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May, 2012:

Motiva expansion cost ‘in range of’ $10 billion: Saudi Aramco CEO

Reuters: Motiva expansion cost “in range of” $10 billion: Saudi Aramco CEO

PORT ARTHUR, Texas | Thu May 31, 2012 2:37pm EDT

(Reuters) – Saudi Aramco SDABO.UL Chief Executive Khalid Al-Falih said the total cost of expanding the Motiva Enterprises MOTIV.UL Port Arthur, Texas, refinery to 600,000 barrels per day (bpd) was “in the range of” $10 billion, double its original estimate.

The Port Arthur refinery is the largest investment Saudi Aramco, which is a 50-50 partner with Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSa.L) in Motiva, has made outside the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Al-Falih told reporters on Thursday. 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.

Petroleum Development Oman Takes Steps To Resolve Strike

May 30, 2012, 11:51 p.m. ET

LONDON (Dow Jones)–Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSA)-led Petroleum Development Oman is taking steps to reach a speedy resolution to an industrial dispute with contracting staff that began last week, the company said in a statement Wednesday.

“Operations at Qarn Alam have started to resume and further talks are taking place at Fahud,” the company said, adding that the strike had resulted in a small reduction in oil production.

The company is currently working closely with the government, Royal Oman Police, contractors and other authorities in an effort to resolve the dispute that has caused significant disruption to the workforce. 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.

Brazil Seeks $496 Million From Shell, Cosan, BASF

By Adriana Brasileiro – May 31, 2012 1:10 AM GMT+0100

Brazilian prosecutors asked a court to order Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA) and Cosan SA Industria & Comercio’s joint venture Raizen and BASF SE (BAS) to pay 1 billion reais ($496 million) in compensation for workers who were allegedly sickened from work at a pesticide plant, according to a statement from the Labor Prosecutor’s office.

Prosecutors say the plant’s conditions caused severe health problems to workers employed at the facility in Paulinia, Brazil, from 1977 to 2002. The workers came into contact with substances such as aldrin, endrin and dieldrin, which can cause cancer and other diseases, according to the 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.

Brazil prosecutors seek payment from Shell, BASF

Brazilian prosecutors said Wednesday that they asked a court to force oil company Shell and the world’s largest chemical company, BASF, to immediately pay $500 million into a compensation fund for hundreds of workers who may have been contaminated at an agricultural chemicals plant.

Originally published Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at 12:57 PM

By MARCO SIBAJA

Associated Press

BRASILIA, Brazil —

Brazilian prosecutors said Wednesday that they asked a court to force oil company Shell and the world’s largest chemical company, BASF, to immediately pay $500 million into a compensation fund for hundreds of workers who may have been contaminated at an agricultural chemicals plant.

The companies were earlier ordered to pay that amount by two courts. But the case revolving around a plant in the city of Paulinia, 75 miles (120 kilometers) northwest of Sao Paulo, was appealed and is now before a higher court in Brasilia. 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.

Greenpeace vs. Shell: Alaska Judge Restricts Activists From Boarding Offshore Drilling Vessels

AP  |  Posted: 05/30/2012 11:28 am Updated: 05/30/2012 12:48 pm

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A federal judge has made it more difficult for representatives of Greenpeace USA to board Shell Oil’s drilling vessels.

In March, Judge Sharon Gleason in Anchorage ordered the group to stay a kilometer away from Shell Oil’s drilling ships destined for Arctic waters off Alaska’s northern coast. The restrictions applied to U.S. territorial waters up to 12 miles from shore.

On Tuesday, Gleason extended the restrictions to 200 miles offshore. Shell intends to drill 18 miles off the Beaufort Sea coast this summer, and 70 miles off the Chukchi coast. 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.

Why Environmentalists Should Support Oil Exploration In Alaska’s Arctic Waters

Why Environmentalists Should Support Oil Exploration In Alaska’s Arctic Waters

5/30/2012

Christopher Helman Christopher Helman, Forbes Staff This is a guest column by Bob Reiss. He is author of “The Eskimo and the Oil Man,” just published, for which he spent three years reporting with many trips to Alaska. Reiss has written for Smithsonian, Outside and Parade Magazines on the Arctic, and is the author of 18 books.

