Note young Ben made £4m last week selling shares, not bad is it?
Do you think he is worried? Maybe Prelude will be seen as a dud, a misplaced adventure. Doubt it, but when the CEO sells shares makes you think, does it not?
In the 90s and up to 2004 carrying on Audits on Woodside Energy offshore installations on behalf of SIEP I was made aware that Woodside along with other operators held the then Regulator in low regard. They were not enough of them, underfunded and considered not competent and also because of this did not have the authority and respect of the Industry.
A forward looking COO of Woodside had the revolutionary idea of involving Regulators in his Audit process and requested I also discuss my findings etc with them. Now the old Regulatory organisation has been redesigned with more resources, a wider brief, and much more support it appears from state and national government.
Bogus Group has made both a succinct but most meaningful contribution.
If as covered on their blog the operator is considered Not Yet Competent to understand his own operational risks by a rejuvenated, well resourced, self confident, and authoritative Regulator, and that finding seems to be accepted by Shell Australia, then we begin to understand better how the events of 2nd December developed
When the regulator determines that an operator does not have sufficient understanding of the risks of the Prelude facility power systems, including failure of mechanisms, interdependencies, and recovery, alarm bells should be ringing.
Following yet another Prelude safety issue, I wonder if ‘mortification’ is in Rob Jager’s’ vocabulary, after his legacy idiotic statements (August’19 blog). Or does he just develop amnesia as he moves through the executive revolving door to his next role, where he can continue to utter Hans Christian Andersen like proclamations.
As a very concerned South African citizen I wish to point out that Shell is supposed to respect people and have ethics.
You are going against the wishes of many South African citizens with this proposed exploration.
Citizens have stood together and have brought two court cases against Shell, the first one was not successful and we are awaiting the decision on the second case.
We appeal to Shell HO to take notice of our concerns and cease with this exploration.
I think this site is loosing its purpose. The next batch of Shell reorg has removed most of the people who would be willing to post comments. Shell is just lost – thinking its green when its about 0.5% green…
I really like my local Shell Gas Station, they have always been very helpful, so I am sad that we can no longer go there.
Our family will be BOYCOTTING SHELL in the USA to STOP Seismic Testing on the South African Coast to protect Marine Life.
#9Cambo: Future of North Sea Oil on Dec 4th, 2021 at 14:31
The oil will not go anywhere. Leave it there until Britain has a generation of inhabitants that appreciate it. Meanwhile the present numpty generation can cope with windmill energy and 51’N solar.
David Tallboys
Fortunately the Japanese have seen sense and are encouraging new oil and gas projects:
Government officials have been quietly urging trading houses, refiners and utilities to slow down their move away from fossil fuels, and even encouraging new investments in oil-and-gas projects.
Robin Beckett
Shell won’t care too much, they have exploration and new developments going on worldwide, as do the other big oil and gas companies. Gas/petrol was $2.76 a gallon in Texas yesterday, that’s 15c down on earlier in the week.
colin whyte
Am I missing something here? Wasn’t Scotland’s financial state based on oil/gas receipts during their last independence referendum? I’m to suspect that Krankie now realises independence is a no go so is doing her utmost to trash the Nation. Nice to be able to turn down a thousand jobs as well.
R Morley
Unless we have zero requirement for oil and gas we have two options:
1) Exploit UK national resources and extract it ourselves
2) Pay another country and import it.
It is astonishing/depressing that UK Plc is having its energy policy dictated by a group of juvenile eco extremists.
Stuart Robertson
Few of these green eco nuts were alive or old enough to remember when in the early 1970’s when OPEC put our economy into a tailspin and we started to explore for our own resources. Now thanks to meaningless virtue signally we are about to become even more dependent on foreign powers to keep us warm and our way of life alive. I say meaningless because industry is already working towards transition from fossil fuels but it can’t happen by tomorrow afternoon and meanwhile our friends in Russia and Mid East will be rubbing their hands in glee at our naivety.
Len RMaC
Green activism is a cancer that will erode this country’s competitiveness and our standards of living. Somehow, it needs cutting out before it’s damage has gone too far.
graeme scott
We don’t develop national resources, we don’t develop our infrastructure to cope , we import resources from Qatar and yet we have shale gas in North Yorkshire that will meet our needs for 50 years
John Condon
The ecowarriors use ICE cars possibly Diesel. They probably have gas central heating and ovens. It’s OK according to them to import coal, oil and gas to power these – but we must stop producing fossil fuels ourselves?!?!?! They seem oblivious to the additional transportation costs associated with importation.. They seem oblivious to the strategic risk of trusting Putin and OPEC to maintain supplies and prices. They have essentially put the cart before the horse. FIRST STOP IMPORTS and when coal, oil and gas are no longer needed for fuel and raw materials such as plastic THEN STOP INDIGENOUS SUPPLIES. This is so obvious how come they can’t see it?!?!?!
Clitherow Kid
It will go ahead but with lower public profile investors. Recent projects have seen a slew of equity partners with unrecognised names. The wider picture though is the message it sends to the highly skilled and well paid UK workers in the sector. They represent the jobs that we need to retain, and could be deployed in the urgently needed new nuclear plant developments. Instead it looks like a lot will be relocating to the middle east to be replaced here with what? More Deliveroo cyclists?.
Ogden Nash
Could somebody at the DT please commission a simple piece of research and write an article to show the requirements for electricity should the Government plans come into being – namely that all cars and all domestic heating is converted over to electric. So something like ….. No’ of cars is the UK x average mileage x no’ of KWh per mile = total KWh required for transport. ( you could even make it optimistic and assume everyone converts to a Nissan Leaf – no more Chelsea Tractors ) Then a similar calculation for homes … No’ of homes x average KWh used per year = Total KWh.
Add these together and divide by one of the outputs of a major Nuclear rector, This will show how many more reactors we would need to supply these crazy ideas.
#10Oil giant has pulled out of the Cambo field amid lack of support from UK and Scottish governments on Dec 3rd, 2021 at 13:37
Let me correct that headline for you.”victory for Nicola Sturgeon, Saudi Arabia and Russia as Shell walks away…” Fixed it for you.
J Thomas
Oh no! We are going to have to send more charity payments to Scotland under the Barnett formula! Additionally, if no one drills for gas and oil two things will happen. Many of us will freeze to death and the price of oil and gas will zoom upwards to include what I call G.T.T. The Greta Thunberg Tax!
Kelland Hutchence
Well done Shell! At least the oil and gas will still be there to be exploited when all this fake climate crisis is revealed for what it really is.
Ian Mclaren
If that’s a victory? I’d hate to see what one of her defeats looks like.
Dale Carmichael
I think we going to massively regret this.
The eco loons don’t care about the decent people this decision will effect.
James Hammett
These people are ridiculous. We are still going to use oil and all its by-products. This makes no positive difference to the country’s carbon output, it just means a little more of it will be from burning oil from other countries’ oil fields when we could have been drilling our own.
Scot Way
In 2014 gas and oil were the bedrock of an independent Scotland’s financial future. Her new stance is mere posturing and destructive towards future jobs and industry. Wind power ain’t gonna cut it. She’s like rudderless ship being tossed about at sea during a storm.
Echo Fish
Reply to Scot Way – view message
Especially if the plan is to sell the energy to the “hated” English. She may well find England finds other independent energy sources.
Steve Graham
It seems that the Scottish economy or jobs dont matter any more to Sturgeon’s SNP. While the UK push for a Zero Carbon economy, China are burning everything they can find the push their economy forwards. Mini countries like Scotland need to stop virtue signaling their Green smugness and realise their input is so minute that they are irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.
Andrew Pierce
Your headline describes this as “a victory”! How the hell can this be described as a victory? Anything which reduces our own self-sufficiency, and leaves us more reliant on importing a vital resource from countries who’s leaders seek to destroy us can only be described as a monumental own-goal!
Jiminy Cricket
Sturgeon only ‘opposed’ Cambo on the 16th November 2021. Before that she sat on the fence and blamed Boris. Then during Cop26 she realised her mistake and opposed it. Boris is the winner here – he knew that this would be an ‘own goal’ for Sturgeon and the SNP, now in league with the Scottish Green Party who also oppose the Scottish fishing industry. 10000 jobs lost to Scotland and much more. Environmental issues marooned in the in-tray for the Scottish Government- while power cables are still not fixed and people in Scotland are freezing. If that’s a win for Sturgeon I’d like to see her Financial Plan for her Independence Referendum.
If this had been the other way around, this article would have featured prominently in the main news page, rather than under the “Business” section. This is why people question the BBC’s impartiality..
(P.S. I voted remain)
No2EU: 10:54 15 Nov
to rl”
If this had been the other way around, this article would have featured prominently in the main news page, rather than under the “Business” section.This is why people question the BBC’s impartiality..(P.S. I voted remain)
” No2EU replied: And Brexit would be blamed.
Smile dont shout: 10:57 15 Nov
Can’t imagine what prompted this move:
“Earlier this year, a court in the Netherlands ruled that by 2030 Shell must cut its CO2 emissions by 45% compared to 2019 levels.” This only applies to the Netherlands
greenbird10 11:01 15 Nov
to Smile dont shout
”
Can’t imagine what prompted this move:”Earlier this year, a court in the Netherlands ruled that by 2030 Shell must cut its CO2 emissions by 45% compared to 2019 levels.”This only applies to the Netherlands
”
greenbird10 replied:
Think that’s all the article needed to say to explain the move.
U17881151: 10:48 15 Nov
The truth is corporations are concerned about EU bureaucratic interference.
We saw with AstraZenica that the EU will block trade if they believe it gives them an advantage.
Google and other tech companies are increasingly being fined billions to fund EU wages and pensions.
The EU is a bit anti business.
It would be better to just focus on trade and creating friendly partnerships.
Arcangel: 10:56 15 Nov
to U17881151
”
The truth is corporations are concerned about EU bureaucratic interference. We saw with AstraZenica that the EU will block trade if they believe it gives them an advantage. Google and other tech companies are increasingly being fined billions to fund EU wages and pensions. The EU is a bit anti business. It would be better to just focus on trade and creating friendly partnerships.
” Arcangel replied:
Agreed, but tbh I would rather we were stricter on companies like Shell given they are responsible for a large amount of the worlds pollution
All I can say is that I worked on the Rigs onshore and offshore with almost every major oil company in the world. And by far Shell was the best. The most Professional, Safest and I should add treated all the workers the best.
The worst BP.
ABOUT TIME! With the continued number of offshore cases, deaths in the office, and impacts on production, it’s a simple business decision. Expect a number of offshore folks will complain mightily, but not too different than the complaints for implementation of the life saving rules, flame retardant clothing, drug testing, etc…
#17COVID - Do the RIGHT THING! on Sep 10th, 2021 at 14:05
I am sure that the Shell big bosses today had a lot to process with respect to the vaccine requirements. Offshore GOM, about half of the Shell staff based offshore have not “self declared” their vaccination status, while over 95% of the office based staff have. The operations teams have openly commented about the “risk” that people will leave if Shell or USCG required vaccinations for offshore work. On the other side of the coin, shutting in production for a few days on a TLP due to lack of healthy control room operators would suggest that we can afford to find people who will take the shot. There are so many skilled production operators that have lost employment in the last three years… just up the pay and fill the vacancies! Come on Shell do the right thing and make the vaccine a requirement – the safety of the staff has always been stated as the highest value. Any claim that this is a diversity and inclusiveness issue is a completely false narrative. Its like comparing it to respect people who choose to drive without a seatbelt, work at heights without fall protection, or don’t wash their hands after using the toilet!
the 11 refined products terminals.
5 in the northeast most likely to be acquired by Buckeye partners, and the remaining 6 by Motiva. Before the end of the year!
Well, if you are going to steal my name… I will change it to the other Penn Chem nickname. I remember some of the folks over their running through lots of potential names for “Penn Chem” – PCP, Beaver Cracker , Monaca Cracker, Moon Cracker, Moon Chemical, Franklin, etc. Really its just one of the biggest failures in BvB’s many. (BG, Brazil, Prelude, LNG, etc.) next he will continue to sell the crown jewels for costume jewelry prices. At least the old dirty oil business is generating enough cash to keep the company standing with such terrible management decision making.
The recent allegations highlight that the inspectors in charge of assuring safety and environmental protection on large pipeline projects are usually paid by the pipeline builders themselves. Critics say that creates a conflict of interest, but pipeline industry officials compare the practice to quality control in other areas of manufacturing.
“The system isn’t set up to ensure experienced and accountable inspections,” said Shannon Smith of the FracTracker Alliance, a Pennsylvania-based energy watchdog group that has monitored Shell’s project.
#23Economic Growth = Environmental Recession on Jul 28th, 2021 at 13:02
You can be SURE of HELL, sorry missed an ‘s’ SHELL
#24Very poor upload speeds on Jul 24th, 2021 at 19:58
Unfortunately I was persuaded to switch to Shell Energy Broadband after a conversation with a staffer of USwitch, supposedly because download speeds were a little faster than PlusNet.
But what a bad decision! Upload speeds are truly terrible, and the download speeds struggle to get up to what they publicise. Its an indictment of USwitch advice that they failed to point out how much upload speeds can vary between providers and that you can be trading DOWN to a worse service.
Oh and I didn’t even mention that the router they provided has disabled ‘itself’ off wireless twice already, the system having to be ‘reset’ at great inconvenience.
Do the sane thing – don’t be tempted as I was to choose this provider.
Rather than fixing the problem, Shell ordered the whistleblowers off the project and the contractor fired the two inspectors. The couple’s allegations are contained in their whistleblower complaint filed with the Labor Department.
#27Shell Energy will rip you off!! on Jul 21st, 2021 at 22:32
If you want to be ripped off go to Shell Energy. I live in a one bed flat and they charged me £291 for 1 months electricity and sent me out a wrong bill for £1500 when it was only £800. Yes stress!
Oh i forgot i raised a complaint on 29th July of which no one got back to me so I called today to be offered £30 and 6 sorrys of so sorry mistakes happen.
The only saving grace was that the customer service rep was very good.
It is no surprise to read about the pipeline inspectors findings. Penn Chem has a checkered past with respect to negative findings in assurance and audit activities. Just dig into the earth works, water conduits, foundations, blasting damage, pressure vessel quality, etc. They have run off so many safety professional (and quality inspectors) until they found those who wouldn’t rock the boat and let the contractors “get on with it”. Not to mention the number who found opportunities elsewhere. Those left, are mostly happy to look the other way and collect the paycheck. All to make single use PE… BvB talks about the environment and safety. Can he walk it? Reshape demonstrates the strong commitment to eliminate independent S&E assurance activities, now that is a learner mindset twist on “inherent” safety!
#30Shell Penn Whistleblowers on Jul 16th, 2021 at 12:42
Two former pipeline inspectors say they were fired for reporting hazards on a volatile liquids pipeline to Royal Dutch Shell PLC’s massive new petrochemical plant northwest of Pittsburgh.
The inspectors, Frank Chamberlin and Susan D’Layne Carite, said they warned Shell managers and even federal regulators in 2019 that the anti-corrosion coating was defective on the company’s Falcon pipeline. That could increase the threat of corrosion, a leading cause of pipeline ruptures.
ON HOW TO REVAMP NIGERIA’S UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM OIL & GAS SECTOR
With recent reports that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved a whopping $1.5 billion to rehabilitate the epileptic Port Harcourt refinery, I consider it a national tragedy and a shame of a nation that Nigeria, despite its over fifty decades of oil and gas exploration and production activities, has been exporting its hugely produced crude oil and natural gas at commercial quantity, and then import ‘refined petroleum products’ at higher costs to satisfy domestic demands. The said move, according to the government, is to ensure that the obsolete Port-Harcourt refinery, which last benefitted from a Turn-Around Maintenance (TAM) work in 2000, comes back to life, while also supposedly contributing to the development of Nigeria’s oil sector.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
I have mentioned before how the contaminated produced water from Shell’s Western Delta Deep Marine gas fields, acquired during the takeover of BG Group, used to be tankered and dumped in the desert.Khaled Gad, Shell’s Onshore and Offshore Asset Manager in Egypt, should be able to answer the question as to what now happens to the produced water from Shell’s assets in Egypt.
Further to Bogus Group’s post, very little at BG Group was proven. The majority of their work was of low integrity and dissolved at the slightest scrutiny. This was to be expected with a ‘do as I say, not do as I do’ Line Management.
https://trinidadexpress.com/business/local/shell-takes-biggest-hit/article_ca33aea4-73d5-11eb-8a6e-ff41b564d669.html
It’s surely been proven that BG proven reserves were not actually proven and that Shell did inherit a ‘pig in the poke’. The statement “Our preference is to deal with these arrangements, not in a clandestine way but there is a deeper confidentiality to it. We have these arrangements all over the world. We need to ensure that we maintain a degree of confidentiality but what I will confirm is that hundreds of millions of US dollars converts to billions of TT dollars and we have confirmed that Trinidad will benefit to billions,”beggars belief.
It is not clear why the once upon a time VP Developments, Brazil is now VP Subsurface Excellence, given that the Brazil Asset under her stewardship spent at least five years down a giant rabbit hole using a corrupt workflow that resulted in a significant overbooking of reserves.
Dave Freeman currently Chief Operating Officer at privately owned Tailwind Energy and previously Upstream Technical Director (COO Office) at BG Group should be able to answer your question.
REPLY BY JOHN:
Many thanks, I will pass that information on to the investigative contact.
Newly former Shell executive Sami Iskander has been appointed CEO to London-traded energy company Petrofac, which is facing corruption allegations in Italy and from the U.K.’s SFO. The question is whether Iskander, who was one of only four executives from British Gas retained by Shell when the two merged in 2015, brings any baggage with him?
Why Mr. Iskander and not someone else? Conversely, why would he want to join such an embattled company? Are there any indications that his time at BG or Shell was less than spotless in terms of possible corruption, to include cover-ups or just looking the other way? Does he have any hidden ties with Petrofac or its outgoing CEO Ayman Asfari?
In general, what kind of a reputation does this man have in the London energy business community?
The revolving door is still in motion. Links to Robey Warshaw, BG Group advisor on Shell deal, links to the “Notting Hill Set”, links to politicians, links to the authoress of “The Gatekeeper”, links to Brunswick, Shell/BG Group PR company, links to BlackRock….and others.
The long overdue structural reorganisation at Shell is rapidly approaching. No better place to start than within the Brazil Asset which has been propped-up for over ten years now by the same BG Group sycophants who have a proven track record of overbooking reserves on the basis of flawed functionall approved technical workflows. These individuals are still clinging desperately to their positions five years after the takeover of BG Group by Shell. Can it be that Shell cannot afford to move them on lest their poor work and lies be revealed? Get rid of them, truth and transparency are now required if not demanded in the Brasil Asset!
#60PRELUDE WHITE ELEPHANT on Jan 11th, 2021 at 13:58
Shell has not revealed the cost of Prelude but analysts estimate the price tag has ballooned to as much as A$17bn ($13bn). The Anglo-Dutch company reported $9bn in impairment charges on its Australian gas assets in the second and third quarters of 2020.
The recent invasion of the US Capitol puts Trump’s visit to Shell’s Chemical plant in Pennsylvania in August 2019 in a completely different perspective. It’s now appropriate to state that Shell has provided a political platform and support in kind to POTUS. Supporting political activities, providing facilities for political rallies and bribing a senior government official are a violation of Shell’s own business principles and Code of Conduct. Various individuals have lodged complaints with the Shell global helpline alleging improper business conduct involving the RDS Chairman, the US Country Chair, US government relations and others. These have all been dismissed as “reporters expressing a political view”. Shell should re-open the case and seek appropriate consequence management against those involved. But I suspect the perpetrators are the so-called untouchables to whom the business principles and code of conduct are not applicable. Shame on the Head of BID for not having the guts to take this further.
In reply to Peter Voser.
REPLY FROM JOHN DONOVAN
If you have any evidence to support your allegations, please email it to me via the email address on our Contact Us page and I will give Shell the opportunity to comment before publishing it all.
Well “Fletcher” (aka “Escaped from C16Atraz”?) I no longer work in Shell but enjoy their lovely pension. So your crude comment fails to impress. As for Shell and its shareholders having made money from oil & gas I have absolutely now problems. Perhaps you and the likes of “Greta Thunderbirds are go” would prefer that we all lived in caves wearing loin cloths (made of course from animals that have died naturally) and walked everywhere?
Well “Escaped from C16Atraz” you have got your facts wrong. United are 5th with a game in hand – that’s hardly mid-table is it! I bet my friend MUSaint will feel equally annoyed. Saying that “Shell doesn’t care at all about climate change” is also an incorrect statement, akin to some of the waffle that Greenpeace, Extinction Rebellion and even David Attenborough make. I do however agree that it is a shame that more redundancies are on the way but in this Covid environment which company is free of this staffing issue (some of the UK supermarkets perhaps)? As a shareholder I am glad that the senior management is bottom line driven.
#68Escaped from C16Atraz on Dec 6th, 2020 at 22:26
There are many parallels to be drawn between Shell and the one unbeatable Manchester United. Both are now mid table. Weak manager, senior players who are arrogant and only play for money, and have got rid of their most hard working players. Shell better get used to mediocrity. It doesn’t care at all about climate change but Van Beurden will no doubt continue to sell more of the crown jewels to greenwash its reputation like the loony who heads BP.
If Prelude is planning to complete a swivel swap out or repair, it is at least 3 months of work. But that is for a typical NS FPSO, the massive Prelude unit is one of a kind. And no spares were manufactured with 2 production paths. (Operating one at temporary high rates could be done.) Based on the news reports it sounds like both production swivels have failed or have leakage into the secondary containment system. Possibly due to the delays in operation? But this is just one piece of the puzzle. Putting the entire upstream processing facility, gas conditioning, liquefaction, storage and export on one site is just asking for problems. You can not comply with NFPA 59A separation distances…
The revolving door continues to spin, BG Group / Shell ‘executive’ demonstrates cronyism is alive and flourishing. Yes, this was the COO that believed corporate projects could be controlled under (what was eventually validated to be flawed) the Value Assurance process, while he sampled corporate hospitality and champagne at Wimbledon.
Looking at the senior executive org charts revealed last week, seems there is not a lot of “Reshape” at that level… Looks like the worker bees will be sacrificed again…
Looks like Stacey Orlandi never stays long enough in one job for very long. I suppose long enough to be seen and then off to the next one. I wonder what she left behind for others to clear up? Neither did Walter or Malcolm and see where that got us.
The point I find difficult to swallow is her role as Refinery Manager. After two years in procurement in an office somewhere she spends a year as a production Manager and then become THE refinery manager of the Cherry Point Refinery, capable of refining 250k barrels a day plus converting Diesel from biomass etc, a large and complex plant.
Perhaps I guess she was one of a number of under-managers or if not perhaps she can convert water into wine.
Bogus Group, hopefully the Executives will be ‘executed’ and we will be saying ‘goodbye’ to these worthless, low integrity, sociopaths to whom probity is alien.
Does the statement “It is very painful to know that you will end up saying goodbye to quite a few good people. I know I, and many others in Shell, will be saying goodbye to people we know well and really like and who have great loyalty to the company” mean that executives will be saying goodbye to good people, or good people will be saying goodbye to executives?
USA USA USA. BG Group was an Internet Cafe and Cappuccino Lifestyle company that could not get its ducks lined up in a row for the simple reason that it didn’t know what a duck is. In consequence, its goose was cooked.
@Bonus Group… Is it dirty… air and water emissions? health and safety conditions? government permissions? facilitating commissions? facility decommissions? corruption suspicions? sycophant ambitions? accounting omissions?
that is all i have to say with respect to this petition…
(please read it to the beat of Lizzo for the full effect…)
‘Hiding behind NOVs for the dirty projects in Brazil and others.’ Quote USA USA USA. For ‘dirty projects in Brazil’ read ‘dirty tricks in Brazil’. This was the worst managed asset in BG Group, lurching from one lie to another and led by sociopaths.
On the subject of dirty projects and hiding behind NOVs, BG Group’s Western Delta Deep Marine (WDDM) gas fields in the Nile Delta used to produce 22,000+ BBL/Day of contaminated water which was tankered into the desert and dumped. How are Shell now disposing of that water now? It should be of interest to Greenpeace and to shareholders.
It is very clear to most who understand how Shell operates, that it will try to be all things to all locations. We see it clearly in the greenwashing in the EU. The race for Arctic drilling, this time in Russia. Clean natural gas, like Prelude and Crux – only no one comments on the CO2 content of these fields that is vented into the atmosphere. Hiding behind NOVs for the dirty projects in Brazil and others. Hiding behind “contractors” and “suppliers” to avoid reporting fatal accidents on the books (like Pakistan / China / Singapore Nigeria / etc.) . It just one big PR exercise. the culture is make money at any cost… The petition is just more deception, any response will be simple lip service and highlighting how well the company listens to stake holders, while it continues to focus on just make money…
petition. What a load of hot air and psycho-babble! You must have raised global temperatures by at least a couple of degrees through your post alone, not to mention the amount of Carbon Dioxide you have exhaled over your lifetime. But then because you are most likely Dutch, you think that just because Shell is listed as Royal Dutch Shell plc it is a Dutch company. Well it is not, it is a British Company listed on the UK Stock Exchange!
Are you aware that Shell is not the oil and gas producing company on the planet contributing to carbon emissions? See:
Your faith in Shell as the sole company to lead the way in the development of Renewables is remarkable. On the one hand you criticise them for polluting the atmosphere through Carbon Dioxide emissions, but on the other hand you think that they should lead the way through energy transition at the expense of their shareholders and investors.
The degree of ingratitude and hypocrisy expressed towards hydrocarbon producing companies such as Shell by so called Climate Change Activists, wearing synthetic fabrics, taking trains, planes and automobiles while living in centrally heated accommodation, is appalling. You do realise that without those companies you might not have survived birth, because your parents would have been living in a damp cave rubbing two sticks together while wearing animal skins? Like it or not hydrocarbons have enabled society to develop to where it is today and are a fundamental part of society. Hydrocarbons are not going away until they run out and they will become a lot more expensive before then.
Regardless of whether or not you believe in Climate Change and man’s contribution towards it, we all should be both seeking, and developing alternative forms of energy before the oil and gas run out and we return to living in caves. We should also be seeking to control all emissions and pollution, not just Carbon Dioxide. Those are the important points, not Climate Change. The Geological fossil record is littered with examples of past climate change. What next? Do we stop Continental Drift and Polar Wandering? Absurd.
That’s the trouble with these climate fanatics, they produce so much hot air they themselves heat up the planet. So many words when far less will suffice – people start falling asleep “petition” and don’t bother reading any key points. Shell and others are trying to respond to the issue and are key to the debate and the future targets. It’s not just left wing loonies that will solve this problem. By the way “petition” it’s been bloody cold here in the UK recently and this summer has not been a good one – a little bit more warmth is welcome as far as I’m concerned.
Tell Shell to take real action against climate change and not go to COP Paris
In a surprising turn of events, Shell’s board of executives has officially endorsed a SumOfUs-backed resolution committing the company to take action against climate change.
Still, Shell is lobbying UN representatives to block any kind of real climate solutions in the run-up to the UN climate talks in Paris this year.
We can’t let Shell’s stated commitment to fight climate change be mere greenwashing. If Shell’s executives are really serious about tackling climate change, then they have to stop meddling with the climate talks. And with Shell responding to our pressure for the first time, we’re in a real position to force them to act.
Ask Shell to stop blocking real climate change solutions at this year’s UN climate talks!
The UN negotiations are no place for fossil fuel lobbyists — they are where global leaders, scientists and activists meet annually and decide on real climate action. Last year’s talks in Peru collapsed in part because big polluters like Shell lobbied the UN climate committee and blocked resolutions simply because they affected their profit margins.
The stakes are very high at this year’s talks in Paris. World leaders could finally reach a climate deal that reduces carbon emissions across countries and industries, so fossil fuel companies should not be allowed to obstruct the talks. Nevertheless, big polluters have asked the UN climate committee for even more delegates and a much bigger say in the talks.
If Shell’s executives are real about climate change then it should stop meddling with UN climate negotiations.
Sign the petition asking Shell to take real steps to tackle climate change – pledge to keep your lobbyists away from the UN climate talks in Paris!
This shareholder resolution was partly brought by SumOfUs members who also hold shares in Shell. It commits Shell to reduce emissions, invest in renewable energy and remove bonus systems that promote climate-harming activities. This is an opportunity to pressure Shell to stop blocking real climate solutions and help save the planet.
It’s easy to see this as a cynical PR move by Shell — and it is that. But it also represents real, concrete commitments that Shell wouldn’t have made without being under pressure. It’s a small first step, but it’s real progress.
That’s why this is an opportunity to pressure Shell to do more. If we keep working, we can stop Shell from blocking real climate solutions and get the company out of official UN climate negotiations.
Big polluters like Shell offer lavish dinners, hold separate breakaway meetings with world leaders and negotiators, and host industry-sponsored pavilions during negotiations. All these tactics are designed to stop the UN climate committee from reaching a deal that puts the planet before profit.
We need real climate change solutions, and we need them now. 2014 was the hottest year on record, there is already serious water scarcity in the Global South and by the end of the century the earth is expected to warm by 4 or 5 degrees. Each degree is another death sentence for animals, ecosystems and our survival.
Now that Shell’s board claims to support real climate action, we have a unique opportunity to ensure that Shell sticks to its word and doesn’t send its army of lobbyists to meddle with the UN climate talks.
Tell Shell to get serious about its climate commitment and stay out of the Paris talks!
*********
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interesting but also for me very depressing. My sole concern re Prelude from the start was not that it technically would fail to adequately produce with an eventual return on huge capital invested, after all Shell has a well-deserved record of being technically ahead of the game re LNG process design, my concern was that in risk terms it was much more risky a project with regards to health and safety of employees than the overegged statements made during its early development by folks who were either incompetent to understand offshore installations residual risks or were purposefully misleading propagandists re the true risk levels.
Anyway, perhaps your definition of the project as a White Elephant will bear out, It would be difficult to wager otherwise, but I still have a diminishing hope that it will live up to its potential, but when………………………..?
From an Operations view point this recent extended stoppage must represent a world record for the restart of a hydrocarbon producing facility of any type after a power failure.
Details remain sparse as to the root cause of the total power outage. As this included the emergency power supplies from all sources begs the question were all these systems recovery interlocks “live tested”. In my experience there is always a great deal of reluctance to initiate a live shut down test with all overrides or inhibits of certain sections being prohibited. This is the only way to ensure all the sequential safety systems function as design and will expose any flaws or unexpected issues to be highlighted.
Beware for the current scam going around that is called Shell Alumni Network , its basically a load of old NL employees looking to fund their retirement with promises of green lands and pastures. The ‘Core Team’ is Dutch, the ‘Supervisory Board is Dutch ‘ the advisory panel is made up of maily NL employees, very little diversty despite claiming and using COVID as an excuse for non diversity ! Oh and on top of all that charges 99 Euros a year for the priviledge of listening to van der veer. I don’t know how they get away with using the Shell name unless of course they asked permssion from……yes you got it, The Hague. So roll up roll up, help bolster the NL retired staff pensions ! Oh and before you ask, its modus operandi is for profit thinly veiled in their ‘charter’. It will be interesting to see who gets paid if they publish acocunts. I had enough experience of over regulation and excessive control by the Royal Dutch part of Shell in my career to know a trap when I see it.
In a recent town hall, the current project director of the Pennsylvania tax dodge, suggested the construction was 60% complete? WTF? At least he is not to blame, he was saddled with the errors and over promises of AR, who landed a holding position as “VP HSE”, doing “TFA”, prior to a new position that seems also completely invented … and purposefulessness. Can’t we just move helpless & hopeless leaders out of the organization? Unless another senior leader is worried about his role in yet another profitless folly? Memories of prelude seem to come to mind as others have suggested. Or as someone else recently implied, at what point does the king’s new suit seem invisible to more than just the seamstress?
Geert Vermeulen (Ethics & Compliance Officer) posted an article on Linkedin about the Shell OPL 45 debacle and all that surrounds it.
This was a response to the article by Adam Bennett:
Geert, very easy to pass judgments without knowing full facts and in hindsight. Having previously led the business integrity department at Shell I can tell you things in Nigeria are never that clear cut. One thing I remain certain of is the moral compass of shells leadership.
Can’t be the same moral compass most of us are certain of.
No better place to start than in Shell’s Brazil Asset starting with the BG ‘Job for Life’ sycophants who have been associated with this asset for more than ten years. Start at the top with the Front End Development and Integrated Reservoir Modelling Manager and work down to the Technical Team Leads comprising sniggering Simons. Invite them all to a meeting entitled ‘Wrap-up’, make them an ‘Offer Without Prejudice’ and then constructively dismiss them by discussing their poor performance! A disgraceful asset, corrupt to the core!
About Dear Rob, he is hardly departing in a blaze of glory, his mission it seems is very much unaccomplished as he departs the scene.
Who will take over the poisoned chalice and get the show on the road?
In what seems a relatively short time Prelude has gone from being the expected Real Madrid of the engineering project world to a sort of Accrington Stanley, maybe being a bit unfair on the latter.
Guess the worst of times was the export of human excrement in paper bags from the installation when the lights went out and nothing on it worked ……..
#102Money in the pockets? on Jun 13th, 2020 at 16:04
“And 8% to 12% currently we don’t even make in our upstream business” BvB… That performance includes the huge over runs on Corrib, Penn Chem, Prelude, multiple other LNG projects, Alaska Fiasco, and many other (not to mention OPL 245). It is such an embarrassing comparison to ExxonMobil in projects like Liza, which is highly likely to exceed returns Shell is chasing as a utility. Brasil (or Mexico) have the capacity to deliver similar returns to Liza, if there was leadership and strategy for a long term development. What makes BvB so sure that Shell’s management and culture can exceed the returns of the existing players in the “new energies” this time? Maybe the job cuts should start at the top… and not the middle where there is some remaining talent left…
A recent comment posted here reminded me of an email I received some years ago. It is printed in italics below with one sentence deleted.
If you want some more dirt on Shell Oil, you need to go to the Inspector General’s Office, Defense Security Services, US Dept. of Defense. In 2006 DSS initiated a counter-intelligence operation and Shell USA was implicated as the primary ‘culprit’. The FBI had declined to take the case because they could not get an investigation through the US Attorney Generals office (Alberto Gonzalez) without fear of reprisal. The Houston office of DCIS (the law enforcement arm of the DoD IG’s office) had also tried to initiate an investigation but it was outside their purview.
Shell had been attempting to gain unlawful access to technical material that had been classified by the Navy Dept., Office of Naval Research in 2001. This material was the IP of a former employee. Shell was apparently trying to ‘muscle’ their way into gaining ownership of the IP material. This material was classified under DoE/DoD nuclear weapons classification authorities.
Do not contact me for further information. I will not respond. The above (alleged) conduct by Shell constitutes a capital crime under US law and there are no statutes of limitations regarding this conduct, for the company or the Shell officials involved. Because of the highly classified nature of the material Shell attempted (unsuccessfully) to gain access to the matter could well trigger a ‘diplomatic’ incident, and Shell plays ‘rough’.
I sent the information to the then top lawyer at Shell, who declined to comment. I contacted a senior official at a US Intelligence Agency. He confirmed that Shell was under investigation. I do not know the outcome, though I can guess.
Shell has friends within the US government to whom it turns for intelligence information.
For Mr.Bogus Group: I am a Shell pensioner and I can say we all know that the company is not what it used to be. Its future is not bright and the problem is bad management. When I left the company years ago I chatted with some VP’s and they all said the company was not what it used to be and wasn’t fun to work for any longer. They also said they would be doing what I was doing if they were 20 years younger. I leave Shell to its inevitable fate.
USA USA USA, in response to your points. Why was the assurance process broken? – because incompetent managers and executives didn’t understand that implementing an effective work process was more than a Power Point presentation.
Why did bullies just tick the box? – because nobody had the courage to challenge them, lest it impeded their prospects to further their own aims.
Why did they ignore anyone asking difficult questions? – because imperious managers and executives regarded those who challenged as nonconformists, who threatened their craving for dominance.
Penn Chem is pure folly. Wasn’t the business case tax incentives, using waste products from fracking, being close to customers, good neighbor cleaning up toxic waste, never mind the cost or the risks. But now the only reason to finish is for the tax advantages, and then sell it while the PE price remains low, in the hope that someone thinks they are getting a deal. Demonstration that the first mover risks can outweigh the opportunity… kind of like prelude, or being a power utility, or us wind 15 years ago … the assurance process is completely broken – bullies just tick the box, while ignoring anyone who asks difficult questions. Maybe we can get another TRUMP visit, and more chants of “USA USA USA”?
At the Annual General Meeting of Hurricane Energy plc held on 3rd of June, Ms Beverley Smith was elected as a Director of the Company with 99.85% of the votes in favour, 0.15% votes against.
Having previous experience as a VP and overseeing a hasty retreat from Algeria at the now defunct BG Group, will doubtless be valuable when exploring rock bottom and/or fractured basement on the Atlantic Margin!
Would this be the same managers and geologists that made the competent business development and exploration decision to develop the Knarr Field? A venture that failed to meet its potential, both in terms of daily production and field life. In fact, I recall the UK based BG Group General Manager for Europe was a geologist.
‘Also it is not possible to be a competent geologist in the oil and gas business without having a very good background education in both sedimentation and stratigraphy. Both topics go hand in hand. Furthermore, managers at both the middle level and senior level need to be well versed in this subject area in order to make competent business development and exploration decisions.’
These would be the same ‘job for life’, middle to senior level managers and competent geologists who at BG Group, for example, assured work at a cost of £200MM which later cost the company £2Bn because it was wrong (according to the Chief Operating Officer at the time), and also spent more than five years working in an asset following corrupt workflows?
From your post on this Blog, I see that your time at a ‘reputable university’ was well spent in learning how to be exuberant with punctuation.
I was reading your blog today and saw a reference to ‘sedimentology’ being a ‘useless degree’. I do not believe any reputable university offers such a degree. Sedimentology is a sub-discipline within the field of geology. Reputable universities do offer degrees in geology. It is possible to specialize in sedimentology I suppose, but you need to be enrolled in a geology program to do so. I know, I am a geologist, among other things.
Also it is not possible to be a competent geologist in the oil and gas business without having a very good background education in both sedimentation and stratigraphy. Both topics go hand in hand.
Furthermore, managers at both the middle level and senior level need to be well versed in this subject area in order to make competent business development and exploration decisions.
USA USA USA Hardly surprising is it. The company is overrun by sycophantic, grossly over paid, sniggering middle managers with numerous degrees in sedimentology, or some subject as equally useless, with little to no technical ability or technical background, who are dependent upon technical staff who likewise have little, to no, practical experience and who have only ever seen a rig laid up in the Firth of Forth in photographs, or when they went for a jolly with their wives for an outing one day. They spend their time documenting ‘Lessons Learned’ on fancy spreadsheets which are then filed in some obtuse filing system and they never learn the damn lessons!
Missed opportunities is not as bad as the botched opportunities. RDS has always claimed that there is limited capital and resources to exploit every opportunity. We all agree. But the fact that so many recent projects have failed to deliver production promises, that is more clearly a lack of management and leadership. Prelude? Penn Chem? Olympus? and the many others that have not delivered on schedule, cost or production. Then there are the projects that move forward with little to no assurance of these vital front end loading to verify that the promise is realistic. It is just more of the same – Bloat / Cut / Reorg and repeat…
Here’s a list of missed company-maker plays by Shell since 2000. The record of exploration performance is woeful and many of the responsible are still in leadership roles. Give up and turn to wind and solar indeed…
Figures are total play discovered and recoverable, at 100% basis;
Bogus Group, thank you for sharing the link. It sounds all too familiar, redolent of both BG Group and also the Shell reserves recategorisation debacle of the early 2000s. During any teleconference with BG’s offices in Houston what were conspicuous by their absence were employees, vast acres of empty desks in the background in a highly expensive building. It would be interesting to know how Shell have covered-up the financial consequences of BG’s mismanagement e.g. hectares of moose pasture acquired for shale gas development that never happened. There was good reason why BG Group delisted from the New York Stock Exchange, and that was because their global reserves would never have withstood scrutiny under SEC rules. One wonders what the auditors were doing?
Perhaps, Helge Lund was not Andrew Gould’s ‘Fall Guy’ after all and that he was complicit and therefore deserves little sympathy?
In 2007, Statoil (now Equinor) under Helge Lund, drives expansion to ‘a higher gear’. In 2014 he moves to BG Group, in 2015 he prepares BG Group for Shell takeover. This article reveals a toxic mix of murky dealings, ineptitude, mammoth salaries and bonuses and extravagant lifestyles (sound familiar?). The revolving door of organisational failure continues to spin. https://www.newsinenglish.no/2020/05/11/scandal-losses-in-us-haunt-equinor/
Hi John, looks like the Dutch Power Company Eneco helps a former Shell exec up the escalator. It is surprising to me that an IG heavy hitter thinks there are better opportunities elsewhere.
When your company general counsel authors a book “Practical Project Finance” on tendering, negotiation, financial structuring and management of infrastructure and energy projects, maybe the COO thought that corporate projects would run themselves, while he sampled corporate hospitality and champagne at Wimbledon.
Oh yes! and we have the Value Assurance process, but why worry about that when you can apply ‘back’- end loading.
It cannot be said with enough venom that BG Group worked hard at bringing its own demise. £200MM spent on assuring work which later cost the company £2Bn because it was wrong according to its Chief Operating Officer. The much cherished and poorly led Brasil asset with its ‘Sniggering Simons’ was the worst, forever propping up its parasitic position with lies, half truths and deeply flawed technical work flows. Now is a good time to remember that those people responsible for past errors in BG are now with Shell and are still fumbling their way around this asset. Time for them to move on!
People like Andrew Gould are perceived to have executive and leadership qualities, so was this slipshod, or an oversight?
Or is there another reason, is BG ‘Group’ really defunct? As a trading entity yes. Organisational weakness, the risk to the company and their shareholders was acknowledged and evasive action had to be taken.
Are there still outstanding issues that need to be resolved? This would not be in Shell’s remit, even though it involves some of the legal team inherited by them.
Mr Gould, clearly an avid reader of this Blog, has now amended his profile on the professional networking site LinkedIn to show that he is no longer a Board member of Saudi Aramco, but is now a Board member at Occidental Petroleum. Sadly, however, like most of his BG Group counterparts he did not check his profile thoroughly enough, because it shows that he is still (May 2012 – Present) Chairman of BG Group, a defunct oil and gas company.
Ex Shell Nigeria finance director, ex BG Group CFO and current Centrica CFO’s rise up the ‘escalator to stardom’ continues as he assumes role of interim chief executive. Worth keeping this company pursuits on the radar and its affiliation with other companies. One of who’s chief executive travelled the same escalator. https://theenergyst.com/ian-conn-exits-centrica-woe-corona/
Shell Brasil Announces Agreement with Ecopetrol
Source Press Release
Company Royal Dutch Shell, Ecopetrol
Tags Asset Deals, Deals, Upstream Activities
Story Focus Deals
Date October 21, 2019
Negotiation involves sale of 30% interest in the the Gato do Mato project
Shell Brasil Petroleo Ltda. (“Shell Brasil”) announces it has entered into an agreement with Ecopetrol for the sale of 30% interest in the the Gato do Mato project, a pre-salt gas-condensate discovery that covers two contiguous blocks: BM-S-54 and Sul de Gato do Mato.
Shell Brasil retains a 50% interest in Gato do Mato and continues as operator of both blocks, with consortium partners Ecopetrol (30%) and Total (20%).
“Shell Brasil has an exciting deep water portfolio with operated and non-operated positions that we are exploring, appraising, and developing. This transaction allows Shell Brasil to further optimize the portfolio. We look forward to progressing activities in the Gato do Mato blocks with our partners,” said Shell Brasil Country Chair André Araujo.
The deal is subject to regulatory approvals.
Let’s hope that the regulators don’t discover what Shell’s Brazil Unitization Team have been up to. The same group of ‘Shakespeare’s Monkeys’, previously employed by BG Group, have been working on the Brazil Asset for over ten years led by the same Front End Development and Integrated Reservoir Modelling Manager (who had been laughingly promoted to VP Developments to boost their status for the takeover by Shell).
They have woven a considerable web of lies and deceit, and by playing games and politics with Petrobras have failed to do any serious technical work on this Asset. After all as long as there is significant production, who gives a hoot about where it comes from!
Seriously though, it is about time the whole group were disbanded from their cozy ‘ring fenced’ workspace and introduced to the outside world.
Shareholders might wish to ask why these particular employees receive ‘special’ treatment and are isolated from the dreadful flexible workspace other employees have to endure.
Shell Utility came 29th out of 35 energy companies rated by 7,355 members of the public in the annual Which? energy supplier satisfaction survey – the biggest of its kind.
Customers may not be aware of the discrete business segments in the Shell company or that Shell Energy is a distinct entity. From the numerous responses, they just see a company incapable of dealing with problems, which leads to excessive frustration.
Maybe the solution is a single point contact for specific issues. As Sarah Franklin (ex BG Group chief counsel) noted in a previous publication that emotional intelligence was pivotal to success, maybe she could advise on how to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges and defuse conflict, with Shell customers.
Or is she too busy with complex safety and environmental issues on Prelude?
RECOMMENDED CASH AND SHARE OFFER FOR BG GROUP PLC BY ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC Feb 15, 2016 Royal Dutch Shell plc (“Shell”) is pleased to announce that the Scheme has become effective and that the entire issued ordinary share capital of BG Group plc (“BG”) is now owned by Shell. This follows the Court’s sanction of the Scheme at a hearing held on February 11, 2016 and the delivery of the Court Order to the Registrar of Companies today, February 15, 2016.
Are Rob Jager’s idiotic statements (August’19 blog #52) coming back to trouble him?
Another article in the Western Australian (23.05.19), “Shell Veteran, states the project is not driven by milestones or schedules, but by safety”, where Jager wants to methodically take his team through identifying and managing the risks towards Shell’s goal of zero incidents. However, this would appear to be in conflict with the CFO Jessica Uhl expectations of first cargo by the end of June of that year.
The article also notes he was a director of Air New Zealand and chaired its safety committee. The ex BG Group chief executive who also salivated his commitment to safety during his tenure, is now non-executive with Rolls Royce and chairman of the ethics and safety committee. Issues with poor durability of components in Rolls Royce Trent engines for Boeing 787 are now apparent and more recently the regulator has recently issued a Safety Order, for what would appear to be a separate issue.
Senior managers and executives may understand the commercial aspects of their business, but when found lacking in the technical aspects, they should be called to account, before they pass through the revolving door of opportunity and move on. Previous warning signs are conveniently forgotten, is this acceptable?
Rumour has it is that the problems are due to malfunctioning valves that are being replaced hence the intrusive entry into plant, a very unusual and unwelcome occurrence it seems causing the operators to make short cuts, begs the question If shortcuts are being taken elsewhere? if this type of behaviour is prevalent and not discouraged in one area it can be contagious, no idea what valves and where in the process but likely to be a factor in the under performance of the plant reference design outputs.
Having worked on LNG facilities and having seen the devastation of one going wrong, concerns posted on this blog about the risks posed with Prelude FLNG, were perfectly justified.
But ‘as one would expect’, Shell would have considered and accounted for these risks! How else could they justify “Goal Zero ambition is to achieve no harm and no leaks across all of our operations”? However, ‘as some would know’, when costs are escalating , talk is cheap.
Recent concerns raised by the Australian regulator that Shell has not ensured “best practice” for its isolation procedures on Prelude FLNG, must raise warning signs. But how can these concerns be warranted? In 2014 an article alluded to the role of Shell lawyers in collaboration with all aspects of the project, including safety regulation.
If you believe the media, the acquisition of BG Group lawyers should enhance this type of collaboration. One such article centred on the responsibilities of Sarah Franklin (BG chief counsel), which included health and safety, who has inherited a new team that focuses on complex safety and environmental issues. There can be no more complex safety and environmental asset in the Shell portfolio than Prelude FLNG, yet there would appear to be a deficiency in a fundamental work control system, their isolation procedures.
The article also noted her other skill sets, such as setting up BG’s first whistleblowing programme. Other’s will attest that this programme was unquestionably fallacious.
As noted in a previous blog if you are a Shell employee with concerns, especially those with a safety connotation and you wish to engage with her………. beware.
Shell plans to divest assets worth $10Bn by 2021 and is reportedly looking to exit the Abadi Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) Project in Indonesia, which could raise between $1Bn and $1.6Bn
Sound Energy, the Moroccan focused upstream gas company, announces, further to the Company’s announcement of 20 January 2020, that the Company has today issued 5,805,555 new ordinary shares in the Company (the “New Ordinary Shares”) to Brian Mitchener, the Company’s Exploration Director, at an effective issue price of 1.86 pence per New Ordinary Share in connection with the termination of his employment contract.
As previously announced on 20 January 2020, Mr. Mitchener will step down from the Board with effect from 31 March 2020.
We work with an advertising agency and we’ve got a countless amount of clients who want some new brand exposure. Does your company permits guest articles?
We’ve got the cash to pay immediately and there’s no extra cost to you.
Sound Energy, the Moroccan focused upstream gas company, announces that, as part of its planned preparations for the forthcoming potential partial divestment of Eastern Morocco portfolio, Brian Mitchener, Exploration Director of the Company will step down from the Board with effect from 31 March 2020.
At the Board’s request, and to enable the Company to conserve cash balances, Mr. Mitchener has agreed to accept new ordinary shares in the Company (“Ordinary Shares”) in settlement of termination of his employment contract. As a result, the Company expects to issue new Ordinary Shares, at the then prevailing price per Ordinary Share, with an aggregate market value of £107,983 on or around 25 January 2020 (the “Settlement Shares”) and a further announcement will be made in this regard, as appropriate, in due course.
In addition, the Company announces that a total of 863,682 restricted stock units (“RSUs”) previously awarded to Mr. Mitchener will now vest in full on 31 March 2020, ahead of the original date of vesting of the RSUs, announced on 26 April 2018, of 1 January 2021.
Theo, I have ceased posting your comments because they do not belong here. You should set up your own blog so that you are free to cover wide-ranging subjects rather than being restricted to discussions relevant to Shell or this website. Best wishes. John
Theo, if it is your intention to kill off this supposedly Shell focussed forum by boring everyone to death with nonsensical ramblings, which have little relevance to Shell, then you are succeeding. Shell is not even mentioned.
Everybody wants back to nature, everybody wants therefore to cut back on emissions, but nobody wants to walk!
So in the here and now the whole world is indeed saying with the freedom of speech and the freedom to read Theo Benschop, we, the about 7 Billion simple descendants of the first human beings not being a monkey would love in the history of mankind on the by Coca Coca sponsored falling star so-called planet Earth without a plan B to know what you’ve been smoking and/or drinking, because it really has made your postings somewhat unreadable.
