The big international companies such as BP and ExxonMobil are struggling to find enough new oil to replace their exploited reserves year-on-year and Shell found itself on the end of a major fine for exaggerating its reserves report to the Securities & Exchange Commission in the US.

In the spring of 2003, more than a million people marched through the streets of cities across Europe and the U.S. to rail against U.S. plans to invade Iraq and oust Saddam Hussein. Amid the chants for peace was an angry accusation: the war was merely a grab by Western companies for Iraq’s vast oil reserves.

Nearly seven years on — and after more than 4,600 Americans and tens of thousands of Iraqis have been killed — Iraq’s natural resources are only now emerging as spoils of war. As U.S. troops prepare to withdraw from the country next year, some of the world’s biggest energy companies, among them ExxonMobil and Royal Dutch Shell, are racing to lock up multibillion-dollar deals with officials in Baghdad that will allow them to exploit the country’s giant oil fields. The deals will not only allow Big Oil to return to Iraq for the first time since Saddam nationalized the industry in 1972. By modernizing a production system wrecked by conflict and embargoes, Iraq’s exports could also get a huge boost, putting the country’s parlous economy on firmer footing and allowing Iraq to take its place as an oil power almost equal to Saudi Arabia. (Watch a video about the gas shortage in Iraq.) read more

From: John Donovan <john@shellnews.net>
Date: 28 November 2009 10:16:41 GMT
To: gavin.white@shell.com
Subject: Re: Data Protection Act 1998 – SAR

Dear Mr White.

Thank you for your email dated 27 November.

I note that you ignored my question about what, in Shell’s view, constitutes a “reasonable interval” between SAR applications from the same applicant. A response on that matter will be made after I receive the delivery of the promised information on or before 1st December i.e. by next Wednesday. read more

Published: Saturday November 28, 2009 MYT 3:31:00 PM

By STEPHEN THEN

MIRI: Employees of oil-giant Sarawak Shell are seeking Government help to stop an impending large-scale retrenchment exercise to be carried out by the oil and gas producer throughout this state.

The Sarawak Shell Staff Union, which represents 2,700 workers, submitted a memorandum of appeal on Saturday to the state government through Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam, pleading with the Government to intervene to save their jobs.

Union secretary Solomon Nayup and a delegation of top union officials met with Dr Chan at the Sarawak United People’s Party Miri headquarters here and appealed to Dr Chan to forward their plight to the higher state and Federal authorities. read more

AMSTERDAM, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Anglo-Dutch oil giant Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) (RDSb.L) expects next year to be difficult in terms of consumer demand though the worst may be past, its chief executive said at an investor conference.

By John Donovan

Just weeks ago, on 30 October, we published a leaked email from Andrew Manley, Shell Downsteam-One Programme Director, revealing the impact of the Vosification process, including delays on some important Shell IT projects. Manley acknowledged the consequential disappointment likely to flow from his announcement. Related Reuters article

Since then we have published articles from a Shell IT insider highly critical of some aspects of Shell IT operations…

GSAP/GPMR: THE MARCH OF THE DINOSAURS

IT OFFSHORING: AFTER THE GOLDRUSH read more

SHANGHAI (Dow Jones)--China has started its first joint development project in shale gas, in a bid to find alternative resources for the cleaner-burning fuel to meet the nation's rising demand.

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