I never figured I’d end up siding with the oil company. When I started research on “The Eskimo and The Oil Man” – a book following the battle over offshore oil in the rapidly opening U.S. Arctic – in 2010, I saw no reason to change my mind. I’m green. I wrote a book blaming carbon emissions for global warming. I figured the oil company would turn out to be a bad guy.

Things didn’t turn out the way I thought.

As you read this the battle over Arctic oil heats up. Shell plans to send drill ships north this summer. The company has poured over $4 billion into buying undersea leases and preparation for work in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. Shell believes that up to 27 billion barrels of oil – three times as much as has been taken from the Gulf of Mexico in the last two decades – lies off northern Alaska, and claims that energy can be extracted safely, will cut foreign dependence and create thousands of jobs. 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 drops Bond Helicopters contract plans

30 May 2012

Oil giant Shell has abandoned plans to sign a major contract with Bond Offshore Helicopters, BBC Scotland has learned.

The oil firm said it was not able to achieve sufficient assurance about Bond’s operations.

Shell is conducting an ongoing review of its helicopter services contract across its North Sea operations.

Bond temporarily suspended helicopter flights after one of its Super Pumas ditched in the North Sea.

All 14 passengers and crew involved in the incident on 10 May were rescued. 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.

Does Hydrogen have a future in the world of energy?

FROM A CONTRIBUTOR

About two decades ago the US DoD ran some tests designed to test the efficacy of a propulsion system for shallow draft/shallow water vessels. These tests failed, and they failed miserably. However, there was a surprise that came out of these tests. The experimental propulsion system produce large amounts of gas – hydrogen and oxygen gas. In fact, so much gas was produced that it became an explosion hazard.

Why is this interesting? Well, it demonstrated (albeit accidentally) the feasibility of a ‘new’ method for the production of hydrogen gas. Today most hydrogen gas is produced from methane gas. 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.

LETTER SENT TO MR GARY THOMSON, SHELL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

Because of the royaldutchshellplc.com domain name, we receive job applications, business proposals, pension enquiries, even threats meant for Shell (as supplied today). We deal with all such matters as agreed with Mr Brandjes, sometimes corresponding with the parties on behalf of Shell, occasionally passing on correspondence to him.  We have been offered oil wells and coalmines.

LETTER SENT TO MR GARY THOMSON, SHELL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED ON 30 May 2012: FROM ALFRED AND JOHN DONOVAN

Dear Mr Thomson

Data Protection Act 1998 – Subject Access Request (SAR)

Thank you for your letter dated 14 May 2012.

Please find enclosed completed application forms together with cheques based on a fee of £10 per applicant, if that is appropriate.

The application is made on an annual basis in joint names; the formula requested by your former colleague Mr Richard Wiseman and agreed to by us. Mr Wiseman informed us that after his retirement as Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer of Royal Dutch Shell Plc., the Company Secretary and General Counsel Corporate, Mr Michiel Brandjes, would be our designated contact with Shell. This has been the case since Mr Wiseman’s departure. 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 reports fewer oil spills, but more bribes

FROM OUR ARCHIVES…

Shell staff or intermediaries paid or accepted 16 bribes last year, contravening company policy, the report said. That was double the number in 2003, and four times the reported number for 2002.

Gulf Times (Qatar): Shell reports fewer oil spills, but more bribes

30 May 2005

By Stephen Voss

LONDON: Royal Dutch/Shell Group, Europe’s second-largest oil company, reported fewer oil spills and worker deaths, no change in greenhouse gas emissions and an increase in bribes in an annual assessment of its corporate responsibility.

The company, which operates in 140 countries, spilled 6,600 tonnes of liquids in 2004, down from 6,700 tonnes in 2003. US offshore pipelines damaged by Hurricane Ivan spilled 1,500 tonnes alone, making it overshoot a global target of 6,100 tonnes. “The growth of energy companies in the decades ahead will depend on their ability to operate with integrity and to listen and respond to society’s expectations for their operations and products,’’ Shell Chief Executive Jeroen van der Veer said in a report published on Shell’s website. 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 mum on details of planned seismic surveys

Shell mum on details of planned seismic surveys

May 29, 2012 – 7:32pm By JOANN ALBERSTAT Business Reporter Shell says it plans to begin 3-D seismic surveys in Nova Scotia’s offshore next April.