Slow down, think and re-read what your have typed, then others may be able to understand what you are trying to say Google in the light of the free sun on this beautiful brand new day peacefully in the historic crisis in the Trias Politica with the freedom of speech and the freedom to read on the digital internet full with inspiring anti-war quotes full with ancient and modern wisdom and full with inspiring anti-cyber war quotes full of inspiring ancient and modern wisdom in the name of about 7 Billion simple descendants of the first human beings not being a monkey
Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Rise and shine! Watch out the bugs don’t bite blind world leaders on the falling by Coca Cola sponsored star so-called planet Earth without plan B!
The blind world leaders have in the historic crisis in the Trias Politica in the history of mankind the right to know Who is Free Immediately beloved Brother Julian Assange?
Who is listen to beloved sister Rep. Ilhan Omar?
Who is listen to Greta How dare you? How dare you? How dare you? Thunberg?.
PS in the history of mankind on the by Coca Cola sponsored falling star so-called planet Earth without a plan B is it by the way interesting to know that Earth is not a tiny star, but instaed of this a so-called planet.
So I’m answering everybody I’m smoking Look out! Authenthic Dutch Holland Blue. Roken is dodelijk – Stop nu!
Tabaksrook bevat meer dan 70 stoffen die kanker veroorzaken! Je had er nooit aan deze giftige troep moeten beginnen, dummy!
Stop nu met deze giftige troep! Blijf U alstublieft leven voor Uw naaste familie en Uw naaste vrienden.
Well “Theo Benschop” I would love to know what you’ve been smoking and/or drinking – it really has made your postings somewhat unreadable. Slow down, think and re-read what your have typed, then others may be able to understand what you are trying to say. Who is this Greta Thunderberg’s-R-Go?? As many have said before me she should finish her schooling off rather than playing truant. She might learn some other facts about climate change. For example rather than trying to preach to the converted she should attempt to persuade the likes of China, Russia, India and Indonesia to cut back on emissions. Even the likes of Shell are trying to help but of course most on this forum have their heads where the sun doesn’t shine when recognizing this fact. Oh, by the way Earth is not a tiny star it is a planet.
We, the about 7 Billion smart responsible owners of the tiny star so-called planet Earth without a smart plan B and beloved sister Greta Thunberg have after 40 year smart responsible discussion about the climate all the smart desired responsible knowledge about how to solve a in a smart responsible way a so-called problem with the climate on our tiny star so-called planet Earth without a smart plan B for which tiny star we are after all just until the end of times responsible.
We and beloved sister Greta Thunberg are standing in the here and now in the vanities of the vanities where there will be nothing new under the free sun that is making the boring rounds around the free sun for the question is there a so called problem?
Would you be so kind and smart to answer this question either with a responsible yes or no?
If you have answered no, so-called problem solved, thank you very much for your smart responsible cooperation!
If you have answered yes, the so-called problem is than not solved.
In that smart case would you be so kind and smart to answer this responsible question either with yes or no?
I am a smart responsible owner of the tiny star so-called planet Earth without a smart plan B. I think the who smart responsible discussion is just hysteric responsible nonsense, so just stay until the end of times with the smart plan A. Yes or no?
If you have answered yes, so-called problem solved, thank you very much for your smart responsible cooperation!
If you have answered no, so-called problem not solved.
Would you be so kind and smart to answer this responsible question either with yes or no?
I am a smart responsible owner of the tiny star so-called planet Earth without a smart plan B. I am in the here and now willing to solve a so-called problem, like beloved sister Greta Thunberg. I choose for smart responsible plan B. Next case!
Thank you very much for your smart responsible cooperation!
Young lad in London, I have to tell you with the freedom of speech that I in the here and now thought that I had in an earlier stadium in the history of mankind replied to your reaction.
So this means that I do this for the second time as 1+1=2. Let I start with good news: there is in the history of mankind not such a thing as a so-called problem for the simple reason it just in the history of mankind doesn’t exist. I could have started also with Happy Xmas, War is over. If for instance young men in London in the United Divided BREXIT want it.
But I didn’t as you can read with the freedom to read. Furthermore I bring under your attention that it is in the history of mankind not allowed to talk falsely about your beloved neighbours.
Hereby I repeat black on white “I know for sure that a former director has maybe in the context of the subject literally had said: everybody knows that the smart people at the oil companies have a plan B.
So it will be a problem if the government is not giving the start moment for the smart plans B.
So if you want to solve this simple problem: all what the government has to do is fix the price of the Black Gold
– sorry, I mean the oil, or petrol for the cars, as everybody wants beautiful nature, but nobody wants to walk, which is a good thing for the shareholders –
at a level nobody will notice. Maybe add something to the price. But there you have the money to pay for the transition to a more sustainable energy.
So actually what everybody wants in the agreements in Paris.
Also I know for sure that beloved sister Rep. Ilham Omar was perfectly right in her conclusion that a few guilty criminals did something to create the chaos of nine eleven, so not the rest of the Universe.
So that about 7 Billion simple descendants of the first human beings not being a monkey are supporting her for keep on being the one and only first president of all sovereign or not sovereign United Nations.
BG Alumni……. normally your post wouldn’t warrant a response from me, however I’m curious to know, what was the idea that was fostered?
The website is intertwined since Shell’s acquisition of BG Group, and having worked for both companies, I feel compelled to post my comments, as others should be made aware of the traits of some of their “colleagues”.
I don’t know why you’d state the website is becoming ‘bitter and twisted’, my posts are factual, and having knowledge of the workings of BG Group, there is no reason to doubt that Bonus Group’s posts are not equally factual.
I had the pleasure of working with a lot of committed people in both companies, mostly with good intent, but there were others with contrasting agendas, some bordering on sinister. Unfortunately, many of the good ones either left or were pushed, as they were seen as a threat to the lackey’s, intent in moving up the corporate ladder at all costs, emboldened by the toxic corporate culture.
Some issues must be highlighted. For example, the Brent ‘TFA policy’, fatalities in a Brent Bravo utility shaft, a further fatality 2-years later in the same utility shaft and BG Group’s 20 plus fatalities in a ten-year period. Many of the causal factors can be attributed to the same management enablers, but because they were shielded by company lawyers, there was no accountability. If anyone should be branded ‘bitter and twisted’ it’s the lawyers. Is this what Michael Coates meant when he said one of his biggest internal challenges was his in-house legal team?
It’s crucial to have people with the courage to express an opinion as opposed to those who turn a blind eye to failings. I could hazard a guess at what camp you’d be in.
BG Alumni. Ha, ha! Your post is a typical example of the quality of BG Group work. Can’t read what they have written, can’t check what they have written, can’t type and if you don’t know, then lie. Bonus Group’s posts are about the dismally poor standards at BG Group and their consequences. Sure, everyone liked being employed by BG Group, because they were well paid and didn’t have to do any serious work. It was a case of ‘passing the parcel’ by email when you couldn’t do the work required. All to the shareholders’ detriment. I suggest that you go back to your cappuccino. Or is it a latte?
It’s about time Bonus Group and Bogus Group moved on. This website is repaidly becoming all baout the bitter and twisted.I can’t imagine how that idea was fostered.
For a further example of outstanding performance by BG Group Alumni, London Lad need look no further than Sound Energy where the share price has plummeted from £0.935 in February 2017 to £0.0335 December this year. This remarkable performance, however, does not detract from the Directors’ and the Senior Managers’ whopping salaries and bonuses. One can barely hear oneself think above the slurping and grunting at the trough.
Interesting news article. “Network Rail are well into devolving and restructuring the organisation so that all activities and roles are closer to passengers in order to drive up train performance”. In 2018, many UK train commuters had a tough time with timetable schedules, journeys that didn’t leave or arrive on-time and delays due to major projects.
Could this revival be attributed to the previous chief executive and one of the former Shell and BG Group ‘chosen few’, stepping down from his role?
To put London Lad’s rather naive comments into context. In the final days before the Executive Chairman, Andrew Gould ‘pulled the plug’ on the whole shooting match, at a Town Hall Meeting, the Chief Operating Officer, Sami Iskander, stood up and announced, to anyone who could be bothered to listen, that the company had spent £200MM assuring work which later cost them £2Bn because it was wrong. An absolutely, stellar performance. The people responsible for this are now deeply embedded within Shell’s matrix organisation. An excellent result for the shareholders. Perhaps, a Bridge too Far?
London Lad, Good to hear from you. I hope that you enjoyed your recent trip to Aberdeen. Having also been employed by Shell, I consider myself fortunate that I was not one of the ‘Chosen Few’. The ‘Chosen Few’ are the most corrupt of the corrupt and will fit in well with your ilk. In respect of the slur about my performance, BG were involved in what can only be described as a stupendous multi-billion dollar technical fraud against Petrobras based upon a corrupt workflow which was both Functionally Approved through their Assurance Team and signed-off by the relevant Discipline Functional Head. They refused to correct their workflow and that resulted in a technical fraud. They tried to make me complicit in this fraud, but I refused. That is called integrity, something which I have no doubt that you know little of. You clearly relish brushing shoulders with fraudsters and liars.
I can only assume from the continuous moaning from “Bonus Group” that he/she was not one of the “chosen few” from the BG group and hence the vindictiveness. Poor performance = limited or no job opportunities which applies to both Shell and ex-BG staff. As a share holder I wouldn’t want it differently.
Further to Bogus Group’s post of Thursday 21st November. BG Group the failed Internet Cafe, cappucino and Belgian chocolate lifestyle company had an established reputation for: constructive dismissal, lack of transparency and corrupt ‘do as I say, not as I do’ line management. The acceptance of the ‘Chosen Few’ from BG by Shell into its upper echelons can only lead to further corruption. After all what was on the BG Portal in terms of Company Policy was of course also law, or at least that is what they would have you believe. As employers they were a complete disgrace and the company a complete shambles from top to bottom. Visitors to this site can look forward to more revelations of incompetence in due course as they unfold.
I was lured by the Michael Coates (Associate General Counsel at Shell) interview by Lawyer Monthly, and the question……. what is the most challenging aspect of your job and how do you overcome this? His response “There are a number of interesting challenges but I will share one internal challenge, the management of our in-house legal team”
The acquisition of BG Group and the infiltration of “the chosen few” from that company’s in-house legal team, may have bestowed a challenge he could never have imagined.
Well “Theo” when you say that “I know for sure the following” followed by a former director said “Black Gold we are digging up” then I think perhaps you are making this up. Most directors of an oil company (even including Shell) would not use the word “digging”! “Drilling” or “producing” yes but certainly not “digging” – exception being the muppets in the HR departments perhaps. In addition your last two sentences are irrelevant to the usual attacks on Shell and are somewhat waffle and insulting to most readers here. You clearly have a problem. I await the onslaught!!
There are normally two sides to every story, but Mike Curless’ version of his termination employment under the pretext of the takeover of BG reorganisation could hold some credence. However, if there was a fair and transparent succession strategy, Sarah Franklin’s self-promotion, see previous post and article, https://www.accdocket.com/articles/tips-and-insights-a-world-class-combination.cfm must have made her a good candidate for one of the “vacant” roles within the Shell legal team. Time will tell if the relevant due diligence was done on Ms Franklin, considering her escapades with a previous company.
I know for sure the following. A former director of Royal Dutch Shell had said: it is a simple problem with the Black Gold that we are digging up and selling. All what the government has to do is fix the price of the Black Gold at a level nobody will notice. Maybe add something. But there you have the money to pay for the transition to a more sustainable energy. So actually what everybody wants in the agreements in Paris.
Also I know for sure that beloved sister Rep. Ilham Omar was perfectly right in her conclusion that a few guilty criminals did something to create the chaos of nine eleven, so not the rest of the world.
So that about 7 Billion simple descendants of the first human beings not being a monkey are supporting her for keep on being the one and only first president of all sovereign or not sovereign United Nations.
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Caution needed over false almost hysterical claims about current Brent Structures
It was a long time ago but as London Lad highlights in his blog post the onshore disposal of Brent Spar Greenpeace apologised formally to Shell for its claims during that period of intense scrutiny and public interest that the Spar could not be disposed of at sea because it held over 5000 tons of crude oil when in fact it was found to have contained 100 tons of oily sludge much of which was inert silt.
We currently see the emergence again of false and highly emotive claims about what remains in the Brent structures despite Shell and independent published reports being available with assessments of what remains in the cells. These assessments indicate that the environmental impact of leaving these structures in situ is negligible compared to the safety risks to personnel involved in the attempted removal and disposal on land.
#163Money in the pockets on Oct 19th, 2019 at 14:24
The next round of Nigerian “engagements” are well and truly happening now. Bonga SW/A has been a great tool for regulators and others to return to the potential contractors for additional assistance to progress the project.
It might just fly in 2020, and get on stream 20 years after the initial project.
This will be a real money maker to everyone that can participate (staff, EPC contractors, fabricators, installers, regulators, etc.) just not the nation that continues to suffer.
Good to see that you still visit. Hope you are well. Glad you have felt sufficiently motivated to post a comment again, the first one since 2013 if I recall correctly.
Under your former alias as MUsaint and your current alias LondonLad we have argued extensively about Shell’s track record in Nigeria.
I know you speak with authority given your own years in a senior position with Shell in Nigeria.
Suffice it to say that Shell has already paid out over £15 million in compensation to some relatives of the Ogoni 9 and millions more in fines relating to Shell corruption in Nigeria.
The posting of articles and other evidence dating back to those days have emerged from the current Dutch litigation against Shell brought by Esther Kiobel and two other Ogoni 9 widows who have yet to be compensated for the loss of their beloved husbands. Most of the archived articles supplied to me via Amnesty International have never been posted online. There are more to follow.
I note your mention of Greenpeace, the unfortunate subject of undercover activity by Shell’s cherished MI6 hires via Hakluyt & Company. No doubt that situation continues.
These companies, including Shell, admitted they “approved of or condoned the payment of bribes on their behalf in Nigeria and falsely recorded the bribe payments made on their behalf as legitimate business expenses in their corporate books, records and accounts”.
Shell must pay a $30million “criminal penalty” over charges it paid $2million to a sub-contractor “with the knowledge that some or all of the money” would be used to bribe Nigerian officials to allow equipment into the country without paying duty. Shell, which has not admitted guilt, must pay a further $18million to repay profits and interests.
Oh, and while I’m on my soapbox why don’t those idiots at Greenpeace learn from their mistakes? Now claiming that various Shell North Sea production platforms contain this and that amount of crude should trigger someone in the German Government to question their numbers. Greenpeace were completely wrong with their figures quoted for Brent Spar.
Jeeeez Mr.D you really are scraping the barrel. Articles from the “Tempo” dating from 1996 with still unproven (so one might assume false) claims about corruption in Ogoniland. Have to say that it’s still clear that Nigerians remain convinced that the best way to extort money is by attacking Shell (SPDC/SNEPCO) rather than the real culprits which still remain as the State Government, DPR, NAPIMS etc. etc.
Sarah Franklin, Shell’s Associate General Counsel for Safety & Environment and her new team still don’t appear to have a focus on “complex safety matters”. As noted in the article, she would still appear to be “getting her Shell sea legs” despite being in the role for nearly 3 years.
Yesterday’s announcement that the HSE had issued Shell with an Improvement Notice for failing to ensure that the Temporary Refuge on the Gannet Alpha Installation was capable of remaining effective in an emergency, must question the validity of Shell’s focus on safety. TR compliance is not complex, it’s a fundamental prerequisite for the safety of the installation’s personnel in the event of an emergency, anything less is tantamount to dereliction.
If they can’t get basic safety requirement’s right, what chance have they with something more complex. Word of advice to Shell, employ more technically competent people who disclose and address safety concerns and fewer lawyers who suppress them.
#170Floundering at Scotford on Oct 5th, 2019 at 03:47
The most profitable downstream site, we are losing good leader after leader, and we can’t figure out why? Maybe having mangers that say people get paid too much and don’t work hard enough and driving morale into the tank is the problem? When you actively devalue people, what do you expect? Now you throw a 5% raise at us? Really? What a disaster!
Further to my post about how seriously Rob Jager takes his role as VP Prelude, his profile on LinkedIn shows him as being a Non Executive Director for Air New Zealand above being a Shell VP for Prelude. He is clearly a high flyer. Do Air New Zealand do Airmiles?
Rumor on the street is the Shell Vito project is over a year behind schedule, AND Shell plans to double down and award Whale to the same contractors in the coming weeks.
Must be some serious love going on between the Singaporeans and Shell decision makers….
‘PS – Shell is investing 2 billion a year into Brazil and already paying off’. Assuming $2Bn (you did not quote currency), that would just about cover Shell’s share of the costs of replicants, operating expenses and of course managers’ BONUSES!
FPSO unit cost: our initial case ($91bn total capex) assumed a cost of $2.5 billion for each of 13 FPSO units. However, our research shows a wide range of possibilities for this cost depending on the vessel configuration; plus the fact that Brazilian shipyards should get better at building them so the cost could reduce over time. Also the project might choose to lease rather than buy the FPSOs outright, which could improve economics for the consortium depending on the lease terms. http://openoil.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/OO_br_Libra_narrative_1.0_161104.pdf
BG GROUP ASSETS SOLD BY SHELL SUBSEQUENT TO TAKEOVER:
Petrobras and Total announced that they have finalized a decisive milestone in the realization of their Strategic Alliance, signed in March 2017, with the completion of the following transactions: Transfer from Petrobras to Total of 22.5% of the rights of the Iara area, which comprises the Sururu, Berbigão and Oeste de Atapu fields in Block BM-S-11A in the Santos Basin pre-salt, operated by Petrobras (42.5%) alongside Shell (25%) and Petrogal (10%). The consideration for the above transactions amounts to US$1.95 billion, including closing adjustments. This amount does not include US$ 400 million that can be triggered by Petrobras to carry a part of its investment share in the Iara development fields and contingent payments. http://www.petrobras.com.br/en/news/petrobras-and-total-complete-the-transfer-of-rights-in-the-lapa-and-iara-concessions-as-part-of-their-strategic-alliance.htm
The deal covers Shell’s interests in the fields Buzzard, Beryl, Bressay, Elgin-Franklin, J-Block, the Greater Armada cluster, Everest, Lomond and Erskine, and a 10% stake in Schiehallion. Shell also announced on Tuesday that it had sold its stake in a Thai gas field for $900m to a subsidiary of the Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/jan/31/shell-sells-north-sea-oil-gas-fields-chrysaor-linda-cook
Bonus group, Contradict myself – lol. Poor guy – like I said do your own research – tell us what you find, you will look like the irrational uneducated poster you are. PS – Shell is investing 2 billion a year into Brazil and already paying off. Do you ever look anything up?
To US Citizen. Thank you for your post of September 9th 2019 20:12. Congratulations on also being an avid reader of this blog. You are correct in my post of June 26th 2019 23:05 I did say that ‘..Shell had a ‘fire sale’ of a plethora of BG ‘dross’ assets in order to raise $30Bn to disguise the amount by which they had overpaid for BG Group.’ More correctly, Shell had a ‘fire sale’ including a plethora of BG ‘dross’ assets in order to raise $30Bn to disguise the amount by which they had overpaid for BG Group. This does not detract from the fact that Shell did have a ‘fire sale’ in order to raise $30Bn. By my estimation Shell over paid for BG Group by about 30%. The Christmas boxes were very large, but the presents were very small. You contradict yourself when you say that you will not do my homework for me, but then tell me that the split of the $30Bn assets sold was 80:20 Shell:BG. Is that correct? If so, thank you that just goes to show how worthless those BG assets were, but then that is what you can expect from a Cappuccino and Belgian chocolate lifestyle company. Any comments about what the Brazil Asset are up to these days?
To Bonus Group – the large percentage of assets sold by Shell were non BG assets. I will not do your homework for you, but the split is 80/20. A great example of why you do not take what this sites protagonists post as good information. But go ahead, say I am wrong and also posting garbage, do your research and tell me the number of BG asset sales vs the 30 billion Shell raised thru asset sales.
MESSAGE FROM JOHN FOR THE ATTENTION OF BOGUS GROUP. I have received the information you kindly sent and have replied by encrypted email.
#182Bill Campbell Prelude Comment on Aug 25th, 2019 at 15:48
I might write in more detail but I find it rather ironic that it was this website that was telling the world 6 or so years ago that this installation did not have risk levels as low as claimed and one of the principal risk drivers was the compact nature of a hazardous substances plant with not enough space to swing a cat in. Unless you are not aware I wrote to Shell Australia at the time giving them data from 8 existing or planned onshore LNG plants which varied from 80 to 100 hectares or on average 20 to 22 times the footprint of Prelude, could they tell me as a stakeholder with shares in the Company how they arrived at their ridiculously low number but can guess I assume that a reasonable explanatory reply was not forthcoming, as sure as eggs are eggs if this plant is currently having problems or if it has problems or major accident events in future it will be due to the force fitting a complex plant, with risk levels much above which they have published, on a postage stamp of a footprint.
God willing they will never live to regret their fraudulent overly optimistic claims, risk is based on reality not wishful thinking.
Thanks. Problem is that it’s behind a paywall and despite it being a great publication for the oil industry, none of us retired folk wants to invest in a subscription.
FURTHER REPLY FROM JOHN
I have received the further Prelude information you have kindly provided and have replied by encripted email.
Further to Bogus Group’s post yesterday. I am absolutely appalled that a Senior Executive of Royal Dutch Shell plc should spout so much nonsense concerning the Prelude installation. The statement is redolent of Malcolm Brinded and his ‘Touch F*ck All’ policy, which led to the deaths of Keith Moncrieff and Sean McCue on Brent Bravo on 11th September 2003. What is boring is the continuous misleading spin and blather from the top of this company and their lackadaisical approach to safety. ‘Chronic Unease’ is a well known expression in the Oil and Gas Industry, and that state of mind is far from boring or routine. In fact nothing is either boring or routine in Oil and Gas operations. Rob Jager moved last year to the post of VP Prelude after spending thirteen years as Country Chair and VP for Shell New Zealand/Shell Taranaki, after Shell announced the sale of its New Zealand interests in March 2018. Jager clearly previously has spent too much time being ‘laid back’ in the fantasy land of Lord of the Rings, marvelling at New Zealand’s scenery and wondering who will be entertaining him for his next luxury seafood dinner accompanied by a glass of chilled expensive New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
PLEASE SEE REPLY FROM JOHN WHICH FOLLOWS THE COMMENT FROM BOGUS GROUP
More on Prelude article in Upstream.
I’m stunned by what can only be described as idiotic statements. Nothing like the utopia of self-aggrandisement without verification. What is Jagers’ level of technical and operational capabilities? I recall similar rhetoric from BG Group charlatans, with the “best in class” mentality and use of the most overstated expression ever to be used outside the education sector, all aimed at pleasing their taskmasters.
Ramp-up of Prelude and what Jager hopes will be decades of “uneventful” and “boring” operation.
“This will be a state where little or nothing happens. We have few if any alarms, no surprises and where things are running like clock work and we are effectively in autopilot,” he said.
“We will know when we have succeeded in this ambition because Prelude will be recognised as the most boring asset in Shell global portfolio our people will refer to it as the safest and most desirable place to work, and when the rest of the industry is knocking on our door to find out how we have achieved such a best in class outcome, especially for a facility as complex and unique as Prelude.”
REPLY FROM JOHN
Hello, I would be grateful if you could send me a copy of the article via john@shellnews.net using an anonymous email address. I would pass it on to retired Shell EP experts for their assessment.
Shell may claim to be not responsible for the contractors’ instruction to staff to attend the meeting or loose pay, however, contractors working for Shell have a contractual obligation to comply with Shell’s General Business Principles and its Code of Conduct. Facilitating political rallying and coercing staff would certainly go against that.
Disappointing to see these principles are pushed aside when it comes to US politics.
#187Prelude Upstream Online Article on Aug 19th, 2019 at 18:51
I would be interested to know the content of the article just published by Upstream Online about the Prelude FLNG problems?
Upstream Online: Shell learns from Prelude challenges
Shell is currently in the process of ramping up its Prelude floating liquefied natural gas development off Western Australia, but the ambitious project …
What I do know is that Prelude is still having difficulties in with the processed volumes of any of the three streams of product, LNG, LPG and condensate.
I have been monitoring the Marine Traffic web site with Prelude as the target. The offtake tankers, LNG or condensate, can be seen hanging around but at a greater distance from Prelude making it not as easy to keep track of as in previous occasions. The latest LNG tanker, Symphonic Breeze, has been nearby for nearly a week waiting for its nominated cargo. The demurrage costs must be quite high by now as the “notice of readiness” will have been tabled on arrival.
The pressure on the Prelude Operational Staff must be intense and unrelenting, so much for a plug and play project that Brinded made so much noise about.
After reading in the news that workers in our Pennsylvania plant wore FORCED
to sit and listen to trump you can count on me PASSING EVERY SHELL station I see. (Comment received via email)
Is the payment of workers by Shell to attend a Trump rally appropriate?
How does Shell justify it?
Is Shell going to pay workers to attend opposition rallies for balance?
What’s next payment for attending Bolsonaro rallies? (Received via email)
Saw news on Shell’s practice of coercing union employees into attending a campaign rally with Trump. I used to fill up with Shell gasoline. Will no longer purchase anything from Shell or anything that is in anyway obviously associated with Royal Dutch Shell (Posted comment was received by email)
Bonus Group has previously mentioned John de Lange, once upon a time VP Well Engineering and Operations BG Brasil, last heard of kicking his heels in Chad as VP Operations for Glencore E&P (Canada) Inc before he fell foul of jackals and going to ground. This very wealthy man by his own admission now finds himself literally in hot water, or more precisely as a director of Geothermie Groep Nederland B.V. This is probably the best outcome for the oil and gas industry as his competency and motives were questionable at best.
John, thanks for posting the article on the Trump visit to Penn Chem. Most insiders don’t think Shell will really want that kind of connection to Trump. But if he asks to come with the EPA administrator and DOE Minister, what can you do, but say yes? Saying no would have resulted in a backlash for sure. Makes it difficult to stay politically neutral.
Shell still wants to play both sides on the US agenda, and win regardless of the outcome. This is more troubling for many, as it shows the messaging in EU is low carbon future, in the USA its drill baby drill. It makes your point on culture, that some still seem to doubt.
What makes you think that anyone is interested in Shell’s business dealings with the Germans several decades ago?
REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN
Shell’s historians must have thought someone would be interested or they would not have included dozens of pages filled with supporting evidence in “A History of Royal Dutch Shell” Volumes 1 & 2 published in 2007. Understandably, they spun the evidence in favour of their paying client, Shell. Another indication of interest is the many thousands of visitors to our new sister website shellnazihistory.com. Likewise, 17,918 blocked malicious login attempts on the new site with 1,696 blocked spam comments (by Akismet). All stats as of today, 13 July 2019. In addition to the public interest, clearly, there is evil intent towards the website. Wonder who that might be?
In answer to uscitizen’s post proclaiming the wonders of the acquisition of BG Group by Shell, it should be remembered that Shell had a ‘fire sale’ of a plethora of BG ‘dross’ assets in order to raise $30Bn to disguise the amount by which they had overpaid for BG Group. Sooner or later there must be another reserves recategorisation. The Brasil Asset is a prime candidate for this given that it is still staffed by ex-BG sycophants propping up the illusion. As highlighted by Bogus Group, it would seem that Knarr is the latest posthumous failure of BG Group. They were always over stating the value to the shareholders.
Shell, the world’s second-largest listed oil and gas company after Exxon, cut costs heavily following its 2016 acquisition of BG Group for $53 billion and the 2014 oil crash.
Despite a slow and bumpy recovery in oil prices, it reported the largest profit among its peers last year and a jump in revenue from previous years.
Shell said its free cash flow – cash available for dividends and share buybacks – was set to rise to around $35 billion per year by 2025 based on a Brent crude oil price of $60 per barrel.
That compares with $28-33 billion in free cash flow it expects to deliver by the end of next year. Brent is currently trading just under $61 per barrel.
Shell, the world’s biggest dividend payer at $16 billion in 2018, expects to increase its dividend payouts to shareholders once it completes the $25 billion share buyback by the end of 2020 that it promised following the BG acquisition.
Shell last increased its quarterly dividend in the first quarter of 2014 to $0.47 per share.
All of the folks bashing Shell for the BG merger, I think we can now say this has been a very good financial move. Shell has overtaken Exxon and Integrated Gas is a big reason why. I am sure there are examples where some good people got pushed out, and I hate to hear that. However, lets not pull the wool over folks eyes and say this business decision was not sound.
Sound Energy, the Moroccan focused upstream gas company, announces that it has been notified that Brian Mitchener, Executive Director, has today purchased 150,000 ordinary shares in the Company (“Ordinary Shares”) at a price of 12.04 pence per Ordinary Share. As a result of this purchase, Mr Mitchener is interested in 150,000 Ordinary Shares, representing 0.0142% of the Company’s issued ordinary share capital.
Readers may wonder why the darling of the AIM Market is now preparing itself for a sale of its Eastern Morocco acreage.
Perhaps, the answer may be found in the Annual Report 2018 available to download as a .PDF from the Sound Energy Website:
Page 49
Loss of Office and Change of Control Provisions
In the event of a change of control of the Company, the CEO, CFO and Exploration Director have the option to give notice and receive a lump sum equivalent to 18 months’ salary for the CEO, 12 months’ salary for the CFO and 8 months’ salary for the Exploration Director.All of the Company’s current share plans contain provisions relating to a change of control.
On a change of control, outstanding awards would normally vest and become exercisable, subject to the satisfaction of any performance conditions at that time.
Page 50
Summary Of Actual Remuneration (including Benefits in Kind and Performance Awards) Of Directors
Executive Directors
James Parsons £995,000
Brian Mitchener £323,000 (RSU Awards No. of Shares 862,682, Granted 26.04.18 Settlement date 01.01.21)
JJ Traynor £168,000 (RSU Awards No. of Shares 961,194, Granted 26.04.18 Settlement Date 01.01.21)
It should be remembered that Brian Mitchener is of the failed BG Group stable. It would seem that Bonus Group habits are hard to let g0!
I concur with Bonus Group recollection of the tin pot, lacklustre, parvenu outfit. There was no place in BG Group for experienced professionals if they didn’t possess the sycophant tendencies required to stoke the egos of those deluded by corporate grandeur.
Large remuneration packages were not uncommon then too, the chief executive received circa £13mm (published) in bonuses throughout his 12 year tenure. During that period there were 26 fatalities, roughly £500k for each. That was more than distasteful.
Today is the anniversary date of the agreement on terms of the takeover of BG Group (a tin pot, lacklustre, parvenu outfit) by Royal Dutch Shell plc in 2015. In consequence of BG Group’s consistent failures to meet targets and the engineered predatory takeover by Royal Dutch Shell plc the careers and professional lives of many experienced Geoscientists and Engineers were brutally butchered, terminated, and cast aside like so much offal, so it is rather distasteful to see the size of Ben van Beurden’s remuneration package being flaunted in the press by Royal Dutch Shell plc.
It seems to be impossible right now to get any chance of landing a job inside Shell these days. Everytime people apply for jobs unless they have high potential or a diversity point they get rejections. I got told recently that the hiring manager was looking for someone with high potential. Don’t these people realise that they also need QUALIFIED people to actually do the work. Ridiculous but it almost getting to age discrimination these days. Rant over.
#205Shell Canada Insider on Feb 25th, 2019 at 09:46
SHELL CANADA
…they are wanting to sell their Alberta operations….. because there is no money left in it…they have syphoned it all off…..
in Caroline Alberta they had a massive sour gas leak on March 23 2003. It was in the local paper….Caroline Alberta or Sundre Alberta. (Sundre roundup)
I think also on 2010-2011 they had multiple explosions at their Caroline facility supposedly an employee during an explosion at the south compressor station had to be airlifted to hospital and was seriously injured.
The aer/ govt shut it down. it was closed for 6 months and half of the plant was decommissioned when it restarted.
That must have cost them millions of dollars…..there should be government records of this stuff….
#207Old EP Engineering Sea Dog on Feb 12th, 2019 at 21:05
John,
PRELUDE
The description of the fairleads causing the mooring ropes to chafe to such an extent is almost so ridiculous to render ex-seafarer speechless. The fitting of nylon liners inside the fairleads is something new for me but the idea behind it would may be to reduce the friction of the mooring lines when running through the fairlead thus reduce any temperature potential in a zone 2 area. Fixing one potential risk appears to have created another one of greater risk potential. I am not sure how the nylon liners in the fairleads would have such sharp edges to chafe the mooring lines on their own and perhaps there may have been something else to which the journalist has missed out. The reported leakage of LNG in the manifold area from a flange should not have happened but the liquid transfer areas are all bunded in low-temperature materials and provided with a constant supply of running water during cargo handling activities. Power outages during start-up operations and ongoing are nothing new and others can be expected, hopefully not very often as the restart of such a complicated process system takes a long time and much effort. The problem with firewater deluge over the LNG storage tanks reported is of considerable concern but the journalist does not mention if this was during the period when systems were being tested prior to the introduction of LNG or after. If before then this section of the report is just journalistic license and of no consequence whatsoever. The other issues as reported can be considered minor during the preparation phase before the introduction of hydrocarbons in any form but definitely of concern if these incidents were after the introduction of hydrocarbons. I wish the people who are experiencing the startup of such a complicated and complex plant every success. Take the time that is needed to be successful by being safe, good luck.
According to a Sunday Times article two days ago, “Ireland continues to dodge difficult questions about how it will protect the single market and also maintain an open border under a no-deal.”
IRELAND has been warned it faces the difficult choice between implementing a hard border or being forced out of the EU’s single market in an unprecedented move to protect the bloc from a no-deal Brexit.
Dublin will be forced to make the tough choice if Britain quits the EU without a deal, according to a number of senior EU figures.
The European Commission sparked fury from Ireland after declaring Dublin would have to implement a hard border in the event of a no-deal Brexit. After significant protests from, which involved a heated debate between Leo Varadkar and Jean-Claude Juncker, Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, suggested “operational solutions” would have to be found in order to prevent a hardening of the border.
But now high-ranking MEPs have hardened their position, insisting the single market must not be compromised even to maintain peace on the island of Ireland.
Elmar Brok, a German MEP with close ties to Angela Merkel, insisted that if Ireland failed to police its own borders the EU would have to take its own protectionist action.
“We would have to set up a customs border with Ireland,” the German said.
He also warned that if Brussels didn’t make the demands then “we will soon have American chlorine chicken in the EU”.
BvB has been quoted in many articles following the outcome of the Brexit vote as expressing negativity about Brexit and the effect it could have on RDS. This can be confirmed by running a Google search on “Ben van Beurden Brexit”. The articles today in the Scottish press and Upstreamonline are but the latest publishing his views on the subject. Despite all of the negativity, my own view is that a satisfactory Brexit deal without the backstop will be done. If not, the EU and Ireland will be an international laughing stock when they create a hard border soon after Brexit, the outcome they were supposedly trying to avoid. That development would provide a better example of the consequences of deranged Irish logic than any infantile Paddy joke I can recall. The stupidity of certain Irish politicians is poisoning previously improved relations between the UK and Ireland, which is a great pity.
All of the ingredients will be there for a return to violence in the event of the UK being forced into a no deal by Ireland. The current impasse is down to Ireland which may well come to regret its hostility towards the UK. How many of the 17 million Brits who voted for Brexit will wish to holiday in Ireland now?
I find it fascinating how so many brainwashed Shell slaves are quick to criticise Mr Donovan for the work he is doing. It is surely his decision and prerogative to do whatever he wants with his own time? Just like you and I choose to work for a slimy, corrupt, evil, fascist, environment destroying company. The only difference is that I actually admit to being a whore that’s sold my soul for money!
As for your defence of Brinded, I find it laughable. That man was an abnoxious individual who was acting more like an SS officer than a senior executive.
Keep up the good work John. Warm wishes and my heartfelt thanks to for keeping us all informed of Shell’s true nature.
REPLY BY JOHN
While I am grateful for the kind words, I do not know of any grounds to support your comment that Shell is a fascist company. With regard to Mr Brinded, despite my many negative comments about him over the years, comparing him with an SS officer is wrong.
Mr Donovan if it is your twisted objective to poison the Internet for the Shell brand you, unfortunately, seem to be succeeding. Searching for any subject connected with Shell inevitably seems to generate negative news reports, negative information and anti-Shell images, all apparently originated by you. Your allegations about Shell’s alleged Nazi history seem to be spreading across the Internet like a virus. Your Shell-branded counterfeit websites seem to be multiplying almost by the day. I am losing count of them all. This situation is bad for all stakeholders including employees, shareholders and pensioners. I also object to the personal attacks on Shell people, for example on Malcolm Brinded who has never been found guilty of any wrongdoing. Don’t you have any scruples? I am also concerned for your mental health and your bank balance. Is a third party also hostile to Shell funding your pervasive and malicious online activities? What’s the betting that my comments will not appear on your supposedly uncensored Shell Blog? I am also mystified why Shell has not taken action to protect its reputation?
REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN
Shell has been complaining about my online activities since March 1995 and on occasion has taken legal action, including a three-week high court trial in 1999. There is no possible defamation if what is stated is true.
The most recent proceedings were in 2005 via the World Intellectual Property Organisation. Shell unsuccessfully attempted to seize some of our Shell related domain names including royaldutchshellplc.com and royaldutchshellgroup.com.
All of the litigation cost Shell tons of wasted money in legal fees and attracted negative publicity.
Shell lost every case.
We have sued Shell twice for defamation. Shell settled both cases.
A covert attempt by Shell to close down hosting for our websites failed.
More recently, RDS Company Secretary/Main board member Michel Brandjes threatened legal action over my book about Shell’s Nazi history. His emailed threats turned out to be nothing but bluster. Shell will never take legal action on the topic as it would draw attention to the most toxic subject relating to any existing major multinational in the world.
I will continue to publish true facts about Shell and where appropriate corrupt senior management involved in scandals such as the Shell SMART rigged contract tender, the Brent Bravo deaths, the reserves fraud and OPL 245. Mr Brinded has involvement in all four scandals.
He has such a strange brain, could outthink most people in Shell but rather than concentrate on doing good things for Shell and developing people he became the ultimate micromanager and surrounded himself with sycophants. Until the 2nd half of the eighties he was OK and the driving force of the highly successful SLIM technology. I believe this was what launched his big career. Thereafter he became moody and unpleasant for people who dared to question him or make good suggestions to him. Probably quite insecure and status conscious. Never understood this. He just took himself too seriously.
Donovan has already said suggested he won’t name the individual. He is more determined to go after Brinded with whom he has a personal issue. As Veritas suggests there is something deeper there which makes this whole issue inconsistent in his refusing to name the guilty individual.
John Donovan, you are such a hypocrite. You claim you don’t want the convicted pedophile’s family to suffer, but you keep dragging Brinded’s family through mud. You should be consistent in your actions. The only thing consistent about you is how you continue to live off of some overblown ‘offense’ your father experienced decades ago. You claim to be an open wound to Shell. The only open wound I see is the one in your damaged psyche that you continue to nurse.
REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN
Happy Christmas to you too.
P.S. It was actually my experience, with my late father kindly giving me his support. BTW, I don’t think Mr Brinded will be pleased that you keep bringing his name up.
So its OK to go after Brinded who hasn’t been convicted and to name and shame him for alleged financial wrongdoings and there are pictures of him and his family on the web but you draw the line at naming a CONVICTED individual. Mmmmm
REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN
I have been warning Shell about Malcolm Brindeds’ lack of scruples for nearly two decades. He gave his full backing to the Shell exec who rigged the SMART loyalty scheme contract tender. He has been a key player in a number of other Shell scandals. The related SMART litigation that Shell settled. The Brent Bravo deaths. The reserves securities fraud. His dealings with the despot Muammar Gaddafi on behalf of Shell. And currently, his starring role in the OPL 245 corruption scandal. Mr Brinded is free to sue me for defamation if he disputes what I am saying about him. I have a huge amount of evidence to support what I say. I know a lot about him. I have been coincidentally reading documents about his misdeeds for several days that I will publish in the New Year. More revelations about just how ruthless he is.
“The name of the relevant individual in a Shell leadership role has been verified from court records and social media)”
REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN
Because having seen the Shell leader in question in a photograph with his family, I have reservations about naming him some 14 years after the offences took place. Why should his family suffer?
I concur with Bonus’s comment’s. Unfortunately these “turkeys’ can’t comprehend their deficiencies and actualy believe they are something special. A throwback of the rampant deviant executive culture at the time, which fostered them.
Christmas is coming,
The goose is getting fat,
Please, put a penny in the ex BG employee’s hat!
Rumour has it that the turkeys in the Brasil Asset, having contributed little to nothing to the asset over the past year, are now rubbing their hands with glee in anticipation of their annual bonuses. Hopefully, there will be another round of cost cutting in the New Year and they will be out on the street!
I am not sure I want to know which one of our leaders is a child sex offender. I would like to know if management hired the guy aware of his past history?
Is this another sensitive subject where we can we expect a memo from Donny Ching warning us not to discuss it with colleagues?
#222Equal Opportunities Employer on Nov 9th, 2018 at 13:41
Guess his hiring and promotion prove Shell is an equal opportunities employer.
“Equal opportunity means that all people will be treated equally or similarly and not disadvantaged by prejudices or bias. This means that the best person for a job or a promotion is the person who earns that position based on qualifications, experience and knowledge. Workplace diversity values everyone’s differences.”
Apparently, with Shell HR this applies even if convicted of aggravated child sex offences on multiple counts with an appearance on the Sex Offenders Register.
It does make the workplace uncomfortable for everyone who has contact with him. On the other hand, he has to work somewhere or otherwise conviction would amount to a life sentence for repellent acts carried out 14 years ago.
Is it a praiseworthy policy or an act of folly to hire and promote such individuals? Or an act of negligence if HR pleads ignorance of his past criminal history? The latter seems unlikely bearing in mind that his past is common knowledge among colleagues and apparently, even suppliers.
“INTEGRITY OF LEADERSHIP” …as a Shell staff member, I am always concerned about the integrity of the leadership team at any level. …there is a recently promoted individual in a key leadership role. Staff are not happy working for this person as he is a registered sex offender since 2004 for aggravated sexual assault against a child. xxxxxxx website has his full profile including yearly pictures. All verifiable in the public domain. …but for some reason management are turning a blind eye. It says a lot for the company! His conviction lists his full name as………….. You can confirm the Shell link via xxx. He works for Shell xxxxxx. Staff are appalled that he has now promoted in a key leadership role working with suppliers like xxxxxxx to improve the quality of services provided to Shell. Some suppliers are now also beginning to learn his history and quietly voicing surprise.” (Some of the above information has been redacted by John Donovan. The name of the relevant individual in a Shell leadership role has been verified from court records and social media)
Exshellman speaks of ‘The BG merger for many was a final nail in the coffin, some of the hand picked people for the new club don’t know their arse from their elbows.’ This could not be more appropriate than for the Brasil Asset which is probably currently plotting its next fraud against Petrobras. These miscreants should be flushed out of the system, but are probably biding their time and counting their share options waiting for them to vest, and also waiting for their next bonus to be announced before considering jumping ship. They make little to no valid contribution to the Asset. Let’s hope that their commutes are long and arduous, though most of them have probably weaselled a ‘working from home’ option, from where they do little work and can make endless cappuccinos at the shareholders expense!
That well known Schlumberger ex-Chief with ‘operations experience’, Andrew Gould (Mr Corridor having seen fit to distance himself from the BG Group debacle) is now in the news as Chairman of a Houston based outfit called Sentinel, a blank-check company . The latter having struck lucky with a pipeline company called Strike in a $854MM deal. “If I take all my experience in the oilfield, I don’t think I see any other service segment which has been so outsourced as this one,” said Gould. Strike’s main focus will remain pipeline maintenance.
The deal comes less than a year after Sentinel raised $345 million in an initial public offering. The company, which up until now had no assets, was set up as a so-called special-purpose acquisition company, or SPAC.
Gould is returning to public life after helping orchestrate the sale of the failed BG Group to Shell for $54 billion in 2016. Let’s hope that there is a knighthood in it for him!
The release of the Shell Brent PSMR is shocking testimony of the culture these pathetic incompetents administered without challenge. When Shell was generating huge revenue for the treasury, the regulator, even government ministers had their heads in the sand and a lack of accountability meant they could move on to spread their malignance. Finlayson took his “talents” to BG, another company ruined by pathetic incompetents with the same DNA.
Brinded joined Network Rail who appointed Mark Carne, another Shell/BG stray, described in one tabloid as the “bungling rail chief”. It’s ironic he now talks about (Rail Engineer 27.09.18) joining from Shell “part of an industry with a strong safety culture” and being motivated by big businesses, which are “safety-critical”, with more waffle about safety leadership and safety performance.
Will someone ever be able to “drain the British swamp” of these conceited executives who disingenuously hide behind the “safety and good old business principle banners”, to further their greed and lust for power at whatever cost.
Bill, now the full horror of your findings during the Expro audit have been made available via Johns’ web site I wonder what kind of reaction, if any, will be generated. In retrospect and with hindsight, publishing earlier might have sealed Brinded’s demise sooner and he would never have risen to an apparent level of “the untouchable”.
The Italians hopefully will ensure he will be disgraced never to be any where near a responsible position again.
Sad to think the MF will be drawing several million £ pounds a year in pension rights as well as the vast number of Shell shares he was allocated as a direct result of his dictatorial years of apparent criminal behaviour. Just one of people who turned Shell from a well respected Company who treated Staff as a precious asset to be nurtured rather than be coerced and then dumped at the first opportunity.
After the Shell BG merger completed in 2016 , a lot of really good people lost their jobs , it was handled terribly by the HR dept and the so called ‘General Managers’ culled some of the best experts they had …in less than a year of the redundancies Shell were struggling and now with the lack of expertise…they have had to take in contractors to fill staff positions ..within a year of the redundancies … they could be liable if people took this issue up.. Also Shell were looking at hiring back some old boy network …who are now pensioners to come back in as managers to help out with the problems ..LOL . they have so much dead wood staff on their books and the company is ran like a club. I’m glad to be away from the farce that Shell became , the malaise started around about 2004 when they began to lose the plot. The BG merger for many was a final nail in the coffin, some of the hand picked people for the new club don’t know their arse from their elbows. The only way Shell actually make profits is when the oil price goes high… when Brent is low they can’t compete within their quartile or peer groups. I’ll keep abreast here on the blog
#229Contributor to this blog on Aug 13th, 2018 at 23:36
I’ve just come across an article “Tips & Insights: A World-class Combination” about the proposed combination of Royal Dutch Shell, one of the largest companies in the world and ‘best known for its gasoline stations’ and BG Group, a natural gas specialist.
The article centres on Sarah Franklin, (BG chief counsel, with a list of responsibilities, including health and safety after her name), who would be BG’s legal lead for integration planning.
In the article she explains that emotional intelligence was pivotal to success. I find this strange, as emotional intelligence wasn’t an attribute in BG Group. Could this be integration jargon?
Franklin has apparently added other governance matters, including human rights and whistleblowing investigations to her legal skill set. She set up BG’s first whistleblowing program.
She has inherited a new team that focuses on complex safety and environmental issues. As noted in the article, in Shell Legal, many lawyers advise on safety and environmental matters but it didn’t have a global core of experts.
If you are a Shell employee, be extremely cautious about the content of the two preceding paragraphs. If you have concerns, especially those with a safety connotation and you wish to engage with her……….beware.
I’m sure other revelations will eventually surface.
I listened to the then BG Group chief executive drool over the Petrobras ‘partnership’ at his award speech for GB Personality of the Year by the Brazilian Chamber of Commerce in 2013 (https://youtu.be/pfknsxjT2Rw). He described many extraordinary moments during this partnership, a relationship that had flourished with ‘mutual trust and respect and super giant discoveries’, which was going from strength to strength. He was looking to a very long future with many more Eureka moments for BG and its partners in the years and decades to come.
So why would they want to put such ‘jewel’ in the Shell crown and who was responsible for this? At that time did anyone envisage the fall from grace in the coming months and years? Since then there has been turmoil in both companies, what could possibly have gone wrong.
Andrew Gould, Chairman of the disgraced BG Group, who allegedly was seeking a knighthood by joining the company has gone to ground. Given his contractor mind set coupled with his training as an accountant does not bode well for the industry. His LinkedIn profile shows that he is still Chairman of BG Group, as well as being a Board Member (Non Executive!) of Saudi Aramco. Given that Saudi Aramco are going to drop their IPO, this could well leave ‘Mr Corridor’ twiddling his thumbs and wondering how he can manoeuvre back into a position where he can achieve his ambition of being knighted.
It looks like Prelude has 19 helicopter fights per week. All of them are routed to the “Posh Arcaida” which is an accommodation vessel with up to 750 beds on board.
An article I read dated 17th March indicated that more than 17,500 people had been moved by helicopter since arrival.
Currently CHC Helicopters are scheduling up to 19 flights a week. That may equate to about 360 each way or a total of around 750 people. I think this may indicate the potential panic at the “slow startup”. I wonder what the contractual LNG delivery dates were to be and if any cargos have had to have been bought by Shell on the open market.
There’s a bit of pattern here. Corruption seems to be running through the veins of Shell. We see in all these recent tax articles how they seem to be snuggled up in bed with the Dutch Government. Will anything come of this? Of course not silly. It has been going on for years. There is even a department called Government Relations which is staffed by – yes you guessed it – former government employees. Where was Van Beurden a few days ago, for three whole days? The very secretive Bilderberg meeting in Turin (Guardian article by Charlie Skelton can be found on this website), along with many of the worlds elite businessmen and politicians, AND the Dutch king. The outcomes of the meeting were not something I saw on any of the Shell internal or external communication messaging. Funny that, seeing how they always share even the most mundane van Beurden news. So will Shell be brought to account for its actions in OPL? I somehow doubt it. But there is some hope. Will the real Slim Robinson please stand up.
This gets interesting….Enron links to Dynegi, links to accounting scandal, custodial sentences, links to BG Group, links to Non Exec Directors in BG Group, more links to Dynegi ‘strays’ on the BG Exec committee!!! Interested parties may want to dig deeper.
Biggest Fraud in History. I object! BG Group was clearly the biggest fraud in recent oil and gas industry history after Enron. The company had over-inflated its reserves on little substance and fact, and the auditors were either gullible or complicit. BG had been lucky with production, but the Geoscience supporting the production was usually fabricated. What they didn’t understand they speculated about or made-up. The Board bid the shareholders up the cobblers, Project Berkshire in the Brasil Asset was a classic example of this deceit – the Emperor’s new clothes. Their undoing was not that they had lied to the shareholders, but that they actually believed their own lies and flawed integrity. Their assurance process was corrupt and their cappucino and pepper plant culture led to them failing to meet targets. Ultimately, they managed to get away with it by selling-out to Shell after a protracted period of alignment, who turned around the toxic purchase by spewing-out most of BG’s worthless assets, Caveat Emptor!
