houses and buildings in the region.

The massive Groningen field is operated by Shell and Exxon joint venture NAM and was one of Europe’s major suppliers of natural gas for decades.

“These are hard and painful conclusions,” Rutte told a news conference. “They make clear there is a lot to do to help the region and to hopefully restore trust.”

The government will take time provide a full response to the report, he said without indicating how long that would take.

A statement from NAM director Johan Atema said: “It is clear that we need to have a better eye for the society in which we work. It is up to us to show that we as a company have learned from this.” 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.

UPDATE 1-Dutch gov’t, Shell and Exxon ignored Groningen risks for years, inquiry finds

Feb 24th, 2023
by John Donovan.
Comments are off for this post

UPDATE 1-Dutch gov’t, Shell and Exxon ignored Groningen risks for years, inquiry finds

Reuters ·2-min read (Adds responses from Prime Minister and NAM)

AMSTERDAM, Feb 24 (Reuters) – The Dutch government and energy companies Shell and Exxon Mobil ignored the risks of gas production in Groningen for years, to the detriment of people living in the province, a parliamentary inquiry concluded on Friday.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte and others involved “gravely underestimated” the urgency of the problems in Groningen, said the committee set up to investigate the decades of lucrative gas extraction that caused tremors damaging thousands of houses and buildings in the region. 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.

Netherlands To Shut Down Europe’s Largest Gas Field

Jan 24th, 2023
by John Donovan.
Comments are off for this post

OILPRICE.COM

Netherlands To Shut Down Europe’s Largest Gas Field

By Irina Slav – Jan 23, 2023, 7:30 AM CST

The Dutch government plans to close the Groningen gas field this year despite Europe’s precarious supply position. Groningen is the largest gas field in Europe.

The field is dangerous, a government official from the Hague told the Financial Times, and the government has no plans to boost production from it.

“We won’t open up more because of the safety issues,” Hans Vijbrief told the FT. “It is politically totally unviable. But apart from that, I’m not going to do it because it means that you increase the chances of earthquakes, which I don’t want to be responsible for.” 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.
← Earlier Posts