The global energy giant includes the time frame in an expression of interest issued last week for an environmental consultant to work on the company’s nearly $1-billion exploration project here.

But the Calgary company wouldn’t elaborate Tuesday on its exploration plan, filed with the regulator May 17, beyond previous public statements.

“Shell has filed a high-level plan for the next three years for offshore Nova Scotia in which we would like to conduct seismic acquisition activities in 2013,” a Shell Canada spokesman said in an email. 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.

President of Royal Dutch Shell says BC LNG could be ‘pilot’ for federal streamlining

President of Royal Dutch Shell says BC LNG could be ‘pilot’ for federal streamlining

By Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press May 29, 2012

CALGARY – There is a “narrow window” of opportunity for Canada to take advantage of the lucrative global market for liquefied natural gas, the president of Royal Dutch Shell PLC said Tuesday.

Shell and three Asian partners plan to build a liquefied natural gas export terminal in Kitimat, B.C. that would connect Canada’s vast supplies with energy-hungry markets on the other side of the Pacific.

The Anglo-Dutch energy giant announced earlier this month it will have a 40 per cent stake in the project, called LNG Canada. PetroChina, Mitsubishi Corp. and Korea Gas Corp. will each hold a 20 per cent interest. No pricetag was disclosed. 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.

Canada must act fast or miss LNG window-Shell CEO

Tue May 29, 2012 6:58pm EDT

* Shell’s Voser says Canada can’t weather regulatory delay

* Supports Ottawa’s plans for streamlining

* Can add Athabasca oil sands volumes for under $50/bbl

By Jeffrey Jones

CALGARY, Alberta, May 29 (Reuters) – Canada only has until the end of this decade to build up its liquefied natural gas industry or face being overtaken by other countries looking to cash in on booming demand for the fuel throughout Asia, Royal Dutch Shell Plc’s chief executive said on Tuesday. 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.

9th Circuit gives final approval to Shell exploration plan

May 29, 2012 – 10:09 AM AKST

9th Circuit gives final approval to Shell exploration plan

Tim Bradner, Alaska Journal of Commerce

A federal appeals court upheld the government’s approval of an exploration plan filed by Shell to explore its outer continental shelf leases in the Arctic in 2012.

The unanimous May 25 decision was by a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Greenpeace, the Sierra Club, the Wilderness Society and two Alaskan Inupiat groups had appealed the approval of the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea drilling plans given by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management last August.

The challengers had claimed that Shell’s proposal for a well-capping stack and containment system in the event of an oil spill was incomplete and that it had failed to fully inform the government about its oil spill response plan. 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 sees low cost expansion in Canada’s oil sands

CALGARY, Alberta | Tue May 29, 2012 5:05pm EDT

May 29 (Reuters) – Peter Voser, chief executive of Royal Dutch Shell Plc said on Tuesday that the company expects to expand production from its 255,000 barrel per day Athabasca Oil Sands Project by as much as 90,000 bpd by the end of the decade.

Voser told reporters in Calgary that Shell plans a series of debottlenecking operations that will add new production at a cost of less than $50 per barrel.

He also warned that Canada has to become competitive in Asia’s liquefied natural gas market during the current decade. 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.

Forbes.com: S&P may still cut Shell Group entities

FROM OUR ARCHIVES…

Forbes.com: S&P may still cut Shell Group entities

Reuters, 05.28.04, 10:39 AM ET

Posted 29 May 04

(The following statement was released by the ratings agency)

NEW YORK, May 28 – Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services said today that, following the release of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies’ (Shell) audited 2003 annual report, its ‘AA+’ long-term ratings on Shell and the group’s fully owned subsidiaries Shell Oil Co., Shell Petroleum N.V., and Shell Petroleum Co., Ltd., remain on CreditWatch with negative implications, where they were placed on Jan. 9, 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.
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