#238Biggest Fraud in History on Jun 11th, 2018 at 20:22
Lawyers for the many parties involved will be reading these series of postings with great interest as will the Italian Prosecutors.
After putting “A Mole” in direct contact with one of the key investigative organisations in relation to the OPL 245 corruption scandal, this anonymous source has now supplied them with more information relating to the OML 30 Nigerian oil deal involving Shell/Heritage Oil and Guy Colegate.
I am also in contact with a person who appears to be a key player in the OPL 245 scandal. I await promised documents from this insider source to whom I have also guaranteed anonymity.
Dear John,
I believe Shell are in trouble. Deep trouble. Not only has this OPL OML debacle seen the back of some of its most senior execs, Brinded, Voser, Henry etc but now we can expect to see a Pandora’s Box being opened by Peter Robinson. I expect fireworks. The company is very quick when it comes to deploying its resources to bully and shut up it’s external critics or shamelessly pay off those that dare to challenge them. However, in Robinson they are going in to battle with a street fighter who will fight dirty and go down fighting given the alternative is to spend years behind bars. Robinson is a very shrewd business man and will have records of all the corrupt practices that the company was part of, the processes being flouted and the management who were turning a blind eye. I’ve been to Nigeria a few times on business and am always left dumbfounded by how many dodgy things take place in the offices and are part of everyday life. Robinson spent years there and will have an extensive dossier. I think its too late now for Shell to be able to stop the likes of Robinson opening their mouths, with the use of money. Having made an enemy of him points again to seriously incompetent senior advisors within the company. Had no-one heard of ‘keep your friends close, keep your enemies even closer’? It will be a very slippery slope. Van Beurden should use a part of his obscene salary it invest in a good tin hat. I would also advise him to have a good summer clear out of all those who have been advising him on the matter, and of those who failed to stop this from becoming an issue as big, if not bigger, than the infamous reserves scandal.
Yet another appears to have failed outside the cossetted Shell and BG echelons. The chief executive of Network Rail increasingly irked shareholders and commuters alike with a legacy of delays, cancellations and general disruption to services and will now take “early retirement” from the role. However with the praises of his chairman and the Transport Secretary ringing in his ears, I’m sure another revolving door will beckon.
#243Yet Another Concerned Employee on May 17th, 2018 at 21:26
LondonLad, well I am surprised, I had you down as an Arsenal, not Man U fan. However, you are probably right about B v B, anyone who can pull a rabbit out of the hat after swallowing BG Group’s toxic assets and them jettisoning them like the faecal pellet from an owl deserves some credibility.
People complaining about van Beurden’s pay of £7.9 million should have nothing to worry about (he’s probably well worth this). Just think about Manchester United fans having to watch Alexis Sanchez being paid over £31 million (£600,000 per week) and providing performances that do not justify such sums.
Carillion in the news again for greed, corruption, rotten corporate culture etc. Shell EVP (ex) Ceri Powell was a Director. Is she fit for a senior job in Shell ??
On 15th January 2018 Total took over Operatorship (22.5%) of Berbigao, Sururu and Atapu West (previously Iara West, Iara Central and Iara East respectively) Pre-Salt oil Fields in the Entorno de Iara (Block BM-S-11A) area in the Santos Basin. Shell acquired its interest (25%) in Iara through its acquisition of BG Group.
Production in Iara was expected to start in 2018 through the 150,000 barrel per day capacity P-68 FPSO in Berbigão-Sururu fields, which would have been followed by a second FPSO in 2019 in the Atapu field.
Upstream reports that first oil from Petrobras’/Total’s pre-salt Berbigao field in the Santos basin could be delayed to next year due to slower than expected integration work with the Berbigao FPSO, P-68.
This in contrast to the report from Royal Dutch Shell plc.com March 19th 2018, wherein Ben van Beurden is quoted:
quote
‘And growth will continue in 2018 as we expect three more FPSOs to start up. We have P-67 coming on Lula North. We have P-68 in Berbigao. We have P-69 in Lula Extreme South. And altogether, that represents over 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day peak production capacity, all Shell share.’
end quote
But, no doubt, the Executive bonuses will still be paid regardless!
#247Yet Another Concerned Employee on May 9th, 2018 at 09:06
Touching to see how LondonLad seeks millenial reassurance from Line Management in the form of Mr D. One wonders if he does the same at work?
Please note that the previous comments by “LondonLad” have not come from me – Mr.D might be able to confirm this with the IP address. Presumably written by one of the fanatic anti-Shell nutters that troll this website.
Warning from John Donovan: I would like to repeat a warning I have mentioned before about postings on this blog. Websites allowing aliases to be used are especially vulnerable to manipulation. That includes Wikipedia and blogs such as this one. It follows that I can only vouch for the bona fides of postings made in my name or by contributors such as Bill Campbell, who choose not to use an alias. Some contributors using aliases, such as “Outsider” (sadly now deceased) and MUSaint/LondonLad, have built up reputations here over several years for the integrity of their postings on this website. It seems that someone has mischievous intent in making a posting under a false flag.
Hi Jose, I wondered if you would like to meet? From your comments, I think we both work in the Brasil Asset, but I am not sure. I think we have a lot in common. How about we meet next week in Nando’s, 45 Bank Street at 12.00 on Tuesday next week? You’ll recognise me from the size of my package.
Methinks, I hit a bullseye. As I wrote: a bunch of losers with their snouts in the salary and bonus troughs, but don’t have the helicopter quality to see the good side of Shell. Pretty sad, really.
Enough of London Lad and Jose (one and the same?) they are probably migrants from BG looking to make a name for themselves, but not realising that they are already castrated by a poor CEP and PIR.
On the subject of BG what are Shell doing with the over 20,000 BBLs per day of contaminated produced water from the Western Delta Deep Marine Fields? BG used to tanker this into the desert and dump it. Their feeble attempts to dispose of it in another fashion fell short. Perhaps, Greenpeace should investigate this outrage?
Then of course there was BG’s Brasil Asset, a disgrace at the best of times, starved of information by Petrobras, but that didn’t stop them from making things up and gingerly playing barbed games with Petrobras at the instigation of the Asset Manager. These sad, technically lacking, individuals are now at Shell and having to perpetuate their BG untruths, they are ring fenced like lepers in Bank Street so that nobody can spot their lies. This slack Asset needs a thoroughly good shake up, starting from the top down. Petrobras will breathe a sigh of relief when they are replaced.
BG was well known for constructively dismissing those who refused to support their lies, venomous whispers about ‘poor performance’ and offers were made ‘made without prejudice’. The Industry is well rid of them and their ilk, rotten to the core.
To LondonLad and Jose Valente. If it’s ok with you both I would like to continue to post my views on this website. I hope by doing so you won’t accuse me of being ungrateful or of being a bad performer. Because being a good performer at Shell is what I spend all my nights dreaming about.
Anyway, back to ruthless Shell shenanigans. It’s a well known fact that Shell monitors its employees social media activity. You would be a fool to think otherwise. Our Norwegian colleague Runar has not revealed anything new. You sell any rights to privacy and rights to hold the moral high ground when you sign the sHell contract. Helplines set up by HR are all bogus and are never anonymous. HR will always join up the dots and it will be linked to you. Disgruntled staff are leaking information externally all the time. Being free to speak your mind comes up in the joke that is the Shell Sheeple Survey every year as an issue. And every year managers mark the cards of anyone that is brave enough to speak out against management or issues. Fear rules.
HR are ignoring internal frustration and instead have made it a priority to get more women into senior positions, regardless of competence and experience levels, and ignoring what’s good for the company’s profitability. Common sense has gone out of the window and it is no longer a fair place to work. Unless this changes soon, I may consider getting the snip and growing some breasts like LondonLad did to further my career and increase my chances of being able to “Make It”.
London Lad & Jose. Clearly sociopaths who are keen to make a name for themselves within Shell and trolling sites like this to build a bigger picture on what empathetic employees actually feel because they miss this part in their own sad personalities; believing that Shell is the only company to work for and that it actually means something if you ‘make it’. Get a life. As for the people who open up on here, keep opening up.
What makes me laugh about you pair of clowns is that you are critical of the value of this website and insult those who use it as a channel to air their views, YET you visit it
on a regular basis and seem to know quite a lot about it in terms of the topics and the posters etc!!! That makes you quite the illogical hypocrites, don’t you think? What’s ironic is that the logic you both apply (if you are indeed different people) is
the same as those of most of the staff that make it to senior positions, and users of this website despize. Well done and good luck in your careers.
#256Yet Another Concerned Employee on Apr 21st, 2018 at 21:26
LondonLad and Jose Valente. It sounds to me as if you two sociopathic Metrosexuals should get together over a cappucino or two to talk about your bonuses and then adjourn to a sauna where you can hold hands, ease some of the office tensions and frustrations, and compare the size of your egos.
Been saying the same thing for a several years now Jose. They didn’t make it at (or in one case with) Shell or were given early retirement because of poor performance. The combination of such persons, Greenpeace liars, Irish moaners and corrupt Nigerians trying to make money off the back of Shell make this site quite a laugh at times.
To concerned employee et al: it is amazing how much crap people can write on this blog. I can only presume these are a bunch of losers, that did not make it at Shell. Frustrated, desillusioned – but still with their snouts in the Shell trough, slurping away their salaries AND bonuses. Have at least the guts to leave Shell.
The business integrity problems have always been dormant under the surface (since the last integrity crisis at least) and despite the efforts to improve its public image, the problems were bound to keep returning like a bout of gonorrhoea. I wasn’t really surprised when I read the horrendous internal company note blaming Robinson. Shell has form. It seems only yesterday when the Shell turrets turned towards Bill Campbell when he exposed Brinded, Bayliss et al for supporting and encouraging a narcissistic cavalier culture towards safety.
Despite all the internal BS to deflect blame and external PR campaign to falsely portray that Shell as caring deeply for the environment and business integrity, internally staff are fully aware that management are only interested in profits, and that staff should be grateful for their jobs and speak out at their own peril.
I suspect that the only regret the EC privately have is that their generals were incompetent enough to get caught out with respect to OPL, but unfortunately Robinson is a gift for them and does make a rather convenient scapegoat. In a Shell world where for the majority of my colleagues its all about bonuses, promotions and job survival, I can understand (but in no way condone) why colleagues are more prepared to cross the integrity line. And if caught they will get a slapped wrist over a coffee meeting and no-one other than (the unashamedly corrupt) HR will know (only to raise it up against you when needed).
I genuinely believe that Ben van Beurden is a decent man and appears to have a good heart, but his weakness in dealing with the army of internal rogue corrupt dictators and getting control of the HR mafia has already cost him his legacy.
OPL is causing a lot of additional stress and gloomy faces in the office corridors and alarming gossip around the coffee machines. Thankfully we have our incompetent lawyers, unscrupulous finance staff, dishonourable HR, shameless spin doctors and ineffective (un)ethics and compliance colleagues at hand to make the OPL problem disappear. Or maybe not.
#260Yet Another Concerned Employee on Apr 15th, 2018 at 23:05
Behind the glossy facade of its brightly coloured filling stations and shiny reflective glass towers, Shell is truly a dark malevolent force. It is not only the Church of the poisoned mind, but also home to the parasitic mind which snatches thoughts from others and presents them as its own. Experience and being correct are not recognised, only ‘Process’. Many, through either bitter experience, incompetence or ignorance have learned to hide behind process and can no longer think for themselves. Merit is trodden under heel into the mud. Often one bad decision after another results in a predictable squandering of shareholders’ money, not by the millions or tens of millions of dollars, but by the hundreds of millions of dollars. Lessons learned are written down then forgotten as the machine moves forwards. This is rewarded by large bonuses. Reality plays little part in the daily running of the business, the public image of the ‘Brand’ must be protected at all cost.
I share your sentiments wholeheartedly Bill. The company has been caught with its pants down, with senior staff most likely involved in kickbacks. How could this have got through the numerous assurance including Integrity teams, Auditors etc who all form part of the checks and balances to ensure this is easily picked up (particularly in Nigeria). Either the company is full of incompetence, or there has been a blind eye turned to such corruption. I say (a lot of) both. The amounts of money involved is not loose change. I say this problem is endemic in many of the hardship countries we do business in. Shell is dark, corrupt and dirty and I am beginning to question if I am working for a far more sinister company than I originally thought. And this is playing on my mind.
A Goodfriday CRUXIFIXCTION …took place to day in Mayo …4 Irish Shell booze cops and a Mayo Co Co officer heard from OSSL that that the oil giant Shell has unambiguously stated that ” bribery and corruption ” does take place in their orginisation …the Mayo police and county council gentlemens ” who me ” stance is not looking to good now …this is not small ” potatoes ” one guy demanded and got 280k Euro spent on his house …watch this space .
TotallyHackedOff. To pick-up on your comment, most large Oil and Gas corporations comprise two main elements, to use a nautical analogy: the Leadership Team (The Flotsam: debris in the water that was not deliberately thrown overboard) and the Technical Staff (The Jetsam: debris that was deliberately thrown overboard). The Flotsam can usually also be found in a septic tank!
BG Group was run on processes parallel to those of Shell. There were Shell ‘plants’ in the Management Team to ensure that there could be a seamless takeover; it was insidious. BG spent the three years before the takeover bid was announced aligning themselves with Shell. After all if things were to go ‘tits-up’ and you were the CEO who had come from Shell in the first place, you would want an escape plan to protect your reputation and the shareholders.
Further to Bogus Group’s post on 14th December concerning Neil McCulloch’s departure from Enquest, it has not taken long for him to land a plum job as Technical and HSE Director at Spirit Energy where Chris Cox, late of BG is CEO. The storm clouds are beginning to gather as fast as the nepotism allows. Chris is rapidly building on his mandate to develop Spirit Energy (previously Centrica’s oil and gas assets, now rebranded) to a level where it can be assimilated by Shell, as the third of the companies spun-off by the British Gas privatisation in the ’80s and long stalked by Shell.
Shell – as I am sure with many global super majors- is heavy with narcissists at all levels. Lots of people like Trump rollicking around- get in their way and you’re a gonner! See you later Rexy baby!
In reply to Bonus Group and Another Concerned Employee- its clear reading from your posts that Shell and BG shared many business cultural similarities making the tie-up an obvious one. I know of a few Shell employees who resigned, joined BG and are now back at Shell again- it stinks of a plant/trojan horse ending! It is well known that Shell has an ‘inner circle’ and if you find yourself outside that as many of the technical folk do, you don’t stand a chance. Its all a bit wink, wink nudge, nudge. I even remember one manager (now a VP of something) telling me how I needed to ‘read between the lines’ which made me think it was all a load of bollocks and how the politically adept arse kissers rose through the ranks blissfully unaware of how their actions impacted their colleagues. The alpha men and women were all the same- keen to get ahead at anyones expense and doing secret backroom deals. Its one ginormous playground and the bullies will win as they are keeping the other bullies in place.
‘Another Concerned Employee’talks about Shell’s ‘scooby-doo’ business priciples, BG’s were just as opaque. If you asked someone in HR about policy you would be deflected to ‘The Portal’ and left to fend for yourself. Often the policies conflicted with each other and had no foundation in law. This was reflected in the hypocritical management ‘do as I say, not as I do’ policy.
The closest experience most of BG Senior Management had of oil rigs and platforms was reading about them in comic books. The Brasil Asset was a complete shambles with its ‘Simple Simon’ approach to geoscience and cappuccino lifestyle. Unfortunately, most of these overpaid sociopaths migrated to Shell and are waiting, mouth’s open for their next bonus. Shell must be trying hard to find ways to cover up grotesque errors in reserves booked by this Asset. Hopefully, Shell’s assurance process is better than BG’s with its £2Bn failure.
#269Yet Another Concerned Employee on Mar 10th, 2018 at 00:02
Carillion, for whom the bell tolls! Remarkable that a Shell Executive should have a finger in this pie with its aggressive auditing practices. More ‘pulling the wool’ over the shareholder’s eyes. Were the auditors asleep at the wheel when this was happening? There should be a full investigation, and those responsible made accountable. Perhaps, sunny Brunei is a safe haven? I wonder what the extradition treaties between the UK and Brunei are?
#270Another Concerned Employee on Mar 1st, 2018 at 01:25
Shell HR finds it easy to overlook its fake scooby doo business principles whenever it suits them. A number of staff implicit in OPL and the spin doctors trying desperately to cover up the crisis are still on payroll. It won’t surprise anyone that Ceri was one of Brinded’s loyal lapdogs during his dictatorship. Also no surprise she landed such a sweet job in Brunei.
Cerie Powell – ex EVP exploration now MD Brunei Shell Petroleum was a non exec director of Carillion (now in liquidation). She resigned once she was demoted to Brunei in 2016 (?) but given the news around the legacy issues involving Carillion, should she really hold a senior position in Shell Group ?
It is understandable that a niche now exists in the market for a company similar to BG Group, but for Neptune Energy to set its aim at emulating and becoming like BG is nothing short of horrifying. Why anyone should wish to recreate the inept management, twisted HR policies and rancid technical half truths of BG Group in order to deceive the shareholders is beyond comprehension. If they do, then the Serious Fraud Office should be on the alert. Sammy ‘two pools’, whose past remit included selling Enterprise Oil to Shell, rather than ENI is made of sterner stuff. That said, his nuclear ambitions did fall somewhat short of those of Kim Yong Un. Let’s wish Neptune Energy a long, scandal free future and greater integrity than bungling BG with its House of Cards and flamboyant ineptitude.
Following the acquisition of Engie the Financial Times headline “Neptune Energy sets aim on being the next BG Group” may have sent a chill through some. To think there could possibly be a rise from the ashes is an alarming prospect
However there was some comfort in the company chairman statement “We have the opportunity to take the time to get it right”.
Hopefully this means their Ethics and Compliance foundation will actually be more than just another policy open to distortion by misconduct.
Is the New York City case against Oil Companies justifiable or just hot air?
Many, if not all prestigious US scientific journals estimate largest source of air pollution in US is caused by vehicle emissions. Current estimates that US has some 260 million automobiles and 11 million trucks. It is the daily emissions from these vehicles that are the cause of scientific concern. But anybody visiting Florida, and following a construction truck, will be familiar with black smoke in copious amounts emitting from the vertical exhaust pipe, sometimes it’s so bad it can restrict your vision but Florida is not the only state of the US that does not require emission control, there are many more, monitoring for example (like a UK vehicle MOT) is not legally required or carried out.
So perhaps De Blasio should start suing these delinquent states.
In any case, I find the whole matter ludicrous in a country, where their President claims that human activity is not related in any way to global warming and appoints a head of EPA who is also so inclined (a man described by NY Times as an arsonist in the Fire Station) so why does Shell et all not call as witnesses in their defence the current EPA Director, or otherwise why does De Blasio not start by suing those states that allow millions of vehicles to pollute the atmosphere daily.
Further to my last post on this blog. Sound Energy have now arranged a slap-up bean feast for their shareholders to be held on 15th February at Grace Hall, Leadenhall Street, London. Drinks at Carriages afterwards. Dress is formal so don’t expect too energetic a food fight. Attendees must pay for their own tickets! All will be revealed about the new Coro strategy. You may recall that Sound shareholders will receive Coro shares as a result of the divestment of Sound’s Italian assets. The question is whether Sound shareholders will end up in the soup.
There are rumblings in the ether about Rockhopper Exploration plc having failed to perform Due Diligence with integrity in respect of their purchase of the Italian focused company Mediterranean Oil and Gas (MOG) in 2014, and in particular MOG’s asset, the Ombrina Mare oil field.
Following the decision in February 2016 by the Ministry of Economic Development not to award the company a production concession covering the Ombrina Mare field, the company has considered its legal options with regard to obtaining damages and compensation from the Republic of Italy for breaching the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT).
Could this have anything to do with the sudden and unexpected departure of Rockhopper’s Chief Operating Officer, one ‘Good Time’ Fiona MacAuley? Fiona, a Chartered Geologist, started her career with Mobil North Sea Limited in 1985 and has subsequently held key roles in a number of leading oil and gas firms across large mid and small cap E&Ps including BG and Hess.
Fiona is now Chief Executive Officer of Echo Energy plc where Stephen Whyte (also ex BG) is a Non-Executive Director, previously having been Chairman of Sound Energy. Fiona will also become a Non-Executive Director of Saffron Energy plc. It is proposed that Saffron acquires Sound Energy’s portfolio of Italian interests and permits through the acquisition by Saffron of Sound Energy Holdings Italy Limited (SEHIL). SEHIL holds all of Sound Energy’s Italian oil and gas interests through its own wholly owned subsidiary, Apennine Energy SpA (APN). It is proposed that Saffron will be renamed Coro Energy plc.
This is yet another ‘reverse takeover’ by the Sound Energy/Echo Energy Team. The share options for the directors are raining on them like confetti. Could there be bonuses in store for the Directors of this association of companies where the paint is never allowed to dry?
Plenty of ‘smoke and mirrors’ and wool being pulled over the shareholders’ eyes in this can of worms.
No doubt Chevron and partner Serica Energy will have their legal and commercial teams in action. Production on the partner owned Erskine platform has been shut down due to a blockage in the Chrysaor operated Lomond – Everest pipeline export route. Chrysaor purchased the assets from Shell who in turn inherited from BG Group.
Déjà vu springs to mind, as the Chevron partnership’s revenue was affected two years ago, due to a blockage in the same pipeline when BG Group was the operator.
The well-touted “lessons learned” jargon, will no doubt be on the lips of these companies executives as they scurry to apportion blame.
In a previous post Bonus Group stated “BG shrapnel has fragmented in the direction of Tailwind Energy”
This appears to be a similar story as other BG shrapnel (both operations and legal) moved to Chrysaor via the Shell route.
I’m sure the Chrysaor mob will feel comfortable dealing with the legal and commercial issues experienced with BG Group (later Shell), as it will be the same rhetoric for the causal factors. However Chevron and Serica may want to dig a bit deeper into the previous incident, to see how BG Group dealt with this, the transparency of reporting and who was made accountable.
BG shrapnel has fragmented in the direction of Tailwind Energy (aka Tailspin Energy!). Much hot air from after-burn can be expected from this company – mercurial bunch. In December they announced the acquisition of Shell Expro’s interests in Triton Cluster, located in the UK Central North Sea 190km east of Aberdeen. Their stated intention is to further develop the asset. Probably through a three pronged approach: bonus, bonus and more bonus! Will Triton turn-out to be a flounder?
End of ammunition supply!
Not sure what the ammunition comment means, are you being positive or negative. If Shell keep supplying the ammo well this website is under no obligation not to use it surely. We would all like the ammo to dry up. It would be pleasant to see the most corrupt organisation in Europe turn the corner, and for example demonstrate daily openness,honesty and integrity instead of serial lies. When I say it’s a corrupt organisation I do not infer this characteristic on the worker bees, but it is clearly corrupt from the top to the top, that is in its boardroom, including the non-executives who tend to know what goes on but sit on their hands, anything for an easy life. Highly paid window dressing.
Mr Donovan, Shell seems to have provided you with a huge amount of ammunition over the years. Is there any end in sight?
#282Royal Dutch and The Law on Jan 4th, 2018 at 12:09
Hello website, can I suggest that if the Dutch and Itailian Prosecution services are not aware of the Shell /police authority “happenings” in Eire, that they should be and quickly.
#283Shell Corrib Corruption on Dec 22nd, 2017 at 11:05
Mr D I make the reference of a link with police heroin dealing inquiry on this fact Athlone police station ( Heroin hub ) was the chosen destination for the balance of the Shell alcohol consignment on the instruction of Garda Sub Aqua SUPREMO Liam Grimes so that’s drugs and alcohol meeting in the same police station “of all the police stations in all the world you had to walk into mine “…is there a ” link. “Time will tell …we recognise that 99 out of 100 Irish police personnel are amongst the finest in Europe….however ….
#284Shell Corrib Corruption on Dec 21st, 2017 at 06:50
As previously advised on this Shell Info site …NEW MINISTER FOR INVESTIGATION OF POLICE CORRUPTION Links HEROIN DEALING COPS with SHELL ATHLONE ALCOHOL STORY …full investigation to follow ( see Irish Times under Minister Flanagan Drug dealing in Police Force )
Comment by John Donovan
Can you please state the exact headline of the relevant article as I have been unable to find any such story in the Irish Times?
Having worked for BG, the ‘bad penny’ will be well versed in unpalatable culture, he conveys he’s the “accountable person” for Glencore operations. Could this be a buffer for the chairman, better known for his nocuous statement following the Deepwater Horizon tragedy ‘I’d like my life back’? The chairman is a member of the health and safety committee?
The committee reviews every fatal incident with the senior management of the department and asset affected, and circulates any relevant lessons across the Group.
The rhetoric sounds all too familiar, statements about ‘loss of life being unacceptable’ and ‘transforming behaviour at all levels” seem worlds away from the reality of 16 fatalities in 2016.
Another BG ‘bad penny’ that has turned up is John de Lange who is now Head of Operations at Glencore (PetroChad) which is probably the best place for him. Having left Shell in 2007 where he was Chief Well Engineering, this Shell itinerant fumbled his way through two roles at BG, Head of Well Engineering BG Group and VP Well Engineering and Operations BG Brazil. A ‘very wealthy man’ by his own words he must be enjoying the high life in n’Djamena where the dust never settles.
Further to Bogus Group’s post, it is interesting to see how BG diaspora have spread like anthrax throughout the UK Oil and Gas Industry withering everything they touch. In respect of Spirit Energy, it should not be forgotten that Centrica E&P was the third of the companies spawned by privatisation of British Gas in the 1980s. The other two companies, Enterprise Oil and BG Group, have already fallen to Shell. Consequently, Spirit Energy is the ‘Holy Ghost’ in the Trinity. Will merging with Bayerngas Norway and changing it’s name from Centrica E&P to Spirit Energy disguise Shell’s long term strategy of taking over all of the British Gas spin offs? Indeed, is it Chris Cox’s mandate to prepare the company for take over in 5 to ten years time? What neater way than for Shell to segue from the UKCS to Norway? The bonuses will be large!
The first was the exit of Neil McCulloch, Enquest COO “by mutual agreement”, reported by Alys Key (City A.M). Ms Key also reports on white-collar crime.
The second was the Scotsman article hailing the launch of a new exploration and production business, Spirit Energy, a venture combining Centrica E&P and Bayerngas Norge. The chief executive of Oil & Gas UK also welcomed the arrival of the new operator to “the basin” proclaiming the need for “a diversity of companies with fresh ideas and innovative thinking”.
Spirit Energy chief executive Chris Cox commented on the opportunities “right across the region to maximise combined assets and build the portfolio”.
It may be a new player, but the rhetoric is the same, as is the leadership.
Cox “stepped down” from the executive committee of BG Group November 2014, prior to moving to Centrica a few months later.
Both he and McCulloch served as asset managers with BG Group (UK Upstream), before the acquisition by Shell.
after reading so many behavioral issue with Shell and having worked for them more than once just staggers me . I am glad to see Shellnews.net reporting them so eloquently. After being totally left for dead after a massive NORM exposure when working for AFPC in Syria in 2000 they have never been made accountable for destrroying my life. based of those horrific events I hope that karma comes back to them
Robin- sorry to hear of your dealings with Shell. I too had considered reporting an issue to the ‘tell shell’ line but was put off by outsiders who had said that whistleblowing never ends well for the whistleblower. And I guess their advice was right. However it made no difference to me as I lost my job anyway and now with hindsight I wished I’d had reported it just so as to get the bloody bean counters and Human Remains department to do some work for a change. Anyway, if they treated you like that, your better off out of Shell. You sound like you are more upstanding then them and actually have principles. Dust yourself off and get back on that wagon. Forget about for Shell although I am sure it feels pretty raw right now. Time will make it better.
#291Robert Eringer, Spymaster on Dec 4th, 2017 at 23:00
I was interested to read the Sunday Times article yesterday headlined “Brexit, dirty tricks and an international game of I spy.” It identifies former Monaco spymaster Robert Eringer as the most likely person to be the unidentified author of an 88 page intelligence report about the Russian links (including Gazprom) of a billionaire backer of a Brexit think tank. Robert Eringer is a former FBI counter-intelligence agent and later an associate of Clair George, the retired Deputy Director of Operations of the CIA. Does not mention Eringers’ past relationship with a KGB Chairman. In more recent times Eringer has worked under cover of being an investigative journalist and book author sometimes writing about Shell. Ask Mr Donovan.
REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN
Yes, this is the same Robert Eringer – the author of a book and American newspaper article about this website and my unusual relationship with Shell. One of many spooks with whom I have come into contact over the years in this regard, some working for Shell Corporate Security outfits such as CAS, some investigating Shell’s nefarious activities.
The former BG operating model suppressed challenge and fostered a breeding ground for sycophant’s, whose main role was to communicate only good news for the corporate image. The need for flatterers’ far outweighed the need for competency. Bonus Group noted one of the traits of the Asset Leadership Team (ALT)……….Lacklustre, the other two were Apathetic and Technically-inept. An unstable and hazardous combination. The bad news for Shell is that there are more of these BG “migrants” still in on their books.
Good news and Bad news! The good news is that Shell have got rid of five BG sycophantic Asset Managers and one more. The bad news is that they were parcelled off to Chrysaor in Aberdeen where they have now formed a BG club, similar to The Riot Club. We can look forward to more lacklustre performance from these five as they lurch from one untruth to another with no technical foundation and plausible Geoscience, as per the former BG operating model. Chrysaor is in for a rocky road with these five at the helm. Expensive times ahead for Chrysaor as technical disasters unfold.
#294Shell Corrib Corruption . on Nov 28th, 2017 at 14:53
Hi Ben van Beurden ..MINISTER FOR CORRUPT ALCOHOL COPS SUPPLIED BY SHELL …..is now history ..WE WILL CONCENTRATE OUR EFFORTS ON YOUR BEHALF ON HER REPLACEMNT MINISTER FLANNIGAN ….BEST REGARDS await apology …OSSL
If US, UK, France, Germany, Russia and Europe want to sell crude oil at 20 dollars per barrel then please do develop oil and gas wells, refineries in Iran and Iraq. I guarantee you what ever money Iraq and Iran gets from selling oil and gas would directly go to fund Iranian Missiles, which are increasing at the rate of 10 missiles per day. Money would be used to fund terrorists Hamas and Hezbollah. It would also help Iran develop long range missiles to target and threaten your country, just like how North Korea does. One thing you know for clear is Iran and Iraq, after Saddam Hussein, have become conjoined twins, because of shia ideology. So if you want to be targeted by Iranian missiles plus ruin your economies by selling crude oil at 20 dollars per barrel, then invest in Iraq and Iranian oil and gas fields. Choice is yours.
#296Minister for Shell Alcohol on Nov 24th, 2017 at 13:24
BVB …I know u visit this site regularly… Michiel Brandjes told me …Visit Sky News on the hour all day today and watch the Minister who covered for the corrupt cops in Mayo bring the government down ….as I told you she would ….apology any time soon …let us clear our name you know the drill ….OSSL
So much for Shell caring about the environment. Looks like they will be part of the consortium that destroys Bolivia’s ecological beauty. There is no limit to what this dirty money grabbing hypocrite will do.
i read a lot in paradise papers about scandal about shell companies. why are you not reporting it – i would be interested in hearing more about the devil shell and its companies.
Viele Grusse, Ruediger
In response to Bogus Group’s recent post, the worst asset for sycophancy was BG’s Brasil asset. It is clear that Shell have retained most of the BG sycophants in order not to disrupt continuity and external perceptions of this asset. However, there may yet be some surprises in store, hopefully, including some serious staff cuts. It is about time honesty and integrity were employed in this asset. Bring on the staff cuts, starting with management!
Understanding the culture of BG Group, swallowing up Chapman’s fiefdom of cronyism and sycophants by Shell, to protect the interests of employees and investors would have been easy. The difficult part would be how to regurgitate the malignance that had been fostered and eroded the foundations of a great company
While previous articles have reported on the vast sums being “extracted” from the energy sector, spare a thought for those apparently at the other end of the scale, as the oil and gas industry may be going through a bigger downturn than first thought. Following a Freedom of Information request by a national newspaper, the chief executive of the OGA has apparently been supplementing his £335k salary, with expense claims for a bag of crisps 98p, a drink 99p, a chocolate bar £1.55 and a packet of nuts £1.65.
#302Irish Shell Police Corruption on Nov 5th, 2017 at 13:18
All Mayo Corrib corruption correspondence to BVB and others ….is now being dealt with by Shells ALEXANDER JACKSON …who is he ? …anybody know ..thanks
No corruption? What planet are you from? A number of the Executive Committee have already run away from the company, and Shell have been caught out telling lie after lie and then having to own up when evidence has been produced. Global Witness have done a sterling job. The deluded Shell stooges that come on here defending the company make me chuckle!
I believe that there is no corruption until I see those that are alleging corruption report to the right authorities than lamenting in the media because you were fired.
#305Cppib purchase of Corrib on Oct 5th, 2017 at 06:55
Mark Machin of CPPIB (answerable to shareholders) …is aware of outstanding corruption allegations involving Mayo Co Co and Irish Police. Shell blaming Roadbridge and rogue Shell employee. Head of legal at Shell Julia Busby confirmed corruption in the presence of the Shell CEO ..what will CPPIB do ..pull out?
#306Mayo safety Enforcement on Oct 1st, 2017 at 14:06
With regards your current coverage a Mayo council officer based near site of Corrib gassing near tragedy had a fortune spent on his house by Shell disguised as Roadbridge the cash was spent for no operational reason purely as a favour WHO IS ENFORCING SAFETY LOCALLY Condon and Haynes of Mayo Co Co fully aware …MASSIVE QUESTIONS TO ANSWER
Where can I find the claimed announcement by Flanagan about Police corruption in connection with Shell or Corrib? Or is someone just making it up? No such information found on a Google search?
#309Shell Corrib Police Alcohol on Sep 25th, 2017 at 14:55
At last …new Minister for Justice in Ireland Charles Flanagan has today announced that police corruption and cover up of same including Shell Mayo activities with senior officers will be fully investigated…or to quote the Minister ” all skeletons in all cupboards will be exposed “….we will see .
Presumably he is setting himself for a run at the mayorship by attempting to rebuild Houston. I pity the Houstonians because his organisation skills in UA were legendary !!
In response to Bogus Group’s post about the Petrobras scandal, BG Group were not to be outdone in this respect with their Brasil Asset playing ‘Games’ against Petrobras’ ‘Bad Boys’! There is a rumour going around that one of BG’s Brasil technical workflows had an error that worked substantially in BG’s favour. Entirely believable, given BG’s technical incompetence.
#312Blood on their hands on Sep 13th, 2017 at 21:57
How much money did Shell waste in its attempts to get its grubby hands on Iraqi oil? They also have blood on their hands as they were licking their lips when the prospect of dropping cluster bombs on Iraqis was a very real prospect. It looks like Brazil and Iran are the new flavors of the month. Let the ass kissing begin. And if that fails, send in the yanks.
#313Shell Police Corruption on Sep 13th, 2017 at 20:40
In a surprise move the Corrupt lady Commisioner who covered for Shells alcohol recipient cops in Mayo is to be replaced by Sir Bernard Hogan Howe a British Knight of the Realm policing Ireland ?# SHELL CORRIB CORRUPTION FULLY EXPOSED
Upstream (5 June 2008) article on Petrobras chief executive and BG executive comment on “how much gas there is”. The article links to Alexander Gas & Oil (8 February 2010) on “who’s who” in the deal. One of who was subject of an article in “Debtwire” (29 August 2016), the other was noted in an article on this blog, (28 August 2017 at 16.40).
Shell MoU with Petrobras and their partnership to share experience on cost efficiency and use of technology.
Déjà vu springs to mind (Daily Telegraph 01 March 2012) on BG Group finance of $1.8bn from Brazilian Development Bank to fund interests offshore Brazil (was this the same interests that Chapman demanded his cohorts in Brazil disclose over estimated reserves?).
Daily Telegraph 14 May 2013 also noted Chris Finlayson rhetoric to “keep up the pace with huge discoveries” and focusing on “value over volume”, leaving the company “lean and agile”.
We know the story behind Petrobras corruption; did this other “great company and their great leaders” come into the equation?
#316Shell Police Corruption .. on Sep 10th, 2017 at 19:32
It took a little longer than anticipated but now the Irish Police Commisioner who aided the Shell police alcohol cover up has tonight gone having failed to silence OSSL …next up is CS Gannon for whom Shell CEO demanded statement falsification following the CS abhorrent threats to “drive the people of Erris into the sea “…
Energy Voice lands another “exclusive”, in The Hague this time. Yet another good news story in the making, no doubt portraying a “warm cosy feeling” in the industry. I wonder if EV would ever run an exclusive on some of the less welcome news that executives don’t want to hear. I think not, this would mean biting the hand that feeds them.
Armada typifies the slack ‘cappuccino’ lifestyle idiots that BG Group had working for them. No integrity and just looking for the next bonus hand-out. Remember Keith Moncrieff and Sean McCue!
Dear Armada, your statement “it is only…” shows a serious flaw in current safety thinking. This increased acceptance and normalisation of risk is a trend amongst staff who have not witnessed serious events themselves, and therefore assume it won’t happen. The only outcome of this normalisation can only be a devastating event, big enough to reset thinking.
#320Grumpy Tullos Veteran on Sep 1st, 2017 at 22:38
I find it fascinating how so called Shell experts who visit this website (not mentioning any names, Armada) can so nonchalantly dismiss safety critical risks/factors as being overstated. I hope that these people are not in technical or HSE type roles. Its these type of company cronies who were falsely handing out permits to work like sweets or allowing for corners to be cut if it meant money being saved and bigger bonuses during my time working on Shearwater. At that time there were auditors like Bill. Now we get wet behind the ear financial auditors who come round with giant spreadsheets. It does not surprise me at all that we are getting these Safety Notices. I only hope that the cost reductions and subsequent corner cutting doesn’t end up in lives being lost.
Only on the flare stack!!!!
“Blowdown and Pressure Relief” is a safety critical system and as such had a BG Performance Standard (Ref: PSB-80). The Functionality Criteria for the Written Scheme of Examination states, “Thermal radiation from ignited vent or flare tip to be less than 4.7Kw/m2 (1,500BTU/ft2) at manned areas and helidecks”.
Any breach of the flare system could have released huge volumes of gas (from an emergency blowdown) well before it reached the flare tip. Very much an explosion risk.
I love the way you make a very tenuous link to Malcolm Brinded when the Armada platform had one flare pipe corrosion issue. Aramda was of course a BG platform until recently and thus out of reach of Brinded. The ‘explosion risk’ is being vastly overstated as this was only on the flare stack and not on safety critical equipment.
REPLY BY JOHN
The same cannot be said about his past connection to Shell Brent platforms including Brent Charlie.
Recent revelations of Prohibition Notice on Shell (ex BG) Armada and Improvement Notices on Shell (ex BG) Lomond, served by the HSE are alarming. In 2012 similar concerns were put to Oil & Gas UK and the HSE, but for some reason they were disregarded by both organisations.
BG was the parasitic flea on the back of Petrobras’ elephant. BG’s Brasil Asset was not their smartest, with shoes, trainers, confidential company and personal documents, and open handbags littering the open plan office in Drake Building. Run with a lack of probity, some got off scot-free, some were not as rock solid as their name might suggest and others were enough to give you the collywobbles, and all that along with a ragtag assortment of refugees from Syria and Iran.
Another Energy Voice “exclusive” (February 17) with Martin Houston, on how he had no regrets about “turning down” the CEO role with BG Group. I’m surprised EV didn’t validate this claim, as a FT article (2013) noted he’d “lost out” on a race for the top job to Chris Finlayson. Upstream also published an article (2013) on how he left BG Group “with immediate effect” having been overlooked for the CEO role. Houston is now embroiled in a lawsuit with Cheniere Energy, for defaulting on a US$46 million loan, paid to a company wholly owned by him. See LNG Boil-off.
More on the Shell – BG executive merry-go-round. It was announced (May’17) that Chris O’Shea, Chief Financial Officer Smith’s Group was “stepping down with immediate effect, to pursue a career outside the group”, he is now on gardening leave.
In 2012 he also stepped down from his role as CFO with BG Group, during a period of turmoil within the executive committee. Prior to joining them in 2006 he was Finance Director for Shell in Nigeria.
#328Dirty Rotten Scoundrels on Aug 16th, 2017 at 23:27
So Shell has been caught with its pants down again, telling blatant lies, this time about the cleanliness of gas. All so that it can improve its clean credentials and make even more $$$. Can we believe anything they tell us? Where would we be without the likes of Friends of the Earth who bring Shell to task. Where does it say we are allowed to lie and mislead in our business principles? This is a great message from the leaders to the worker bees “Do as we say, not as we do”. Im sure the paid Shell apologists will come on here and tell us we shouldnt pick on Shell and they are a caring company and we should be greatful for working for them and that John Donovan is to blame.
A media article has revealed that Shell is already suffering from the legacy of BG Group negligence in maintaining safety critical equipment. The HSE have issued an improvement notice for failing to install gas detection equipment on the Lomond Platform, despite recommendations from two separate studies. A second improvement notice was issued for failing to test a High Integrity Protection System (HIPS) since 2014, despite the associated Performance Standard requirement to test annually. It could be assumed that Finlayson encouraged the infamous Brent TFA during his tenure at the helm of BG to maximise production volumes (an obsession with executives), at the expense of safety system testing. That assumption would not be entirely accurate, the same culture was evident in BG Group long before. Previous failures of a HIPS testing regime had been exposed at another BG operational location, yet despite this no one was held accountable. Maybe if they had been the ‘management team’ in question would not have been implanted in Aberdeen in 2012.
This Lower Forever strategy is something that has so obviously been dreamt up by HR and the bean counters so that the company can justify all the savage cost cutting and job culling. I find the company tactics revolting. Anyone with half a brain cell in the oil world knows that its only a matter of time before oil starts to motor upwards.
The second leak, a story in itself, but also what leaked, (HF) hydrogen fluoride is a very dangerous gas when it reacts with the atmosphere, also very harmful to health, look it up. Article does not say what volumes involved but the closure of this super sized plant is a big deal commercially apart from reputation issues.
As much as I like some of Bill Campbell’s articles this latest one is just going a bit too far. there are so many variables which will change the prognosis here that its almost impossible to predict the leakage potential of Prelude. The major ones are location and hydrocarbon profile. I wonder what Bill Campbell would advocate as a solution? It almost appears as if he wants to be in a position to say “I told you so” and not in a supportive mode of “this is what you could do”. The safety cases for Prelude do of course look at spill scenarios and remediation is the key, none of us at Shell is naive enough to believe in the 100% carbon loss free situation but common sense, good engineering and good training will do a lot to combat what Bill sees as the inevitable. armchair criticism at its best.
Reading Bill’s comments has inspired me to chime in. Ruthless cost cutting is leading to such HSE incidents. The sacking of skilled and experienced staff is taking place all over the place. The risk level is being seen as acceptable where there is heavy cost injection required to be on the safe side. Nobody dares question this due to the HR assassins that are currently patrolling the corridors looking for their next victims.
You have to laugh when you read these documents which HR have produced. It must have been written by someone with verbal diarrhea. Expressions like “Focusing capability from both an organisational and locational design perspective to drive productivity, ideation and promote Agile ways of working” show just how far these people are away from the rest of us at the coal face. Some of the invented words (ideation) are superb ! I guess this is all to protect the jobs in HR as someone has to translate this BS into what happens in the real world. It appears we have regressed into the bad old days of buzzword bingo, how many buzzwords can we put into one document. Sigh.
I am grateful for the information I read in the New York Times as being in the US we are far from whats happening in the American hating HQ. Such job culling decisions are made behind the scenes without just cause or any consultation and then we are told about it when all the decisions are already made. As for this being stolen property, I would love to see Shell try to take John Donovan to the courts again. I’m sure he and his attorney are licking their lips at such a (butt kicking) prospect.
REPLY BY JOHN
Sorry, no prospect of Shell suing me. I have a Shell internal communication stating that they decided long ago that any legal action against me is ruled out. Too much “internal laundry” that they do not want revealed in open court. So I have a free hand to say and publish whatever I want about Shell without fear of retribution. Always sticking to the truth, but perhaps prone to exaggeration as “Cash All Gone” suggests in the nicest possible way.
The “leaked” document is not so dramatic as you make it seem – every Shell employee can freely access it, including all the to-be org charts. Everyone should already have had a 1-on-1 conversation with their line manager on whether their job is at risk or not. So Shell is actually very transparently approaching this. On the VP musical chairs – numbers quoted are 50% of VPs would have to leave, and GM level even more. So the cull really cuts right through it…
How do we know that the Shell document referred to in the Reuters article is not fake? If genuine, and therefore stolen property, why would Shell allow you to publish any of the content?
REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN
Shell was given the opportunity days ago by myself and more recently by Reuters to take issue with the authenticity of the 88 page document. I supplied extracts and offered BvB sight of the whole document in a security sanitised form. Shell had the option to ask me not to publish (I have accommodated high level requests from Shell previously when grounds were provided) or could have sought an injunction. Shell knew it was authentic and kindly provided comment for Reuters to use in their article.
Cadfael, clearly you’re living in the past. It sounds like you are one of those folks who expect you have a job for life. The staff numbers especially in the Head Offices have always been bloated and a legacy of high oil prices. Ben and his management team have taken what most sensible boards would have done. Look, for example, at the costs in Deepwater which have been reduced by over 50% by prudent management and getting rid of the ‘good old boy’ network. I agree it is not nice for people to lose their jobs, thankfully a lot of the losses have been with the older guys who ran laughing all the way to the bank leaving some of us in good positions. Yes I will look over my back but Shell isn’t the only company in the world and people need to realize that protection of jobs comes at a cost. As for Ben looking “an aging, sorry, tired figure”, I have never heard so much rubbish. I saw him two days ago and your statement could not be further from the truth. Sad false news I’m afraid.
Please have a bit of heart, or have you been too brainwashed that you cant tell right form wrong anymore? Its definitely not good news when profits are put ahead of peoples livelihoods. Tell the hordes of great colleagues who have lost their jobs as a result of the heartless cost cutting drive in order to make more profits that its *good news*. As for van Beurden, he looks an aging, sorry, tired figure as the job seems to have really taken its toll on him. And Mr Good News, before you get too comfortable keep watching over your shoulder, it could very well be you that receives the “good news” next.
It’s about time we had some good news and comments on this blog.
Congratulations to Ben and his team for delivering an outstanding quarters results. Dividends covered by cashflow and debt/equity reduction is all good news for sure and one in the eye for all those analysts (hoping) who predicted a dividend cut and probably sold the shares short.
Now cue the haters with their comments. Have at it boys.
REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN
I suspect that many will share view my view that Ben van Beurden is the best leader Shell has had for a very long time. He had the guts to gamble on the BG Group takeover. Says his next car will be electric which is an interesting comment for an oil company CEO to say. Many legacy problems left at Shell for him to tackle. That is about as much positive comment about Shell that I can muster at this time. Hope it will do.
I feel sorry for that young lady who is making claims against shell oil. Here across the US discrimination is common place in shell locations. its part of normal life. It is just always swept under the carpet unless if there is physical contact involved or a guy they want to fire already. i have lots of examples of this happening. i one day hope i can say more but at the moment i have kids to feed and i don’t want shell to track me down! yes shame on me i know.
The Nigerian state pretends not to know the truth about the pains of the Ogoni people and the discrimination against the minorities of the Niger Delta whose resources have funded our federal budgets and supports our predominantly poor states which cannot survive without federal subventions.
Shell and Nigeria has consciously and completely destroyed the Niger Delta and particularly Ogoniland. Today, one Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) is shamelessly making moves to re-enter Ogoniland for oil. It is ridiculous to imagine that despite repeated warnings and a rejection of this pest-like company, the NPDC continuous its corrupt traits for which it is widely known and want to get the Ogoni oil through the back-door.
The NPDC is Nigeria’s oil drilling company, it epitomizes the true attitude of the Nigerian state towards the Ogoni people. Shamelessly and callously looking at the face of a dying population and telling them “we will kill you and take your oil”. And as usual, Nigeria will certainly be willing to provide its security forces to shoot and kill any resistance just as they have always done.
It is quite disturbing to see our country not bother about its mighty army showing its strength against a small and peaceful struggle like that of the Ogoni while the government offers amnesty to Niger Delta civilians who managed to gain access to arms and will perpetually look for negotiators with the Boko Haram insurgents. I see it as a national shame to send our well trained army against a peaceful and civil protest.
All Nigeria care about is the Ogoni oil. They want it at all cost and will kill for it like we saw in 1995 with the hanging of Ken Saro-Wiwa and 8 others. For over 50 years, they have shown this brutal attitude towards the oil producing Niger Delta and that attitude has not changed.
On Sunday, July 16, 2017, I was in Biara in Gokana local government area where reports of pipe laying activities had surfaced. One Kagbara (full name withheld) came with the complaint. We confirmed the massive land grading in parts of Biara in Gokana local government area. In Nigeria, I see a government that should promote human dignity, care and protect becoming so oppressive acting in utter disregard to the sensitivities of its own people.
But Nigeria, Shell or the NPDC can be sure that Ogoni will not surrender to this harassment and intimidation. We will all match down to the oil fields to protest this unending abuse and disregard for our rejection of all forms of oil production in Ogoniland for now.
Unfortunately, our leaders do not seem to bother about our dignity and the need to protect the integrity of our armed forces. They continue to abuse and ridicule our soldiers.
As the struggle for a better society continues, the current moves regarding the un-permitted invasion of parts of Ogoniland should be seen as an invitation for the people to fight for what belongs to them. As a people, we cannot be silent in the face of this affront.
Shell and her ally, the NPDC are at it again and let it be known that another round of bloodshed is about to take place in Ogoniland because as a people, we are bound to say “NO” to any form of oil production activity in Ogoniland.
The writer, Fegalo Nsuke is the Publicity Secretary of The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) He wrote from Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
several years ago, shell made the mistake of disbanding their trucking fleet, and leasing the retail locations to wholesalers, who now control the rents, and the price of the fuel the dealers pay. the wholesalers purchase the fuel from shell, and resell it to the dealers, adding on a few cents profit, plus a charge to have a carrier deliver it to the station. this leaves the shell dealers unable to compete with the other area stations. in my local area, the shell station is charging 38 cents more per gallon for regular, self service cash, and up to 60 cents more for credit, while 3 other major brand stations are the same price (38 cents less) for cash or credit! 3 or 5 cents a gallon is not a big deal, but 38 cents has sent many long time loyal customers defecting to the competition.
#345Shell EP Irish Exit on Jul 14th, 2017 at 19:12
So Shell is due to get €830m upfront for selling its Corrib stake holding. Any further payment is dependent on exceeding production targets and also partly on gas prices. Not the outcome Shell would have wished but the best obtainable after it has long worn out its welcome.
I am surprised that Shell is still able to operate the way it does despite OPL 245, illegal cover up of oil spills, spectacular uturn on the arctic, animal testing, being the cause of earthquakes in Groningen, spying by Shell Security and Government teams, screwing over its pensioners and many many more disgraceful actions. bad management and refusal to listen to staff concerns is whats destroying the company. The company has lost its way and its morals and what it used to stand for.
As the NGO Global Witness pointed out earlier this year in relation to the OPL 245 corruption scandal, nobody should be above the law, even the mighty Royal Dutch Shell enterprise.
Global Witness and The Corner House have campaigned and exposed the corruption around the OPL 245 deal for several years. In 2011, Shell and Eni paid $1.1 billion to Malabu Oil and Gas, a front company secretly owned by a former Nigerian oil minister. Prosecutors have alleged that over US$500m went to “fronts for [former] President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria”. This crooked deal deprived Nigeria’s people of a sum worth 80% of its 2015 healthcare budget. Shell and Eni have always denied that they knew the money would go to Malabu, but documents seen by Global Witness show that the companies constructed the deal knowing that the money would flow ultimately to Etete’s company.
With regards to the matter raised by Jazmin Anderson, it may indeed be a scam – see FRAUD AND SCAM ALERT on the Shell.com website. It should be easy to verify whether any documents purported to be Shell documents are authentic or fake. If fake, then the scam should immediately be reported to the appropriate police authority.
Thank you, Mr. Donovan, for the kind attention. I will provide and email you the details of my husband’s ordeal. I also tried to reach Shell Global Hotline but I am not sure if they even entertain such circumstance especially coming from an ordinary person like myself.
I am grateful for this opportunity to obtain all the help, referral, and assistance I could get.
We published your appeal for information concerning “Patrick Blinks”.
You have followed this up with various allegations in a further posting submitted for publication.
Before we proceed further, please provide a detailed account of the background to this story, ideally in chronological order and with supporting evidence.
We would then put the allegations directly to Shell CEO Mr Ben van Burden so that Shell has the opportunity to investigate and respond if it wishes to do so.
Any further publication by us will depend on the information you supply and any response by Shell. Please send to john@shellnews.net
Hello All,
I have read some of the blogs here from former employees of Shell and I would like to ask if you know someone by the name of “Patrick Blinks”. He is a Purchasing Officer / Contractor with Shell and currently has a project in the Gulf of Mexico (in a rig called “Taiwan Ocean”).
My husband is the Project Manager and he and his workers have been there for five months now. The project is done. Although there were some issues with the pipes being damaged, my husband’s team were able to extract barrels of crude oil. Right now, the problem is, “Patrick Blinks” would like to get his workers paid BEFORE letting my husband and his team to leave. This is not possible at all since they don’t have any access to any bank. My husband asked Mr. Blinks to let him go to his bank so he could get some money out and Mr. Blinks don’t want to do that and does not even answer phone calls or emails.
I have been searching for “Patrick Blinks” so I could speak to him either in person or by phone and to let my husband leave the Gulf for health reasons.
If any one of you, by any chance, who knows this person or know someone who may be associated with him, please inform me right away. I have limited communication with my husband and I am helping them to get out of the Gulf. Moreso, since there was contract signed, Shell and its legal department cannot assist.
Thank you all for your time and effort and with sincere gratitude for your help…
Malcolm Brinded, number 2 in the Shell hierarchy, sanctioned corrupt practices, deceit, theft and other illegal action involving a conspiracy of Shell managers.
FAO “the Real Shell” I’m not sure what you mean, my post was not an attack it was a factual statement about safety performance under Visser which Boumann got terribly wrong.
Hello all, I am new to this site..
i have been following a company called Ossl on another forum , they were a contractor to shell E&P Ireland Limited on the Corrib project,
I also remember the investigation re.. The Garda (Irish police) and alcohol supplied to them by Ossl on SHELL’s instructions … ( which found no alcohol— i can only think they drank it alll)
Now that the Irish police force seems to been coming apart thread by thread over the past few months , surely a proper investigation would be required to get to the bottom of this whisky barrel of corruption and collusion .. I think its in the interest of the Irish people and to stop these large Multinationals puppeteering our Government… Ossl have never veered or indeed backed down from their allegations and one can only think that it happened .. there is also many other parts to the dismissal from the project ..including not changing a statement to GSOC to protect a Supt. Joe Gannon ..I think these guys need RTE slot to get the proper story heard …
MAKE IRELAND GREAT AGAIN
Paddy Briggs did brilliantly at the AGM. Cornered the board of directors with a cleverly framed question that put BvB and his colleagues in a very bad light. He provided a classic example of taking care of the few not the many. A few horrendously over-paid people at the top of Shell compared with the welfare of 29,000 elderly Shell pensioners, many just managing to scrape by.
Agree with the last point by The real Shell- my take is that employees take on a cult status and are actually proud of it (this is sad by the way, but understandable as they all want to feel some sort of safety in numbers; group think springs to mind, and it smacks of some massive level of insecurity in these individuals). Management loves this too as they breed staunch supporters at the lower levels, protecting them from anyone who wishes to stand up against something they see which is not right. Same old shit, different company.
This is exactly what Shell does to staff who dare speak out against them. They discredit them and intimidate. Ladies and Gentleman you can see in full sight Shell using this forum to attack anyone who has an alternative view to their own. I hope they are compensating you enough Annoyed and Hello Haterz. You have well and truly sold your souls to the van Beurden.
Just a quick question Hans Bouman, you said that Koos Visser improved HSE but the data doesn’t support that at all. The two major lagging indicators suggest there was very little improvement under Visa but the number of audit findings increased highlighting a love for bureaucracy and not getting into the hearts and minds. It wasn’t till about three years after Koos left that we saw real improvements.
As a dutchman and having worked in the upstream of Shell, I take exception at the false and devious statement of ‘annoyed’. I know Bill Campbell was a very good auditor and not a ‘miereneuker’. He did expose systemic weaknesses during his audits rather than amplifying unimportant findings in order to reach a minimum number of findings as preached by the then head of HSE Koos Visser. (As the head of such an outfit one often has to take more extreme views in order to get the message across and Koos managed to irritate a great many directors in Shell but he did improved the standard of HSE with his often dogmatic stance!) His team of auditors largely consisted of true professionals.
Bill, himself a top professional from the maintenance sector, always put the finger on the sore spot and the good thing is he did not back down under pressure. And when you expose a systemic weakness the pain is immediately felt at the very top. And then things start to happen, either the problem is fixed or more devious actions of self preservation commence. These ALWAYS are detrimental to some minions. Many auditors back down in such a situation.
I assume that the annoyed dutchman never has put his finger on a weak spot important enough to be invited for an interview with the CEO of Shell. And believe me, this only happens if there is a real issue…
REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN
Many thanks for your posting. Please note that Bill Campbell has replied to the comment in question. See “Annoyed” below.
It’s about time Bill Campbell stops commenting, especially about stuff he knows little (aka nothing) about. He was a useless auditor at Shell (us Dutch called him a mierenneuker) and is a useless contributor now.
REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN
Readers might give more credence to your attack on Bill Campbell if it was not done hiding behind an alias. Something Bill and I never do. No attempt to discuss the issues. Just a blanket condemnation. Thus, not only rude, also lazy.
REPLY BY BILL CAMPBELL
I was such a poor auditor that I was asked back to carry out audits for SIEP after I retired but anyway you are entitled to your cowardly opinion.
I comment often in frustration that Shell does not appear to learn from its past experiences. It is not hard to understand the latest claims by the Head of Legal, here is someone who declares publicly to investors etc that we RDS had no visibility, no knowledge or understanding that monies in the deal would go to individuals but on 10 April this year RDS said they did, they knew up to Director level. Only forced into this admission by the surfacing of the emails called stupid and unhelpful by Simon Henry, what else is there to know, it’s not complicated.
On that we are totally in agreement! The difference between Voser and BvB in indeed like night and day. Not that far off the quiet life myself and its reassuring to see some of the terrible EVP’s and VP’s displaced so i can share in your glass half full hopes. What I fear is that there is now an entrenched culture that is detrimental to progress and i believe that will be very hard to shake, not to mention the animosity between the Shell and BG staff over the ‘packages’. I think that will end up costing the company dearly when it boils over, but we shall see.
Well Regular Browser I guess we just have to agree to disagree. I am probably labelled an optimist by my staff and most likely because I only have a few years left to go. I do however see.a step change in the management from Vosser to BvB. Its like a light has been turned on and the failings of the past CEO’s have been absorbed and gradually things are changing for the better. For me the glass is half full and maybe one day it will even be brimming over !
I am not sure Donovan would necessarily disagree – there were shysters then and there are shysters now, that at least has been consistent. As I mentioned in my reply, the accountability existed in a different framework and are not equitable I should also point out that Shell and companies like it were not peddling one set of principles while living another.
Deaths are a bit of a red herring, industry across the board has got a lot safer due to regulation and interventions after some painful lessons learned – if you think that this has anything to do with anyone at Shell you are seriously deluded. One only needs to take a walk around the buildings and sites where management flouts their own rules and even calls up people on mentioning it. The often lamented ‘hold the handrail’ policy has been broken on numerous occasions by SEC members and when over anxious staff have pointed this out to the the SEC members they are treated with contempt – this is a prime example of “do as I say and not as I do” and is categoric of the double standards that management hold themselves to compared to the general population, particularly when the latter is adding the value for shareholders.
As for Nigeria we are still polluting there and doing great damage on a daily basis, yes there is more transparency but there has been no movement or desire on the company’s part to address any of the issues which are going on there and which management have been advised time and time again. I lose count of the amount of work groups and think tanks that report perfectly actionable plans to the SEC but due to financial expediency are ignored.
I have no problem with BvB as an individual, he is a smart guy and did a great job in Downstream and was a much more palatable choice than Brinded or anyone else for the top job. Like I said I also had great hopes that this would be the guy that broke the poor leadership mould but after a positive start he has gone into the same tired and failed policies that all of his predecessors fell into. Can he turn it around? Maybe, but after the contempt he showed for the OPL245 raids I doubt it.
One thing we are definitely aligned on and agree on is how much leaner the company is. Technical competence has been gutted from the organisation and all the sycophants have been promoted beyond their capability. it has gone back to the bad old days of who you know rather than what you know and the company will reap what it sows. I will be the first to admit that there was some “dead wood” that needed cutting, even so the callous disregard with which people were treated was absolutely disgraceful. Families coming home from expat assignments to find a letter telling them they were fired, competent senior people ‘retired’ to make way for the diversity pick, bullies promoting bullies and BG plants being elevated beyond the incompetence they showed in their own organisation. A cursory walk around any of the main offices shows you how well this has turned out with a toxic and uncollegiate atmosphere. This stands in stark contrast to what I referred to as the ‘halcyon days’. That was a time to be proud to work for this great company, now they have now EVP different from any other two-bit operation. Those of us who want the company to succeed look around at what has been done and shake our heads and if you read the comments closely on here you will see that while most of us have gripes it is because we have a love for the company and want it to reach its potential, not be frittered away on a whim.
As for the gold plating that still goes on, where there is any spending at all. The problem with cutting corners here is that you pay for it later. Talk to the clever folks who cut corners on Bonga FPSO and have now screwed up the wells, or the clever managers over at Sakhalin who abandoned the WFRM plan and for which the recovery will never be what was promised, or better still the clever commercial managers who purchased acreage in the Eagleford with no eagle ford (not to mention the $40billion that was poured into that particular black hole). It is this that we remaining technical people with integrity want challenge to, not because we have any particular axe to grind, or did not get promoted (some of us are happy doing solid technical work), but rather we desire to do the right thing and deliver for our shareholders.
As for BG, if you read other posters here the concern is not that it was a poor choice but rather it was overpaid. BG was not all it promised to be and this deal had a very long burn on it and was probably the only deal Shell could do to remain competitive. As for the integration, we will see, Enterprise was also a smooth acquisition and has hung a number of albatross around the company’s neck. Ultimately the BG deal was the acceptance by management that they had failed in their ability to grow the company organically through poor leadership on the Upstream side over many years. Much of the acreage that Shell paid billions more than it needed to was looked over by Shell time and time again and management opted to ignore the recommendations of technical people in favour of playing financial games or dabbling in business that Shell could never hope to master – all under the auspices of doing things on the cheap.
I welcome the optimistic counterpoint that you bring to the table, for sure it livens up the discussion and gives readers a chance to see a different side of the company, although on most points it is clear that we will have to agree to disagree. As I have mentioned in my contributions in the past (well before the time of BvB) at its heart the company is a great company, full of many talented, capable people who have done some wonderful things over a century. On the flip side it is ruled by a generally incompetent, vacuous, short sighted, group think management team that does not welcome any dissenting opinion (despite the rhetorics) and is not open to the fact that the world is changing and business as usual won’t cut it. For as long as these people continue to prosper in positions of power throughout the company and promote more of the same type of people the company will always underperform and this particular site will always have a pool of people who get just frustrated enough to shine a light on the dark corners that the same management team try and keep in the dark.
Thank you Regular Browser for your interpretation of the Halcyon Days but I am sure that the owner of this site would totally and categorically disagree with you, especially as in the days you refer to there was very little public accountability. These were the days when the Donovan’s were take for a ride, when all people could do was protest outside Shell Mex house before the days of the wild internet when people like you and I could debate in open forum. So I respectfully have to disagree these were halcyon days. They may have appeared to be all singing all dancing fun days but there was far less accountability in those days, we killed more than 20 people a year with little public outcry, we polluted wildly in Nigeria without the visibility and true we were led by technical professionals. Ben’s degree is in chemical engineering not financial planning or anything similar so I presume you will allow him that accolade. I do agree though we have had some shockers in the past including Vosser who was a pure bean counter. As for what Ben has done I think you only have to look around the company to see how much leaner we are now, the days of hundreds of men building things to way above any known standards and gold plating projects has long gone. The GHG numbers continue to tumble, our incident frequency rate continues at an all time low, our process safety incidents also near an all time low. You may scoff and say things are covered up but you can’t hide body bags or Tier 1 incidents. You say the industry was leading this progress again I disagree Shell was out there as a leader, we invented the Golden Rules now seen throughout industry, we pioneered Tier 1 and Tier 2 reporting metrics and used them to drive performance and Goal Zero was ground-breaking in its day. They are out there for all to see.
Ben’s greatest achievement will of course always be the acquisition and amalgamation of BG, this has been a relatively smooth transition with very little disruption to normal business and blending nicely into our new age gas portfolio. I hope we can revisit this debate in a couple of years time when I hope you will (even grudgingly) agree BvB is doing a pretty good job.
The Halcyon Days were when this great company was led by technical professionals instead of bean counters. I can talk about many things such as the early North Sea discoveries, the first steps towards GTL, the days when there was a hum of excitement around O75 and Shell Centre, the exciting innovations coming out of Kessler Park and Bellaire. Yes, there were problems in those days too but the system was different and the company was not pushing its credentials through a set of business principles that it does not adhere too. This led into the era of fundamental mistakes starting in the late 80’s-early 90’s which is when I start to have a problem with the how the company conducts itself and for which I blame the purge of technically competent people in favour of the sycophants. From that point on we have the Nigerian problems (although I would argue they began before this and concur they were badly managed from the beginning), the hollowing out of technical capability, the selling off of parts of the business which made a difference, the reserves crisis all the way through to the Brinded, Van der Veer and Voser era. After what I thought was a promising start and a fresh approach BvB seems to have decided to tread this well worn route.
Don’t fool yourself on the deaths and goal zero, yes it is tragic when anyone loses their life as part of work for Shell however I can tell you if half as much time was spent in prevention and education than in covering up and deciding how to classify ‘incidents’ goal zero would be a much more effective tool by now. That said it should be praised that the HSSE function has made a significant dent in major incidents such as deaths over the last decade or so. Much of this has come off the back of greater scrutiny and learnings from incidents such as piper Alpha so it is not an island in itself and I would argue the industry is generally safer not just Shell – although we see the consequences when these things are ignored.
You are right that many of the transgressions come to light due to greater scrutiny and the internet is a great enabler of this. I would counter that these are choices made by management and the SEC though as time and again the Shell People Survey tells them what is wrong and they choose to ignore it because it is inconvenient. That is why this site exists as there is no other outlet to vent frustration when the SEC does not listen. The general population of Shell is much more ethical and wants a much better company than the SEC do, yet nothing changes and things only seem to get worse. Walk around any of the main buildings and you see this in peoples actions and faces. The atmosphere in C16 is toxic, as with Bank Street, Woodcreek and Shell Centre and this was the case long before the current crash in prices and the BG merger.
As a counterpoint perhaps you can provide us with some of the ‘wins’ of BvB or examples of celebration for the company over the last few years, it would make a difference to celebrate success for sure.
#372None Shell Cop ( Corrib ) on May 16th, 2017 at 10:52
TWITTER alive in Dublin for Shell double whammy MAYO BRIBES AND MISSING STATEMENT ABOUT COP CORRUPTION will sink both Commissioner and Justice Minister if honest cops have their way …nice one SHELL .
Regular Browser, I too welcome debate and glad you also despise the trolling. I do however disagree with your concept of the Halcyon days, are you referring to the period when we killed more than 20 people a year but made massive profits, perhaps you can enlighten us. What were the ‘halcyon years” ? In my opinion the ‘spin’ is just a result of faster, more rapid communications like the internet and other electronic means. In past years this forum would not have even been possible and so handling of the negative viewpoints will always require some spin to undo the ‘anti-spin’. I’m glad you re prepared to give BvB some credit, who knows perhaps in 20 years time he will be a super hero !
More tidbits. For those who said the Port Arthur refinery was a bad project. In the past 3 years the plant has been first quartile on income and a leader in reliability. The most profitable Shell refinery and now Saudi has it. Hmmmm
Trolls is not name calling merely pointing out a particular type of action. I think you will find that downstream does not post the largest profits – perhaps you should look further than one year. Downstream should be making a profit when upstream is down as feedstock is lower – the advantages of vertical integration. Yes the fundamentals are not straightforward but there is a clear linkage as the refineries and chemical plants use crude derived feedstock aside from Pearl and some of the others. I think it is a bit of a leap to assume that natural gas is going up all evidence points to a world awash in both natural gas and LNG – the analysts and people whose job it is to forecast these things do not share your rosy picture. I of course welcome debate and I agree some of what BvB has done is to be commended on other things he has fallen short, just like any other company. What I don’t agree on is the spin and the mismanagement that falls at his door from a great deal of unspectacular sycophants. As regular watchers of the company will note it has substantially underperformed compared to its halcyon days and while that is not all to do with BvB and the SEC those people play out the same failed policies and strategies and learn nothing from the wealth of data that being around for over a hundred years provides. This is what I rail against as well as nepotism, sycophancy and ineptitude. If you have read my posts you see that I am fair and reasonable and credit where credit is due. Like many posters on this blog however we get tired of “do as I say, not as I do” approaches and the same violations of ethics over and over again. There is a lot to celebrate as well as to criticise and perhaps you can have a role as countenance here to pointing out all these positives beyond the financials so that people can draw their own conclusion. I am sure Donovan, I and others would welcome the opportunity.
Regular Browser, before calling people names like trolls perhaps you should look at your own posts ! Downstream nearly always produces the largest profits in Shell, but if you too look closely you will see the turnaround in Upstream from a 1.4B loss in 2016 to a 540 Million profit in 2017, also the rise in natural gas which will only continue as dependancy on gas increases. The downstream increases are not directly linked to crude oil prices as you incorrectly state its more complicated than that. I was suggesting that instead of people being so critical of the current management they should perhaps give them a break and see what a great job Ben and the SEC is doing.
#378None Shell Cop ( Mayo ) on May 11th, 2017 at 06:17
We applaud the ” booze vendor” whistleblowing not a good move in Ireland, the Commissioner has days to go and that’s a good thing. Other culprits remain in the shadows but not for long hopefully.
#379Ear close to the ground on May 10th, 2017 at 09:28
With regards to 1995 BG take over plans, a proposal was indeed put to the Boards of ST&T and RDS, but they rejected the plan as at the time BG still had retail gas activities and the Boards didn’t want to buy those. What they could have decided instead was to buy BG and spin off the gas retail business, which BG did itself not long afterwards!
Perhaps you should look again at the results Hello Haterz all of the profit has been in the Downstream which is to be expected in a low price environment where raw materials are low. The Upstream earnings are abysmal considering the deal was predicated on buying plum BG assets. The results have also come off the back of stripping the combined company of assets and staff so we will see how sustainable they are moving forward, especially when the balance sheet cannot be massaged by creative accounting and when there are reserve write downs and asset repricing based on BG Groups poor cost control and project management. M&A can only be judged over the long term not in one quarters results so I would be cautious about gloating too soon. I hope that you are proved correct and over the long term the hefty price tag was worth it but make no mistake the jury is still out and thats even without accounting for all of the troubles in the courts the company is facing. Contrary to your trolling I would also say that most people on this site desire the company to succeed and only ask that the company live up to its own principles which would ensure long term profitability, BP showed what happened when you put short term gain ahead of sustainability.
No need for an apology BonusGroup, glad to see others dragging the skeletons from the closet. Unfortunately many of Chapman’s “disciples” have evaded the accountability noose (so far) and continue to contribute little to industry. Even the remuneration committee’s ethics were questionable as they acted with impunity by awarding obscene annual bonuses to executives, despite multiple fatalities at operational locations. Life may have been a continuous garden party for some, sadly others were not so lucky.
Chapman sits on the board of Rolls-Royce, ironically chairman of the Safety and Ethics committee.
Hi Hello Haterz, it was predestined that Shell would buy BG Group. That is why Frank Chapman set-up BG Group like a mini-Shell, copying processes and ensuring asset fit between the two companies. Who would you have sold BG Group to when you retired? This did not happen over night it took years of manouevering. It was not of BvB’s making, all he did was fire the starting pistol for the process to begin.
The results just in show how wrong the press and common opinion was. The acquisition of BG was a perfect match for the Shell Portfolio and BvB plan for the post merger company change is reaping rewards as RDS profits settle back into the ‘normal’ levels. The dividend is once more not under threat. I wonder what the haters will go back to moving about now? #benrocks
My sincerest apologies to BogusGroup for having inadvertantly hijacked his/her monicker through a typographical error. At least on this occasion there is accountability, but not learnt at BG Group.
#385Non Shell Cop (Mayo) on May 4th, 2017 at 09:18
Project leader Deasy it’s time for the “mistakes were made on Corrib “speech. Not all cops fell for your trinkets for the natives corruption but all cops are paying a price. Think on it .
I posted articles on 16th & 17th April. I did not post the articles 28th April (BonusGroup) and 3rd May @15.23 (BogusGroup). While I wholeheartedly agree with the content of both of these articles, I can’t take credit for them.
BG Group was founded on very little credible geoscience. Frank Chapman’s precious ‘treasures’. Technically inept staff promoted to heady heights as a reward for longevity, loyalty and willingness to play corrupt corporate games. Probity was a word never heard in the corridors of the pavilions of Thames Valley Park. As long as there was production and accompanying revenue stream it didn’t matter if they understood where it came from or not. Life was a continuous garden party on a ‘Knight to be remembered’!
The article about carcinogens in drinking water reminds me of the ‘drins’ scandal of so many years ago. The more things change the more they stay the same, i.e., a wolf in sheep’s clothing is still a wolf.
Then there was the BG Townhall meeting late in 2014 when the COO, Sami Iskander stood up and said the the company had spent £200MM assuring projects which later cost the company £2BN because the assurance process was flawed and broken. Too many lunches at the Bull in Sonning and 10k runs on the Thames towpath!
John, re the Cable/Brinded letter you have got the wrong end of the stick. It was HM Govt who created the role of ‘contact minister’ and not just for Shell; other ministers handled other big companies. So describing this role as an underhand attempt by Shell to gain influence is ‘spin’ on your part and factually wrong.
REPLY BY JOHN
Hello Factman. Fairpoint.
Nonetheless, it was entirely inappropriate for a former high-level Shell official to act as contact minister for Shell. See this article – Vince Cable – Minister for Shell.
“These revelations once again show the shocking amount of access that Shell has to government ministers. Shell are not only one of the world’s most environmentally damaging companies but, as Platform’s research shows, their continual payments to armed militant groups in the Niger Delta has had a serious negative impact on human rights.”
Cable worked as Shell’s Chief Economist from 1995 to 1997, a period in which the company allegedly paid and supported the Nigerian military to commit international crimes. In 1995 the writer Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other leaders of the southern Nigerian Ogoni ethnic group were executed by the Sani Abacha military government. In 2011, relatives of the assassinated Ogoni 9, as they became known, began legal proceedings against Shell resulting in an out-of-court settlement [3] in which Shell paid the victims’ families $15.5m, rather then face a New York Federal court.
Vince Cable has remained quiet about his time at Shell and denies any knowledge of the company’s alleged links to the assassinations. Last month, the oil watchdog Platform revealed [4] how Shell’s funding of armed militant groups in Nigeria has continued in recent years. In 2009, during the height of insurgency in the region, Shell paid $65m to government forces and a further $75m in “other” unexplained security costs.
I guess what we have all realised is that Shell and BG (as with most other big, ancient blue chips) hire based on personality traits- alpha males and females , in the vain hope that they create healthy competition and motivation amongst the lower job groups who aspire to lead bigger teams with more control (power). What has happened however as witnessed in the current downturn is the malingering presence of alpha’s who cling on to their jobs whilst the collaborative team players doing the grunt work are let go. Can’t blame them too much as we all wish to survive but what it does is erode integrity and authenticity- behavioural traits, codes of conduct and company value can only but be destroyed with this sort of crappy culture. Anyone who has been let go from Shell- trust me, it’ll be the best thing that’s happened to you.
BogusGroup talks of Shell ‘pets’. BG had it’s own, particularly in its Brasil Asset where some were gingerly sucking their way-up the rigid, masculine corporate pole. Others were more coprolite than corporate.
To Bill Campbell…your last post Bill the instructions regarding police alcohol and local ” love bombing ” came from the top CEO level the word ” corruption ” was only introduced by Shells BID DEPT in Den Haag to scare OSSL into silence …the police alcohol is just the tip of the VAN BEURDEN ICEBERG .
Cannot see why a prosecution could not go ahead and be successful, it appears abundantly clear from the correspondence that handouts to certain individuals would be required to secure a deal and many senior officers in the RDS organisation were aware of this and were complicit indirectly or directly. Their defence may be well that’s what it takes to operate with Nigeria but that is not a pertinent defence in international law and dare I state the obvious that this behaviour is a million miles from the intent of those wonderfully worded but completely ignored business principles that all in RDS from Chairman to office boy are supposed to hold as sacrosanct. My experience after many years especially as a Auditor for the then SIEP and then RDS is that compliance with the aforestated principles diminishes exponentially the nearer you get to the Boardroom. Time will tell.
Finlayson was clearly a Shell plant, who was supposed to oversee the sale of BG Group to Shell. There was a pseudo competition as to who would be the next CEO after Frank Chapman, but it was clear from the outset that it could only ever be Finlayson. However, he got too comfortable in the role, had a falling-out with Andrew Gould and left in a huff, probably because he did not want to sell to Shell. This left Gould holding the baby when the share price was rock bottom. One might ask one’s self why did Shell not pounce when Gould was Executive Chairman? He desperately needed a CEO to oversee the sale to Shell,and he eventually set-up Helge Lunde as his ‘fall guy’ as the whole house of cards was rapidly falling down. Even demanding that Helge start with BG Group earlier than planned. The whole scenario was transparent from the outset. And what of Andrew Gould? Is it not rather odd that the previous Chairman and CEO of Schlumberger should end-up as Chairman of a tin pot outfit like BG Group? Or, perhaps, he thought that by working for a British plc he might be in with a chance of a Knighthood? And what better way of getting a Knighthood than by selling a failing company and, thereby, achieving shareholder value.He knew where BG Group was in its life cycle and also when Frank Chapman was due to retire. With the limited truths upon which BG had built its foundations, it was a safe bet that the illusion would fail sooner or later.
#397Shell People Survey on Apr 17th, 2017 at 19:45
I had to smile when I read the comments about this worthless piece of HR BS. Every year the same answers come back about speed of decision making, working environment (the chicken cubes) and effectiveness of management communication. Each year we, the long suffering staff, are told this is not stuff we can affect and to concentrate on trivial items lower down the list. That piece of HR BS should be laid to rest and senior management made to read this site to see what the real issues are.
Regular browser………….I concur with your response, my comment was from an ex BG (purged) employee perspective. A number of senior executives ‘left’ BG under the facade of re-structuring, some slithered through the revolving door of unaccountability to join other organisations, while some slipped the net to join Shell. You’re correct about the former Shell pets, I was aware of the TFA culture in Brent but gave Chris Finlayson the benefit of the doubt when he joined BG group. However having dealt with him first hand on organisational failings and deficiencies in safety management, the causal factors for fatalities and serious injuries in BG operations, his intransigence in dealing with the issue showed his true colours. Hopefully he is still on someone’s culpability radar.
In all my years i havent ever seen such reckless decisions, bullying, incompetence and nepotism. We have Shell People Survey which confirm this every year but management always blame it on restructuring. At least we have the RDS blog to tell us the truth! This is all very exciting! What next? Wouldnt surprise me to hear revelations that HR are secretly waterboarding managers who are caught using Shell’s code of conduct.
Don’t be so sure bogus group the key players and wasters are all still there along with their sycophants. Plus a lot of BG managers were former Shell pets too. The more things change the more they stay the same. Only folk who could make a difference tend to get purged so the inept status quo is maintained. One can only hope that there is a severe clear out if guilt is proven in the OPL245 case really every manager JG1 and above should go, trouble is the ‘stars’ have been hand picked by the rotten management for greatness so the carousel continues.
A positive about the Shell/BG deal was there was an element of ‘ethnic cleansing’ of the management team and their sycophants. A negative is there are still some left, hiding under their stones.
You must not know Bruce. He has a very foul mouth and curses quite a bit in business settings. I find it ironic he is accusing another organization of being useless recognizing he comes from one of the most useless organizations in Shell
#403Wot, corruption in Nigeria? on Apr 13th, 2017 at 23:12
Wot, corruption in Nigeria? Cannot be. I never see de disting! Dey be hones people. Shame on de Oyibo (=white man) for making de nigerian people look bad. De most hones people in de world.
Who in their right mind would want to work for such a vile company? Allegations of corruption, serial polluters and ill treatment of their staff. Sounds like a Bangalore call centre would be a more fun place to work. Well done to that boy Crockett for standing up for himself.
Re Corrib I was stationed in Mayo for a short time, there was a lot of us drafted in to deal with and monitor protestors at various locations including the main terminal.. its wasn’t enjoyable work… i feel that Shell used and abused us to get their gas.. and what deals they done with the government to get the deal they did is a total abomination .. the local people were treated like criminals ..
#407Irish Police Commissioner on Apr 11th, 2017 at 06:00
Corrib vendor trashed for cover up looking very believable now. Police now banned photos of Corrib brutality against locals… yes u could not make it up.
Shock! Horror! OMG in modern parlance. Bribes were paid in Nigeria, really. I would never have seen that coming. Almost as bad as the fantastic revelation that Shell HR force fitted female and POC candidates for senior positions interviews. It was common practice.
I suspect a lot of folks are getting fed up with the hijacking of this site by Nigerian activists who continually make false claims against Shell rather than pursue their own government. I guess Shell is the easy target. Most of the spills in Ogoniland have been created by the Nigerian folks drilling into pipelines and trying to steal oil and yet this is passed off onto Shell in an attempt to extort money from the corporate world. I wonder where that money would go to in any case. Continual lengthy sermons are getting boring.
#413Armageddon in Ogoniland on Mar 28th, 2017 at 13:35
The expected cleanup of Ogoniland may save the land but many may never recover from the terminal diseases pervading Ogoniland and increasingly killing our people. Shell’s lies and irresponsibility has left an irreparable damage on the health on thousands in Ogoniland necessitating an urgent need for a health audit.
We are getting more revelation about Shell’s wickedness in Ogoniland. German Geologist hired by Shell, Kay Holtzmann, has recently revealed Shell concealed data on the level of environmental contamination of Ogoniland. Shell’s immediate response suggest that Holtzmann’s revelations did not require emergency measures. The company is largely irresponsible and will rather wish all Ogonis die.
I call this an Armageddon. It is a shame that Shell tried to conceal atrocities against the Ogoni people for over 50 years and will not get any punishment from the Nigerian state outside a meager $1billion dollar clean up funding. recommended by UNEP. Livelihoods have been destroyed and none will be compensated, Shell and the Nigerian government continue to launder their image with a lazy-loaded clean-up programme after many have died from heavy pollution and many currently suffer from terminal illnesses. Shell should have been ashamed of her actions in Ogoni and act quickly to address this mess.
The neglect of a people who have contributed over $50 billion dollars to the Nigerian economy, a small minority whose current input to the Nigerian economy still exceeds those of 20 Nigerian states put together. A people callously neglected because of their small size, the poorest of Nigeria’s poor and yet they live on a richly endowed land whose benefit they never feel is definitely a sad tale to tell about a state in the twenty-first century.
Ogoni is faced with ultimate death. Grappling to survive in an environment that can no longer sustain families, decreasing agricultural output, increasing insecurity and recourse to stealing to survive, and even more shameful is the conscienceless attempt by Nigeria’s drilling company, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, to resume oil production in the area.
The story of the Ogoni should not be told about any civilized society. Nigeria’s failure to resolve the Ogoni problem especially as related to our environment and right to self-determination signals a failure on the part of our country’s leadership to build a united and progressive Nigeria.
The world must continue to be made aware of the story of the Ogoni, a small minority that had been exploited to death by Shell.
We will continue to prick the conscience of the world and highlight the injustices perpetrated against the Ogoni people until they are addressed. We will not let Shell hide her crimes against the Ogoni people nor shall we be persuaded by political manoeuvres which do not address our concerns for a safe environment and our right to self-determination.
About the Author: Fegalo Nsuke is Publicity Secretary of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People(MOSOP), He wrote from Bori, Ogoniland.
#414Beginning of the end on Mar 27th, 2017 at 00:46
There is definitely a stench of discontent in the office where I work. Everyone I know has one eye on a new job and have accepted that
shell is no longer the great employer it once was. The crown jewels are being sold to fund BG deal and pay dividends. Staff are being treated atrociously, unless you are prepared to brown nose and turn a blind eye to the deplorable and corrupt behaviour of the prison guards (EVP’s and VP’s). It surprises me not that HR management like Mr Darcy are reading this. John you got any jobs going?
Wikipedia “Mr. Darcy is a proud and arrogant man to whom those are lower classes than him. He thinks he is better than them in rank and connections so he does not wish to interact with them”. Someone has a chip on their shoulder! Come join the real people instead of living in the clouds…oh but hang on, you’ve been at Shell for so long you forgot how the rest of the world lives. Time to bring yourself down to earth and recognise what is really important to people. Keep the blog going John. Its gives us an avenue straight to the top.
@Corrib Shell Police Corruption – If they ran for the hills I would question whether they had integrity at all. It is very easy to be a ‘fair weather friend’ you only truly know people have integrity when they stand up for what is right. Sadly Shell never cleaned up the whole Corrib fiasco post takeover of Enterprise and continues to pay the price today. As I pointed out the same corrupt management sycophants are put in charge of trouble projects as they will toe the party line instead of actually fixing the problems. You only get promoted to JG2 and above these days if you actually leave your moral compass and own mind at the door each day.
#417Corrib Shell Police Corruption on Mar 21st, 2017 at 11:32
To the last post Contributor when the s**t hit the fan here in Mayo Shell men of supposed integrity ran for the hills. It was shocking and somewhat disgusting what happened to former allies.
Well it is refreshing that there is tacit acknowledgement of the ‘culture of fear’ not just in Norway but more broadly in the company. Although Shell does indeed welcome ‘alternative viewpoints’ to do so is a career ending decision. This is supported by numerous Shell People Surveys over many years where this has been raised as an issue time and again. Management ‘listen’ but the status quo remains. Like all large corporations Shell is not interested in anything which disrupts the existing power structures and fiefdoms – though there are some places where the culture is a little more open. Those who do choose to speak out either get sanctioned via their IPS or CEP and are marginalised, while the sycophants and nepotists rise to the top to ingrain the culture. This has been particularly apparent since the merger with BG and the message is Shell folk should be grateful that they have a job and should put up and shut up. Rocking the boat on HSE, the pay freeze, filling of jobs with unqualified graduates or brown losers etc. Management have succeeded over a number of years in taking a once great company and turning it into a mediocre shadow of its former self characterised by mismanagement and poor strategic choices. This is a great shame as there are a lot of dedicated and talented employees across the company, though they do not stand a chance in a culture that does not reward competence but sycophancy.
John you know the shell machine is hurting when they desperately ask you to stop what youre doing! Spare a thought for us prisoners who have these people as our masters and have to jump on command (or face HR death squad). OPL 245 details, Mayo, and the appalling management actions in Norway have been hidden from us. Thanks for keeping us informed! Good health to you sir. You have many appreciative admirers.
Looking back at the same period of time over the last three years (1 January to 15 March) there were 60 postings in 2015, 45 in 2016 And 14 this year. Clearly a downward trend.
You’re insinuation that anyone who challenges this site must be a Shell management lackey exposes a degree of paranoia.
I’m in the industry – an industry that has served many and driven the wealth and well being of nations. You yourself have done well from it.
Have a good weekend.
RESPONSE BY JOHN
Thanks for your comments. Good of you to create this sudden surge but seems rather counter-productive to your suggestion that it should be closed based on the lack of use. if you really think that, why do you continue to visit such a supposedly boring forum on a regular basis, as you self-evidently do? Hence my suspicion about your background and the integrity of your postings. We are used to regular DoS attacks and other covert activity (including by Shell). 891,714 blocked malicious login attempts and 1,015,968 spam comments at the last count. Some people do not like what we are doing, yet keep returning, as you do. Your postings remind me of comments made long ago by Musaint and LondonLad who happened to be one and the same. A former senior Shell executive. Do the aliases seem familiar? If your objection is just the Shell Blog, then visit royaldutchshellgroup.com which does not have one. The way this is going, I am anticipating a complaint from Zik that you are hogging the forum.
Mr. D’Arcy, I fully agree with you. I find I am visiting this site less and less due to lack of content. Plus Zeke has “hi-jacked” the comments section and uses it as his personal “soapbox”
RESPONSE BY JOHN DONOVAN
How fortunate then that you are free to do as you wish. The website and the blog will remain as they have for over a decade, the leading source of Shell insider information for the mainstream news media and for all parties interested in Shell.
Has this blog curled up and died? Why is it still nailed to its perch?
14 posts so far this year – same old tired, worn out complaints. Even Paddy Briggs has given up.
Come on Mr Donovan, Do the decent thing. Time to say goodbye?
RESPONSE BY JOHN DONOVAN
Over 3,500 comments posted overall, over 2,800 on the Shell Blog. Why do you want me to close down this free speech forum available to Shell employees and other parties interested in Shell? It costs nothing and no one is compelled to look at it or post comments on it. Since you obviously don’t like it that on its own is a good reason to keep it. Do you by any chance have a connection with Shell management, which has tried very hard to close down this website?
#424Police Corruption Ireland on Mar 6th, 2017 at 12:00
Our BVB in European stand with EU partner Ireland in maintaining the silence that binds the cover up of Shell Corporate Corruption with Irish police. Justice Peter Charleton opens a public inquiry next week in Dublin Castle. He has total power to act as he sees fit. POLICE CORRUPTION BY A MULTINATIONAL IS A SERIOUS OFFENCE IN EU… including Ireland.
#425Police Commissioner Shell on Mar 2nd, 2017 at 16:47
Go to Twitter@ osslsafety if those guys are not in jail by now it tells you all you need to know about bent cops in Ireland
NIGERIA OIL SECTOR LOSES N200BN TO PRODUCTION DISRUPTION – IF ONLY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD LISTEN AND DO THE NEEDFUL
It was recently reported that Nigeria has lost over N200 billion in the last 11 months due to the force majeure declared by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) as a result of the vandalism of the 48-inch Forcados export line in 2016. But the truth of the matter is that this issue regarding the disruption of oil production can be tackled and addressed appropriately if the Federal Government and the relevant authorities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) are ‘genuinely interested’ in addressing it in the first place. Rather than ‘playing politics’ with such matters.
The NNPC put the monthly loss to the damaged pipeline, which was shut down February last year at N20 billion monthly. But like we said, the issues that have led to these oil production disruptions are obvious, however, the Federal Government and its Oil Corporation – NNPC, are busy beating around the bush, playing politics with these issues and dilly-dallying with the whole problem. The truth of the matter is that both the Federal Government and the Nigerian lawmakers, including the relevant authorities of the NNPC; know exactly what and what to do to put an end to all these disruptions of oil production in the Niger Delta region, as well as other issues adversely affecting the host communities’ stakeholders.
It is an established fact that the issues bothering the Niger Delta region are well known globally and by all, and as such, the solutions to these issues, which have been “long proffered” and how to resolve them for ‘sustainable growth’, is all that is required and expected of the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari to address/implement/execute with all sincerity of purpose. And not all these, for instance, so called fact-finding visits and dilly-dallying by the Presidency to score cheap political points and make it look like they are doing something to address the Niger Delta situation. What other ‘facts’ are they looking for with these visits? What exactly are they looking for when all the issues are there for all to see.
When we still have the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) hanging in the corridors of the National Assembly for close to a decade without being passed/signed into law, and even the reported, attempted removal of the strategic 10% Host Community Development Fund as enshrined in the PIB document; the Government and the lawmakers should not be surprised when these things are happening in the region. Besides, how would oil and gas host communities’ locals and stakeholders ‘trust’ and ‘believe’ regarding its ‘plans and intentions’ for the region’s development when such sensitive bills like the PIB are used to play politics?
The Nigerian Governments (both States and Federal), should realize that since they have failed, and still failing in its statutory roles to address all the issues daily adversely affecting the oil and gas host communities’ locals and stakeholders, the people have shifted their attention and have decided to hold the Oil and Gas companies responsible for what they see wrong in their communities, so as to attract the Governments’ attention.
The Oil and Gas companies on the other hand (which includes both IOCs and Indigenous Oil and Gas companies), should wise up and overwhelmingly carry the community people along and make them ‘benefit more’ from the oil and gas exploration and production activities in the region. The Oil and Gas Companies, including the Federal Government should realize that no matter the ‘heavy presence’ of the military in the region, “they still need the cooperation and active participation of the host communities’ locals. They should bear this in mind and probably change some of their policies and operation-practices in favour of the host communities’ people. The Oil and Gas company policies that work in Europe and US may not work here in the Niger Delta region; hence they should adopt policies that are friendly and accommodating to the host community locals and elites. Since the Federal Government is not doing enough to ‘sustain peace’ in the Niger Delta region, then the Oil and Gas companies if they should remain in business, then they should carry the interest of the people in all they do. They should not use force or coercion to try to drive their business because this will be counterproductive, as has been seen in the past.
The Federal Government, the lawmakers and the Oil and Gas Companies should realize that these oil and gas host communities’ people in the region have given their farmlands for oil and gas production. Most of them have even had their rivers (meant for fishing business) polluted and damaged for good due to oil and gas exploration and production activities. So, in order to ‘buy peace’ and keep it sustainable, they need to “change their policies, style of approach and manners of doing things”, to favour the ‘overall interests’ of the oil and gas host community locals. The Oil and Gas companies operating in the region should take and treat the host communities’ people as ‘real stakeholders’ that ought to be carried along in their operations and not just ‘stakeholders on paper’.
All our farmlands, rivers and creeks have been rendered ‘unprofitable’ and ‘environmentally hazardous’ due to the over five decades of oil and gas exploration and production in the Niger Delta region. So, the Federal Government and relevant authorities need to put themselves in our shoes to fully understand what we are saying here. For instance, by removing the said 10% Host Community Development Fund from the PIB, what then does the host communities locals in the region have to hold on to as benefits, to atone for their sufferings from the extractive industry all these years? These and many more are some of the issues that Government needs to start looking into.
Shell Canada Sarnia refinery is being sold off to SUNCOR in 2017 as part of asset fire sale. Suncor sources confirm that final sale details are being finalised for announcement in Q2-2017.
Shells Cop protecting Shell booze Cops ..has just plumbed the depths to aid vilification of an honest man ..check Irish press and be prepared to be disgusted Mr Van Beurden
distance yourself from this filth .
#431Today on Shell Corrib Crime on Feb 9th, 2017 at 21:10
Top Lady Cop aware of Shell statement falsification demands to save a CS called Gannon today moved closer to the door “abhorrent abuse of honest coppers” cited. She also failed to address the Shell police alcohol despite another CS confirming the alcohol as factual. Watch this space.
#432Mayo Co Co Shell Cash on Feb 7th, 2017 at 15:16
Other funds that did not go to the council direct distributed by Roadbridge and others with a “wink and a nod” for cooperation. 770 thousand euro spent on one woman’s house currently valued at 200 thousand – explain that Shell?
Just read that Shell wants to sell the share in the DUC (Dansk Underground Consortium for ca 1 billion dollars.)
It was a well kept secret that the DUC had a marvellous tax deal in Denmark, in the past Shell Denmark was often the number 3 or 4 cash earner for the group due to this tax deal. Only the NAM with the huge gasfields made far more money. (Norway was a lot harder on the oil companies and kept most of the proceeds themselves.)
Not sure whether the tax system has changed the last few years.
And if they can get a lot of money for it, it is a good time to leave the ship there, Maersk has little ideas how to go about milking the licence that was renewed a few years ago. They had mentally accepted the licence would come to an end when the old man Maersk McKinney Moller fixed an extension with the government. He died soon afterwards…
#434Corrupt Irish Police . on Jan 28th, 2017 at 07:08
Shell block honest testimony in Dublin Court yesterday relating to senior Policeman on who’s behalf Shell executed a corrupt act (not the unresolved alcohol supplies)..much much deeper and very damaging for Shell according to A L Goodbody.
You are totally right Bill. Brinded may not have benefited directly but the real question is whether he and other managers were mercilessly cracking the whip and conveniently turning a blind eye. It is time that management are made accountable for their actions and to not allow them to ruthlessly pass responsibility to the foot soldiers.
OPL245
The latest blog on this website asks if there is any evidence that Brinded benefited personally from his role in the alleged fraudulent deal?
This we assume will come out in the wash if this affair ever gets to trial. He certainly would have indirectly benefitted if the 240 odd oil blocs increased the reserves significantly because this would have been one of his principal goals as Upstream Director now doubt contributing to bonus rewards etc.
But whether he benifited personally or not is not the key issue at this stage but rather whether he was aware that the monies paid over by Eni and Shell were being directed, all or in part, to the private bank accounts of corrupt officials, and if so he, if this can be established by legal process, would be an accessory to such corruption.
Pearl’s gasifiers are crippled because of water-side corrosion on the syngas effluent cooler (SEC) tubes. The shells of all of Pearl’s SECs will have to be cut apart so the tubes can be replaced. Somebody made a massive design error.
What is this about food items and magazines? Nothing better and more important to worry about? Life must be great.
#440Shell are hypocrites. on Dec 18th, 2016 at 01:09
Can someone tell me when Shell turned into a lovable attention seeking charity by using potential dividends (for shareholders like me) to pay 100k + to charity. Next we will be told that OPL dirty $$ was a charitable donation to needy Nigerian ministers. I’m not a Scrooge but I hate this despicable way of trying to fool the public into liking it. Be more like Exon! We don’t get porn mags at US gas stations. I wouldnt be surprised if Trump forces Shell to sell em here too.
Ummmm…..can someone explain to me why Shell service stations in Netherlands and UK are selling hardcore porn mags? Tsk tsk tsk. Shame on you Shell! Clear hypocrisy in the face of D&I- Shell doesn’t give a toss. Merry Christmas everyone.
If asked Mr Donovan will confirm we had no hand in your current posting on Shell police corruption on the Corrib project …I would like however to correct a mistake, it was not a “Shell Manager” who demanded the falsification of an honest statement ..it was a Shell CEO called Terry Nolan who called in person on that “black day” accompanied by his senior local liaison officer John Cronin …another man who has lost his tongue causing much pain to former allies ….time to reflect Mr Cronin. #uknowthetruth
Interesting comment published in the Daily Mail today Friday, by City Editor Alex Brummer under the heading: “Shell game”: “EXTRAVAGANT praise by Shell chairman Charles Holliday for departing finance director Simon Henry only fuels suspicion the Anglo-Dutch oil major is not revealing all.”
#444to "Kapsalon Posting" author on Dec 16th, 2016 at 01:34
You should be ashamed of your thinly veiled racist comments but we agree mankind never ceases to amaze me either.
All seems a bit coincidental. A fortnight ago Henry cashed in Shell shares to the tune of over £1 million quid perhaps taking advantage of insider knowledge over the OPEC deal? Did that play have any bearing on his unexpected premature departure?
Yes, lots of very knowledgeable and experienced people are being replaced by high potential, inexperienced “talent”. There has never been a more aggressive cull and many long term employees are leaving with a bitter taste in their mouths, wondering what happened to Shell’s core value of “respect for people”. Very sad times.
It reminds me of the ‘poh-boy’ shrimp sandwich in New Orleans. A colleague once told me I had to try at least one during my life. So we went from Shell Centre#1 to one of many lunchrooms in the various basements some blocks away. About 6-8 hugely fat black girls were frying up the shrimps. I got a plate with a full french loaf split open and I assume a kilo of fried garlic shrimps on top. I believe there was a leaf of lettuce too. Plus a pint of Coke. It tasted delicious but I managed less than half, still about 5000 calories… Had constipation for three days! There were hugely fat americans who ate two of these things per day. Mankind never ceases to impress me.
Can this be true? Kapsalon, the world’s most unhealthy concoction of some 6,000 calories is on the fast food menu at Shell HQ? Kapsalon is a Dutch food item consisting of fries, topped with döner or shawarma meat, grilled with a layer of Gouda cheese until melted and then subsequently covered with a layer of dressed salad greens. (Description from Wikipedia) Basically french fries with everything unhealthy you can imagine piled on top of it. Said to taste fine after an evening hard drinking….
Shell fired 5000 workers recently but kept government relations manager of Syria in Dubai without any tasks. Paid her salary and nobody know why!!!
She must have good connections somewhere!!!
Recently,she was promoted the title of government relations manager of Iran. She doesn’t know anything about Iran let alone its government. BUT she got the job!!!
An obvious case of breach of so called Shell General Business Principals and nepotism!!!
It is amazing that these “difficult choices” are all falling at the door of the lowest paid employees of Shell and yet the vastly inefficient and “fat” middle and upper level management just seems to keep on expanding. With such low activity levels due to the transition away from oil and gas, low oil price and smaller geographic focus of Shell one would have thought that these highly paid meeting organisers would face the chop rather than the people doing actual work. It is sad to say but it seems BvB has truly lost the plot after such a promising start and now tries to dig himself out of his own hubris after so many poor choices prime of which is the overpaying for BG.
I see you have already noted Engineers Ireland (EI) ‘gong to selves’ for what you rightly call ‘the deadly Corrib Gas Project’ (Shell to Sea remember the unnecessary death of Lars Wagner RIP, although EI appear to have wilfully forgotten it); it’s not surprising you consider it odd but I’m afraid that continues to be how things are done in Ireland – incompetence gets the gong, integrity gets the boot.
All the best, from Maura Harrington, Shell to Sea.
I was wondering what happened to the peak oil predictions of RDS and the collection of genius boffins Shell had working the problem. They have all apparently gone by the wayside, been retired, or met with some similar fate. Let’s here it for Shell’s crystal ball predictions by the best in the industry !!! Not.
Van Beurden’s announcement yesterday did not mention anything on the thousands of staff who are leaving the company this year. A small thanks would have been nice for those folks, of whom many have worked 20 to 30 years for Shell. I would recommend Shell senior leaders to have a close look who are leaving the business. I have to agree with Daniel, I don’t see any powerpoint wizards leaving, just the ones with clear technical oil business competence.
I have an interesting factoid that your readers might be interested in reading. In 1980 proven US oil reserves were at about 37 billion blls. Today, depending upon who you reference, they are somewhere between 35 billion and 240 billion bbls thanks to the oil shale boom. However, during the time period 1980 – 2016 over 110 billion bbls of oil were produced in the US from various basin, both onshore and offshore. What is my point ? My point is that we are not ‘running out of oil’ by any stretch of the imagination.
#455Shell Police Corruption Eire . on Oct 21st, 2016 at 10:28
A second Irish Police Commissioner next week faces the very real possibility of dismissal because of her inability to control corruption in her force (documented daily here). She has chosen to remain stum on the demands of Shell CEO Terry Nolan to vendor to falsify a freely given statement pertaining to a criminal act in which a senior cop and Nolan played key rolls. Silly Woman?
Its best to let go experienced technical staff. After all, its the manager with power point that add all the “value”. When oil price recovers Shell is going to be very exposed with a lack of expertise. They will have both slices of bread (Upper Management & Junior Staff) but meat, very very sad.
Peter Vosser must be wondering what happened to his Transition 2009 plans. Shell now has more SEG category staff (nearly 170) for 13 lines of business. This compares to just over 100 post transition 2009. The ratio of SEG to junior staff has got out of control with these highly paid executives pulling in nearly $150 million per annum surely now is the time to start pruning the top of the tree. I’m surprised Ben has let this top heavy organisation continue. I wonder who were making the decisions about which staff to let go, could it have been the SEG group?
@billcampbell
Sorry Bill but LTIF and TRCF are things of the past. We have moved on from those long time ago. Those were probably correct in your day but times change and we now use more meaningful indicators for both process and personal safety. These include leading indicators as well as lagging indicators. The TRCF and LTIF are still used for comparison purposes with other industry participants but they remain only a small part of performance measurement.
When I first went to work for Shell many centuries ago ONE SHELL was the tallest building in Houston and Shell was a respected company. My,my, how things have changed. Shell’s retreat to the burbs is very symbolic.
@Bill Campbell. I applaud your bravery to stand up to the Shell bullies. I can’t recall anyone having the principles and courage to stand up to the bullies in that disgustingly rancid place. Where are all the people that stood for something? Now staff are treated like numbers (cattle) with the constant threat of the sack hanging over them. Guantanamo C16 has even announced that it will start charging inmates to use the gym facilities. Our prison comrades in Houston have had their cells taken away from them and condemned to home incarceration. Someone mentioned core values. I fear a ban on using those words is not far away. RDS RIP
#461The Escape Committee on Sep 21st, 2016 at 02:49
So, its true. Camp Culpepper will now house the majority of the 3,500 staff from downtown. Thankfully the escape committee has been working on tunnels and a plan which involves “working from home”. Its going to be brutal, we will no longer have desks but will be dynamically sharing space. This whole treatment of staff is getting more like farm fed chickens every day. What on earth happened to the “respect” part of our core values.
It is interesting that during the utter collapse of safety standards on the Brent field (TFA et al) they were able to demonstrate ‘improvement’ in safety by the misuse of the worst kPI known to man, that is lost time incident frequency.
I am reminded of the world of Deepwater Horizon prior to the incident. Transoceanic staff were patting each other on the back at the time of the explosion for their sustained good performance re safety represented by the metrics of this KPI. This despite the installation being flooded with gas on several occasions in the months prior to the incident, the fact that the medieval gas sensing system did not and could not take executive action, that the drill crew had never trained for a blowout type incident despite the previous drill kicks, and when it happened on the fateful day rather than maintaining well flow via the appropriate surge diverted sent it fatally to the mud treatment skid. Also that just before all hell broke loose that during the back flowing of the well and displacing the mud with water no one was monitoring the mud returns, a cardinal sin in the Drillers 101 course.
Here was an installation of inadequate design where none of the learnings from Piper A were ever considered worth incorporating but Transocean sold this installation and its own ‘world class services’ on the basis of a discredited KPI which if honestly recorded measures occupational risk levels at the shop floor at best but says nothing at all about the societal risks of all those persons living on the installation due to its intrinsic design shortcomings of the vessel and the incompetence of its crews, their supervisors and onshore management
Bill Campbell
#463from an old EP hand on Sep 17th, 2016 at 09:43
Dutchdude I agree completely. And it should come as no surprise that this van Beelen talked some common sense. I worked with his father and the stupidities by the drilling community in Alaska would simply not have occurred when he was head of Drilling! Shell appears to follow the rest of the society that has decided to get all professionals bogged down in filling in metrics rather than doing their job. Only to allow the great many apparatchicks to write pompous reports and demand more monitoring! In the past society followed Shell, times have changed.
Recently in the corridors I heard one of those younger high flyers make a statement that the SVS is a great idea by Shell HR, to get rid of all deadwood and losers in the company. Very sad indeed, as I see this person as one of the KPI-tigers in the company. Never a solution just numbers and pictures…..BTW Excellent speech about KPIs, glad to see some senior Shell folks still know what the business is about.
The Saudi’s are in a race to expand their non-oil related asset base in order to prepare for the day when the majority of their income will come from investments other than oil. Their reserves are depleting and their population is increasing and they need to do as the Kuwaiti’s did years ago, invest in the economies of the Western Democracies to insure a stable long term income long after their oil depletes.
Read the article about safety ‘KPI’s’. Once again the mindless bureaucratic drones have taken over. It is a make work business to keep the trolls employed.
I’m curious as to why there is so little in the press outside Nigeria on the subject of OPL 245.
I’m told that the OPL 245 issues are the biggest single concern within Shell in financial terms, and probably reputational terms, and have been for a couple of years. Corrib is not even close.
LondonLad how can you honestly make a comparison between badly treated staff and Greenpeace? And have you not checked how much dirty pollution by way of CO2 an oil company is responsible for? Or all the oil spills? Where the hell is the empathy? Good grief I’m relieved to be out of that snake pit. No doubt another HR or PR (or is it CX) person will write a reply protecting their masters!
Well “going out smoothly” it is indeed a “dirty job” at the coal face – it is also very dangerous. So I assume you are someone who has zero knowledge of the oil industry or its products?!?! Do you drive a car? do you ride a bicycle? do you fly to other countries? do you live in a house? do you own a pair of shoes? etc. etc. All of these and many many more things from our daily lives rely on the oil industry and their products. It is dick-heads like you and Greenpeace who have virtually no idea about the oil industry. Why even John Donovan made a fortune out of working with the oil industry until he fell out with Shell. Oh it’s great to be back and being able to comment on some idiot comments.
#472going out smoothly... on Aug 28th, 2016 at 22:43
you guys are all crazy. its just a dirty job with a dirty company. Make your money and move on… treat them like they treat you – what have you done for me lately.
Academics have been stating over the last 30 years about the need to change careers 3 times in your lifetime. With respect to Oil, this is potentially twice. 1988 and 2014. Staff are pretty much the same as contractors these days; difference being that contractors carry most of the workload.
Read the article about energy storage revolution. This will drive a stake in the heart of the US coal industry, except for certain used and export, and it will drive natural gas prices into the ground. It will also prove a boon to hybrid vehicle technology, which will help cap the demand for liquid hydrocarbons for motor fuel. Looks like the days of expensive oil maybe gone forever.
Amused Non Expat – A bit surprised at your rationale. Because you perceive expats to be overpayed, it is ok for Shell HR to impose a new HYPOtax? Get the wording, this is not a tax, it does not go to a government, will not go to funds to build schools, housing, healthcare. No this hypotax goes to Shell general funds (who knows to pay the high dividends). I have been on both local and expat side, and agree Shell has been a good employer as a whole, I just have issues with unscrupulous HR staff who trod decency so easily. I know numerous staff who have been send to a location with certain promises, only to find out the reality is much less. If you work in HR, please do some self reflection on who in Shell actually earns your sandwich for you…
Sadly I do agree with Shareholder, that it appears this time around the smart people are cashing in on Shell, signs all around that the ship is aiming for big rocks.
To Amused non expat- am thinking you might know how much the redundancy payments are in cash terms to be able to comment….are you in HR? (probably has a high CEP and a Shell tattoo somewhere on your behind). Last time I checked, this is a forum for people to speak openly about ALL and ANY issues relating to Shell, whining or otherwise. Consider it cathartic for people to get it off their chest, and be included in conversation that creates a bit of camarardarie, lest it happen in the corridors of Shell.
Not gloating at all, nor envious so nothing to let go. Just pointing out reality which appears to have been overlooked by some folks. To the best of my knowledge I cannot recall anyone committing suicide over a redundancy but I may be wrong.
To amused non expat.. Envy of your fellow expats will eat away at you. Let it go. And i advise you to not gloat at those about to lose their jobs (expat or not). People have been known to commit suicide over such life changing moments. A bit of dignity please.
“Expat Staff” were you so innocent as to believe Shell promised you job for life. If Shell has really given you promises in contractual terms then you re very lucky. I did disagree however that you would have been better off as a contractor, whose life and work is always at the will of the employing company and can be changed at a moments notice. Expats were immune from that exposure and you should be grateful for that. As for Shell only having the “people who can’t cut it in the real life” to imply that is a totally ridiculous statement and belittles the many of us left. I would suggest it is the expat who doesn’t know what the ‘real life’ is all about and is just finding out.
I have worked for shell in over 12 international posting over my time. At present i am on garden leave waiting for the redundancy paper work, and have been told that i will not have any real option of securing a position in my home country. When i left on expat conditions some 27 years ago, there were lots of promises, and even more conditions expressed in contracts / agreements. One central theme to this is that the company would have my back and ensure that i would have a job when i came home. Part of the carrot associated with the sacrifice. Now, its just a numbers game. Tax equalization agreements in my contracts covered taxes while in overseas locations. I agree that the current approach could be considered fair and just, but not when the terms and conditions and HR staff always stated i would always have a job at home after my many years of service in remote locations. Anyone who worked in Nigeria, Oman, Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand, China for long periods of time much of it away from friends and family will understand. We have been shafted. It would have been better to be a contractor for hire over this period, as they have had been able to just walk away from assignments, work for Exxon or BP for a stint and come back to packages often better than staff. With the expectation that staff will be protected, contractors are just hire and fire. Heaven forbid you or a family member get sick… How many cancer deaths have left the families with extremely difficult repatriation, and much smaller sums than promised? I for one will now go back to being a contractor, lots of our suppliers and service companies will be paying top money when the pendulum swings, and shell will have only the people who can not cut in the real world left.
I find it amusing that we have highly (over) paid Expats now whining about having to pay tax on what will be considerable redundancy payments. This whole entitlement/greed attitude is one of the problems which has got Shell into this overstaffing situation. Just remember that a lot of the redundancy payments are WELL in excess of statutory minimums and are ex gratis payments and can be taken away at a moments notice. This whole expat ‘entitlement’ attitude is sickening and people should look in the mirror sometimes. Most of you have had a good ride on the gravy train but the train is about to hit the buffers. Time to step off and walk away.
Concerned about unscrupulous HR careerists being (again)in charge of the current downsizing operation. Do they understand (or do they care) when they are cutting too deep into the framework of technical expertise and loyalty that used to be the foundation of The Company and the envy of its competitors ? Do they really know for sure that the oil price will stay low for longer ? I sense that a lot of staff have had enough and are following the lead of Mr Van Burden (5.3mln EU salary + 9.7mln performance shares in 2015) and are now preoccupied filling their own bank accounts with as much voluntary severance pay as possible before the whole thing collapses. Sad story.
I am so sad to hear of the crappy treatment of former colleagues. So much for the Shell People Survey or safety culture. It looks like Shell’s greed has risen to the surface. I am relieved to have retired early. You Can Be Sure of Shell (screwing over their staff). Shame on you Shell. Looks like this rabble of attack dog lawyers, HR and their masters make Phil Watts look like a saint!!!!!
Former Shell: Most of my career with Shell I have worked in countries where no income tax is paid. Midway my career Shell introduced the hypotax. They claim this is for equal treatment. Well, had I worked in the Netherlands I would have build my AOW, I would have participated in tax free saving schemes, free house loans (try to get a mortgage as expat), etc. This equal treatment argument by Shell is just another way of getting half back of a bonus, reward, severance scheme, etc. Nothing fair about it. If you still work for Shell have a look at all the suddenly changed policies under HR (june/July), the world is changing. HR is charged, it seems, with getting rid of staff the most cheap way. Many expats are half the cost of regular Dutch staff to get rid off. Sad indeed. Who still looks at competence these days……
Count me in guys! I’ve also been treated disgracefully.
It’s times like this I wish we had a union to speak to. I’ve been given a date, told ive not options but to take the package and forget about the two decades i’ve devoted to the company. What happened to People Values? I don’t mind too much about leaving but being treated like dirt wasn’t part of the Employee Value Proposition. HR @ Shell are the biggest whores of all. No emotions. No principles, a bit like the hired guns of the wild west.
To Totallyhackedoff:
If you are looking for a good law firm to take a legitimate case pro-bono you might try the law firm of Mayer Brown. They have a London office. It is a good law firm and they do a fair amount of pro-bono work, but you need to have a good case.
On the whole Expat pay-offs and tax thing – pretty sure that with a few examples (UAE) etc, what’s now happening is that the tax bill that Shell has to pay when it makes the severance payment to the employee is just recovered by Shell.
Until then, basically what happened if you were made redundant in a host country, you could (in some cases) get payment tax free. Indeed, many many people were helped to move to those countries for “half an hour” before the decision was made. The reality is that there is still real money going through payroll, and so tax is really payable (with the exception of tax free countries) and Shell used to pay that for staff.
I kind of get why they don’t want to do this anymore…
John Donovan- do you know any lawyers who are willing to do any pro-bono work for the issues we are all raising here regarding taxes, dodgy reorganisations, unethical practices? Do get the feeling that Shell has shown its Achilles heel and needs to be exploited whilst the issues at stake are fresh and forefront of affected employees.
Do note that you can appoint your own tax representative to file your tax returns rather than Deloitte, making Shell chase you for payments rather than the otherway around. It’s a risk to do this of course, but possession is always 9/10ths of the law as they say Take a look at the tax policy….
Surely there MUST be something we can do about this? Aside from thieving of government taxes, I heard that the reorg in Rijswijk had hit a wall after a group of Employees got it halted on grounds of it not following the established process. Can anyone who is in that group extend the investigation so as to cover all Shell companies and JV’s in the Netherlands? I’m sure they would love to hear some of the stories that have been flying around! Somebody ought to be having a field day regarding the legality of this reorg- it defies belief. I feel sorry for the people who will be left working for this monster. GET OUT however, whenever you can. There is life outside Shell by the way 🙂
Police Alcohol and Extraordinary gifting on Corrib. Michiel Brandjes gave OSSL tea and buns and a hearty congratulations on achieving a one on one resolution meeting with BVB …still waiting for the meeting …men of integrity?
#492Mayo Shell Police Corruption on Aug 7th, 2016 at 14:48
Cesar …the pimps don’t pay the whores (so I’m told) but BVB and Brandjes throw the false arm of resolution round the victim before slipping the Micky in …and doing the dirty deed ..some decent Shell and soon to be ex Shell disgusted by Shells actions here.
Amen to that Regular Browser. I’ve seen very decent and talented colleagues being treated like ladies of the night ie first the deplorable act against them and then being paid off at the end of it by the HR pimps. I hate to say it but the show is about to come to an end for this arrogant dinosaur. It’s one thing that they bully people like you Mr Donovan, but when they turn on their own staff, these are sure signs of the beginning of the end.
Unfortunately Dutchdude both the UK and Dutch governments are so deep in the pocket of Shell that nothing would happen. It would take extraordinary publicity and public pressure to get anyone to pay attention and given that these payoffs even with the tax theft are out of the realm of possibility for most of the populace there is likely to be little sympathy. It is not the first time and won’t be the last that ‘creative’ HR types have found ways to screw the worker out of monies. They have done it with ‘Local’ terms for people who are clearly expats, LNN terms, the Dutch 30% ruling, Expat assignments for home country staff, mandatory offshore banking for a number of territories and assignments and the list goes on. Even Deloitte is culpable in the way it prepares tax returns to benefit Shell. My personal view is that although sad the ones that can get out with any kind of payment are probably better off outside of what is clearly becoming a sinking behemoth that will realise too late the value that many of those it is shedding bring to the company – all of whom have largely been sacrificed on the vanity project that is the overpriced BG acquisition and the reluctance to accept that the days of high oil price (at least stable and sustained) are over.
A few weeks ago there were some posts about Shell pocketing the tax relief of those taking the severance package. I had expected a bit more comments on this? Is the principle of tax not that it goes to the government? Since when do we allow companies to impose their own tax? Apart from the unfairness to the employees who worked for this and made sacrifices, it feels incorrect and arrogant. Tax should go to the government and tax relief to the person who is entitled to it. It should not be allowed to be taken away by unscrupulous HR staff. If there is a reader here who works for the government tax department please raise this with your employer (UK, Holland, …). I bet that each severance employee rather pays tax to his government than to Shell.
BVB please note three top irish bankers sent to jail today for corporate corruption, will the unfinished business of Shells CEO Nolan demanding lies and statement falsification to obstruct justice put policemen in jail as well?
BvB is definitely not an idiot. He should though stay away from gambling after making a spectacularly bad bet on BG. The consequences of his ill-fated gamble caused distress to the many thousands who have paid for the bad bet with their jobs. BvB will still earn millions despite his miscalculation over the controversial deal. Further proof that he is not an idiot.
Peter Robins, do you actually work for Shell or just looking from the outside as some of your facts are so wrong its laughable. As for calling BvB a “dutch idiot” you could not be further from the truth. BvB is far from an idiot, he is managing one of the worlds largest companies in a period of low oil prices whilst balancing a mega takeover. In my opinion, and many others opinions, he is doing a great job considering.
Re. The “suspicious drowning” – there is absolutely no cover up. This incident is very regularly referred to by senior management in global talks to staff at the same level of detail as other serious incidents that happen. I think someone is trying to see conspiracy where there is none…
Salute North Sea workers and support fully their strike against the repressive Shell management’s discrimination in deciding the job cut target and distribution of severance pay benefit. Teach these leaders a lesson.
Peter Robins – severance formulae are based on years of service and it certainly does vary by country – but “minimum 3 years salary” is simply not true. Having got that wrong, the rest of what you say loses credibility. Get the facts straight, please.
Read the article about RDS looking for gravity waves. Shell should look into the joint NASA/DoD/BAE project called ‘Greenglow’. It too was focused on the hunt for gravity waves.
Shell not only greedy but discriminate racially between Asian and European works with respect to severance pay. When in Netherlands it is offered minimum 3 years salary, in Asia it is only a months pay per year of service. Since in Asia Shell has started business in some countries only a decade ago, this severance pay comes only a few months salary for staffs of those countries.
Time has come Shell should start cut jobs from top which is not done till date. By cutting a few lower rank jobs company will not benefit as saving will not be substantial. Only if EC, EC-1, EC-2 jobs are cut as well as the pay and benefit of remaining members of these bodies are cut substantial amount can be saved. But since this will involve the pay of the CEO, he will never agree with this and continue his drive from bottom. Even as racial overtures, highly paid expats are not being touched only local employees are being targeted in Asia where severance package is also poor compared with Europe.
ALSO COMMENT ON THE ARTICLE: SHELL NORTH SEA STRIKE: WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR
This was inevitable after discrimination and rigid attitude of Shell management of only targeting lower rank staffs and their benefits without touching senior staffs. Discrimination between region to region in severance pay is making staffs boil and other staffs will also go to strike after North sea.
Ah! RDS is stealing from its laid off employees. How nice. That is so much how RDS operates. What an ethical crew. What a great company to work for. Let’s have a bid cheer for RDS. What? All I hear is raspberries. Oh, my.
#507Redundant and Robbed on Jul 8th, 2016 at 11:20
As if its not bad enough to endure the indignity of being made redundant after many years as a loyal employee – human sacrifice for the sake of the ill-fated BG Group takeover – Shell top is is now intent of robbing us of tax breaks. How low can you get? Totally unscrupulous.
The respect I once had for BvB has completely evaporated after this disgusting machination on tax breaks meant for innocent victims of his power play for BG Group. A disgrace.
Peter Robins it somewhat diminishes your argument to refer to BvB as a ‘Dutch idiot’. Whilst you and I might agree on the fallacy of some of the choices made he is not an idiot and is responding on the counsel of his EC. We might also agree on the unfairness in relation to the packages being offered but like it or not Shell like anyone else is a business it does not exist to be charitable. Part of the reason the Dutch terms are so generous is due to the lobbying of the staff unions – something which could also be done in other locations if there was the energy and commitment to do so. I would point out that many locations are being offered much more than what the law requires which, for all its faults, is a credit to the company as it is going beyond what its legal requirements are. I would also point out the axe is falling disproportionately to the BG employees, so whilst anyone losing their job is a tragedy (particularly in this environment) some people are feeling more pain than others. The unfortunate fact is that the majority of the EC and higher management are wedded to a world of higher rents which oil and gas affords them. The business is not structured culturally to accept the much lower returns that other avenues offer. It is regrettable that the company does not have the vision to see past short term operating goals but the blame there also lies with the institutional shareholders whose indifference contributes to the impasse. The BG deal, whilst hideously overpriced, is the right strategy in the very near term to shore up that high rent behaviour but I will agree that over the long term it will seem like a less sensible decision.
van Beurden is a Dutch idiot who knows nothing outside fossil fuel when the need of the hour if renewable. Five years down the line, the decision of van Beurden to take over BG will be considered as blunder by his predecessors like he is doing now. Job cuts due to company’s benefit is understandable. But hi is ot doing it in company’s interest, then why no top level EC, EC-1 jobs have been cut? Why expats are not losing jobs inspite of non-productive and costly. It is Dutch bluffing to investors in the name of BG integration, taking benefit for their own countrymen of 3 years salary for every Dutch retiring whereas offering a few months pay for other countries.
Shell job cuts till now are only cosmetic one targeting only lower rank low cost employees leaving the higher rank high cost non-productive expats and job group A, B and 1 ranks. The powerful EC and EC-1, EC-2 rank employees is done their best to retain their jobs untouched and made fool the investors through job cut numbers without divulging the exact saving due to these cuts. But in 2009 transition the situation was different under stewardship of then CEO Peter Voser. He ensured to cut jobs from higher rank targeting the costly employees of costly countries and ring fenced cheap country staffs. But this Shell management is too busy to save their own jobs than thinking of company benefit. This management also doing racial discrimination in paying severance package among employees of Europe and Asia. Let us see how long these management can save their jobs through such corrupt exercise.
Shell is always a company doing discrimination although they write “an equal opportunity company” as their policy. The recent example of such discrimination is their severance package offer for their Netherlands staffs and Indian staffs. Governed by strict Govt. rule, presence of staff council and CEO is a Dutchman Shell has declared severance package for their Dutch staffs with three years pay, although the pay package Dutch staffs receive among highest in the world. But the same company has offering one month salary for each completed year of service for Shell’s Indian permanent staffs taking advantage of corrupt Govt., no staff council and native staffs at receiving end of this discrimination. Shell has history of more than 100 years of such discrimination and racism in this modern world although their management team bit the drum of equality, inclusiveness and fair treatment. Join our drive to denounce such hegemony by an international company of civilized world.
Comment on the article: Royal Dutch Shell Set to sink?
With poor management, rampant corruption and racism this is inevitable within short time. The situation of low crude price is being handled by Shell management shabbily. They are trying to show the shareholders action by cutting jobs in thousands, but actually the job cuts are not being done without any rational or transparent manner to reduce cost and enhance efficiency. When costly expat employees are being retained due to their skin colour, cheap and efficient local employees are being targeted. With such poor management the fate of the company is known to world.
The oil and share price are both rising. I’m hoping that this doesnt stop the company from getting rid of the poor performers and half of the US workforce (who are busy sitting around moaning about the Hague).
The more things change the more they stay the same. Back in the ‘bad old days’ RDS was in bed with Hitler and his gang of goons. Now RDS has decided to get in bed with Putin and his gang of goons. At least RDS management is consistent in its policy of who it will deal with in the ‘foreign’ markets.
Affected Shell employees going to challenge job cut decision to Indian court.
The 250 odd employees of Shell India who received letters from management saying their position is affected have decided to challenge Shell in Indian court against the letter issued to them. As per them it is illegal in India to cut job because of less work.
In the late 1950’s world oil consumption was just shy of about 20 million bbl/day. Today we consume close to 90 million bbl/day. Anyone want to guess why we have a CO2 induced climate change problem ???
Relieved, with so much emphasis put on self serving careerist moves and ensuring their high CEP there is no time for forward planning or thinking. Part of managements problem is it has a very short memory and has been corrupted by ‘group think’. The model for progression does not allow for dissenting views – something not unique to Shell amongst big oil. As a result any semblance of commercial savvy is lost on folks who are only interested in making an impact in the 2-4 years before they get rewarded for sycophancy. It does an enormous amount of discredit to the competent and smart people working to make the company better but they certainly do not have the management and executives they deserve. Personally I see it as a direct consequence of the choices and ‘advice’ that was embraced from the 90’s onwards, BvB would do well to sweep the deck if he wants to cut the fat but we know that will never happen so the great con continues, a shame really.
Has anyone in Shell management ever heard the old adage ‘buy low and sell high’? Shell plans to dump assets at a time when the price it will get for those assets will be quite low. So much for management foresight.
#520earsclosetotheground on Jun 7th, 2016 at 09:44
Grotemol, Yes, you’re right. It has been Shell’s global; policy to go Open Plan with offices only for SEGs for the last 10 years or so. So finally the US staff are falling in line. I don’t like Open Plan but I dislike exceptions even more
#521Corrib Shells Great Shame on Jun 3rd, 2016 at 09:08
Boardroom Blunder is a massive miscalculation on Shells part. CEO who demanded the lies to save a top cops bacon departed as the youngest retiree from a Shell Directorship ever. Cover up continues but is fast unraveling for both the Police Commissioner (coat on shakey nail) and Shell
Latest talk around WCK is that we will all be ‘hot desking’ when the two downtown and NOLA offices close. Bruce and his SEG buddies will be fine sitting in their 400 sq. ft office while the rest of us have to hot desk a 30 sq.ft cube. No wonder so many of us work from home. How can we attract the bright young stars if all you offer them is half a desk if they get to work early?
#523Shells Police Meltdown on Jun 2nd, 2016 at 07:56
Visit BIGGEST BOARDROOM BLUNDER EVER ..@osslsafety on Twitter
My Shell friends, despair not. Ye who have little faith. The real job cuts are to come. This is the calm before the storm and then the HR mafia will target the pay heavy workers. But dont expect the HR net to catch the rubbish workers. They always slip thru the net due to friends in the right places (and long tongues). Sack the lot of them Benny van Beurden and watch the shareprice rise as fast as a butt kissers CEP. Oh happy days 🙁
The job cuts in Shell India means only for lower rank staffs. All JG-2 and above staffs or the expats are not touched. It is cosmetic with respect to cost reduction as local staffs are the cheapest among all other regions and country. In India there is no protection from their corrupt Govt. nor there is any social security. India base country staffs are cheapest among whole Shell with respect to salary and benefit thanks to low Indian Rupee exchange rate with dollar. Still only 10% of lower rank local staffs have been targeted without touching the high cost expats or JG2 and above. This shows Shell’s dishonesty and insincerity to cut cost. In face for India it is naked racism is being followed for job cut.
Unlike 2009 transition when down sizing was done in transparent manner first targeting the expat and higher salaries employees, this time lower rank staffs are targeted first when EC, EC-1, EC-2 staffs was untouched. The reason given of BG integration or lower for longer oil price is a fake eye wash. Why EC, EC-1 managers salary and benefit is not cut before going for job cut?
The cat is now out of the bag !! Renewable energy sources mean the end to BIG OIL. Well, almost the end. That is Shell’s judgement. Forgive me if I don’t weep crocodile tears. Apparently RDS finds climate warming, and its consequences the only acceptable option. I mean, what would the world do without BIG OIL and the corruption it breeds ???
Paul Goodfellow is a pure genius. I mean who else could come up with this brilliant strategy !!
“We need to reduce our cost base, improve production efficiency and have an organization that best fits our combined portfolio and business plans, ” Mr. Goodfellow said.
How much is he paid?
…….and “relieved” we never learn. Our news boss, Culpepper, is the ex head of HR in the USA who has already shown his ineptitude by spending large amounts of money on putting workers into cubes which most of us hate. Everyone now tries to “work from home” !!
Relieved: spot on! When he arrived in SIEP he told us that Shell had the best resourcing system in the world. And he was right. Next thing he did was to destroy that model completely by importing a bunch of no-good americans (there also are some very good americans…), pushed the remuneration of the top to extreme levels and then was parked as ‘president’ in the USA. He loves travelling in style and surrounding himself with sycophants. Plenty of those in the US of A, the land of the ‘free’ and the weasels. He left a ‘Me First, screw the rest’ attitude throughout and the results speak for themselves. He reminded me most of the evangelist Billy Graham, with the difference that Hofmeister was a complete windbag claiming to be an Amish. An insult to the Amish!
Read the article on Hofmeister. The man is a self-promoting weasel/slime ball. And he clearly doesn’t understand the oil industry very well. But then he did not grow up in the oil industry. Before his stint at Shell USA he was a Human Resources professional in the aerospace industry. He should have stayed there.
The Dutch have always been protected by their ‘Staff Council’ which is a trade union by any other name. The staff hide behind this and have been immune to cuts and redundancy despite being grossly over staffed with high job group people. This will hopefully come home to roost soon as they start to fight amongst themselves to make the savings in the centre as there is nothing else left. Those of us left count ourselves lucky we still have a job but the workload just went up 5 fold !!
Oh yes, that article by Prabhat Sakhya is probably one of the best examples of lazy journalism I have seen for a long time. His prediction of the demise of Shell and BP is laughable as it is based on just two consecutive periods when the oil prices has floundered. Of course it does come from the aptly named Motley Fool.
We all know what kind of management RDS has. This is no secret and RDS employees live with this fact everyday. So, in light of this knowledge does anyone serious expect RDS management to be ‘fair’ and ‘generous’ when it comes to disposing of excess staff ??? Come on people. Staff is a disposable asset to be managed in the most profitable manner possible. All RDS employees are expendable, it is simply a matter of who goes first.
NL staff get much more employment protection than UK staff, hence UK staff get laid off first. It would be interesting to see the figures from the 2010 cull of which nationalities suffered most.
Don’t worry, it will all be in Bangalore soon – then God help us.
Interested to know if any current Shell employees have picked up on the unfair approach to the current reorganisation. Management in Netherlands are seeking RFA’s and operating to a different timeline to the UK and Australia, with Australia being able to steam ahead with their reorg plans as they do not have the same constraints. So much so, that impacted employees are being asked to second guess whether they need to apply for jobs in their base countries or to stick tight and see out the brutal and unfair approach to reducing staff numbers in their current host countries. What gets me is the fact that Shell talks about being a global organisation yet works very much to a local agenda- presumably because of the various employment laws which are stronger in the westernised world contrasting with the slacker legislation in others which make it cheaper in the long run to fire staff. I wonder how long it took the bean counters to work that one out?
Shell gave up its Arctic leases in the late 1980’s because of the lack of economic viability of the hydrocarbons the discovered in that early drilling program. Well, management changed and guess what? Someone sold new senior management a bill of goods and here Shell is once again, i.e., at the same place as it was in the late 1980’s. Anyone want to try this a third time around ? Maybe spending another $7+ billion will prove to be the charm.
#540UA Local 488 pension gone on May 8th, 2016 at 21:59
In 2007 we were informed we had to pay back 128 million out of our pension because the UA 488 out of Edmonton lost it on a bad investment but when you do the math and run the numbers it doesn’t make sense. Every member, travel card and permit sacrifice their pension for 4 years to pay it back and from what I been told were still paying back their loss to date.I talk to retired members and soon to retire member that are still waiting on their pension and a total of their funds.If they don’t have our pension and spent it we want them to pay the tax on it.
Say in 2007
20,000 members working full time
$24,000 a year for each member
Turns into $480,000,000 a year.
And that’s just half of your members.
Where did all the money go? And that’s 20000 men and they had what 70000 men working in 2007.Your union had Suncor, Syncrude, Albion, Scottsford, Kearl, Firebag, cnrl, Dow Chemical, and Petro. So where did 1,680,000,000 go?
Our working dues is 128$ x 70,0000 men x 12 = $107,520,00. Now what did your union do with everyone’s money and that goes for your members money? How can they loose government-regulated pension and if they spent it, shouldn’t they pay taxes on it bc it tax-free money they spent.
10 percent of that is a lot of tax money.
To Regular Browser:
I have a friend who owns a 2008 Toyota Prius that gets about 65 miles to the gallon on the highway when driven at slightly less than 65 mph. It averages about 45 mpg. I have driven the darned thing and this ain’t no bull. These cars cost less the $25K now. You do the math. I am not impressed by Shell’s new vehicle.
come now Relieved, for once Mr Donovan should be praising Shell for philanthropy. It is very clear that almost everyone on Earth would prefer to walk than to get into that glorified Fisher Price car. I find it ludicrous that with all the brainpower in Amsterdam and Rijswijk focussed on such a product the best they could come up with was, as you put it the glorified Smart Car (with a fisher price paint job) that still for some flabbergasting reason runs on Petrol despite the fact that there is no city on Earth pushing for this type of car that is not anything other than electric. Shell is in total denial about the disruptions it is facing, I think the axe should be swung higher up the food chain than the poor folks in The Hague, Rijswijk, Reading, London, Aberdeen, Houston, Calgary and Perth who are currently facing an uncertain future.
I find Shell’s ‘bug eyed’ creation interesting but most probably doomed to failure. Battery technology is advancing so fast now that Shell’s glorified version of the of the ‘Smart’ car is probably to face a similar fate.
Really? That was a pure rant against the Nigerian government from what I can tell. Could we persuade you to be shorter or give us a link to your blog? Did you mention Shell at all?
ON GAS DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA – WHAT PRESIDENT BUHARI NEEDS TO DO
With the prevailing harsh economic realities facing the Nigerian economy due to the free fall of oil price in the global market, which has practically affected every sector of the country, there is need for more attention to be diverted to the development of other energy sources to revitalize the energy industry. This is where the development of Nigeria’s abundant natural gas reserves comes into play. Unfortunately, not much has been witnessed in this direction in terms of developing it to what it should be.
As an environmentally friendly and efficient “energy source”, natural gas is today considered the cleanest-burning conventional fuel, producing lower levels of greenhouse gas emissions than heavier hydrocarbon fuels such as coal and crude oil. Natural gas fuels power stations for electricity supply, heats buildings and is used as a raw material in many consumer products, such as those made of traditional plastics. But despite its importance, the Nigerian Government over the years has not been given natural gas development in the country the rightful attention it deserves. With a proven reserve of more than 260 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, Nigeria’s gas reserve is triple the nation’s crude oil resources as at 2013. Hitherto, Associated Gas encountered during the normal course of oil production has been largely ‘flared’. Nigeria is reputed to be the largest gas-flaring country in the world. By not fully harnessing its gas resources, Nigeria loses an estimated 18.2 million U.S. dollars daily according to some reports.
It is in the light of these, obviously unfavorable prevailing circumstances in the industry that we strongly believe there is need for the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to first have some caliber of people who have the relevant expertise, proven integrity and credibility in ‘the development of gas’, and they should be strategically placed in sensitive government positions in the Presidency, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources to support the ongoing good efforts of the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director (GMD) of the NNPC. The truth is that, for the President Buhari government to turn around the Gas industry, “it would depend on the caliber of people who will be working with the government”, their credibility would be what would be working for them. To this end, the Federal Government should make use of ‘technocrats’, especially those that have been active (or retired), in Multinational Oil and Gas Companies like Shell (SPDC), to deliver as many of their programmes in the industry as possible. They promised to put in these basic criteria on how they are going to operate and they would expect everybody who is working for them to operate in a transparent, ethical manner.
The truth is that there are indeed ‘exceptional experts’ within the organized private sector whom the present government needs to bring on board to turn things around in the nation’s Gas development objectives. The Federal Government as led by President Buhari cannot do it alone. As we have observed with Alhaji Abdulahi Bukar, an expert in Oil and Gas facilities development, who, after retirement, joined what was then called Goge Joint Venture with Frontier 1, which is one of the marginal Oil Fields from the marginal Oil forum from 2003. And with his Team, they have commenced looking at the development of Fuko Marginal Oil Field in Akwa Ibom State, which everybody thought it was Oil but it turned out to be Gas. That was the key seed that started the 7 Energy Frontier Joint Venture partnerships, which is producing gas, the Aku Gas Pipelines that are all over the South East, Nigeria, with approximately 227kms of Pipelines. The Uquo Gas processing Plant and Gas Sale Contract is said to serve five customers, the main customer being the Ibom and Calabar IPP Generation Stations belonging to NDPHC, as well as Unichem Cement Factory of Lafarge, and Notore Fertilizer Plant in Rivers State. The Uquo Gas Field will help to generate an additional 1000MW of Power supply for Nigeria by the end of 2015, helping to increase Nigeria’s grid Power Generation by more than 20%. The project has been hailed as a success story of the FGN’s marginal Field Programme by Federal and State Governments.
We believe that for any elected Government, just like we have in Nigeria at the Federal level, there are two things to note. That Government has to take care of the majority that elected them into office, but they also have to take care of the minority, who may not have agreed with them, but they are still part and parcel of the country and we believe their needs must be addressed. We also believe this Government under President Buhari has the wherewithal, vision and resolve to actually address ‘knotty issues’ on Power Generation, on Gas supply; not only for Power Generation but also for industrial use, on the liquid/fuel issues that have been bedeviling this country for the last 20 to 30 years, and also to see to our reawakening of values, discipline; to make sure we become our brothers’ keepers in order to create an environment that would allow a large number of Nigerians currently unemployed to be brought back into the economy in productive employment and delivery.
Agreed that the nation’s Oil and Gas industry is very vast and there are so many areas and issues that are begging for attention to be addressed, but we strongly advise that, having assembled a formidable force of technocrats as experts in Gas Development within and around the Presidency, the next line of action is for the Government to sit with these ‘experts’ and together; agree on what exactly is achievable within the shortest possible time limit, as well as long term goals.
As rightly noted by Alhaji Engr. Bukar, “we have suffered major deterioration in the energy sector for a number of years. There are some highlights, but then if you notice, there has been an appreciable lack of investments in exploration and operations, so our reserves are going down.” So there is need for these experts in Gas Development so appointed by the Presidency, to set the targets that we should address as a nation. They should call all the key investors, that is, the key stakeholders and make sure that the message is understood and their confidence is restored and then, they should establish a new platform as to how they can work together with these investors/stakeholders and also ensure that; not only do they agree with the people who are going to be the key players, but they also agree with all other stakeholders at various levels in the country, including those at the host community levels. This is to ensure that everybody understands that there is something in it for them, and you need to be able to address the various issues in a multi-faceted way.
Still in this direction, Alhaji Engr, Bukar noted that “a lot is happening in terms of what everybody can see along the roads, now let me take you a little back into history. People forget that the President was the Minister of Petroleum in Nigeria when the Kaduna and Warri Refineries were built, and all these Depots, including the Atlas Cove were built. He was there as Minister when the product delivery pipelines, including the Gas line from Ode to Ajaokuta were built. In 1984, when he became Head of State, it was under him that Bonny LNG was revived. So you are talking to someone who is relatively conversant with the energy industry and I believe it will not be difficult to convince him on what needs to be done, how it can be put in place and how it can be measured.” He also strongly advised that “You need to mobilize huge amount of resources in terms of Nigerian manpower and investment money both from inside Nigeria and from outside Nigeria. So you need to give a clear transparent system that would allow that money to move, you need to have credible and bankable projects. You can address the gas and the Gas infrastructure to bridge Nigeria’s needs for Power supply by allowing access to reserves, by allowing bankable Power Projects and by allowing bankable Power infrastructure to be put in place for the length of those projects which would allow people to work painlessly, without too much headache.”
When asked how can Nigeria under the present government address the problem of power supply in the country? Alhaji Engr. Bukar stated in his words that “Nigeria now generates between 4,000 and 5,000 megawatts of electricity and it is actually a great shame. I don’t know if you remember the late Bola Ige who was the first minister of power in Obasanjo’s cabinet. Bola Ige was very obsessed with getting it right, but in the 3rd quarter of 1999, there was a power system collapse. So he said by March 2001, he would be able to repair everything and get power supply back to 4,000 megawatts. By the grace of God, he did it. Yes he did, you can go back and see the advert on March 2001, telling you that we have now achieved our target, let’s plan the way forward. Regrettably, he was no longer there to articulate and move on the plans. So new actors came and they moved from where he left and started putting in power stations that were created. Unfortunately, we got bogged down in what I call lack of the institution that I have mentioned, lack of clarity and all those things I mentioned earlier.
“Yes we talked about building power stations, but when we started to dictate where the gas would come from, that became a problem. Because we are not funding the JVs who are supposed to deliver the gas for what they are asking, we were never able to deliver the gas correctly at the right time to meet demands for the power stations and other industrial needs. So when we had built the power stations, we suddenly realized that we did not have enough gas supply to feed it, we also suddenly realized that we did not have the transmission system on the ground to take power out of that generating station to the public and we put in a lot of money and others and because of dislocation, dare I say some unethical practices, they were never delivered according to agreed plans. So that lack of consequence management caused great harm and actually led to corruption. A lot of people took money and never delivered anything, it is true. So what we should do is that whenever we are building the next set of power plants, we should carefully plan to address all the needs and make sure that resources are not only budgeted, but they are allocated to cover what would bring those systems into production in time. Nigeria is going to grow from 5,000 megawatts now to 40,000 megawatts.”
Bukar’s counsel to President Buhari on how to constitute his cabinet and his advice for Nigerians concerning their involvement in the administration is that: “the President has got an extremely huge and onerous responsibility. The 174 million Nigerians expect a very huge amount of efforts and change from him and he requires the services of able, competent Nigerians to deliver that as well as the understanding, cooperation and patience of the populace to understand what is going on in order to ensure that he delivers his dream to the people. The people need to recognize that you cannot make all the changes everybody wants with the flip of a switch. It takes time, it takes efforts, and it takes constant invigoration for people to understand. Yes, this is what you said you would do and this is what you are doing. Anything that is outside it, we should come back to the true path we have set for ourselves. People would have to also realize that those who are there now are Nigerians. So my advice is that Buhari should put in place people who have wisdom and conviction; they should be technocrats who can deliver things on the field and can run the processes efficiently, ethically and in a balanced manner, making sure that we have got an all-inclusive environment for all Nigerians to feel that the government represents them and is delivering on their behalf. This is a very crucial point.”
Nigeria’s gas flaring re-emphasizes the aphorism that “we are rich in energy resources but poor in energy supply.” The Associated Gas Re-Injection Act was made as an Act to compel every company producing oil and gas in Nigeria to submit preliminary programmes for gas re-injection and detailed plans for implementation of gas re-injection. It made it illegal after January 1, 1984 to flare gas without the permission of the Minister of Petroleum. The targets to stop gas flares have since then moved from 1984 to 2008 and 2011. But gas is still being flared up to date. Quoting Mr. Emeka Okwuosa, Group Managing Director Oilserv Ltd, Nigeria flares about 1.2 billion cubic feet of gas a day (bcf/d), which could fuel about 7000MW of efficient thermal electric power, over 1,400 agro-processing facilities, 350 textile plants, 70 fertilizer plants with opportunities for creating over one million jobs. This amount of gas flare represents 12.5 per cent of all global flared gas.
Seriously, these figures and estimates of what Nigeria is loosing as a result of the gas being flared daily and not utilized, is more than enough to make any purpose-driven government to promptly take proactive steps to reverse and address the situation in the interest of the Nigerian common citizenry.
In a recent publication by Techno Oil in their “Going Green Revolution”, it was noted that Nigeria with a population of over 160 million only consumes 0.5kg per capita; Ghana with a population of 24.34 million consumes 3.0kg per capita; Cameroon with a population of 20.55 million consumes 1.9kg per capita; South Africa with a population of 53.3million consumes 5.5kg per capita and Morocco with a population of 33.24 million consumes 44.4kg per capita. We can imagine the disparity. No wonder relevant stakeholders within and outside the country has often referred to Nigeria as “the gassy country with no gas”. This is hinged on the obvious; that Nigeria is funding below her weight in the domestic gas market.
In 2014, Nigeria lost about $1billion as oil companies operating in the country flared a large proportion of the gas produced from January to September 2014. According to data from the NNPC, about 295 billion standard cubic feet (scf) of natural gas was flared in the nine-month period. International Oil Companies (IOCs) and indigenous players burnt a total of 43.7billion scf in January, 50.1 billion scf in February and 38.3 billion scf in March. In April, 22.3 billion scf of gas was flared; 19.7 billion scf in May and 23 billion scf was wasted in June. In July, 29.1 billion scf was flared; 39.1 billion scf in August; 29.5 billion in September; and 44.37 billion in November. According to the NNPC’s Monthly Petroleum Information, in December 2014, Nigeria lost $133.716 million, which is about N26.743 billion to gas flaring, as oil and gas companies in the country flared 20.11 per cent of their total gas production. Specifically, companies produced 221.634 billion scf of gas, utilised 183.78 billion scf and flared 44.573 billion scf.
The Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) put the average price of gas at $3 per unit of 1,000 scf, translating, to $133.716 million for 44.573 billion scf flared, and $551.346 million for 183.783 billion scf utilised. If 1.2 billion scf flared per day (According to Mr. Emeka) has the potential to generate up to 7000MW of electricity, the aggregate gas flared in 2014; about 376.41billion scf can translate into 21.97GW, in addition to its inputs in agro processing, textile plants, fertiliser plants, and the number of jobs created from the multiplier effect. Despite the penalties, oil and gas operators have continued to flare gas and regulators seem to have looked away. While there is need to interrogate the positions of penalty payments considering the joint venture/ arrangements, there is also the need to revisit the issues of gas pricing and availability of gas infrastructure; else the question will be the relative cheapness to flare gas than monetise gas. To this end, efforts should be made to harmonize and reconcile domestic gas pricing across markets in Nigeria while seeking ways to attract and sustain foreign investments and funding for gas infrastructure especially for the improvement of gas to power in Nigeria.
Though, Nigeria is the second largest producer of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in Africa, and the sixth largest producer in the world with over 3million metric tons annually. However, current per capita consumption of the gas in Nigeria is about 0.8kg/annum. This is the lowest in Sub-Saharan Africa; lower than those of Nigeria’s West Africa neighbours who do not produce the product. Annual LPG consumption in Nigeria in 2010, was put at 120,000MT, whereas, in Lagos alone, there is a potential market for 1,000,000MT annually. Yet, stakeholders in the industry are daily crying shortage of gas supply for domestic, industrial and power generation usage. How can we be crying shortage of what the country has in abundance in reserve? The problem squarely lies with the country not giving gas development and utilization the rightful attention it needs.
The International Energy Agency predicts that the demand for natural gas will grow by approximately 44 percent through 2035. Perhaps, this explains why International Oil Companies (IOCs) like Shell are investing more in natural gas as they are divesting from their crude oil assets in Nigeria and other countries. This also explains Shell’s huge gas investments in Russia, for example the Shell Sakhalin Natural Gas Plant in Russia is one of the world leading gas projects. Shell also has the largest Gas-To-Liquids Plant in the world in Ras Laffan Industrial City, 80km North of Doha, Qatar. Apart from producing diesel, petrol, and kerosene, the Plant produces base oils for top-tier lubricants, which is a chemical feedstock called naphtha used in making plastics and normal paraffin; also used in making detergents.
The Federal Government of Nigeria can, for instance, replicate all of this and even more in the country if strategic natural gas development projects like the New Utorogu Gas Plant (aka Utorogu NAG 2 Project) in Ughelli South LGA, Delta State, as well as the Utorogu NAG-2 Condensate Tank Farm, are given the needed attention. There is need for instance, for the Federal Government to make this gas development projects a “top priority” by giving them the needed funding and attention. The New Utorogu Gas Plant, which is currently being handled by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) after Shell (SPDC) Divestment in Delta State, seriously needs all the funding it can get from the Federal Government so that NPDC and its contractor MAKON Engineering & Technical Services Ltd can finish the project strong, as well as the said Condensate Tank Farm.
The importance of Gas development cannot be overemphasized. As environmentally friendly and efficient energy source, natural gas is lighter than air, colorless, odorless and tasteless. For this reason, odorant is added to the gas to make it noticeable and objectionable for safety reasons. Natural gas can be compressed and, therefore, transmitted in large quantities through relatively small pipe diameters when under high pressure. Nigeria cannot afford to continue flaring gas and complain about inadequate gas supply; whereas the country is blessed with abundant gas reserve/deposits that are begging to be developed and utilized, hence, the need for the Federal Government and industry investors to adequately fund the operations of the NPDC and its gas development activities in Utorogu areas of OML 34.
Aside export purposes, Natural Gas can also be used to satisfy the following in Nigeria: Domestic Gas demands since natural gas dispensed from a simple stovetop can generate heat in excess of 2000°F (1093°C) making it a powerful domestic cooking and heating fuel; produce Hydrogen, which is a primary feedstock for the chemical industry and an important commodity (hydrogen agent) for oil refineries, and the fuel source in hydrogen vehicles; natural gas can be used for transportation, including Aviation fuel, as compressed natural gas is a cleaner alternative to other automobile fuels such as petrol and diesel; Natural gas is a major feedstock for theproduction of ammonia, via the Haber process, for use in fertilizer production; and most importantly, Natural gas is a major source of electricity generation through the use of gas turbines and steam turbines. Most grid peaking Power Plants and some off-grid engine-generators use natural gas. Natural gas burns more cleanly than other Hydrocarbon fuels, such as oil and coal, and produces less carbon dioxide per unit of energy released. Natural gas is also used in the manufacture of fabrics, glass, steel, plastics, paint, and other products. We can imagine the enormous employment opportunities available in this sector if given the proper attention.
With all of this at the back of our mind, we can therefore understand the need for the Federal Government to focus more attention towards gas development in the country. As a matter of fact, with appropriate funding, the above stated gas projects in Utorogu OML 34 and others across the country can ‘energize’ the whole of Nigeria if given the needed attention. Utorogu can become Nigeria’s “energy source centre” that can provide all the nation’s gas supply demands and for export purposes.
Without a doubt, special attention should be given and sustained in the Oil and Gas sector (which is still Nigeria’s mainstay), and the Joint Venture (JV) funding. There is a need for President Buhari to greatly improve on this, particularly in the area of Gas Development and Production. This is the surest and quickest way to redeem us from the present ‘economic hardship’ we are facing in the country. The Presidency just has to keep ‘servicing’ the Oil and Gas sector for things to ‘normalize.’ The funding of the JV has to be made a priority to develop gas as Nigeria has a lot of gas potentials. But let us bear in mind that the increase in the production of crude oil means there will be an increase in the production of Associated Gas (AG) as well. As we know, crude oil comes with gas, hence it is called Associated Gas. The gas is actually in two forms: Associated Gas (AG), which is either dissolved in and is involuntarily produced with oil, or lying on top of oil in a combined oil and gas reservoir. The other is Non-Associated Gas (NAG), which comes from reservoirs containing gas only. But increase in the production of NAG, means there will be increase in the production of Condensate. On the average, about 1000 standard cubic feet (scf) of gas is produced in Nigeria with every barrel of oil. Therefore, with oil production of some 2.2 million barrels per day (bpd), for instance, about 2.2 billion scf of AG is produced every day. The question has been how Nigeria should utilize the AG currently being flared.
On gas flaring, there were some major efforts by IOCs like Shell (SPDC) to reduce gas flaring in the country to the barest minimum, as you cannot really eliminate gas flaring completely. Some of these options for Associated Gas utilization as planned by Shell, for instance include the Re-Injection into reservoirs, fuel for industries, fuel for power generation, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for vehicular and other uses, Extraction and bottling of LPG constituents for commercial consumption, Feedstock for Industry, Liquefied Natural Gas for export, etc. In fact, part of the concrete efforts made by Shell (SPDC) in this regard was to initiate the present Utorogu Gas Plant Phase 2 (aka Utorogu NAG 2) Project in OML 34, Delta State, which is meant to gather AG from the surrounding oil fields to address the gas being flared around the said areas. But that gas Project, which is near completion and has been taken over by NPDC/NNPC after Shell Divestment in Delta State, is today being neglected and suffering due to lack of funding by the Federal Government and other JV partners. One would have thought that such a sensitive gas project like the Utorogu NAG 2 Project would be made a priority by the relevant stakeholders as part of efforts to address this problem. But that remains to be seen.
This is why many like us believe that the Federal Government has not been sincere in addressing this problem of gas flaring/gathering and the development of gas in the country because of politics and vested interests, which has made the continued existence of the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) as a complete bottleneck in addressing these problems. How can the country continue to have a gas company that does not produce gas, but is only good at Piping, Metering and Marketing the gas produced by others like Shell (SPDC), Chevron, Texaco, Mobil, Seplat, and Nigeria’s NPDC, etc. In other words, the NGC is just there as a ‘middleman’ waiting for gas produced by others to distribute. This makes the NGC’s existence in the industry ‘irrelevant and needless’, hence, the NGC should be done away with. It simply does not make sense. In fact, one is forced to ask what the NGC is doing as a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), in the development of natural gas in the country. We can see that the NGC, as a subsidiary of the NNPC, obviously constitutes as a bottleneck to the nation’s aspirations of utilizing its abundant gas resources for the Power sector and industrialization sector. Despite their inactiveness in gas development and transportation, the same crops of leaders in the NGC are still allowed to remain for several decades now.
On several occasion, we have advocated for the complete scrapping of the NGC and the liberalization of the gas sector to allow investors to come in. The Federal Government must completely scrap the NGC in order to improve in the development of gas and its utilization in the country. The NGC can be done away with because they are just a Marketing Company that sells the gas produced by IOCs and the NPDC. There is need for the Federal Government to allow IOCs and other oil and gas companies producing the gas to sell same directly to the end users. NGC does not play any role in the production of the natural gas produced in the country. The IOCs and JV partners have the capacity and capability to build gas infrastructures for this purpose.
Experts in the industry have revealed that some of the impediments to Gas development in Nigeria include the: Inadequate Gas Supply Infrastructure; inappropriate/unrealistic pricing of gas, especially for domestic use; Absence of institutional and regulatory framework; Low level of industrialization and inadequate consumptive capacities. And for these to the addressed, there is need for the government to create an enabling environment for investment in the gas sector; ensure a comprehensive, integrated power-gas approach; development of gas infrastructure; ensure appropriate regulatory framework and energy market reforms.
The crux of the matter is that there is need for the government to put in more effort and focus in the development of natural gas for domestic and export purposes. For instance, the seeming low level of utilization of cooking gas across the nation can be effectively addressed with the formulation of a policy by the Federal Government that will serve as road map for the next five years. According to the Managing Director of Nipco, Venkataraman Venkatapathy, he noted some few years ago that the forward path which will dovetail into effective promotion of LPG as veritable substitute to kerosene as household cooking fuel can save the Federal Government foreign exchange to the tune of 245billion naira ($1.25bn). He maintained that with the abundant natural gas resources in the country the nation should become one of the highest users of LPGs as cooking fuel with all its attendant benefits.
Conclusively, for the way forward, we believe it is expedient for the Federal Government to “liberalize the natural gas sector” just the same way it has done with the crude oil sector. In other words, apart from the already existing Joint Venture (JV) partners the Federal Government has with IOCs like Shell (SPDC), Chevron-Texaco, Mobil, Agip etc, they should ‘open up’ the gas sector with investor-friendly policies agreements and conducive environment for interested private investors in the Organized Private Sector to come in to harness, develop and distribute gas for the country’s domestic demands and for export purposes. Foreign and indigenous private companies should be given ‘free hand’ and necessary operating license under required Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) signed with the Federal Government for the development and proper utilization of the country’s abundant natural gas resource. This should be done the same way the Federal Government has a PSC signed agreement with the Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO) in the crude oil sector. So that the investors in the gas sector, will have the leverage to harness, develop and distribute gas for both Power utilization and industries in terms that will benefit them and all-and-sundry.
It is high time the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari takes concrete steps in the gas sector that would promote gas utilization in Nigeria as a cheaper, more reliable and cleaner fuel alternative and feedstock. A complete overhaul of relevant policies, and most especially the NNPC and its subsidiary-NGC, is eminent if we are to achieve this vision where natural gas will overtake liquid fuel as the fuel of “first choice” for Nigeria’s Power utilization and industries. There is need for the President Buhari administration to take the bull by the horn and make things happen for the benefit of all as regards the country’s abundant gas reserves. We ask that the right things should be done.
Zik Gbemre, JP.
National Coordinator
Niger Delta Peace Coalition (NDPC)
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes as if Those Were Our Causes
I find comments about the gas industry’s competitiveness relative to coal interesting giving all the major coal companies in the US are in bankruptcy or approaching bankruptcy because of their inability to compete with coal. Even large exports to China aren’t going to pull these companies out of their financial difficulties.
With regard to the Siemens, RD Shell, et al, corruption article – I do believe the old saying ‘Birds of a feather flock together’. Is quite applicable in this case. Are any of us really surprised at all of this ???
Shell Canada has lost all control and decision powers to the incompetent folks in Houston. Houston is led by a POSSY of folks like LE HAYES and LEBETTER that are no more than incompetent managers looking to collect a PAY CHECK. In the meantime they slash and brun smart CANADIAN employees and move jobs to incompetent USA staff that just happen to be their friends and former Military supporters. What a Shame!!!!
Contrary to what today’s newspaper reports might suggest, Shell wasn’t “dragged” into the long-running OPL 245 scandal – Shell was involved in orchestrating it from the very start. Since expenditure at this level must have required the approval of the EC it will be interesting to see whether Shell will let us know which members of the EC were responsible for approving the scam.
Shell Canada is in final talks with potential suitors for its Retail Gas Stations. Sources say that 7/11 will pickup Ontario sites while Couche-Tard gets the rest of Canada.
Relaxed: there are not many unconventional fields that are “profitable” at $50-$60/bbl, and most unconventional wells need to be redrilled every 1-2 years. Deep water wells are expected to produce far longer without intervention, and are generally very profitable at $50 – provided only that the host governments don’t get too greedy. So the GoM will survive at low oïl prices, whereas Brazil and Angola might not.
Would like to add to the good post from relieved. I feel going forward that the biggest technical obstacle limiting the high side of oil prices may well be oil fracking. At $50 or$60 a barrel huge state sized fields are profitable in the U S with huge reserves. It’s hard for me to understand how long term prices can break thru that ceiling when hundreds of rigs then show up and start flooding the market a few months later. It really makes me wonder if deep water, especial offshore Brazil, projects aren’t really going to be hurt with limited long term prices and only short term upsides.
Presumably Shell and Inpex were hoping to offload the Prelude vessel onto the Indonesians. The announcement of the indefinite delay to the Browse FLNG development was apparently delayed until Shell and Inpex were sure that the Indonesians would not take the Prelude vessel… I wonder if there are any other unsuspecting countries who would be interested in buying an unfinished prototype “cyclone proof” FLNG barge. Madagascar? Egypt? Nigeria? Israel? Namibia? There’s no shortage of stranded gas out there.
I almost don’t care what the latest rise in the price of oil may be. The industry is beginning to face the inevitable consequences of the advance in new technologies and those are inevitably going to have a very large impact on the long term future of the oil industry. Hybrid vehicle sales are continuing to climb even when gasoline sells below $2/gallon US. We have not yet reached the time when oil and coal are no longer the economic kings that fuel our economies, but we are getting there, and at a rapidly increasing pace.
Talking up the market is obviously a cheap strategy. But it is also a dangerous one that could potentially backfire on Russia and OPEC if it doesn t lead to actual changes in supply.
Seem a lot of people have “inside” views. Well from the outside it looks like Marvin was moved on. The Hague got control back and Upstream Americas (as was) is confined to the history books. I would expect to see more job losses in the rest of Shell now as the BG merger takes hold with more and more central management from the Dutch staff who are all high performers of course.
ON NIGERIA OIL WORKERS SHUT DOWN OF NNPC OVER ‘UNBUNDLING’ – NOT IN THE INTEREST OF THE NIGERIAN COMMON MASSES
We strongly condemn the recent shut down of all offices and facilities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), by its oil workers, in protest of the recent splitting/restructuring of the nation’s oil company into Seven Independent Units by the Federal Government. If the restructuring of the NNPC into several units is intended by the Federal Government to make it more effective, efficient and to drastically reduce the bureaucratic bottlenecks evident in the NNPC as the independent units will be made to ‘manage their own resources and workforce’, then we do not see anything wrong with this. Hence, we do not see the reason for the so called shut down of operations by its workers.
Firstly, let us correct the impression already created by the media that what the Federal Government has done is an “unbundling of the NNPC into different parts”, which many (especially NNPC) has thought might adversely affect/reduce the workforce. But what we believe the Federal Government has done is a “restructuring” of the NNPC to make it more functional, effective and efficient in their services. There is a difference between the two terms ‘unbundling’ and ‘restructuring’.
This was also highlighted by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and GMD NNPC, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, when he announced the restructuring of the NNPC into seven independent units, namely Upstream, Downstream, Gas & Power Marketing, Refineries and Ventures, Corporate Planning & Services and Finance and Accounts. Each of the Units would be headed by Chief Executive Officers, namely Bello Rabiu for Upstream; Henry Ikem-Onih (Downstream); Saudu Mohammed (Gas & Power Marketing); Anibor Kragha (Refineries); while Babatunde Adeniran would be in charge of Ventures. The CEO in charge of Finance & Services would be Ishiaka Abdulrazaq, while the Executive Head, Corporate Services will be Isa Inuwa.
On the workers’ obvious fears, the Minister clearly said the exercise has “zero sum in terms of job loss. The principle of restructuring approved by the President is that nobody losses work. I do not have everyone gets busy, unless for reasons of bad staff performance and fraud. There is no mass attempt to let people go.”
He said the decision to embark on the ‘restructuring’ followed an analysis of the number of staff, which revealed that the corporation was overstaffed, and therefore the need for them to be meaningfully engaged. The only way to realize that objective, the Minister said, was to create jobs for everybody in the system to enable him has something doing. In his words: “We don’t want people coming to the office to read newspapers. We want everybody to get busy and earn money. If we do that we will realize that there would be adequate staff to man the different units, and that we don’t really have the problem of over-staff after all.”
With this understanding, it is plainly seen that what the Federal Government want is to do in the NNPC with this restructuring, is to make more effective, proactive, efficient and functional. So we do not understand why there appears to be so much discontent amongst workers of the oil corporation.
As far as we are concerned, all those kicking against the restructuring of the NNPC as planned by the Federal Government, are doing so for their own selfish interests and not in the interests of the plebeians (common masses) and the Nigerian economy. This includes the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), and the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), who are the two major unions in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria. For PENGASSAN, they have argued that the union was not carried along in the decision to split the company. While for NUPENG, they said the union would not accept the decision without knowing how the manpower that would operate in the restructured units would be managed. We believe these are flimsy excuses used by these unions to justify their strike action. With the explanations given by the Presidency about its plans for engaging in the said NNPC restructuring in the first place, any sane industry player in sector should back the government efforts and not make things worse with a strike action. Also, must these unions use strike actions to communicate their grievances towards the government? What happens to a round table dialogue/discussion or other corporate means to address issues?
The nation’s oil and gas sector is already heated-up and under pressure for a while now over the downward trend of oil price, depleting foreign reserves and pressure on the Naira; why should the NNPC workers make things worse with their ill-advise strike action? If they really mean well for the nation’s economy, then they would realize what the Presidency is trying to achieve with its planned restructuring and they would give the President the needed support.But like we said, it is obvious that some few persons in the circles of country’s oil company are ‘massively benefitting/gaining’ from the status quo and the NNPC as an “umbrella corporation” where Executive decisions are tied to some individuals. Hence, these set of people are using the NNPC workers to frustrate the plans of the President who is trying to address the loopholes in the industry. This group of persons and the said NNPC workers that are currently on strike are obviously ‘anti-people’ and ‘anti-government well-intended objectives’. We strongly condemn their industrial actions, which is not in the interest of the nation’s economy but for their selfish gain.We therefore urge that they promptly call off their strike and support the good intentions of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Zik Gbemre, JP.
National Coordinator
Niger Delta Peace Coalition (NDPC)
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes as if Those Were Our Causes
Relieved – the senior manager retirement age is still 60 in Shell, so that is not why Odum left. It was a long time coming for him now, however I would think he struck a rather nice deal for himself and receives his full pension when leaving the company. Shell usually does that with top brass who are nearing retirement age.
Relieved – have you read the reports? They state he is 57. So I think your theory is flawed. If you look at the facts of his tenure then he should have been brought to task years ago. Maybe his links to the White House kept him in power but the Americas were out of control with their spending.
You could argue that Relieved were he not 57. No, Marvin FINALLY got called out for his incompetence. His presiding over the disasters in the Arctic and in the $40 billion shale misadventure finally caught up with him as all those who took the fall earlier had gone and BvB finally saw him as the liability he was. That was why he was ‘moved’ into the departure lounge position in the first place. I cannot think of a single executive offhand who willingly got off the gravy train before their time regardless of what Corporates press writers spin. The interesting thing will be to see how many of his equally culpable lieutenants (particularly in commercial) follow him to the exit as the BG merger progresses.
It is my guess that Marvin Odum is retiring because he has reached a mandatory retirement age for senior managers. When I worked for Shell that age was 60, although the board could extend the retirement age under special circumstances. As far as I can tell Marvin is retiring because the corporate rules say he must retire, not because he was ‘booted’ out.
At last, a CEO that has the balls and guts to make decisions.
Looks like US is going to get a long overdue shake up and clean out under AB.
Should have been sacked after the Kulluk incident. Wasted billions of dollars and should be hauled before the shareholders to explain where the money went. Apart from sponsoring sporting events in the US. of course !
Marvin has finally “left Shell”. The result of this is that The Hague finally gets to control the Americas operations under Andy Brown, something it has been trying to do ever since Voser gave it away.
Strange move to put a farmer from Alabama in as Country Chair, he has a hard act to follow with Marvin and Hoffmeister both were polished and impressive in public. Bruce is more like the Borat version, just hope he polishes those cowboy boots.
Shell are seeking a clear picture from the old guard on Corrib regarding the OSSL claims of police alcohol. For their part senior police are now asking serious questions of the remaining named policemen (guards) implicated in the alcohol accusations. More to follow.
RDS is looking at selling off Canadian downstream assets (retail, distribution terminals) in order to fund the BG takeover cash crunch. A secret group is currently working on this initiative and expect more news by end of Q2.
#575Shell Director Egan . on Feb 13th, 2016 at 10:58
It’s not lost here in Mayo that Media got plied with booze by Shell but we are to believe that policemen and policewoman braving the wind, rain and freezing conditions on land and at sea ( Liam Grimes ) got no under the counter benefits for their efforts.
Texvette, Marvin may have been closed down but it didn’t stop him wasting millions on the 2017 Superbowl, presumably he will have a ticket in exchange for the millions while his ex staff will be serving him cold beers. I just don’t get it, UA is short of money and we waste money on a super rich sport.
Looks like Marvin Odum was stripped of key responsibilities and placed in a lame Role. Ironically he will have to clean up the messes he left in Alaska and Unconventionals. A bit of Karma, but he should no longer be on the payroll after all his major mistakes.
The merger of Shell T&T and Royal Dutch in 2004 resulted in a major loss to the UK exchequer, as the taxes previously paid by Shell T&T went to the Dutch government instead. Presumably the taxes previously paid by BG will now go to the Dutch government too?
The sale of US natural gas to Europe is all about sticking it the eye of Mr. Putin. Putin has had a bad habit of using gas supplies to extort the EU into giving him what he wants. However, this exportation of US gas will not last forever and the EU needs to get off the dead rear ends and develop their own resources.
I have worked for Shell for more that 10 years and have always defended our business principles even in Nigeria where it is tough not to submit to temptation to move things along easier. The Shell Business principles have always been a cornerstone of the principles by which we work and now we find Ben and his cohorts have not paid any Corporation tax in the UK. Simon Henry, as a British citizen you must be ashamed if this is just slightly true, if not get the lawyers to issue statements and put the Sunday Times in its place.
SHELL CANADA employees are being forced to take a pay cut and shed vacation days while colleges in the USA keep on rolling with no change. Once again CANADIAN employees are treated like second class slaves by the USA masters. It is about time that Shell CANADA separate from the USA and chart its own destiny. Shell USA are a bunch of racist pigs!
London Lad ….Corrib has had five CEOs …that signed letters as Managing Director. The man sacked on January 1st who vilified OSSL in a need for cover up of alcohol gifting to the Irish police was a Director: his name is John Egan.
Two contrasting views on Corrib Gas published by your paper makes interesting reading:
Corrib gas a ‘template’ for ‘how not to undertake a development’
British engineers’ group say more democratic approach could have avoided cost overruns.
and
Brendan Cafferky’s opinion of the Corrib Gas Project – “This project is, in my opinion, an example of how to protect the environment” is the expression of his decade long unstinting support of Shell.
The Pro Gas Mayo group has three or four members, none of them living in the vicinity to the terminal or gas pipeline which may explain why safety issues did not arise for them. Mr. Cafferty seems not to be aware that Corrib Gas Partners can sell their share of gas to whomever they wish but not the Irish Nation. Once Corrib gas is pumped into the Bord Gais gas network it can be sold by way of sale, gas swap and virtual trading – even outside of Ireland. Just because the terminal is in Ireland does not guarantee security of gas supply to Irish customers. It’s a free market.
Mr. Cafferty is not very good on Norwegian history.
Norway’s policies on oil and gas were decided at a time when Norway was told that the nation will never be an oil and gas rich nation, luckily for the Norwegian people they decided to stay in control of their resources just in case. That was in the early 70th and by now they can afford to reduce royalties and tax.
Unfortunately, the Irish decision makers decided in the late 1990 to change fiscal terms and hand all Irish natural resources to the industry, lock, stock and barrel. Time will tell how much Ireland will have lost.
I rather agree with the British Engineers – Corrib Gas is a story of how not to undertake a development. If it is left to Mr. Cafferty = I guess he would do it all again, in the same way.
I have no doubt “Corrib CEO’s” that there has been (at least) three Shell Corrib CEO’s. However, they are not MD’s of Shell (i.e. not Shell Group MD’s which I got the distinct impression that Siggins was possibly attempting to infer). As far as I remember from my days in Shell and MD was not a CEO. Bottom line remains that thankfully for the vast majority of local (and no doubt national) folk the project has gone ahead for the benefit of all.
The real reason behind the Shell-BG merger is that it is cheaper for Shell to go exploring for oil and gas on Wall Street than it is to explore in the ‘natural world’. Witness the Alaska debacle. In the long run this merger may prove to be quite profitable. Time will tell.
Lorna Siggins is accurate three CEOs on Shell Corrib announced in print “mistakes were made on Corrib” Pyle (Rip), Nolan, and Crothers. Corrib has had five CEOs. A statement in itself, London Lad.
Me thinks that Lorna Siggins of the Oirish Times needs to name the actual “several Shell managing directors who have acknowledged mistakes” over the Corrib project. I didn’t think Shell had that many Group Managing Directors!! It remains the case that it is the few NIMBY’s who did not want this project to go ahead for the benefit of the country who continue to cause trouble. Just look at the picture posted on this website – far less than 50 people seem to be demonstrating about the project. These people need to get into the real world for the sake of their children and grandchildren. Maybe they want to run the country on potato fuel as the green alternative?
Corrib was acquired by Shell as a result of Shell’s takeover of Enterprise Oil. Many of the problems which have been documented on this site highlight the shortcomings inherited from Enterprise. Hopefully the integration of BG’s assets into Shell will be more successful.
#589Antonio L. Buensuceso Jr. on Jan 21st, 2016 at 22:20
January 29, 2016 UPDATE
Forces, whom I believed aligned with lawbreaker, SHELL, and the Supreme Court of the Philippines whose inaction to prosecute and/or discipline SHELL , Te, Lapitan et al, evidently proved to be their protector, were successful in their effort to stop me from posting to my personal blog by invoking violation of User Content and Conduct Policy. Though this restriction could give a major debacle in my effort to expose SHELL and the SCP symbiotic relationship, this incident in fact gave me a major victory in the sense that my campaign had yielded a remarkable psychological advantage. It got my needed media attention. I hope the Supreme Court move quick not to lock me up but to institute the much needed reform to effectively rid out inefficiency, incompetence, gross inexcusable negligence and corruption in the judiciary and the whole government machinery that the Filipino people dreamed of in a long time.
Shell Oil must cut all Contractors from WIPRO, ACCENTURE AND IBM since these contractors are all under performers and these Wipro, Accenture and IBM Contractors are not having relevant experience but they bring all freshers/ Zero experienced people to work on IT projects and claim huge hourly rate that is equal to be paid for highly experienced people. These WIPRO, ACCENTURE AND IBM companies including its PMO staff must be fired immediately to save future investments on business improvements. The work/task that can be completed in one day will be completed in 10 days by these Contractors since they get paid for all these days and Looks like Shell Oil is paying for under performed employees that needs to be paid for highly performed employees. Shell must have job cuts with immediate affect by giving Pink slips to all Contractors of Wipro, IBM and Accenture including all PMO Staff.
As one of the many let go by Shell in the recent cull in November I was not impressed by the way senior leaders clung to their jobs. This is now going to get even worse in my opinion as Shell announces more job losses. Even the inmates will be turning on each other as there is nobody left in the asylum and yet strangely the senior leaders still remain in place. The same senior leaders who got us into this mess seem to think they are the best to get Shell out of it. Good luck boys, its great watching from the outside for a change. Oh yes and don’t expect New Orleans to survive as Andy Brown’s boys come to town.
Wow I am once again in agreement with my old mucker “Relieved”. This low oil price is yet another blip in the oscillation of oil price. In R.T. this basically still shows a gentle increase as shown in numerous websites : http://inflationdata.com/Inflation/Inflation_Rate/Historical_Oil_Prices_Table.asp
I am sure that these sort of charts have been used by the various “planners” of RDS for the BG bid. Mind you, when working for RDS I never really trusted some of the scenarios used by these Central Office “boffins”. As far as I am concerned the purchase of BG remains a good deal. Exxon next purchase for Mr. van B??!!
RE:Drum Major – Whilst crazy days may indeed be ahead of us this whiplash (and it will be a whiplash) in the price of oil is not good for anyone. The shakeout will prove to be interesting.
Strange that Shell pulls out of a ADNOC gasproject but continues with the BG deal (if the shareholders allow it). Project costs must be at an all time low now and over 30 years this should be a good deal with the same arguments as used for the BG deal! More gas, more reserves, growing market, prices will increase, shift towards gas, etc etc.
And with Prelude coming along, I worry that in this depressed market there will be tremendous costcutting. This is always good as long as it does not involve cutting corners. But who can guarantee this??
The pressure on the top of Shell must be significant judging from their forced smiles!
RE:Steel barrel price ? The current list price for 55 gallon steel drums appears to be around US$60. Steel is not cheap anymore. Try the web for better listings.
#597Steel Barrel Price? on Jan 14th, 2016 at 10:07
John Donovan, perhaps readers in the know could tell us how much does a steel barrel for oil cost and at what point will the barrel be worth more than the oil? My guess is 12 or 13 US dollars. Thanks for your great site.
It’s curious that, according to press reports, global production of oil is increasing to record levels, and the surplus is being stored offshore in increasing numbers of tankers. The price can supposedly only go down. It is strange to hear first hand reports from the field that suggest the opposite: production supposedly collapsing due to a lack of well maintenance and field development. Oil price rises may be much nearer than some of the traders are assuming…
Hello Relieved,
Just check out this presentation on Ted talks. https://www.ted.com/talks/david_mackay_a_reality_check_on_renewables?
The green maffia is trying to scare everyone into paying more taxes so they can have more green conferences in nice places and pontificate.
But these facts stand in the way so they are being ignored by this same mafia, most liberal media and other fast talking moviestars or politicians. Oil and gas is precious and we should not squander it. But it will be around for a considerable time!
The number of hydbrid gasoline/electric vehicles in the US is expanding dramatically.This is happening simply because of economics – its pays to buy one of these vehicles even when the retail price of gasoline is at US2.00/gal or less. Mileage improvements for passenger vehicles are dramatic, depending upon make and model, but are on the order of 80%. For heavy commercial vehicle it is on the order of 50%. So, not only does the oil industry face a glut of supply it faces the advance of technology that is radically improving consumption efficiency. That translates into lower demand or, in the near term, declining demand for crude. I don’t know as if I would trust Shell crystal ball regarding the increase in crude prices. It will increase, no doubt, but the rate and the degree of increase may not be what Shell wishes it to be.
The author of this comment is Fegalo Nsuke, publicity Secretary of The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP).
The situation in Ogoni is very pathetic. Pain, anger, frustration, sicknesses, malnutrition and poverty are dominant with no signs of relief. The memories of state-sponsored persecution live with us and successive governments continue to prosecute the agenda of hatred against the Ogoni.
The people have been underestimated, considered to be small and weak and adjudged incapable of any negative impact on the economy. This contemplation has empowered our tormentors to unleash the most inhuman treatment on the Ogoni.
In a supposed federation of 36 states, the Ogoni do not have a state of their own. The right to self-determination enjoyed by the majority ethnic groups in Nigeria is denied the Ogoni. The revenue generated from Ogoni, is more those of 20 states in Nigeria, yet the Ogoni, a distinct people with unique language and culture are not allowed to determine their future in their own state. Ogoni is not cared for, denied every thing enjoyed by the majority ethnic groups in Nigeria and subjected to the most inhuman conditions that assure them of no future. Death is for Nigeria, the sure end of the Ogoni.
In seeking to reclaim their rights, Ogoni leaders in 1990 came up with a historic document, The Ogoni Bill of Rights, which spells out their demands on the Nigerian federation. Nigeria did nothing to address the issues and a series of protests from the Ogoni were to follow.
The protests were targeted at Shell’s racist business practices in Ogoni. Shell’s usual response was to invite the Nigerian security forces whose ruthlessness left the Ogoni with an unending pain. Thousands killed, women raped, children killed and abused, thousands imprisoned and living conditions only get worse. Ogonis had been’ battered by a government that should have protected them. The climax was the November 10, 1995 hanging of nine of our leaders including Dr. Barinem Kiobel, Rev. John Kpuinen, Ken Saro-Wia and 6 others.
Convicted by their conscience, the Nigerian government ordered an environmental audit of Ogoniland and on August 4, 2011, the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) released the audit report on Ogoni environment.
The UNEP report represented the first major success for the Ogoni as a scientific study by an independent body justifying the complaints of environmental damage leveled against The Shell Petroleum Company. Shell had operated in Ogoni for over 50 years and left nothing other than a completely devastated land. The U.N report said the pollution of Ogoniland would take 30 years to cleanup. Prior to this report, Shell had persistently claimed innocence of any wrongdoing in Ogoni.
Over four years later, the Nigerian government is yet to implement the report. The non-implementation of the UNEP report on Ogoniland points the fact that the Nigerian government is indeed committed to the systematic destruction of Ogoni. The government has taken over 30billion dollars worth of oil between 1958 and 1990 and have left oil spills to damage the area without any positive response.
The 30 day ultimatum issued by The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) on January 4, 2016 in Bori, calling for urgent action to implement the Ogoni environmental audit report or face series of mass action has come at the right time. MOSOP has spoken the minds of the Ogoni people. A people with no other alternative but to march against genocide and confront a seemingly insensitive Nigerian government. Ogonis cannot wait to see everyone die before they move to save and secure their future. We have a responsibility to stop the genocide!
With two refineries, two seaports and two power plants in Ogoniland, I am sure the government cannot risk an “occupy campaign” from Ogoni. Ogonis will consider occupying the oil and gas free zone, seaports and refineries endlessly until we are heard. We will come out with our foodstuffs, cloths and take over these territories to force the Nigerian government to act now.
The time to act is now. The Nigerian government has to address the Ogoni problem, beginning with the cleanup of the environment.
Author: Fegalo Nsuke is publicity Secretary of The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP).
#603Antonio L. Buensuceso Jr. on Jan 7th, 2016 at 08:47
JANUARY 7, 2016 UPDATE_SHELL Follow the Law or get out….
Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation (SHELL) greed and unlawful endeavor extend even to the point of robbing employee retirement pay by circumventing the Retirement Pay Law. I have called the attention of the Supreme Court of the Philippines through Atty. Theodore Te, the PIO Chief, since September 2015 about this matter, but up to this time January 2016, the good PIO Chief refused to give my complaint against SHELL due course. I even tweeted the honorables CJ Sereno and Justice Leonen about my plight that SHELL ROBBED MY RETIREMENT PAY but after a couple of days their tweeter accounts disappeared and as I feel it, both justices gone into hiding, perhaps to deny knowledge of my predicament and consequently, escape blame for their inaction. With these experiences dealing with SHELL and the Supreme Court I have reasons to believe that SHELL will not be bold enough to disregard the law without the protectors in the Supreme Court and this protection, of course is not free. However, these “honorable” people though have learned to transfer shame from their faces to the soles of their feet, could not withstand the mounting pressure for reform from the enlightened citizenry.
COMMENT IN RESPONSE TO ARTICLE: “Chris Blackhurst: Shell and BG’s £47 billion merger could really pay dividends”
Yes, Lloyd’s amalgamated with HBOS to produce one big bad bank. And so why did the Lloyd’s shareholders vote it through by 90%? Well maybe it was because the majority were also HBOS shareholders, much like this case where many institutions hold both Shell and BG shares. Do you really think they’ll vote NO and risk a collapse in the BG share price and resignation of the Shell BOD? You think Shell won’t be tempted to cut the dividend if the deal collapses and oil stays this low? Are the media so incapable of joined up thinking? Exxon would just love a NO vote, in fact they’re probably IMO, sponsoring a lot of the negative media stories over the past 12 months.
Ben’s luck could be about to change with a flare-up in the middle east rather than in Ireland. The oil price will soon react if Saudi-Iran hostilities spiral.
Bad luck in offshore Alaska. Dry well after Ben van Beurden approved another ill-fated attempt at Arctic drilling.
Misfortune in the Dutch courts with a precedent-setting decision that Shell can be sued in the Netherlands for alleged pollution and human rights claims arising in other countries. In the case in question, Nigeria. Was the unexpected decision a consequence of Ben firing Shell’s top lawyer Peter Rees two years ago? The court decision could cost Shell many billions.
More bad luck with the collapse in oil prices after Ben made a takeover bid for BG Group.
Would he have made today the deal he offered last April with the oil price factored in at $67 per barrel? I think we all know the answer.
Why is he not attempting to renegotiate?
Boldest Shell leader for many years but dogged by miscalculation and misfortune.
RDS sees its long term future as primarily a gas company. That has been clear for some time. It sees a ‘big’ future for gas in its corporate crystal ball and in that context the BG deal makes some long term sense. Time will tell.
Saw the article entitled ‘Your Company is Evil’. Well, that is a matter of perception. However, there is no question that Shell’s management is totally amoral. And that goes for most mega-corporations. Get used to it.
Say Relieved, what tax is applied to petrol (gasoline to you over the pond) compared to Coca Cola?? My view has always been that the US does NOT tax fuel (gas/petrol) enough compared to most modern societies. HOWEVER, as a person who does not believe in the crap that the likes of Greenpeace et. al. pontificate about long may the Yanks lower tax on fuel!! Happy Christmas to all.
If anyone is interested, retail gasoline prices throughout most of the U.S. are now below US$2.00 per gallon. Instead of a merger with BG, maybe Shell should consider a hostile takeover of the Coca Cola Company. The retail price of Coke is around US$4.00 per gallon.
#611Antonio L. Buensuceso Jr. on Dec 20th, 2015 at 07:18
December 19, 2015 UPDATE
My close family relative who now lives in my home address in the Philippines reported to me that at least on four occasions this past month of November 2015 men coming to interview them guised as LPG inspectors, census surveyors or my old friends and asking questions seemingly far beyond they supposed to be asking like personal information about the members of my family and place where they can be found and about myself…when I will be coming back home. My close relative felt something is not going right. As SHELL being portrayed from several of John Donovan’s article like the case of Ken Saro-Wiwa, it is not far that what happened to Ken Saro-Wiwa, could be done best in the Philippines given the culture of impunity they enjoyed, as I experienced and being observed, under the protection of the Supreme Court of the Philippines.
#612Antonio L. Buensuceso Jr. on Dec 14th, 2015 at 07:11
December 14, 2015 UPDATE
Up to this time the Supreme Court of the Philippines PIO Chief, refused to respond on my inquiries and worse I feared that my messages are not reaching Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. So I searched for her tweeter account and I found it together with another, for Associate Justice Marvin Leonen tweeter account , where I tweeted them both my article “SHELL ROBBED EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT PAY”, a couple of days ago. But now that I am about to tweet them again, I could not find their tweeter accounts anymore. I have a suspicion that both Supreme Court Justices hides to avoid answering complaint against SHELL and the PIO Chief.
Say “Bogey Boy” did Mike Napier (never heard of him but I assume he is / was your boss / ex-boss) fire you and that is therefore your main gripe? You are correct about Shell wanting to make money – surely all companies want to do this (and are required to do this by their shareholders)? That said, all companies must adhere to the law of the land in doing so. Global warming? …. too much time spent on this subject, seems to be an easy excuse by government representatives, show-biz people and media reporters to go on a jolly trip around the world to pontificate and burn up the planet by flying there!!
I cant wait to see what rubbish shell say about climate change now. Shell appear like a lost lost sheep. The dull rancid stale corpse VP Mike Napier of communications will order more lies to make it look like shell stand for something. they only care about making the dollar. Most of the worker know this too. Shell is abomination. Comment ends. Photo of Mike Napier immediately below.
#616Antonio L. Buensuceso Jr. on Dec 10th, 2015 at 22:00
Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation misappropriated my retirement pay for their obligation for the payment of separation pay. This is against the Retirement Pay Law in the Philippines. Now that I am retired I started claiming my retirement pay from Shell but Shell refused to honor the company’s obligation under the law. I filed petition to the Philippine Supreme Court but the high ranking personnel, the PiO Chief is delaying and/or preventing the petition due course.
Any hope of knocking US shale production out of the global markets long term is futile. While there may some short term success, that oil isn’t going anywhere and as soon as oil prices recover so will shale oil production. The one effect excess production will have is to bankrupt the Russians, which probably is not a bad thing.
If you don’t want that sort of excitement on this blog Outsider then don’t post it. Clearly a serious accident but nothing to do with Shell in this instance.
There we go, as soon as I post about those NIMBY Oorish over Corrib we get the blog going. So Donovan 4 (yes four!!) initiated a legal challenge against Shell – just goes to show what the sensible folk of Mayo want from a project that will bring money and jobs to the area. However, the likes of the Harrington’s appear to be stuck in the 19th century.
Have to agree “Cowboy” – it’s for that reason I sometimes put some end-of-the-week postings to stir some input!! So here goes …. (1) Has all this Corrib NIBY (not in my back yard) stuff stopped progress in Ireland? – same sort of people that you see objecting to bombing ISIL etc. (2) the RDS buying of BG has gone ahead despite all the gloom merchants, (3) what about my old mucker in Malaysia who tried to take SSB/SSPC to court? Jeez, and we are still 3rd in the Premiership!!
Lorraine Mitchelmore is really leaving because Shell is disgusted with MARVIN’s strategy to gut Shell CANADA. Shell CANADA is now but a mere shadow of the strong company it was prior to the RDS takeover. RDS has systematically dismantled and reduced Shell CANADA to a small player in Canada to the point where it has dropped to number 3 or number 4 in Canada. This is a JOKE and will only get worse as MARVIN and the other global clowns prepare to further weaken and destroy Shell CANADA. That is the true story.
You can add Pickard to your list of Marvin rejects, he is rapidly running out of people to blame ! In the last 4 years the senior leaders ‘discarded’ by Marvin has been awesome. Someone should buy him a mirror .
I suspect the Saudis have multiple objectives in mind by keeping up their production, not the least of which is to stick it to the Russians. By boosting production in the early to mid-1980’s and causing a collapse in the price of oil the Kingdom effectively bankrupted the old Soviet Empire which doomed to to collapse. The Saudis are no friend of Putin or his cronies.
The articles about the BG takeover are focussed on the short term prices of oïl and gas, but the oïl and gas development projects that Shell and BG undertake have a time horizon of 20 years or more.
While the analysts and journalists are focussed on quarterly results, the companies that they analyse are looking a little further into the future. There is no question that the prices of oïl and gas will rise again as the current lack of investment causes production to fall, whilst demand is steadily rising. Whether it is in six months or two years nobody can tell.
Any major upstream development investment decision made within an oil company is based on the net present value (NPV) of a project, even when the cash flow of the project may be negative for several years after approval. On this basis, even the most pessimistic current estimates of future oil and gas prices will result in a positive NPV for the BG deal.
What terrible lazy journalism by Neilan. In claiming Shell shares have “tumbled” whereas in fact they only went down by 2%. Thats hardly a ‘tumble’ in anyones eyes. It sounded like it was a shock to her that Shell made a loss. Where has she been the last 9 months? What will her next article be? “Germany Invades Poland”
Carmon Creek, Alaska, Eagle Ford ….. Would someone PLEASE tell me something Marvin has done right? If Ben keeps him on, his new title should be CFO (cluster f**k officer).
maybe somebody should tell the BIDNESS article has the BP logo on it not the BG one. Ifpeople wish to write such stuff v it makes one wonder how informed they really are?
REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN:
Yes, it was a Bidness.com howler that I should have noticed. Now rectified.
The Saudis have chosen Poland for a reason. With Poland’s total oil imports a bit above 24 million tons per year, with 20 million tons coming from Russia, this is a historic opportunity to not only shake off its energy dependence from Russia, but also to become an major Saudi oil hub in Europe.
Poland’s Northern Port in Gdansk can receive up to 35 million tons of oil per year with a possibility to increase this capacity by at least 25%, i.e. to some 44 to 45 million tons per year, what leaves some 20 million tons per year of excess capacity.
As the most recent reports state, the Saudis extended an offer to Poland to co-finance the construction of oil storage facilities and pipelines redirecting the oil to the Baltic States, Ukraine and the Visegrad Group member states. This alone would reduce Russia’s oil exports to Europe by a whopping 13%, thus reducing its annual export revenue by $12 billion (at $30 per barrel) to close to $20 billion (at $50 per barrel).
Poland, of course, will be more than happy to throw as much sand into the Russian financial gears as possible, since it’s the main driving force behind the creation of the European energy union and stripping Russia of its all monopoly pricing power on the EU energy markets. Germany and France, as well as the Scandinavians will likely comply.
From these two articles it is clear that the big problem for Shell was the lack of oil and the now low prices for both gas and oil. This prospect contains a huge amount of gas and gas condensate but it is not economic to develop at current commodity prices. Shell’s hope (if it ever existed) of finding oil was probably futile wishful thinking and doomed from the outset. If this prospect were located onshore it would probably be economic to develop, even if the gas were re-injected and only the condensate was produced. This field falls into the category of a ‘super giant’ field.
Given all that is and was known about this prospect, it would appear someone at Shell really goofed in deciding to commit the kind of financial resources that were committed to this project. From an economic standpoint this was a very high risk project from the beginning.
The big problem for Shell is that the accumulation is mostly gas and gas condensate, with little or no oil. Given current gas prices in the US and the low price of oil there is simply no way that Shell could make development of this prospect pay off, no mattter what the politicians in Alaska might claim.
Read the post about Sullivan’s comments. He is a classic political hack who is completely ignorant of basic econimics. It Shell had found significant volumes of oil (and not gas) then they would be planning to move forward. The bottom line is always the bottom line.
LondonLad and Dononvan, you are correct – there are credible articles linked on the website. This one article was so misleading and so wrong that I had to react to it.
Oct 11,2015 – Sullivan Reacts to Shell Arctic OCS Announcement
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) released the following statement after Shell’s announcement that it is abandoning its Arctic drilling program, citing high costs and the “challenging and unpredictable federal regulatory environment.”
Senator Sullivan said: “Shell’s announcement is being cheered by environmental groups, but it’s a very sad day for Alaska and for working Alaskans and Americans across the country. From the beginning, through unprecedented regulatory hurdles and delays, the Obama administration and its environmental allies have created the conditions for Shell to abandon its Arctic drilling program. And they succeeded. Shell spent seven years and $7 billion trying to drill a single well in America’s Arctic, where hundreds of exploratory wells have been successfully drilled. Under such circumstances it would be extremely difficult for any company to move forward.
“Now, countless jobs will be lost, American’s energy security will be diminished, and the Arctic environment will be degraded with the least environmentally responsible countries leading development. Make no mistake: Countries like Russia and China will continue to develop the Arctic’s natural resources, but will do so with little regard for the environment.
“The Obama administration hit the trifecta: killing jobs, undermining energy security, and degrading the environment. Now more than ever we must work to create an efficient, timely and certain regulatory regime for the United States that helps create jobs, energy, and infrastructure, and promotes partnership with the private sector to grow the economy. As Alaskans, we must start weighing each and every regulatory and policy decision as if our economic future depends on it – because it does.”
Just love the recent article on The Nigerian Alison-Madueke by Sahara Reporters in which, quote “ …… southern government officials and leaders try to outdo each other when it comes to corruption”. If true, how come this greedy corrupt bitch could afford such expensive property in London (and elsewhere) based on her Nigerian ministerial salary plus her Shell pension!! It is a cancerous problem in Nigeria and TO A DEGREE in SPDC / SNEPCO / NLNG etc. Seen it and heard about it first hand whilst working there.
The Arctic fiasco seems to suggest that incompetence extends all the way from the operations people back to the explorationists themselves… Lawrence was sacrificed to shield Odum last time, but the number of “dry” holes that have been drilled over the past few years appears to be considerably in excess of the industry average… I wonder if Odum has the connections to save himself now?
I hardly think that Greenpeace “news sources” can be deemed as reliable. They are very well known for their manipulation of numbers / statistics etc. Others, such as the Guardian newspaper and the BBC are so left wing biased that even Jeremy Corbyn must wonder at their reliability 😉 But adding to Tom Prudential (surname close to reality??) I totally agree about the SOCPF twaddle mentioned in this sites bullshit advertisement, as I mentioned before. However, Tom I have to agree with Donovan for once that not all articles / commentaries on this website are unreliable / untrustworthy.
Well, Shell’s abrupt departure from the Arctic is rather puzzling given all their bravado about the potential of the Burger prospect. While they have said very little about the drilling results, from what has been said I would guess they got bit by a reservoir quality/ development issue, i.e, poor reservoir development and not enough oil to justify going ahead with what would obviously have been a very expensive, technically and politically challenging project. There is never a ‘sure thing’ in the exploration business and maybe those YoYo’s in Houston have learned a valuable lesson – Don’t bet the farm on a ‘sure thing’. Given Shell’s expenditure on this project someone clearly oversold the potential to upper level management. And upper level management wasn’t savvy enough technically to see through the smoke and mirrors (Peter Vosser, et al). If Shell is going to be an ‘upstream company’ then the bean counters cannot be the ones who run the operation.
The article about Shell pension being underfunded is totally incorrect. They may be talking about a small subset of the Shell pensioners, but the US and Dutch funds are overfunded. Geez, cant trust anything on this site.
REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN
A sweeping and obviously unfair condemnation bearing in mind that the vast majority of articles published here are from the most respected news sources in the world. Are you referring to this article or a related comment posted on the Shell Blog?
The justification (such as it is) for the payment of obscene remuneration to Shell’s head honchos (24.2m Euros to the CEO last year) is that we buy wisdom, competence and knowledge. When they blow 9bn Euros in The Arctic in this way the whole pack of cards collapses. van Beurden should go and return his bonuses immediately. Don’t hold your breath.
It must have been an interesting conversation between Ben and Marvin. “What do you mean there is no oil? You wasted 7 billion? Oh dear another nail in Marvins coffin.
Pretty much correct Relieved it is all about $$$ (or in “our” case £££). RDS is correct to adhere to most (yes most) of the shareholders who require a healthy return on capital employed together with a good dividend. Sure there are objections from NIMBEY’s and Greenpeace etc. but at the end of the day we have to advance society and at the moment this cannot be done with renewables.
We MUST (?) drill in the Arctic because Shell missed out on the huge oil shale bonanza in the lower 48. North Dakota now produces 1.2 million barrels of sweet crude a day and is going to do so for a long time to come. That is almost 1/2 billion barrels of oil a year. And that oil isn’t going anywhere even if the Saudi’s manage to depress oil prices and shale oil production for a few years. Estimates for oil reserves in the Wiliston basin of North Dakotan, Montana and Alberta are on the order of 40 billion barrels recoverable out of somewhere around 1 trillion barrels of oil in place. There is no other country in the world that offers the profit potential that the Alaskan offshore offers. That is why Shell MUST drill in the Arctic. It is about $$$ for Shell, not about the long term need for oil. And Shell would no doubt want to export Alaskan oil to obtain the higher international price. So, the notion that drilling in Alaska is about American oil independence is a fraud as well. Shell’s only motivation is $$$. The bottom line here is the bottom line.
Strange to say the least. According to the latest Shell Overseas Contributory Pension Fund newsletter it states the following : Value of the fund is £3.83 billion with a funding level of 102%, with an overall investment return of 7.2%. There is also a comment from the Actuary stating “The recently introduced Contribution Reserve Account will help to provide security for members’ benefits while reducing the risk of over-funding in the long term”. This would appear to show that the (advert) commentary by Lisa Smith of iExpats is way off the mark in terms of her stated numbers for SOCPF and her “fear factor” is merely there to promote business?
Aaagh glad to be back in Blighty and able to regularly read some of the nonsense written about Shell / Corrib. Well Maura Harrington I for one will NOT be signing such a petition. Thus far Shell has NOT been found guilty of anything (apart from trying to advance the lives of Irish people). You NIMBEY’s need to wake up and smell the coffee. This project is NOT of global significance (and hardly national I would suspect) – apart from this biased website and the likes of the left-wing Guardian newspaper I have NOT seen this project mentioned. I would suggest that you need to accept that nations progress with some sacrifices and with the benefit for their children and grandchildren. Stone Age thinking does not work in the modern world.
NAM earthquake topic.
Mr Spong is one of Netherlands top earning lawyers, and with no doubt his team will make a nice dime out of this one. I may sound biased, but the compensation that NAM has been paying for many has been generous and quite significant for the houses at stake. A court also ruled that people living here need to be further compensated for loss of value of house. Even if no damage has been suffered! I live outside this range and my house has lost at least 30% value the past 8 years! As for Mr Spong, better read up on your terminology or else your case will be dismissed quite quickly. The drilling is doing no damage nor is it putting people’s lives at risk.
#649BurmaBoy(on holiday) on Sep 7th, 2015 at 10:12
Good to see in today’s Myanmar Times newspaper that She’ll plans to start seismic in all 3 of their deep water blocks in October. With a commitment of 1.2 billion U.S. dollars let’s hope there is are a number of economic discoveries to be made for Shell and Myanmar.
#650BurmaBoy(on holiday) on Sep 6th, 2015 at 11:35
Hopefully the “masters” of NAM are also stuck with bill for earthquakes allegedly caused by the Groningen field gas production DSM are as guilty (or innocent ) as NAM their contractor.
The new Upstream Americas HSE org charts have been released without many surprises. More managers less staff while the safety performance under the current VP HSE has been slowly getting worse and still the worst in Shell. Will the last workers in Shell to leave show the managers how to turn the lights off?
#652From an old EP hand on Aug 30th, 2015 at 12:01
Hello Relieved, who says we should go back to large scale indisciminate use of insecticides? Dogmatic opposition to DDT meant NO DDT at all. By using knowledge and applying DDT minimally and where one gets the biggest bang for the buck is something else.
Similar for the use of the most safe and clean power generation, greenpeace remains dead set against all use of nuclear power. This alone has a high chance of creating a power shortage in the world in about a generation from now since nuclear power is IMHO an inevitable in between phase between today and the future of completely sustainable energy supply, predominantly solar power.
And please don’t start mentioning Chernobyl and read up on the facts. Terrible disaster but the nuclear bombs set off in the 50s and 60s in the atmosphere created a very well-documented fall-out that was the equivalent of 2 Chernobyls per week for a year. And the world has only improved since then…
I am never surprised by hard core oil and chemical industry types. Why don’t we bring back all those banned pesticides because the clearly ‘save lives’, not to mention enrich those who manufacture them. You would be amazed and the number of genetic deformities that show up in wildlife in the Brazos River Valley in Texas that are directly attributable to the heavy and widespread use of herbicides and pesticides. These people have failed to learn the lesson of nature that little birdies know by instinct, and that is: ‘It is fatal to sh*t in your own nest.’
#654From an Old EP hand. on Aug 29th, 2015 at 14:28
LondonLad, well said. Completely agree. You did not mention it but is was in the link you supplied. Greenpeace is responsible for millions of malaria deaths due to their dogmatic opposition of DDT. This is very well documented. I dare not take the word murderers in my mouth…
They are a professional marketing organisation that terrorises many companies, governments and individuals into doing the wrong thing. There is no accountability. And in the netherlands it is a stepping stone for making political careers after the photogenetic attraction of young activists wears off. In another generation from now it will become clear they have been responsible for forcing governments and companies into destroying wealth and creating hunger as well as energy shortages.
By that time they (and the politicians with a greenpeace background) will explain in the media that they have been misunderstood, misinterpreted and with the knowledge of today ‘we might have done things slightly differently’. Perhaps a small ‘sorry’. They, as few others, know the strength of manipulating the large number of ‘useful idiots’ in our society, thereby raking in a lot of money.
Greenpeace is the largest environmental organization in the world, with an international membership of over 3 million and offices in over 40 countries. Forbes magazine once described it as “a skillfully managed business” with full command of “the tools of direct mail and image manipulation — and tactics that would bring instant condemnation if practiced by a for-profit corporation.” But Greenpeace has escaped public censure by hiding behind the mask of its “non-profit” status and its U.S. tax exemption. In other countries, however, Greenpeace has not been as lucky: Both Canada and New Zealand have revoked the organization’s non-profit status, noting that the group’s overly politicized agenda no longer has any “public benefit.”
Greenpeace was originally the brainchild of the radical “Don’t Make a Wave Committee,” a group of American draft-dodgers who fled to Vancouver in 1969 and, supported by money from anti-war Quaker organizations, got into the business of forcibly blocking American nuclear tests. Over the years the group has loudly made its feelings known on a variety of issues (nuclear testing, whaling, and global warming, for instance), and its Amsterdam-based activist moguls pull the strings on what is estimated to be a $360 million global empire.
In the United States, however, Greenpeace is a relatively modest activist group, spending about $10 million per year. And the lion’s share of that budget in recent years has gone to outrageous attempts to smear agricultural biotech products, consumer electronics, and the logging and fishing industries.
• Greenpeace campaigns against all forms of energy production except for wind and solar. Unfortunately, a whopping 98 percent of the world’s energy supply comes from sources other than wind and solar, This is not likely to change anytime soon due to the cost, both in dollars and in raw materials, required to produce wind turbines and photovoltaic arrays.
• Greenpeace claims to be dedicated to saving the whales. They are happy to exploit the emotional impact of the slaughter of these noble creatures to raise funds and recruit members, but less interested in acting to end the practice of whaling worldwide. In principle, Greenpeace is not even opposed to whaling.
• Greenpeace is against the use of numerous chemical substances including, but not limited to, elemental chlorine, one of the building blocks of life on our planet. Considering that chlorine is responsible for providing much of the world with clean drinking water, and the Earth’s population with some 85 percent of all pharmaceuticals and vitamins, this hard-line stance is must be considered both uninformed and inhumane.
• Greenpeace is unwavering in its conviction that the “unforeseen” health and environmental consequences of planting genetically engineered crops that can grow in hostile environments will forever outweigh any potential humanitarian benefits. While they mount protests aimed at ripping these mutant “Frankenfoods” from the soil and the supermarket shelves, impoverished populations around the globe suffer from the preventable pandemic of malnutrition.
• Greenpeace remains bent on destroying aquaculture industry while they continue to raise alarm about the status of wild fish stocks. Using the apocalyptic image of oceans picked clean of all aquatic organisms, Greenpeace keeps raking in the donations while battling against an industry that is already taking great pains to ensure its sustainability.
Instead of working hand-in-hand with business owners to forge a path towards a sustainable future like other less myopic environmental organizations, Greenpeace’s dogmatic adherence to the precautionary principle causes them to overlook the fatal flaws inherent in their own radical policies.
I have received a couple of formal emails today from OSSL complaining about the comments made by the person claiming to be Jerry Fletcher from Mayo.
This is the content of their second request today:
STARTS
Mr Donovan,
May we respectfully request that recent postings on you website that relate to OSSL in the matters of taxation, lies, corruption and false invoicing, in our business transactions with
Shell E&P Ireland be remove from the site.
We at OSSL refute completely all aspects of these postings attributed to a “Jerry Fletcher,” and trust you will act immediately to comply with our request.
Thank you,
OSSL.
ENDS
With regards to taxation, I am not sure if that is a reference to VAT on the invoice OSSL issued to Shell requesting payment for alcohol OSSL distributed to the Irish Police on behalf of Shell, or to some other taxation matters.
As to corruption, OSSL has admitted distributing gifts to various parties on behalf of Shell including the free alcohol to the cops. All designed to smooth the path of the controversial Corrib Gas project in Ireland.
Have to agree with Jerry that OSSL has not produced any financial transaction records to support their various claims. OSSL says that the reason is because Shell insisted on being given all such information so that no trace was left of the corruption scheme.
As to false invoicing, I assume that this is what OSSL has described in hundreds of emails as disguised invoices passed through Roadbridge, a main contractor.
The alcohol was transported across the Irish border by OSSL. What was that all about?
Where was it purchased?
One thing for sure. OSSL directors cannot be described as angels.
They had the goods on Shell and decided to blow the whistle.
I described their actions as blackmail against Shell, but no one seemed bothered.
I reported that matter to the Irish Police but no action was taken.
The bombardment of OSSL emails against Shell has continued for years.
OSSL advised me that the Irish police are engaged in a criminal investigation against them over alleged harassment, presumably by email. Do not know the status of the case.
There is an excellent chance that Hilary Clinton will be elected President during the next election cycle. This does not bode well for Shell or any of the other majors seeking to exploit the offshore US Arctic oil reserves. While Shell may indeed prove up the reserves in their Burger prospect, getting the permits to produce and build pipelines is another matter. Count on long legal battles.
Forgot to mention, it is Mr. Jerry Fletcher a Mayo resident. As for the guards, have some balls and arrest the OSSL Directors.
COMMENT BY JOHN DONOVAN:
Jerry, you and I are now in total agreement. The Irish police have ample legitimate grounds on which to take action against OSSL for an array of offences. It does not make sense why they have not done so unless they know that action would open a can of worms.
Mr Jerry Fletcher, you are invited to supply me within 14 days verifiable evidence to support your serious allegations against OSSL, which OSSL insist are unfounded and defamatory. Please also supply your Mayo address including postcode. Your address will not be published. Please send required information to john@shellnews.net. Your posting is suspended until the expiration of the 14 day period, when in the light of any information supplied by you, I will decide whether to repost your comments.Contact me on the same email address if you want copies of the relevant postings.
John Donovan for royaldutchshellplc.com: 25 August 2015
Mr or Mrs Jerry , you are wrong on all fronts, senior
Counsel states that the veracity of Ossls delivery of factual honest evidence on the top police man’s demands for statement falsification by OSSL and the delivery of alcohol by Shell gave “enormous weight” in the unanimous acquittal of Shells pipeline neighbours. On the matter of evidence, you would do well to follow @osslsafety on Twitter and Facebook and watch the police and Shell being completely hampered by the truth.
REPLY TO JERRY THE TROLL: You clearly have no knowledge about the educational background of Maura Harrington, or you would not accuse her of being stupid. Maura is far from being stupid. As for your allegation that OSSL directors lied in court if that is the case why have the Irish authorities not taken action against them for perjury? As for corruption, OSSL directors freely admit to distributing bribes on behalf of their then client, Shell EP Ireland. I named the recipients years ago, including senior Irish police officers. No one sued me for defamation.
Mr Jerry Fletcher, you are invited to supply me within 14 days verifiable evidence to support your serious allegations against OSSL, which OSSL insist are unfounded and defamatory. Please also supply your Mayo address including postcode. Your address will not be published. Please send required information to john@shellnews.net. Your posting is suspended until the expiration of the 14 day period, when in the light of any information supplied by you, I will decide whether to repost your comments. Contact me on the same email address if you want copies of the relevant postings.
John Donovan for royaldutchshellplc.com: 25 August 2015
About a week ago, Shell’s Deer Park refinery had a massive release of almost 200 tonnes of liquid butadiene. This material is similar in nature to the chemicals released at the BP Texas City refinery in 2005 (killing 15 and injuring over 170). The amount of material released was so great; the cloud passed through the refinery and was detected by ambient air monitors over 10 miles away. Why haven’t people heard about this?
#664Ceal Smith/Chukchi Sea Watch on Aug 12th, 2015 at 08:10
geruchtenmolen you are correct in your assumptions except some functional areas will lose 40% and not before time. Costs up 60% and FTE’s up 40% under Hollowed. That’s a lot of Aggies he brought in ! The old boy network if finally crumbling. I winder when the Ice Queen will take over Marvin’s role?
Subject: Hero to zero…. how Shell crush once willing allies …no voice ..until now.
Who were OSSL? Is anybody listening in Shell?
On Christmas Eve 2007 ….Shell telephoned Neil Rooney he was at home for the Christmas holiday …Shell informed Rooney that a lady near Shells landfall site had a visit from Shell that morning the visitor a Shell local liaison officer learned that the lady’s television was broken.
Shell requested of Rooney that he act immediately to rectify the broken television.
Rooney got into his car drove five hours via Enniskillen where he purchased a new model television and drove to the lady’s house in Glengad.
Rooney fitted ..tuned in ..and demonstrated the television to the obviously delighted lady.
For good measure (given it was Christmas ) he also gave the lady a box of biscuits and a bottle of brandy.
The lady requested that he remove the old television which he did ,he then drove five hours back to his home in Northern Ireland.
On the second of August 2012 in a room in Dublin two Shell people, one Head of Legal and one CEO, were asked by Rooney for a simple recommendation on paper that he had served the Shell Corrib project well ……..his request was refused.
Mr Paul Walsh of Shell was signatory to and distributor of a document stating that Neil Rooney is a convicted criminal ……..the document is a falsehood designed to discredit Rooney and OSSL.
If you are Shell and reading this …..it’s a factual account and corroboration is available but who cares?
Somebody cares but we haven’t found them yet …..for AGM 2016…
Looks like Ann Pickard is ready for a role in Game of Thrones
#668Corrib Inferno Exit Time . on Aug 7th, 2015 at 06:58
21 days to cap a well ?
Shell Corrib residents told in court last week that they have THIRTY SECONDS
to evacuate their homes in event of a rupture of the Corrib Pipe ( 4 occurrences in the last year ) I ask your readers is this enough time ?
Why is it Muara Harrington that my defence (but not always) of Shell is seen as being an internet Troll? It would appear to me that this term is used too often by people such as yourself because your case against Shell has NOT withstood the courts. Having worked for 30 years with Shell I can see many faults with the company but FAR more positives. Fact is that NIMBY’s such as yourself have a problem with progress and will come up with all sorts of nonsense to attempt to support your objections. Perhaps it is you that is an anti-Shell Troll? As I have stated in an earlier posting the likes of Greenpeace are prime examples of this (aka Brent Spa). FACT is nothing has been proven in court against Shell. I suggest O’harrington that you attempt to get into the 20th century and advance your society better.
12-21 days to cap a oil well blowout ??? Hmmm. And where would a good deal of that oil find a resting place given the prevailing ocean currents ?? How about the NE coast of the US. I think Shell might want to rethink their plan. Making a mess of the NE US coast would most probably cost them Alaska.
#672Maura Harrington Shell to Sea on Aug 6th, 2015 at 13:19
Interesting – but not unusual for a troll – London Lad has gone silent on ‘Booze for Cops’ since the two OSSL men gave their sworn testimony at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court. The sworn testimony stated that Shell DID provide booze to cops and, equally deadly, a police superintendent DID state his intention to use a digger to ‘drive the f****** into the sea’.
I would be of the, admittedly layperson’s view, that, in the absence of recourse to legal redress by either Shell or its vassal Irish government, the sworn testimony of these men – now a matter of public record – can be taken as FACT.
For Shell, its vassal Irish state, its apologist trolls such as London Lad, it’s put up or shut up time …
For those, like myself, who are forever fed up with the lies that are stated by Greenpeace, NIMBY’s and other denier’s (aka The Guardian) I suggest they see some truths by reading an article in today’s Sunday Telegraph (2nd August) by Christopher Booker entitled “The real ‘deniers’ here are the warmists” (page 22).
#675Shine a Light on Corrib on Aug 2nd, 2015 at 08:00
Mr D, RPS Shells leading Protect Team on Corrib, inform Shell that all “crossing land agreements” used near the terminal are invalid because “agreements plus” we’re used to satisfy some landowners and not others. The people on the basic package of compensation want answers. Shell are viewing the situation as deeply damaging and are seeking answers from the Corrib team and RPS, coupled to the police corruption confirmed in court here last week this is potentially a project stopper.
RDS needs to stop and review how large military organizations have dealt with guerrilla wars. I think they will find that such wars a very expensive and rarely won, regardless of the assets that a well equipped military organization has at its disposal. Shell is facing a guerrilla war with the environmental movement in Alaska and elsewhere, and they are not doing well. It is costing them a great deal of lost time and money. They are also loosing the PR battle.
This is the way Shell would re-start the project of Carmen Creek Oil Sands Project.
Shell is engaging two engineering companies to competitively bid against each other to lower the capital cost. Lowering cost will include tactics of reducing safety and health & safety safeguarding provisions.
The Shell project organization and engineering organizations within the company are in charge of lowering SAFETY standards, and are rewarded to take short cuts, to get the project going.
A bit surprised at the constant reference to security, I think in the UK we are all aware of what security means, Do no understand why the reference to the failure to follow procedures etc, unawareness of potential for chemicals reacting into explosive mixture to be failures in health and safety rather than our common understanding of security, it may just be a language thing, maybe London Lad and Relieved may clarify.
If I were Technip (Browse etc) who quote their expertise in leading FLNG since inception I would be a little more muted after all this plane (live and operational FLNG offshore installation) has not yet left the Tarmac.
Yesterday in a court-room in Mayo, the state and Shell, and a highly regarded Judge heard clear confirmation of collusion between the police and Shell CEO Terry Nolan in matters of a criminal nature regarding statement falsification and corrupt gifting to the police by Shell. The state prosecutor responded to the submission by asking two questions of OSSL. Did you see the Celtic game last night? And do you watch Gaelic football? No other response to the testimony was made by Shell or the state or the police.
Here we are again on a Friday night and looking back on some of the blog comments I notice that “Alan Poole” has NOT lived up to his promise as yet!! Quote : “I will be revealing truths about people I’ve worked for and with” – It appears that you are slower than two mating tortoises in posting your promises.
Update to last posting. Two questions asked by Shell. How long have we known this? …..since 2009. Any witnesses? to Nolans visit / demands to lie? Yes. 4 witnesses all available to you .
To Corrib Watcher, I was the only Shell witness at the Pollathomish Police Beatings. I gave an exacting account of Gannons actions and words. I was visited by the CEO of Shell in person and instructed to change my account of what happened. When I refused I assume that the CEO decided it would be best if there was no witness rather than an honest one… my statement has never been found by police, Shell or GSOC, in perverted move to protect Gannon …Shell CEO Nolan cost himself his job, but not before Shell assured me I would never work in the Oil &Gas industry again.
Jeeeeez Corrib Watcher, I have absolutely no idea what you are trying to say – is it my English Tea that is blurring my vision or is it your Irish Nimby Alcohol that is making your postings unreadable?!?! Ease off on the free Shell booze then post your comment.
John, lessons to be learned for all on Corrib; just one question from me… Why was the only non protester present when SUPERINTENDANT GANNON declared I will drive these ####### into the sea at Polothomish Pier incident (see youtube video) not asked for his clear precise and honest account of Gannons actions on that “black day” for Irish policing, why?
Well Wayne you’ve still not answered my question as to why you think that Shell has not been prosecuted for all these booze / OSSL accusations. Is it perhaps all the local Oirish Nimby’s who don’t want progress at any cost viz Corrib?
There is public outrage when the US government spends $9million a day fighting ISIS. I bet Ben is furious Upstream America is losing similar amount per day. Meanwhile Bruce celebrates by announcing what a success his $700 million office block is. It may be for you Bruce sitting up there on the 12th floor, try living on the 6th floor where there are 150 men sharing one restroom. Life in the cubes is terrible that’s why so many people walk around campus !
Hi London Lad, you have my name and you use for attempt at humour; you on the other hand hide your identity – akin to writing on the toilet door – says it all really.
Begosh & Begorrah OSSL & Rooney (keep to your daytime job of football) you still try and convince the world that Shell is sooooo wrong – so why is it that the legal courts say otherwise?? And, as I have said so many times on this blog, this global warming issue that the greenies always attempt to raise – why is it so bloody cold here in Blighty at the start of June??
Toxic waste and silent CEO … It’s now up to Shell to show beyond doubt that OSSL had toxic waste and not police alcohol in the van ..BVB you have been misled …where did the toxic waste lie originate ?
Mr Donovan …may we request that this Question is asked of BVB on your Shell Blog.
We asked him at the AGM but he did not answer.
Mr van Beurden if OSSL are indeed telling the truth that they were never involved in the dumping of toxic waste as per a document “distributed” by Shell ….and Shell know the document is false ,….then how does he feel about it being used to discredit the key witness in the Shell police alcohol claims made by OSSL?
Shell Ireland know the document is false there was no toxic waste ..there was alcohol.
An answer please Mr Van Beurden …you have the proof in your hand.
I noticed the comment by Shell leadership that the world ‘desperately’ needed Arctic oil. Hmmm. The total consumption of crude these days approaches 30 billion bbls annually. With total Arctic oil reserves estimated to be around 90 billion bbls, that means there is roughly three (3) years worth of consumption to be had in the Arctic, with about one third to be found in US waters. A whopping three (3) years, and one (1) years worth of consumption respectively. It seems to me that US Arctic oil is needed by Shell far more than the world needs it.
I have read the blog for a number of years and have become increasingly irritated by the negative postings. I have now retired from Shell after 32 years service, including the North Sea, Kazakhstan, Abu Dhabi. I will be making further postings revealing a few home truths about some of the people I have worked with and for, in these various locations.
The revelation that the Omani gov’t was/is spying on Shell should not come as any big shock. The revelation that Shell has its agents imbedded in foreign governmental agencies should also come as no big shock. It is the nature of the international oil business, and just a cost of doing business internationally. It is also common knowledge that RDS regularly spies on its own employees. There is nothing new here.
#696OSSL POSTING VIA EMAIL on May 17th, 2015 at 09:16
…..Senior Irish Police officer Superintendent Gannon informs OSSL that the demand for lies about his actions against the people of Erris whilst assisting Shell to progress the Corrib Gas Development …is a matter between them (OSSL) and Shell …remarkably the Superintendent claims he had no knowledge of the resulting “demand for lies” by Shell following the Pollathomais Pier incident recorded on U Tube, the demand was delivered personally by a Shell CEO claiming to be acting on Gannons behalf …… the plot thickens …..OSSL
Relieved: Unfortunately the rigs now in use are OLDER than the rigs that were previously deployed. The Polar Pioneer is from 1985 while the Noble Discoverer is the same vessel, built in the early 1960’s as a log carrier, that was used previously.
I find RDS’s ‘new’ drilling rig for the Alaskan Arctic to be a considerable improvement over their past choices. It is also probably a far more expensive rig to lease. However, if RDS had made this choice years ago, instead of running with its fleet of aging rust buckets they might have completed a well or two and probably would not be facing the opposition they have today. Shell has shown that its management is notorious for making bad decisions that in turn produce serious liabilities. Maybe they have gained a little wisdom, but don’t count on it. Odum is still running the show.
Some of the other stuff in the FT article about Shell BG is really interesting. Such as who will bear the brunt of job cuts.
QUOTE
And Chris Wheaton, fund manager at Allianz Global Investors, plays down the idea that it will be BG staff who will bear the brunt of the cuts. He argues Mr van Beurden “has identified the Shell culture needs changing, that you can’t just have a bunch of really clever people sitting round a table in a room talking about stuff”.
“Sometimes you’ve got to be nimbler, act like you’re smaller. This will inject a whole new set of DNA into Shell,” he says.
Oil price fixing conspiracy by BIG OIL, including RDS ??? Say it is not so !!! RDS is a good corporate citizen. We know this because their propoganda organs tell us so. My, My, My. This must be a conspiracy on the part of evil, greedy governments and incompetent bureaucrats.
McKinsey are allegedly making solid progress in Upstream Americas according to ‘inside sources’ with reports of up to 30% surplus in some areas. Meanwhile HR are trying to persuade people there are no packages coming while quietly offering their own staff hundreds of thousands of dollars in compensation to leave early. I wish I worked for Bruce !
#704Ex Corrib Project . on Apr 26th, 2015 at 07:31
John, Shell / Garda alcohol story, quite amazing the cops are harassing the vendor with threats of imprisonment just ahead of the AGM, the dogs in the street know what happened here Shell are bully boys and they do use the cops like puppets it’s actually quite frightening.
I believe that high profile gaps in Andy’s broad scope of his roles & responsibilities (R&R), 12 years in the same role, (too long for a senior executive), loss of key sponsor(s), and the perceived need for a game changer that
delivers on Ben’s strategy, new operational approach, and heavier (Treasury, M&A, Pensions, and governance) Finance footprint, might have been key in his departure.
Also, remember that Andy and Ben Van Burden come from very different backgrounds. Ben is a Shell homegrown senior leader (with 30+ years), while Andy is an experienced hire. Common knowledge is that the retention history for experienced hires senior leaders is poor at Shell. Why? My understanding is that because Shell is a relationship company, many experienced hires are unable to adequately fit in and build the mentor/sponsor /other relationships that are critical for success in the company.
As to high profile gaps in Andy’s scope of R&R, any could have been used as a justification for a change such as:
1) Pension costs ($2 billion increase in pension funding is projected for 2015 (see Shell Annual report note 17 – Retirement benefits), Also, there was noise around Shell realizing over $600 million USD in pension losses in the highly publicized Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme, uncovered in 2008,
2) UAU M&A and billions in write downs,
3). Ongoing governance issues, (flawed decisions and/or absence of appropriate actions or interventions because of management tension to achieve targets, inadequate oversight/asset integrity),
4).Other Treasury activities, (such as financial performance, cash management, investor relations, sub-optimum share based compensation delivery schemes, poor
capital discipline, to name a few.)
So will Total play the White Knight to assist BP in avoiding a hostile takeover? Total are also a potential takeover target, so they may have good reason to help BP out.
John,
Thanks for the advice you posted for those who may be considering bringing suit against Shell. It was quite interesting. I am certain potential litigants will find it informative and helpful.
According to figures published on this site, Shell replaced just 26% of the reserves that it produced in 2014. The Groningen field represents a significant fraction of Shell’s remaining reserves. If Groningen production is halted to reduce the risk of earthquakes, the impact on Shell’s remaining reserves will be significant.
Very bold of Ben van Beurden. Most courageous Shell leader for many a year. Still many pitfalls, as can be seen in some of the most recent articles about the BG takeover. Not least the fluctuating oil price. Good luck to him.
Just read the article about why we should care about the Pemex oil production platform explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. It would be instructive to recall that befores BP’s recent problems the largest oil spill to occur in the Gulf was the Shell Oil production platform disaster at Bay Marchand Oil field in 1970, and about which you published an article. That disaster occurred as a result of sloppy engineering and work practices. The sloppiness resulted from Shell management’s efforts to cut costs and maximize production. This sort of this could easily happen in the Arctic as well given Shell’s past and current ‘TFA’ attitude toward platform safety, etc.
EXTRACT FROM EMAIL SENT BY DESMOND KANE OF OSSL TO PAUL GOODFELLOW OF SHELL ON 4 APRIL 2015.
Mr Goodfellow …..a senior engineer in your employ sent me in a vehicle to meet with a senior police officer from the sub Aqua division of the Irish police.
My task was to hand over Christmas Alcohol to be shared with the police operatives who had assisted Shell at sea in Mayo in progressing the Corrib Project.
What I’ve just written is a fact ….however I’m challenged by Mr van Beurden whom I met on this matter last May to bring him further evidence of this claim …both your man and the policeman have failed to confirm ( or so I’m told ) their arrangement on that day making it difficult but not impossible for me to satisfy Mr Van Beurden.
Can you help ?…….I have no problem with what Shell instructed me to do on that day I do however have a massive problem with the obscene subsequent cover up by Shell and the police.
There is no shortage of gas fields offshore Australia, but there are very few customers willing to pay the price of Australian LNG. Delaying exploration of the Browse basin would seem to be perfectly logical in the current environment. Gorgon was discovered in 1981, but in the absence of customers, development did not start until 2009, and first production was at the end of 2014.
Wonderful town hall from Marvin yesterday telling us how we must all look for cost savings and ask ourselves what we have saved in the last two weeks. He then got into his private 24/7 limo and headed off to the airport to board his private jet! I wonder if that is included in the multi million travel budget?
It would appear you are not aware that the Minister and the Police Commissioner together with past and present CEOs of Shell Ireland are stifling the passing of the key information that proves beyond a doubt that the alcohol was sent by Shell and received by named police officers.
At a five hour meeting in a Dublin hotel requested by the Irish Police Superintendent Thomas Murphy demanded that OSSL furnish him with the following information …..
………who instructed a Garda called Liam Grimes to meet with the OSSL vehicle on the by pass in Athlone to offload the alcohol?
………OSSL’s participation at the meeting was instructed by Connor Byrne senior manager on the Corrib Project but OSSL did not have any part in ensuring that Liam Grimes would be on the bypass to accept Shells alcohol.
In order to satisfy Superintendant Murphy OSSL set about obtaining this key piece of information several dozen requests were made in writing to Shell …the Commissioner ..and the Minister given that it was a police/Shell arrangement both those parties must have the ability to access the answer.
Both Shell and the police have refused to release the answer demanded by Superintendent Murphy .
OSSL also wrote to Liam Grimes via the Minister and Commissioner but he has refused to respond also.
Murphy was very clear on this matter ” get this answer ” he stated and you get the required proof.
Unfortunately we were unable to break the silence .
Shell Corrib teams actions towards OSSL and makes them palatable at AGM with offers….of meetings with the vendor ……meetings that never materialise.
….ample proof of what OSSL are claiming exists but OSSL’s offer of a transparent “walk through”….of the facts is declined by senior Shell people who could act to protect Shell integrity if there was a willingness to do so.
The Irish police …Shells partners in alcohol gifting in 2007 and especially Chief Superintendent John Gilligan think that the code of silence will prevail in dismissing OSSL ‘s factual account of the alcohol deliveries made by Shell.
The “obscene to palatable “actions of Jacinta Healy who demanded (and got) tennis courts at her home part paid by Shell …then denied their existence when questioned by a Shell CEO…despite photographic evidence …..is a further endorsement of this abhorrent treatment of a small willing ally of Shells who fulfilled Shells instruction to the letter in satisfying local demands for covert gifting.
How did Jacinta convince Shell there were no tennis courts built at her home ?….when she stands in the queue at the local Spar shop with the men who built the courts and the people who change the nets …because she claimed the original nets were poor quality …..what does she tell them?
How do Shell.. Police and ..local landowners when in receipt of what they know to be the truth sit so comfortably with each other?
(BOX CAN BE DRAGGED TO READ ALL OF THE ABOVE TEXT)
POSTING BY NEIL ROONEY OF OSSL
Shell party tonight marking the completion of Corrib. The stink of unfinished local matters will be all that’s left when they exit the area ,not a single Corrib Shell man or woman could look OSSL in the eye and explain their despicable actions in the treatment of decent people.
If BvB manages to put an end to activities such as those inspired by his predecessor Watts (above), the unconventionals debacle, and OPL 245 he will have earned his salary many times over
What is this latest news ?? Bribery, extortion, intimidation by Shell and its hireling goons ??? Please say it is not so. My Oh My, what is this world coming to ??? SOP on the part of Shell, regardless of their PR campaigns claiming otherwise.
Looks like Marvin finally woke up and is appointing a non American to cut down his massive overhead. Malcolm Mayes, the ex Exxon Ozzie is well placed to see through the plan to cut $1B off the budget.Two strong ego’s advising Marvin now in Culpepper and Mayes, wonder who will ‘win’?
With regards to the much reported Ogoni crises and the recent ‘re-awakening’ of the possibility this crises by the Shell/Belema Oil Ltd deceptive plot concerning the Divestment of Ogoni oil fields, we consider it necessary to reiterate previous stands and make this clarion to all well-meaning Niger Deltan.
Let us all work together to save Ogoni from economic slavery. Let Ogoni people take control and remain stooges to other people. We should support and work with a company owned by, or with significant interest by Ogoni people. If there is none, form a Hydrocarbon Prospecting and Management Company to be the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to present for the oil block divestment bid. This is the best option for Ogoni, to ensure the following minimum expectations are delivered.
The contrast between the media attention given to Petrobras’ corruption scandals and those of Shell and ENI in Nigeria is curious. Perhaps Shell and ENI have better PR departments? Or perhaps it’s simply that corruption involving Shell, ENI and Nigerian politicians is not considered newsworthy?
RE: SHELL CONFIRMS OIL LEAK FROM UNDERWATER FACILITY IN BAYELSA STATE
With the recent confirmation by Shell of an underwater leak/discharging of crude into Ogboinbiri River in Bayelsa State, which was first reported over a month ago (23/01/2015), we find it really appalling that Shell is often in the habit of dragging its feet in addressing reported oil/condensate spills in its operation areas in the Niger Delta region.
We condemn Shell for dragging and dilly-dallying too long to act on addressing the said spill which started gradually until it spread across the stated River in Bayelsa State. Why should Shell wait until there was so much noise and outcry from the locals and stakeholders before the company decided to act? Why Should Shell toil with the life-sustenance of its host community locals in their bid to sustain oil and gas exploration and production in the Niger Delta region? They sit in their cozy air-conditioned offices enjoying themselves while the locals that bear the brunt of the extractive industry are left to wallow in pain and misery? Would it have taken anything for Shell (SPDC) to address the said spill immediately it was first reported? Obviously not! Then why wait for things to go really bad before acting?
The said River in Bayelsa State is the ‘major’ economic life-line of the host community locals, both in drinking, domestic use and fishing.
But now, it has been grossly polluted by the said oil leak from the underwater facility operated by Shell (SPDC). This is rather unfortunate and highly condemnable.
Zik Gbemre, JP
National Coordinator
Niger Delta Peace Coalition (NDPC)
#729From a Warri veteran on Mar 6th, 2015 at 12:45
Well said Londonlad, completely agree. Nigerians seem to have forgotten their vicious civil war. With the Biafra war already 43 years behind us, it means that probably 75% of the population (or more) was born after this terrible episode. Another civil war could happen overnight again. And the fittest and most vicious will win and kill the weaker ones.
I usually agree with your views except when you start to be disrespectful towards John Donovan. You and I most likely have been colleagues and you have to admit that the great transformation from the mid 90s onwards has wiped out the ‘old’ Shell that was more or less a decent company outperforming all the others in the period 1975-1995. And John merely likes to point out that the senior management is very often not walking their talk! Rattling the Shell cage is a good thing, it keeps those inside on their toes. And you know as well as I do that gorillas breed gorillas and with the introduction of people with the wrong attitude (me first, screw the rest and all packaged in wonderful words) the gorillas have taken over. Because of Watts and his cronies Shell (EP) missed the chance to correct itself after the Overpromise/Underdelivery presentation in 1999. Thank god I still see some decent and very clever moving up so there is a glimmer of hope. But the transformation back to a decent company will be extremely difficult.
Say Zik what do you think about the latest atrocities committed by those Nigerian animals calling themselves “Boko Haram”? Oh no, of course, they won’t provide you and your Delta thieves with any money will they. Be warned Zik, you and your greedy little compatriots will come completely undone unless you face up to your problems in the NE of Nigeria. Shell and all your attempts to bleed SPDC dry will come to nought if these Islamic nutters come to power in Nigeria. Stop trying to stuff your Swiss bank accounts with money and try and stop this band of killers from destroying your country.
Question for you Donovan – were you in bed with Shell (i.e. selling your game at the Shell petrol stations to make personal profit, and of course nothing wrong with that) during the time of the apartheid in South Africa?
REPLY BY JOHN
If we had been asked to supply our services to Shell in South Africa during the Apartheid era, I guess we would have tried to find out more about what was going on. The truth is that the situation never arose. 35 years later I cannot recall if we even knew about the involvement of Shell. It only became apparent to me after obtaining “A History of Royal Dutch Shell” published in 2007 and a book published in 2012, “Secret Manoeuvres in the Dark: Corporate and Police Spying on Activists.” As to adding one of your comments to an article, just request that at the time and it will be done. As you know, you also have a standing invitation to supply Shell related articles for publication on an unedited basis. Regarding Zik, I will find a way to accommodate his contributions without taking up excessive space on this forum.
Agree that most of the bloggers on this site are ex-Shell staff with a gripe or have worked for / with them then felt screwed by them so start a complaint column / website. Zik is no different. Donovan at least allows people the chance to minge & whinge but I certainly would suggest a little “box” somewhere on this site where Zik’s very lengthy stories can be parked for those who have difficulty sleeping. Not much of a defence from me I’m afraid, but, I thought my response to those moronic green students from Stockholm (bleating on about climate change) would have been stuck below their “pleeing” article and not in the blog. No influence over the editor of this site I’m afraid.
Looking at Zik’s long winded story, he sounds like an ex Shell disgruntled staff groaning and morning. Wonder what he has done when he was in Shell services.
John – Zik has a right to his views and expressing them on your site. However, in my opinion, your site is being “hijacked” by Zik. I find I am visiting the site much less since it has become Zik’s Personal Forum.
John, can you please give this Zik another platform? He hogs your Shell Blog with all his verbal diarrhea. And remember this is Nigerian diarrhea, very powerful stuff. Methinks he downs 4 bottles of STAR before fouling up your blog. Even the Londonlad got infected. Him done gone bush-oh. Eeh, his headengine gone crazy and he now also put de verbal diarrhea in de blog-oh. But he make more sense.
According to the subject report, the assumption that Nigerian Politicians are “honest and straightforward” is absolutely false. If they were, Nigeria with its ‘enormous oil and gas wealth’ would have become the “Dubia Of Africa” like we have in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). And like the Nigerian Politicians, the person of Mr. Osagie Okunbor, who has resumed as the new MD/Country of Shell (SPDC). Mr. Osagie Okunbor, is the exact opposite of such words like “honesty, integrity and straightforwardness”; hence we do not see him as the right replacement to take over the ‘good works’ left behind by Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu in Shell Companies in Nigeria.
The above report has claimed that Mr. Osagie Okunbor worked very hard and attained different levels of leadership positions in Shell (SPDC), but this is baseless because we know that it was the Edo State connections in Shell (SPDC) that projected Mr. Osagie Okunbor to the position of the VP Human Resources which he was occupying before this recent appointment as MD/Country Chair. He did not attain to that position on merit or hard work, as they are trying to make us believe.
The Mr. Osagie Okunbor we know, is an “Edo State tribalist bigot” who does not have what it takes to be MD/Country Chair of Shell (SPDC) Nigeria neither can he project Shell and its operations in Nigeria in good light. The Mr. Osagie Okunbor we know cannot manage/relate with host community stakeholders in the volatile Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
There is an element of ‘god-fatherism’ playing out in the selection/appointment of Mr. Osagie Okunbor as MD/Country Chair of Shell (SPDC). From what we can deduce, it is obvious that Mr. Osagie Okunbor was projected for the position of Shell (SPDC) MD/Country Chair for ‘selfish’ interests of a cabal in the Shell system. Out of the three past Nigerian MD and Country Chair of Shell (SPDC), two of them are from Edo State. Whereas, there are other ethnic groups like the Isokos, Ogonis, Urhobos, Ijaws, Itsekiris etc that are from the ‘core Niger Delta States. What happens to these other ethnic groups? Are there no qualified Nigerians outside Edo State that can fit in far better as MD/Country Chair of Shell (SPDC).
To put it bluntly, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, like most Nigerian Politicians, does not have the “leadership qualities” to even be considered for the position of the MD/Country Chair of Shell (SPDC) Nigeria. He does not have the capacity to carry relevant stakeholders along or manage Shell (SPDC) operations in Nigeria. He was only put there to serve the interest of a cabal. This is no exaggeration, but we are stating the bitter truth and the undeniable fact as we see it.
Zik Gbemre,JP.
National Coordinator
Niger Delta Peace Coalition (NDPC)
No.28, Opi Street Ugboroke Layout, Effurun-Warri,
P.O. Box 2254, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria.
Tel: +2348026428271
+2348061524210
+2348052106013
Website: http://www.ndpc-zik.org
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes as if Those Were Our Causes
RE OGONI PEOPLE REJECT BELEMA OIL, EXPRESS FEAR OF STATE REPRESSION
We express our support to the enlarged Congress of the MOSOP Kingdom Coordinators and Chapter Leaders Forum that recently overwhelmingly rejected the takeover of Ogoni oilfields in the Niger Delta by Belema oil Ltd. This is hinged on the fact that Shell is said to be the one behind the Belema Oil Ltd Company that is currently instigating some Ogoni locals and Chiefs against the educated class, elites and Opinion Leaders of Ogoni land.
We are highly disappointed with, not only the Nigerian Government for not giving this issue the attention it deserves, but also Shell as an oil giant that has decided to sponsor Belema Oil Ltd to resurrect and instigate crises in Ogoni land. Shell has, through Belema Oil Ltd, fraudulently collected signatories as consent from selected Ogoni locals and Chiefs after inducing them with money and cow gifts, just to have their way in Ogoni oil fields. And like we said, this is typical of Shell’s style of operating in everywhere they are, especially in this part of the world; where they always project “Profit first before and above the lives and wellbeing of the locals that own the resources.”
Shell and Belema Oil Ltd should have known that the money and cow gifts given to selected Ogoni Chiefs and locals (for the oil giant to have their way in Ogoni land), will ONLY POSTPONE THE EVIL DAY.
Shell’s ‘thirst for drilling oil and gas’ in Ogoni land without the implementation of the UN recommendations on Ogoni land Clean Up and other issues, has completely blinded the oil giant to have warranted their choice of using an oil company (Belema Oil Ltd) that has no known track record to operate the Ogoni oil fields. And we are still finding it hard to understand what Shell (SPDC) will gain as a company if Ogoni land starts to ‘burn again’ with crises that would lead to the loss of lives, particularly the lives of the Ogoni elites and educated class and Opinion Leaders. What will Shell gain if human blood starts to flow again in Ogoni land just for ‘selfish interest of Shell and Belema Oil Ltd?
The same things we witnessed in the past that led to the death of Ken Saro-wiwa and eight others is gradually but steadily playing out in Ogoni land again with this “Shell/Belema Oil Ltd deceptive plot.”
Similar to what we have been hammering on for the past few weeks on this same issue, “the MOSOP chapter leaders noted that resuming any kind of activities at the Ogoni oilfields without resolving the issues of state creation for the Ogoni people as a distinct group within the Nigerian state, a proper clean-up of Ogoniland, and adequate compensation for the destruction of the environment will lead to another era of state repression and human rights violations in Ogoniland.” As reported in the link: http://www.ogoninews.com/ogoni/297-ogoni-people-reject-belema-oil-express-fear-of-state-repression.
The crux of the matter is this: ENOUGH OF THE SHELL-INSTIAGTED CRISES IN OGONI LAND THAT LEADS TO BLOODSHED OF INNOCENT OGONI PEOPLE.
Both Londonlad and the students of Stockholm International School might find it useful to read Bjørn Lomborg’s books on both climate change and misuse of statistics.
Plea to idiot Stokholm students – wake up and smell the coffee (see attached). That said, why doesn’t Zik use some of the hot air he produces to heat peoples homes in the winter. Attached from a recent daily Telegraph.
When future generations look back on the global-warming scare of the past 30 years, nothing will shock them more than the extent to which the official temperature records – on which the entire panic ultimately rested – were systematically “adjusted” to show the Earth as having warmed much more than the actual data justified.
Two weeks ago, under the headline “How we are being tricked by flawed data on global warming”, I wrote about Paul Homewood, who, on his Notalotofpeopleknowthat blog, had checked the published temperature graphs for three weather stations in Paraguay against the temperatures that had originally been recorded. In each instance, the actual trend of 60 years of data had been dramatically reversed, so that a cooling trend was changed to one that showed a marked warming.
This was only the latest of many examples of a practice long recognised by expert observers around the world – one that raises an ever larger question mark over the entire official surface-temperature record.
Following my last article, Homewood checked a swathe of other South American weather stations around the original three. In each case he found the same suspicious one-way “adjustments”. First these were made by the US government’s Global Historical Climate Network (GHCN). They were then amplified by two of the main official surface records, the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (Giss) and the National Climate Data Center (NCDC), which use the warming trends to estimate temperatures across the vast regions of the Earth where no measurements are taken. Yet these are the very records on which scientists and politicians rely for their belief in “global warming”.
Homewood has now turned his attention to the weather stations across much of the Arctic, between Canada (51 degrees W) and the heart of Siberia (87 degrees E). Again, in nearly every case, the same one-way adjustments have been made, to show warming up to 1 degree C or more higher than was indicated by the data that was actually recorded. This has surprised no one more than Traust Jonsson, who was long in charge of climate research for the Iceland met office (and with whom Homewood has been in touch). Jonsson was amazed to see how the new version completely “disappears” Iceland’s “sea ice years” around 1970, when a period of extreme cooling almost devastated his country’s economy.
One of the first examples of these “adjustments” was exposed in 2007 by the statistician Steve McIntyre, when he discovered a paper published in 1987 by James Hansen, the scientist (later turned fanatical climate activist) who for many years ran Giss. Hansen’s original graph showed temperatures in the Arctic as having been much higher around 1940 than at any time since. But as Homewood reveals in his blog post, “Temperature adjustments transform Arctic history”, Giss has turned this upside down. Arctic temperatures from that time have been lowered so much that that they are now dwarfed by those of the past 20 years.
Homewood’s interest in the Arctic is partly because the “vanishing” of its polar ice (and the polar bears) has become such a poster-child for those trying to persuade us that we are threatened by runaway warming. But he chose that particular stretch of the Arctic because it is where ice is affected by warmer water brought in by cyclical shifts in a major Atlantic current – this last peaked at just the time 75 years ago when Arctic ice retreated even further than it has done recently. The ice-melt is not caused by rising global temperatures at all.
Of much more serious significance, however, is the way this wholesale manipulation of the official temperature record – for reasons GHCN and Giss have never plausibly explained – has become the real elephant in the room of the greatest and most costly scare the world has known. This really does begin to look like one of the greatest scientific scandals of all time.
By Christopher Booker, Daily Telegraph, 9th February 2015
We are still finding it hard to understand what Shell (SPDC) will gain as a company if Ogoni land in the Niger Delta starts to ‘burn again’ with crises that would lead to the loss of lives, particularly the lives of the Ogoni elites and educated class. The same thing we witnessed in the past that led to the death of Ken Saro-wiwa and eight others is gradually but steadily playing out in Ogoni land again with this “Shell/Belema Oil Ltd deceptive plot.”
Shell is said to be the one behind the Belema Oil Ltd Company that is currently instigating some Ogoni locals and Chiefs against the educated class and elites of Ogoni land. They have even gone to the extent of blackmailing and arm-twisting the Ogoni elites just to have their way in Ogoni land.
As far as we and many other relevant stakeholders in the Niger Delta region are concerned, this ‘Shell/Belema Oil Ltd business’ in Ogoni land is a complete fraud shrouded in secrecy and deception. If it is not, why is Shell through Belema Oil Ltd tactfully avoiding the Ogoni educated class and elites that have better understanding of the Ogoni Issue in the divestment of Ogoni oil fields? Why put the lives of these Ogoni elites on the line by making them be at loggerheads with their brothers and sisters they have succeeded in buying off? They fraudulently collected signatories from selected Ogoni locals and Chiefs after inducing them with money and cow gifts, just to have their way in Ogoni oil fields.
Perhaps, this is typical of Shell in everywhere they operate, especially in this part of the world; where they always project “Profit first before and above the lives and wellbeing of those concerned.”
Let it be known to all that the OGONI ISSUE HAS REMAINED UNRESOLVED. Shell has not played its part in the addressing all the atrocities and environmental degradation they have committed in Ogoni land. We simply cannot understand why Shell has not complied and completed the recommendations in the UN Report in addressing the Ogoni crises before they decided to divest Ogoni oil fields? Why all the haste? Why all the clandestine activities with Belema Oil Ltd in Ogoni land? Why is Shell fond of ‘using the backdoor’ to pursue and actualize their ‘profit-oriented’ objectives in their E&P activities, especially in this part of the world? When will this stop?
Shell seriously needs to ‘retrace’ its steps and holistically and transparently carry every Ogoni (both the educated class, elites and locals) along in whatever they want to do in Ogoni land; either through Belema Oil Ltd or any other oil company for that matter. Like we noted before, IF THIS IS NOT DONE, THE OIL BLOCK MAY BE SOLD, BUT IT WILL NOT BE OPERATED. The Ogoni people want to participate as ‘Partners’ in whatever Shell wants to do in their land. They want ‘full Inclusiveness in operations of the oil block’ and proper Engagements carried out across all social strata of the nation. Anything short of this will be futile and counterproductive.
Zik Gbemre, JP
National Coordinator
Niger Delta Peace Coalition (NDPC)
No.28, Opi Street Ugboroke Layout, Effurun-Warri,
P.O. Box 2254, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria.
Tel: +2348026428271
+2348061524210
+2348052106013
Website: http://www.ndpc-zik.org
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes as if Those Were Our Causes
ON SHELL’S ALLEGED DECEPTION IN OGONI – WHY THE HASTE IN THE DIVESTMENT OF OGONI OIL FIELDS?
With more (investigated) revelations coming in as regards the subject matter, we are greatly appalled to find out that it is actually true that Shell (SPDC) is said to be the main brain behind the push for Belema Oil Ltd to buy over and operate the Ogoni oil fields. That means in the midst of all the ‘noise and controversies’ being made as a result of this, Belema Oil Ltd is just a ‘front’ of Shell (SPDC) put in place by the oil giant to protect its interests in Niger Delta of Ogoni land in Nigeria which have been shut down for over 22 years following the mass protest by the people and civil disturbance in the area (which led to the murder of human rights activist Ken Saro-wiwa and eight others), occasioned by the total neglect and injustice on the people by the Nigerian government and the Shell Petroleum Development Company-SPDC.
As had reported in our past write ups, Shell is said to have sold its oil blocks in Ogoni land to Belema Oil Ltd, and drilling is set to commence as the company has reached agreement with some community chiefs who are said to being used to collate signatures endorsing the sale of the oil and gas in Ogoniland. Some top Shell officials are believed to, not only have strong links with the company, but are also the ones behind every of its moves in Ogoni land.
As we speak, Shell (SPDC) is using its usual deceptive strategy of “divide and rule” in Ogoni Land to actualize its objectives. At the moment, Shell is said to be the one behind Belema Oil Ltd that is buying and delivering cows and ‘gifts’ to selected locals and community Chiefs/leaders in Ogoni land. And in doing this, Shell is cleverly trying to boycott and bypass the educated class, elites and opinion leaders of Ogoni. In fact, right now, Shell is said to be using Belema Oil Ltd to instigate some of the Ogoni locals and Chiefs against the Ogoni elites – teaming them as “city-based” elites of Ogoni indigenes.
Shell seems to have forgotten that without the ‘active’ inputs, participation, contribution and being-carried-along of the Ogoni elites, educated class and opinion leaders, no oil company will succeed in operating any Ogoni oil field. Why should Shell want to bypass these educated (elites) relevant stakeholders of Ogoni people? Have they forgotten that it was the same educated class and elites like Ken Saro-wiwa that brought the ‘Ogoni Issue and Crises’ to lime light and international attention? So why boycott them with this deceptive strategy using Belema Oil Ltd as a front?
As we noted in one of our last write up, community sources revealed that that some Ogoni community leaders were recently flown to Lagos to hold secret meetings on the oil block sale and may have been compromised after which they received documents with which to collect signatures from the Ogoni people as consent to the sale of Ogoni Oil.
The same strategy they have been known for using in different parts of the Niger Delta region to cheat and defraud the locals from having ‘ample opportunities’ to become “partners” in owing and benefitting from their God-given resources, that is exactly what Shell is repeating again in Ogoni land.
For an oil company that has no known track record and history of operating any oil fields, one begins to wonder why Shell, with its enormous global repute in oil and gas E&P, should decide to use Belema Oil Ltd to operate in the very sensitive Ogoni land. More so, why all the haste in the divestment of the oil fields in Ogoni land without first addressing the accumulated years of environmental degradation and pressing issues affecting the Ogoni people. Why the hurry? It is obvious that those concerned are too much in hurry to divest the said oil bloc without first addressing the problems of the Ogoni host community or even carry all relevant stakeholders along in the entire process. It is as if the oil company, Belema Oil Ltd, is being forced down the throat of the Ogoni people.
Like we repeatedly said before, the elites and educated class and opinion leaders of Ogoni have detailed a breakdown of what they expect to drive any agreements to herald resumption of oil and gas activities in Ogoni. And we strongly believe that whichever oil company that wants to partake in the Shell Divestment in Ogoni OML 11, such company must carry these group of persons along.
Zik Gbemre, JP
National Coordinator
Niger Delta Peace Coalition (NDPC)
No.28, Opi Street Ugboroke Layout, Effurun-Warri,
P.O. Box 2254, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria.
Tel: +2348026428271
+2348061524210
+2348052106013
Website: http://www.ndpc-zik.org
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes as if Those Were Our Causes
A DETAILED FOLLOW-UP ON THE ALLEGED SHELL DECEPTION IN OGONI
The above subject matter has in the past few days, generated quite a storm as more details regarding the issue raised have started flooding in from different concerned stakeholders who completely agreed with us that indeed, there is a deception in the whole game plan. As regards this issue, many have noted, it is a calculated conspiracy to deny Ogoni people their rights to participation in E&P activities and access to means to end the many years of economic deprivation. The truth of the matter is that there are some greedy political powers behind this, and it is the trademark of the corruption in the industry. It is doubtful if any true Ogoni person will just sit and allow a single company with no track record or corporate structure to take over oil fields without addressing pertinent issues that resulted from the many years of crises.
Every social group is free to express their views, and so the Ogoni Chiefs and youths have indicated what they want. But there are other social groups who show more concern for Ogoni problems and have better understanding of the complex issues. Their voices and views will also be heard.
To this end, below here is a (sourced) detailed breakdown of what the elites and educated class and opinion leaders expect to drive any agreements to herald resumption of oil and gas activities in Ogoni. Also below here is a list of promises by the said Belema Oil Ltd. And looking at it carefully, it does not take an Einstein to see that they are all UNACHIEVABLE; BUT JUST A WISH LIST AIMED AT DECEIVING POOR AND ILL-INFORMED MEMBERS OF THE HOST COMMUNITIES (LOCALS).
POSITION OF OGONI LEADERSHIP FORUM ON PROPOSED DIVESTMENT OF OIL FIELDS IN OGONI (OML 11) BY SHELL PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
The Ogoni Leadership Forum is made of senior Ogoni indigenes, elites and opinion leaders with diverse experience spanning business, engineering, politics, law, academics and corporate leadership. The group has met severally on issues concerning the sociopolitical and economic development of Ogoni, and has shown interest in the proposed divestment of Shell (SPDC) from OML 11. Their primary goal is protection of Ogoni interest and ensuring that the best deal is structured for sustainable economic development of Ogoni people, and protection of the environment. The Forum has held meetings with Shell and prospective investor interested in purchasing the 45% JV divestible equity in OML 11, and is open to meet with others with similar interests that affect development of the hydrocarbon resources within Ogoni, so that they can guide the decision making process and advise Ogoni nation appropriately.
The following were presented as minimum expectations, or terms and conditions to be considered to secure the support of Ogoni:
1. Engagement of all the major community social groups and organizations (Chiefs, Youths, Women, Elites, MOSOP, KAGOTE, etc) is necessary to secure the Social License (LTO) to guarantee freedom to operate on completion of the Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA).
2. Investor to make an unequivocal commitment to support and work with all stakeholders, to ensure full implementation of the UNEP report.
3. Accept the model of PARTNERSHIP for Ogoni in a Joint Venture arrangement, giving equity stake of at least 20% in the operating company. This partnership is to be formed through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), a company with significant ownership by Ogoni people as investors. They will be listed on the CAC documents and hold the equity as Trustees on behalf of Ogoni.
4. The profit sharing model is not acceptable, as declaration of profits is subjective and is at the discretion of the operator who has the sole right. In such situations, operators will deduct operating expenses, taxes and royalties, interest on borrowed money, and declare what cannot be verified or audited. The communities end up with nothing.
5. Ogoni to be represented by their nominees on the board of the operating company or the company that takes over from Shell.
6. The top management of the company to have members from Ogoni in key positions of decision making.
7. In line with Nigerian Content Act of 2010, Ogoni people should be given first preference in contracts to be awarded. This is the sure way to spread the dividends and ensure spread of wealth across Ogoni.
8. Qualified youths and skilled persons from Ogoni to be fully employed. Those who desire work but lack the skills should be given the training to develop their skills and competences to improve their level of capabilities to function effectively in the oil industry. In addition to this, run a scholarship scheme targeted at development of management level and senior professional personnel from Ogoni.
9. Establish the main operational office with decision making authority within an Ogoni oil producing community, or preferably in Bori, the traditional headquarters of Ogoni.
10. Follow-up successful exploration and production with establishment of gas based and petrochemical industries for employment and wealth generation; and IPP for power generation to stimulate growth of SMEs. The Ogoni environment is precious and sacred, and must be protected. Consequently, only companies with sound Technical capability, financial strength and good operating track record should be supported and given the social license. Our goal is to end poverty and economic slavery in Ogoni. This is possible if we participate fully in the business of oil and gas exploration, development and production of Ogoni oil fields.
It is imperative for the Ogoni people to just remain calm and ask questions. No need for the Ogoni people to rush into agreements that will impoverish and enslave them for decades to come. Shell should be encouraged to pursue the divestment process in a ‘transparent manner’ as a respected professional corporate organization. Due process should be followed and Ogoni people carried along to avoid future problems, and not some ‘selected’ Ogoni leaders who might not have the entire mandate of the people to go into such an agreement.
More so, there are many other qualified companies out there who have shown interest and they should be welcome to discuss with Ogoni people openly. The best investor will sail through, and will be welcome by the entire Ogoni people. IF THIS IS NOT DONE, THE OIL BLOCK MAY BE SOLD, BUT IT WILL NOT BE OPERATED. No one should take Ogoni people for a ride. Ogoni people want their fair share of the bread directly (Partnership, Inclusiveness, Engagement), and not through SURROGATES. Ogoni people want to participate as Partners, they want full Inclusiveness in operations of the block and proper Engagements carried out across all social strata of the nation.
On the promises made by the Belema Oil Ltd, a concerned stakeholder asked: “Does Belema oil claim to have resources to achieve the list of promises in this document? What an excellent deception for the ignorant. These intentions are fake. People who parade themselves like this can only thrive in a lawless environment.” Below is the document.
THE BELEMAOIL PRODUCING MODEL
Belema oil shall create an industrial hub in Ogoniland through setting up of the following ventures as a strategic human capacity development and strong regional empowerment medium.
1. Setting up Belema oil Producing asset in such a manner that will create technical/non technical labour employment, high/low risk contracting and support services where Ogonis will participate through partnership with competent ventures.
2. Setting up of Belema Refinery that will refine various petroleum products and services to create employment and supply services to better the people.
3. Petrochemical Limited as major employment spinner to create over 500 employment window and empowerment as a result of the chain.
4. Build a cryogenic gas plant and processing of gas for flared gas reduction and environmental pollution.
5. Methanol plant set up and production of other associated gases for commercialization and wealth creation for both communities and company.
6. Building of automobile industry.
7. Building of personnel base and game village for recreation.
8. Building of Belema Training Centre.
9. Setting up of Belema Technology University.
10. Award of scholarship to all indigent sons and daughters of Ogoniland that wants to acquire western education at home and overseas.
11. Provide support to widows, the aged, orphans, less privileged and physically challenged in Ogoniland as key economic players and contributors.
12. Support light and light-medium scale businesses with training and financial aide to grow better and be able to compete and create more wealth.
13. Assist by encouraging Ogoni’s companies interested in specialized type of work to partner with competent organizations and jointly go into such specialities as to build capacity and immediate wealth creation.
14. Set up community business offices in safe and most conducive part in order to bring Belema to us and us to Belema.
15. Belema will be an agent of multi-motional wealth creation for us, the people of the land and shall be available to hold one-on-one strategy meeting to better improve all oil bearing communities, covering OML 11 communities, e.t.c.
From the above, we can see that even the Belema Oil Ltd did not follow the ‘Position’ of the Ogoni leaders as regards any company that wants to partake in the Shell Divestment of OML 11 in Ogoni land. Though, Belama Oil Ltd listed so many things, which we know they will never be able to put in place, it is worthy to note that “no time frame” or realistic projections were given by the company to assure the Ogoni people that all the ‘promises’ made will see the light of day. The said ‘promises’ are just good on paper without any time frame. For being the principal actor in all of this, Shell will be held responsible of any lapses or hiccups that might emanate from the whole thing with Belema Oil Ltd. Like we said before, this ‘Ogoni story’ and how it is being handled by Shell, has the propensity to ‘resurrect’ the Ogoni crises, and Shell will be blamed for everything.
From the look of things, it is obvious that Shell, Belema Oil Ltd and those relevant stakeholders were too much in hurry to divest the said oil bloc without first addressing the problems of the Ogoni host communities or even carry the locals of the communities along in the entire divestment process. It is as if the oil company, Belema Oil Ltd, is being forced down the throat of the Ogoni people. But whatever the case may be, we strongly believe that whichever oil company that wants to partake in the Shell Divestment in Ogoni OML 11, such company must follow and adhere to ALL the positions stated above by the Ogoni Leadership Forum. Anything short of this should be seen as fraud, and rejected.
Zik Gbemre, JP
National Coordinator
Niger Delta Peace Coalition (NDPC)
No 28, Opi Street Ugboroke Layout,Effurun-warri,
P.O. Box 2254, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria.
Tel: +2348026428271
+2348061524210
+2348052106013
Website: http://www.ndpc-zik.org
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes as if Those Were Our Causes
A FOLLOW-UP ON THE ALLEGED SHELL DECEPTION IN OGONI
We consider it necessary to categorically state here that the essence of our earlier write up on the subject issue was to draw the attention of relevant stakeholders in Shell and for them not to take this ‘Ogoni story’ (as reported here: http://www.dailytimes.com.ng/article/shell-belema-oil-deal-affront-ogoni-struggle-%E2%80%93-erafoen), for granted but give it the necessary attention. This is because the said story was exactly some of the circumstances that had led to the infamous Ogoni Crises which led to the death of the “Ogoni 9” and greatly affected the global image of Shell.
The said ‘Ogoni story’ are not speculations as others might want us to believe, but they are facts. Relevant stakeholders would agree that “there is no smoke without fire” and for situations like this one, there is always an ‘element of truth’. More so, Shell does not know it all, hence, concerned stakeholders like us will always raise a ‘red flag’ when we see things trying to repeat itself. That is why we are asking that Shell should not downplay this issue like they always do with many similar issues and try to justify their every action.
What we expected Shell to do as regarding the subject story was investigate, ask relevant questions and make amends where necessary. For instance, is there a company by the name Belewa Oil Ltd? If there is, what is their relationship with Shell and the Ogoni people? If there was an alleged signed pact between some leaders of the Ogoni community and the said company with Shell, does the community leaders concerned have ‘the complete mandate’ of its people to do so? Even the community leaders that were alleged that their signatories were collected concerning the deal; the question is do they have the complete mandate of the Ogoni people?
These and many more are the questions. This is important because, considering the fact that community leadership changes from time to time, the said oil company and Shell might be dealing with the ‘wrong set of community persons’. Again, it was this sort of ‘confusion’ that contributed greatly to the Ogoni crises that led to the death of human rights activist Ken Saro-wiwa and the eight others. More so, how can Shell be divesting a place where it has problems that have not been resolved with the host community? The fact that Shell did this in their Western Operations in the Niger Delta and ran to the East, also in the Niger Delta, that does not mean it will also work in Ogoni, where more environmental atrocities have been committed by the oil giant.
The cross of the matter is that Shell is not sincere in holistically addressing the Ogoni Issue, otherwise, the above Ogoni story will not have come up in the first place. Let us reiterate here that the above Ogoni story and how it is being handled by Shell, has the propensity to ‘resurrect’ the Ogoni crises.
Zik Gbemre, JP
National Coordinator
Niger Delta Peace Coalition(NDPC)
No.28, Opi Street Ugboroke Layout, Effurun-Warri,
P.O. Box 2254, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria.
Tel: +2348026428271
+2348061524210
+2348052106013
Website: http://www.ndpc-zik.org
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes as if Those Were Our Causes
An Exxon acquisition of BP would leave it in virtual control of Alaska’s North Slope and leave Shell in the precarious position of having to pay high transport fares for use of the Trans-Alaska pipeline.
I have not posted a comment by Zik Gbemre submitted for the Shell Blog under the headline “A LOOK AT PRAYER-SEEKING POLITICIANS AND NIGERIAN PASTORS” because it is about Nigerian political and church matters, not about Shell.
ANOTHER ALLEGED DECEPTION – SHELL IS AT IT AGAIN IN OGONI
Despite the fact there are strong indications that full oil production activities will soon resume in the Niger Delta Ogoni land in Nigeria after being shut down for over 22 years following the mass protest by the people and civil disturbance in the area (which led to the murder of human rights activist Ken Saro-wiwa and eight others), occasioned by the total neglect and injustice on the people by the Nigerian government and the Shell Petroleum Development Company-SPDC (the operators of the oil fields), it appears all is not yet well with the way Shell is handling the situations regarding the Ogoni dilemma.
Our attention was drawn to a recent development in which the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has raised alarm following reports that Shell may be attempting to thwart the recommended cleanup of Ogoniland through a deal with a local company called Belema Oil Ltd.
Shell is said to have sold its oil blocks in Ogoniland to Belema oil Ltd, and drilling is set to commence as the company has reached agreement with some community chiefs who are said to be being used to collate signatures endorsing the sale of the oil in Ogoniland. Some top Shell officials are believed to have strong links with the company.
Community sources revealed that that some Ogoni community leaders were recently flown to Lagos to hold secret meetings on the oil block sale and may have been compromised after which they received documents with which to collect signatures from the Ogoni people as consent to the sale of Ogoni Oil.
ERA/FoEN Executive Director, Godwin Uyi Ojo said: “This is another deception coming from the stable of Shell. This divisive experiment is a serious affront on the peaceful Ogoni struggle for environmental justice and targeted at causing confusion so as to create a window of escape for Shell to evade its responsibilities in the clean-up of Ogoniland. We totally oppose this. Belema Oil is Shell’s new ploy to betray the Ogoni cause. It is intended to stymie the communities’ collective bargaining power. We align with Movement for Solidarity for the Ogoni People (MOSOP) and other Ogoni groups that believe that only an Ogoni Congress can speak for the people who are yet to fully recover from the years of untold hardship visited on them by Shell and the federal government of Nigeria”.
The crux of the matter is that Shell must be held accountable and responsible for the decades of its environmental degradation and human rights abuses in Ogoni and the entire Niger Delta. Aside the need to halt this backdoor deal, there is also the need for Shell officials that are said to have a stake in Belema Oil Ltd to be investigated so as to determine how much they have done to frustrate the implementation of the UNEP report through their Shell-run oil company that “seeks to put potential profit first before people and the environment.” The Nigerian Government and relevant authorities should not fold their hands and allow this perceived ‘deception’ said to being perpetrated by Shell to go on.
Zik Gbemre, JP
National Coordinator
Niger Delta Peace Coalition(NDPC)
No.28, Opi Street Ugboroke Layout, Effurun-Warri,
P.O. Box 2254, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria.
Tel: +2348026428271
+2348061524210
+2348052106013
Website: http://www.ndpc-zik.org
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes as if Those Were Our Causes
Lot of talk in the US that Goodfellow’s job in the UK is just a temporary and he will returning to The States in 12-18 months time. Good God! What job would the EC be foolish enough to give him? Most bets are Deepwater EVP but some folks think he could be replacing Marvin! Either one should cause a significant drop in share price (eventually — when a debacle like the reserves crisis happens, and it will).
#748Washington Observer on Feb 10th, 2015 at 20:34
John,
Congratulations on your PR victory. You have done a good thing although I do believe you have made a new enemy. Oh, well. The Crow Indians of Montana say that a warrior’s greatness is determined by the greatness of his enemies. It is just an old American Indian saying. You have a great many admirers as well. Again, congratulations.
John, you forgot to mention Justin Welby, the head honcho of the anglican church! Here from wikipedia: Welby worked for 11 years in the oil industry, five of them for the French oil company Elf Aquitaine based in Paris. In 1984 he became treasurer of the oil exploration group Enterprise Oil PLC in London, where he was mainly concerned with West African and North Sea oil projects. He retired from his executive position in 1989 and said that he sensed a calling from God to be ordained. He has worked for ELF (not the most honest company in the world) and was handling the treasury for Enterprise. He must have seen so many bad things he is now repenting I assume? When will we see lord Browne ordained?
John, you seem to have a knack for spoiling Shell’s grand plans. Ruined the celebrations when you stole the domain name of the about to be unified company, cost Shell its majority stake in Sakhalin and have now tarnished the announcement of our North Sea platform decommissioning project by undermining confidence in Allseas judgement and sentiment towards that equally hapless ship, before it has even started work for Shell. Probably like many other regulars thought you were going well over the top publishing one article after another but your determination paid off. I doubt anyone who has anything to do with the vessel will ever forget that it was christened with a Nazi name.
Every seaman knows that changing a ship’s name brings bad luck. Especially if you do not purge all the references to the former name. Not even Pieter Schelte can stay on any documents. However Allseas with their admiration for the Nazi Pieter Schelte Heerema has chosen to rename their Nazi ship into Pioneering Spirit. Which is still a reference to the evil SS-man and even retains the P and S of Pieter Schelte. No sane minded seaman will take the risk to sail on this ship. Evil reigns there. Beware of the bad spirits!
Reserves should fall with the oil price – the amount of technically (and economically) recoverable oil from a given field depends on how much a company is willing to pay to extract it. And that will be a function of the price of oil at the time the oil is expected to be produced…
Great job. We picked up the story from your amazing website. It was only days ago that Shell was claiming the name had nothing to do with them.
STV ARTICLE 3 FEBRUARY HEADLINED Energy giant criticised over ship named after Nazi war criminal
QUOTE
“Shell has awarded a contract to Excalibur Marine Contractors, part of the Allseas Group, to provide for the lift and transportation to shore of the topsides of the Brent Alpha, Bravo and Delta. Shell cannot comment on the name of the vessel, which is entirely a matter for Allseas.”
UNQUOTE
Shell soon changed its tune and piled pressure on Allseas to cave in.
Really impressed. Shows what can be achieved when someone is fearless and relentless. Noticed that Shell kept insisting that the name was a matter for Allseas until the heat got too hot to handle. I signed your petition and congratulate you on the outcome.
John,
Well done, your tenacious reporting on the name of the Heerema vessel has paid off. It came quicker than I thought, but they obviously weghed the pros and cons and decided to chuck it in. I am telling you that Edward Heerema will be very angry. People like that hate to lose. And he may forgive you for now, he will never forget you so be careful!
Great stuff, chapeau!
People should recall that the Swiss were Nazi Germany’s largest arms supplier during WWII. They were supposedly neutral, but in fact collaborated extensively to keep their ‘neutrality’ and independence intact. Let us also not forget about all that Jewish money stashed in Swiss banks that has ‘disappeared’ somehow. It should not surprise anyone that it is a Swiss company that has created this public relations disaster. The Swiss have always looked the other way at deviant behavior so long as there was money to be made.
I have a proposal for renaming the ‘Pieter Schelte’ that should not offend anyone. Why not call it the ‘Simon Wiesenthal’ ??? Wiesenthal is well known for bringing wayward Nazi war criminals to justice. Does anyone have any objections ?? It is just an idea, but a good deal better than naming it after a Nazi war criminal.
During the past three years the OPL 245 story was revealed in court hearings in London, was investigated by the Italian police, resulted in the arrest of members of ENI’s senior management and in spite of the enormous sums involved, nobody seems to bear any responsibility. The losers in all this are clearly the shareholders of Shell and ENI. What happened to the fiduciary duties of directors, such as those required by the Companies Act (2006)? Or does an internal army of 1000 lawyers mean that Shell and its directors are above the law?
My guess is that the acreage set aside in the Arctic Ocean is of little interest for oil and gas companies and will therefore have little impact on Big Oil’s exploration plans for that area.
#761earclosetotheground on Jan 28th, 2015 at 13:01
So we are within 24 hours of RDS results and only a few more for CVX and XOM. I have not seen any comments about book losses on fields due to low oil prices. Do analysts understand basic book keeping and mark to market? We’ll find out on Thursday, I guess
It appears that Shell will be alone in operating offshore Alaska. In the absence of the economies of scale that would have been provided by the presence of other operators in the region, Shell will now have to pay 100% of the costs of the required infrastructure. In conjunction with a $45 oil price, and an understanding of the realities of operating in the region, I suspect that the economics of the Alaskan adventure are now looking rather poor. Time for a $6 billion write off?
This Nazi fellow whose name graces this largest of all ships fled to S. America to eventually become an immensely wealthy shipping magnate. I am curious. Where did this dude get his investment capita
on Feb 11th, 2022 at 20:25
Note young Ben made £4m last week selling shares, not bad is it?
Do you think he is worried? Maybe Prelude will be seen as a dud, a misplaced adventure. Doubt it, but when the CEO sells shares makes you think, does it not?
on Jan 5th, 2022 at 22:25
Compliments to Bogus Group
How the wheel turns
In the 90s and up to 2004 carrying on Audits on Woodside Energy offshore installations on behalf of SIEP I was made aware that Woodside along with other operators held the then Regulator in low regard. They were not enough of them, underfunded and considered not competent and also because of this did not have the authority and respect of the Industry.
A forward looking COO of Woodside had the revolutionary idea of involving Regulators in his Audit process and requested I also discuss my findings etc with them. Now the old Regulatory organisation has been redesigned with more resources, a wider brief, and much more support it appears from state and national government.
Bogus Group has made both a succinct but most meaningful contribution.
If as covered on their blog the operator is considered Not Yet Competent to understand his own operational risks by a rejuvenated, well resourced, self confident, and authoritative Regulator, and that finding seems to be accepted by Shell Australia, then we begin to understand better how the events of 2nd December developed
Bill Campbell.
on Dec 31st, 2021 at 22:18
When the regulator determines that an operator does not have sufficient understanding of the risks of the Prelude facility power systems, including failure of mechanisms, interdependencies, and recovery, alarm bells should be ringing.
Read: Prelude FLNG Remains Shut In Until Shell Makes It Safe For Work
on Dec 26th, 2021 at 19:14
Following yet another Prelude safety issue, I wonder if ‘mortification’ is in Rob Jager’s’ vocabulary, after his legacy idiotic statements (August’19 blog). Or does he just develop amnesia as he moves through the executive revolving door to his next role, where he can continue to utter Hans Christian Andersen like proclamations.
on Dec 26th, 2021 at 18:20
https://www.offshore-energy.biz/shell-is-to-keep-prelude-flng-closed-until-safe/
All I want for Christmas is…..some revenue! More Prelude woes amid even more safety concerns.
on Dec 21st, 2021 at 12:26
As a very concerned South African citizen I wish to point out that Shell is supposed to respect people and have ethics.
You are going against the wishes of many South African citizens with this proposed exploration.
Citizens have stood together and have brought two court cases against Shell, the first one was not successful and we are awaiting the decision on the second case.
We appeal to Shell HO to take notice of our concerns and cease with this exploration.
on Dec 17th, 2021 at 15:38
I think this site is loosing its purpose. The next batch of Shell reorg has removed most of the people who would be willing to post comments. Shell is just lost – thinking its green when its about 0.5% green…
on Dec 5th, 2021 at 19:17
I really like my local Shell Gas Station, they have always been very helpful, so I am sad that we can no longer go there.
Our family will be BOYCOTTING SHELL in the USA to STOP Seismic Testing on the South African Coast to protect Marine Life.
on Dec 4th, 2021 at 14:31
Selection of Comments posted on the Telegraph article Future of North Sea oil in doubt as Shell pulls the plug on Cambo
John Atkins
The oil will not go anywhere. Leave it there until Britain has a generation of inhabitants that appreciate it. Meanwhile the present numpty generation can cope with windmill energy and 51’N solar.
David Tallboys
Fortunately the Japanese have seen sense and are encouraging new oil and gas projects:
Government officials have been quietly urging trading houses, refiners and utilities to slow down their move away from fossil fuels, and even encouraging new investments in oil-and-gas projects.
Robin Beckett
Shell won’t care too much, they have exploration and new developments going on worldwide, as do the other big oil and gas companies. Gas/petrol was $2.76 a gallon in Texas yesterday, that’s 15c down on earlier in the week.
colin whyte
Am I missing something here? Wasn’t Scotland’s financial state based on oil/gas receipts during their last independence referendum? I’m to suspect that Krankie now realises independence is a no go so is doing her utmost to trash the Nation. Nice to be able to turn down a thousand jobs as well.
R Morley
Unless we have zero requirement for oil and gas we have two options:
1) Exploit UK national resources and extract it ourselves
2) Pay another country and import it.
It is astonishing/depressing that UK Plc is having its energy policy dictated by a group of juvenile eco extremists.
Stuart Robertson
Few of these green eco nuts were alive or old enough to remember when in the early 1970’s when OPEC put our economy into a tailspin and we started to explore for our own resources. Now thanks to meaningless virtue signally we are about to become even more dependent on foreign powers to keep us warm and our way of life alive. I say meaningless because industry is already working towards transition from fossil fuels but it can’t happen by tomorrow afternoon and meanwhile our friends in Russia and Mid East will be rubbing their hands in glee at our naivety.
Len RMaC
Green activism is a cancer that will erode this country’s competitiveness and our standards of living. Somehow, it needs cutting out before it’s damage has gone too far.
graeme scott
We don’t develop national resources, we don’t develop our infrastructure to cope , we import resources from Qatar and yet we have shale gas in North Yorkshire that will meet our needs for 50 years
John Condon
The ecowarriors use ICE cars possibly Diesel. They probably have gas central heating and ovens. It’s OK according to them to import coal, oil and gas to power these – but we must stop producing fossil fuels ourselves?!?!?! They seem oblivious to the additional transportation costs associated with importation.. They seem oblivious to the strategic risk of trusting Putin and OPEC to maintain supplies and prices. They have essentially put the cart before the horse. FIRST STOP IMPORTS and when coal, oil and gas are no longer needed for fuel and raw materials such as plastic THEN STOP INDIGENOUS SUPPLIES. This is so obvious how come they can’t see it?!?!?!
Clitherow Kid
It will go ahead but with lower public profile investors. Recent projects have seen a slew of equity partners with unrecognised names. The wider picture though is the message it sends to the highly skilled and well paid UK workers in the sector. They represent the jobs that we need to retain, and could be deployed in the urgently needed new nuclear plant developments. Instead it looks like a lot will be relocating to the middle east to be replaced here with what? More Deliveroo cyclists?.
Ogden Nash
Could somebody at the DT please commission a simple piece of research and write an article to show the requirements for electricity should the Government plans come into being – namely that all cars and all domestic heating is converted over to electric. So something like ….. No’ of cars is the UK x average mileage x no’ of KWh per mile = total KWh required for transport. ( you could even make it optimistic and assume everyone converts to a Nissan Leaf – no more Chelsea Tractors ) Then a similar calculation for homes … No’ of homes x average KWh used per year = Total KWh.
Add these together and divide by one of the outputs of a major Nuclear rector, This will show how many more reactors we would need to supply these crazy ideas.
on Dec 3rd, 2021 at 13:37
Small selection of comments from this Telegraph articleKathryn Jones
Let me correct that headline for you.”victory for Nicola Sturgeon, Saudi Arabia and Russia as Shell walks away…” Fixed it for you.
J Thomas
Oh no! We are going to have to send more charity payments to Scotland under the Barnett formula! Additionally, if no one drills for gas and oil two things will happen. Many of us will freeze to death and the price of oil and gas will zoom upwards to include what I call G.T.T. The Greta Thunberg Tax!
Kelland Hutchence
Well done Shell! At least the oil and gas will still be there to be exploited when all this fake climate crisis is revealed for what it really is.
Ian Mclaren
If that’s a victory? I’d hate to see what one of her defeats looks like.
Dale Carmichael
I think we going to massively regret this.
The eco loons don’t care about the decent people this decision will effect.
James Hammett
These people are ridiculous. We are still going to use oil and all its by-products. This makes no positive difference to the country’s carbon output, it just means a little more of it will be from burning oil from other countries’ oil fields when we could have been drilling our own.
Scot Way
In 2014 gas and oil were the bedrock of an independent Scotland’s financial future. Her new stance is mere posturing and destructive towards future jobs and industry. Wind power ain’t gonna cut it. She’s like rudderless ship being tossed about at sea during a storm.
Echo Fish
Reply to Scot Way – view message
Especially if the plan is to sell the energy to the “hated” English. She may well find England finds other independent energy sources.
Steve Graham
It seems that the Scottish economy or jobs dont matter any more to Sturgeon’s SNP. While the UK push for a Zero Carbon economy, China are burning everything they can find the push their economy forwards. Mini countries like Scotland need to stop virtue signaling their Green smugness and realise their input is so minute that they are irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.
Andrew Pierce
Your headline describes this as “a victory”! How the hell can this be described as a victory? Anything which reduces our own self-sufficiency, and leaves us more reliant on importing a vital resource from countries who’s leaders seek to destroy us can only be described as a monumental own-goal!
Jiminy Cricket
Sturgeon only ‘opposed’ Cambo on the 16th November 2021. Before that she sat on the fence and blamed Boris. Then during Cop26 she realised her mistake and opposed it. Boris is the winner here – he knew that this would be an ‘own goal’ for Sturgeon and the SNP, now in league with the Scottish Green Party who also oppose the Scottish fishing industry. 10000 jobs lost to Scotland and much more. Environmental issues marooned in the in-tray for the Scottish Government- while power cables are still not fixed and people in Scotland are freezing. If that’s a win for Sturgeon I’d like to see her Financial Plan for her Independence Referendum.
on Dec 1st, 2021 at 16:16
Comments from BBC News Article 15 Nov 2021: Shell plans to move headquarters to the UK
rl: 10:52 15 Nov
If this had been the other way around, this article would have featured prominently in the main news page, rather than under the “Business” section. This is why people question the BBC’s impartiality..
(P.S. I voted remain)
No2EU: 10:54 15 Nov
to rl”
If this had been the other way around, this article would have featured prominently in the main news page, rather than under the “Business” section.This is why people question the BBC’s impartiality..(P.S. I voted remain)
”
No2EU replied: And Brexit would be blamed.
Smile dont shout: 10:57 15 Nov
Can’t imagine what prompted this move:
“Earlier this year, a court in the Netherlands ruled that by 2030 Shell must cut its CO2 emissions by 45% compared to 2019 levels.” This only applies to the Netherlands
greenbird10 11:01 15 Nov
to Smile dont shout
”
Can’t imagine what prompted this move:”Earlier this year, a court in the Netherlands ruled that by 2030 Shell must cut its CO2 emissions by 45% compared to 2019 levels.”This only applies to the Netherlands
”
greenbird10 replied:
Think that’s all the article needed to say to explain the move.
U17881151: 10:48 15 Nov
The truth is corporations are concerned about EU bureaucratic interference.
We saw with AstraZenica that the EU will block trade if they believe it gives them an advantage.
Google and other tech companies are increasingly being fined billions to fund EU wages and pensions.
The EU is a bit anti business.
It would be better to just focus on trade and creating friendly partnerships.
Arcangel: 10:56 15 Nov
to U17881151
”
The truth is corporations are concerned about EU bureaucratic interference. We saw with AstraZenica that the EU will block trade if they believe it gives them an advantage. Google and other tech companies are increasingly being fined billions to fund EU wages and pensions. The EU is a bit anti business. It would be better to just focus on trade and creating friendly partnerships.
”
Arcangel replied:
Agreed, but tbh I would rather we were stricter on companies like Shell given they are responsible for a large amount of the worlds pollution
on Nov 16th, 2021 at 09:23
Shell turns its back on Royal Dutch heritage after climate ruling and dividend tax
Shell’s jumping ship to the UK bids farewell to over 130 years of association with the Dutch monarchy
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2021/11/15/turns-back-royal-dutch-heritage-climate-ruling-dividend-tax/
on Oct 9th, 2021 at 18:53
Joe Lycett should talk to his friend Jimmy Carr about Shell. Jimmy worked in Shell marketing dept during the 1990s at Shell Mex House in the Strand.
on Oct 7th, 2021 at 18:33
All I can say is that I worked on the Rigs onshore and offshore with almost every major oil company in the world. And by far Shell was the best. The most Professional, Safest and I should add treated all the workers the best.
The worst BP.
on Sep 21st, 2021 at 21:40
Link for Shell Job Applications:
https://www.shell.com/careers.html
Shell Fraud and Scam Alert
https://www.shell.com/fraud-and-scam-alert.html
on Sep 10th, 2021 at 16:28
ABOUT TIME! With the continued number of offshore cases, deaths in the office, and impacts on production, it’s a simple business decision. Expect a number of offshore folks will complain mightily, but not too different than the complaints for implementation of the life saving rules, flame retardant clothing, drug testing, etc…
on Sep 10th, 2021 at 14:05
I am sure that the Shell big bosses today had a lot to process with respect to the vaccine requirements. Offshore GOM, about half of the Shell staff based offshore have not “self declared” their vaccination status, while over 95% of the office based staff have. The operations teams have openly commented about the “risk” that people will leave if Shell or USCG required vaccinations for offshore work. On the other side of the coin, shutting in production for a few days on a TLP due to lack of healthy control room operators would suggest that we can afford to find people who will take the shot. There are so many skilled production operators that have lost employment in the last three years… just up the pay and fill the vacancies! Come on Shell do the right thing and make the vaccine a requirement – the safety of the staff has always been stated as the highest value. Any claim that this is a diversity and inclusiveness issue is a completely false narrative. Its like comparing it to respect people who choose to drive without a seatbelt, work at heights without fall protection, or don’t wash their hands after using the toilet!
on Sep 9th, 2021 at 20:50
Self explanatory:
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/shell-weighs-jab-or-job-policy-employees-document-2021-09-09/
on Sep 6th, 2021 at 13:49
the 11 refined products terminals.
5 in the northeast most likely to be acquired by Buckeye partners, and the remaining 6 by Motiva. Before the end of the year!
on Aug 6th, 2021 at 17:50
https://www.rigzone.com/news/tellurian_and_shell_finalize_10year_lng_deal-2-aug-2021-166089-article/?utm_campaign=WEEKLY_2021_08_06&utm_source=GLOBAL_ENG&utm_medium=EM_NW_F5
“Shell welcomed to Driftwood Project”, this brings together some old acquaintances and invertebrates.
on Aug 6th, 2021 at 14:43
Well, if you are going to steal my name… I will change it to the other Penn Chem nickname. I remember some of the folks over their running through lots of potential names for “Penn Chem” – PCP, Beaver Cracker , Monaca Cracker, Moon Cracker, Moon Chemical, Franklin, etc. Really its just one of the biggest failures in BvB’s many. (BG, Brazil, Prelude, LNG, etc.) next he will continue to sell the crown jewels for costume jewelry prices. At least the old dirty oil business is generating enough cash to keep the company standing with such terrible management decision making.
on Aug 1st, 2021 at 13:47
The recent allegations highlight that the inspectors in charge of assuring safety and environmental protection on large pipeline projects are usually paid by the pipeline builders themselves. Critics say that creates a conflict of interest, but pipeline industry officials compare the practice to quality control in other areas of manufacturing.
“The system isn’t set up to ensure experienced and accountable inspections,” said Shannon Smith of the FracTracker Alliance, a Pennsylvania-based energy watchdog group that has monitored Shell’s project.
on Jul 28th, 2021 at 13:02
You can be SURE of HELL, sorry missed an ‘s’ SHELL
on Jul 24th, 2021 at 19:58
Unfortunately I was persuaded to switch to Shell Energy Broadband after a conversation with a staffer of USwitch, supposedly because download speeds were a little faster than PlusNet.
But what a bad decision! Upload speeds are truly terrible, and the download speeds struggle to get up to what they publicise. Its an indictment of USwitch advice that they failed to point out how much upload speeds can vary between providers and that you can be trading DOWN to a worse service.
Oh and I didn’t even mention that the router they provided has disabled ‘itself’ off wireless twice already, the system having to be ‘reset’ at great inconvenience.
Do the sane thing – don’t be tempted as I was to choose this provider.
on Jul 23rd, 2021 at 14:04
ok… it looks like Malaysia is next on the chopping block. piece by piece…
on Jul 22nd, 2021 at 15:00
Rather than fixing the problem, Shell ordered the whistleblowers off the project and the contractor fired the two inspectors. The couple’s allegations are contained in their whistleblower complaint filed with the Labor Department.
“We did our jobs, and we were harassed, abused, ridiculed, and humiliated. They said they’d been repeatedly warned they’d be “run off” if they kept pressing safety concerns.
on Jul 21st, 2021 at 22:32
If you want to be ripped off go to Shell Energy. I live in a one bed flat and they charged me £291 for 1 months electricity and sent me out a wrong bill for £1500 when it was only £800. Yes stress!
Oh i forgot i raised a complaint on 29th July of which no one got back to me so I called today to be offered £30 and 6 sorrys of so sorry mistakes happen.
The only saving grace was that the customer service rep was very good.
Either way Stay Away from Shell Energy!
on Jul 20th, 2021 at 15:31
Prelude to Disaster.
More Shell HSSE whitewash:
https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandgas/asia/337828/sleep-deprived-workers-at-shells-prelude-flng-make-official-complaint/
on Jul 18th, 2021 at 17:38
It is no surprise to read about the pipeline inspectors findings. Penn Chem has a checkered past with respect to negative findings in assurance and audit activities. Just dig into the earth works, water conduits, foundations, blasting damage, pressure vessel quality, etc. They have run off so many safety professional (and quality inspectors) until they found those who wouldn’t rock the boat and let the contractors “get on with it”. Not to mention the number who found opportunities elsewhere. Those left, are mostly happy to look the other way and collect the paycheck. All to make single use PE… BvB talks about the environment and safety. Can he walk it? Reshape demonstrates the strong commitment to eliminate independent S&E assurance activities, now that is a learner mindset twist on “inherent” safety!
on Jul 16th, 2021 at 12:42
Two former pipeline inspectors say they were fired for reporting hazards on a volatile liquids pipeline to Royal Dutch Shell PLC’s massive new petrochemical plant northwest of Pittsburgh.
The inspectors, Frank Chamberlin and Susan D’Layne Carite, said they warned Shell managers and even federal regulators in 2019 that the anti-corrosion coating was defective on the company’s Falcon pipeline. That could increase the threat of corrosion, a leading cause of pipeline ruptures.
https://www.eenews.net/articles/whistleblowers-say-bad-seeds-undermine-pipeline-safety/
on Jul 5th, 2021 at 14:51
Does anyone have the list of Shell assets for sale this week? After the rumors of Aera / Permian, maybe Norco, Penn Chem, GOM, … Whats next?
on Jun 7th, 2021 at 22:09
Hilarious, if they weren’t serious:
https://amp.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jun/07/its-time-to-nationalize-shell-private-oil-companies-are-no-longer-fit-for-purpose
on May 26th, 2021 at 16:08
If they are not careful they will kill the goose that lays the golden egg:
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/05/26/business/shell-court-case-climate-change/index.html?utm_source=twCNN&utm_medium=social&utm_content=2021-05-26T14%3A14%3A04&utm_term=link
on May 18th, 2021 at 20:56
The beginning of the end:
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/shell-shareholders-overwhelmingly-support-energy-transition-plan-2021-05-18/
on May 12th, 2021 at 12:24
Response to a message posted by Sarah M. Please contact us via email address: generalenquiries@shellnews.net
on May 7th, 2021 at 21:34
More ex-BG Group Assets bite the dust. See:
https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandgas/africa/ep-africa/320845/shell-tunisia-miskar-hasdrubal/
on Apr 26th, 2021 at 13:54
A miscarriage of justice?
https://realmedia.press/jury-acquits-shell-window-smashers/
on Apr 19th, 2021 at 13:26
It’s all in the ground Simon!
https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/shell-exxon-look-to-profit-from-capturing-customers-carbon-emissions-11618824602
on Apr 3rd, 2021 at 12:12
ON HOW TO REVAMP NIGERIA’S UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM OIL & GAS SECTOR
With recent reports that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved a whopping $1.5 billion to rehabilitate the epileptic Port Harcourt refinery, I consider it a national tragedy and a shame of a nation that Nigeria, despite its over fifty decades of oil and gas exploration and production activities, has been exporting its hugely produced crude oil and natural gas at commercial quantity, and then import ‘refined petroleum products’ at higher costs to satisfy domestic demands. The said move, according to the government, is to ensure that the obsolete Port-Harcourt refinery, which last benefitted from a Turn-Around Maintenance (TAM) work in 2000, comes back to life, while also supposedly contributing to the development of Nigeria’s oil sector.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
https://ndpc-zik.org/publications/on-who-to-revamp-nigeria-upstream-and-downstream-oil-and-gas-sector
COMPLETE COMMENTS
on Mar 30th, 2021 at 20:49
https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Shell-To-Tie-Executive-Bonus-Pays-With-Energy-Transition-Goals.amp.html
on Mar 28th, 2021 at 15:12
https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandgas/north-sea/310420/shell-looking-options-new-aberdeen-headquarters/
on Mar 26th, 2021 at 19:11
“Under the Hammer”, again!https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tunisia-oil/tunisia-faces-exodus-of-western-oil-giants-idUSKBN2BI1XF
on Mar 19th, 2021 at 21:08
Serica finally kicks-off development on Columbus, years after BG ‘kicked them in the teeth’.
https://www.upstreamonline.com/field-development/serica-energy-kicks-off-development-drilling-at-north-sea-field/2-1-982427
on Mar 16th, 2021 at 22:38
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/3/48093/Shell-to-develop-Phase-9B-of-WDDM-within-2-months
on Mar 16th, 2021 at 13:37
I have mentioned before how the contaminated produced water from Shell’s Western Delta Deep Marine gas fields, acquired during the takeover of BG Group, used to be tankered and dumped in the desert.Khaled Gad, Shell’s Onshore and Offshore Asset Manager in Egypt, should be able to answer the question as to what now happens to the produced water from Shell’s assets in Egypt.
on Mar 15th, 2021 at 19:30
Selling off parts of the BG millstone. See:
https://www.upstreamonline.com/lng/shell-completes-2-5bn-australian-lng-asset-sale/2-1-980042
on Mar 5th, 2021 at 16:29
Further to Bogus Group’s post, very little at BG Group was proven. The majority of their work was of low integrity and dissolved at the slightest scrutiny. This was to be expected with a ‘do as I say, not do as I do’ Line Management.
on Mar 4th, 2021 at 22:52
https://trinidadexpress.com/business/local/shell-takes-biggest-hit/article_ca33aea4-73d5-11eb-8a6e-ff41b564d669.html
It’s surely been proven that BG proven reserves were not actually proven and that Shell did inherit a ‘pig in the poke’. The statement “Our preference is to deal with these arrangements, not in a clandestine way but there is a deeper confidentiality to it. We have these arrangements all over the world. We need to ensure that we maintain a degree of confidentiality but what I will confirm is that hundreds of millions of US dollars converts to billions of TT dollars and we have confirmed that Trinidad will benefit to billions,”beggars belief.
on Feb 16th, 2021 at 20:32
It is not clear why the once upon a time VP Developments, Brazil is now VP Subsurface Excellence, given that the Brazil Asset under her stewardship spent at least five years down a giant rabbit hole using a corrupt workflow that resulted in a significant overbooking of reserves.
on Feb 15th, 2021 at 14:23
On this day in 2016 the fate of BG Group, an Internet Cafe and Cappuccino Lifestyle company was sealed. See:
https://www.shell.com/about-us/what-we-do/combining-shell-and-bg-a-simpler-and-more-profitable-company.html
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jan/28/35bn-shell-takeover-approved-bg-shareholders
on Feb 12th, 2021 at 20:26
https://amp.theguardian.com/business/2021/feb/12/nigeria-communities-can-bring-claims-against-shell-uk-supreme-court-rules
on Feb 6th, 2021 at 14:22
John,
Re:Links between Samuel Iskander and corruption
Dave Freeman currently Chief Operating Officer at privately owned Tailwind Energy and previously Upstream Technical Director (COO Office) at BG Group should be able to answer your question.
REPLY BY JOHN:
Many thanks, I will pass that information on to the investigative contact.
on Feb 4th, 2021 at 17:12
POSTED ON BEHALF OF AN INVESTIGATIVE CONTACT:
Newly former Shell executive Sami Iskander has been appointed CEO to London-traded energy company Petrofac, which is facing corruption allegations in Italy and from the U.K.’s SFO. The question is whether Iskander, who was one of only four executives from British Gas retained by Shell when the two merged in 2015, brings any baggage with him?
Why Mr. Iskander and not someone else? Conversely, why would he want to join such an embattled company? Are there any indications that his time at BG or Shell was less than spotless in terms of possible corruption, to include cover-ups or just looking the other way? Does he have any hidden ties with Petrofac or its outgoing CEO Ayman Asfari?
In general, what kind of a reputation does this man have in the London energy business community?
on Feb 4th, 2021 at 11:09
Further to Bogus Group’s post below, see:
https://amp.theguardian.com/politics/2021/feb/02/sir-simon-robey-the-accidental-banker-adding-george-osborne-to-the-fold
on Feb 2nd, 2021 at 19:21
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9211393/George-Osborne-lands-new-job-quits-roles-Evening-Standard-BlackRock.html
The revolving door is still in motion. Links to Robey Warshaw, BG Group advisor on Shell deal, links to the “Notting Hill Set”, links to politicians, links to the authoress of “The Gatekeeper”, links to Brunswick, Shell/BG Group PR company, links to BlackRock….and others.
on Jan 29th, 2021 at 19:06
https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2021/1/29/dutch-court-orders-shell-to-pay-nigerian-farmers-over-oil-spills
on Jan 20th, 2021 at 17:28
The long overdue structural reorganisation at Shell is rapidly approaching. No better place to start than within the Brazil Asset which has been propped-up for over ten years now by the same BG Group sycophants who have a proven track record of overbooking reserves on the basis of flawed functionall approved technical workflows. These individuals are still clinging desperately to their positions five years after the takeover of BG Group by Shell. Can it be that Shell cannot afford to move them on lest their poor work and lies be revealed? Get rid of them, truth and transparency are now required if not demanded in the Brasil Asset!
on Jan 19th, 2021 at 01:31
More BG Group (Shell) executive ‘turmoil’. Just love the “stepping down with immediate effect for personal reasons” euphemism.
on Jan 13th, 2021 at 21:47
330 job cuts in Aberdeen, with the new rhetoric by a Shell ‘spokesperson’, “this intends to ensure we are set up to thrive throughout the energy transition and be a simpler organisation”.
https://www.upstreamonline.com/exploration/330-job-cuts-oil-giant-shell-lays-out-losses-to-uk-team/2-1-942991
on Jan 11th, 2021 at 13:58
Shell has not revealed the cost of Prelude but analysts estimate the price tag has ballooned to as much as A$17bn ($13bn). The Anglo-Dutch company reported $9bn in impairment charges on its Australian gas assets in the second and third quarters of 2020.
https://www.ft.com/content/6ba54787-6d21-48d2-93b2-273cdcf48455
on Jan 8th, 2021 at 15:32
The recent invasion of the US Capitol puts Trump’s visit to Shell’s Chemical plant in Pennsylvania in August 2019 in a completely different perspective. It’s now appropriate to state that Shell has provided a political platform and support in kind to POTUS. Supporting political activities, providing facilities for political rallies and bribing a senior government official are a violation of Shell’s own business principles and Code of Conduct. Various individuals have lodged complaints with the Shell global helpline alleging improper business conduct involving the RDS Chairman, the US Country Chair, US government relations and others. These have all been dismissed as “reporters expressing a political view”. Shell should re-open the case and seek appropriate consequence management against those involved. But I suspect the perpetrators are the so-called untouchables to whom the business principles and code of conduct are not applicable. Shame on the Head of BID for not having the guts to take this further.
In reply to Peter Voser.
REPLY FROM JOHN DONOVAN
If you have any evidence to support your allegations, please email it to me via the email address on our Contact Us page and I will give Shell the opportunity to comment before publishing it all.
on Dec 27th, 2020 at 00:43
Looking forward to your February “Strategic”’utterances.
Also look forward to the announcement about your successors as CEO and Chair.
A classic case of way too cosy non executive and executive branches.
Time to move on from your nonsense! Especially for your employees.
on Dec 24th, 2020 at 20:10
Shell site seized in Nigeria over unpaid damages.
https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2020-12-23/shell-oil-site-seized-by-nigerian-state-over-unpaid-damages
on Dec 22nd, 2020 at 11:24
Shell to write-down assets.
https://www.offshore-energy.biz/shell-to-write-down-oil-and-gas-assets-value-by-as-much-as-4-5-billion/
on Dec 9th, 2020 at 15:03
Well “Fletcher” (aka “Escaped from C16Atraz”?) I no longer work in Shell but enjoy their lovely pension. So your crude comment fails to impress. As for Shell and its shareholders having made money from oil & gas I have absolutely now problems. Perhaps you and the likes of “Greta Thunderbirds are go” would prefer that we all lived in caves wearing loin cloths (made of course from animals that have died naturally) and walked everywhere?
on Dec 8th, 2020 at 23:39
LondonLad – you come across as a real Ben van Beurden panty sniffer. You don’t happen to work in their spin machine by any chance?
Oh and don’t forget where Shell and the shareholders have made their money. (clue – it’s black and gooey and highly combustible)
on Dec 7th, 2020 at 16:38
Well “Escaped from C16Atraz” you have got your facts wrong. United are 5th with a game in hand – that’s hardly mid-table is it! I bet my friend MUSaint will feel equally annoyed. Saying that “Shell doesn’t care at all about climate change” is also an incorrect statement, akin to some of the waffle that Greenpeace, Extinction Rebellion and even David Attenborough make. I do however agree that it is a shame that more redundancies are on the way but in this Covid environment which company is free of this staffing issue (some of the UK supermarkets perhaps)? As a shareholder I am glad that the senior management is bottom line driven.
on Dec 6th, 2020 at 22:26
There are many parallels to be drawn between Shell and the one unbeatable Manchester United. Both are now mid table. Weak manager, senior players who are arrogant and only play for money, and have got rid of their most hard working players. Shell better get used to mediocrity. It doesn’t care at all about climate change but Van Beurden will no doubt continue to sell more of the crown jewels to greenwash its reputation like the loony who heads BP.
on Nov 30th, 2020 at 14:55
https://amp.theguardian.com/business/2020/nov/30/shell-in-court-over-claims-it-hampered-fossil-fuels-phase-out
on Oct 16th, 2020 at 23:49
If Prelude is planning to complete a swivel swap out or repair, it is at least 3 months of work. But that is for a typical NS FPSO, the massive Prelude unit is one of a kind. And no spares were manufactured with 2 production paths. (Operating one at temporary high rates could be done.) Based on the news reports it sounds like both production swivels have failed or have leakage into the secondary containment system. Possibly due to the delays in operation? But this is just one piece of the puzzle. Putting the entire upstream processing facility, gas conditioning, liquefaction, storage and export on one site is just asking for problems. You can not comply with NFPA 59A separation distances…
on Oct 15th, 2020 at 22:49
Prelude again
Wonder if the Shell Australia Chairman is still pleased with the “progress being made”.
Being pleased with mediocre performance is not the Shell I used to work for.
Bill
on Oct 12th, 2020 at 20:53
https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandgas/271096/petrofac-new-ceo-asfari-retire/
The revolving door continues to spin, BG Group / Shell ‘executive’ demonstrates cronyism is alive and flourishing. Yes, this was the COO that believed corporate projects could be controlled under (what was eventually validated to be flawed) the Value Assurance process, while he sampled corporate hospitality and champagne at Wimbledon.
on Oct 9th, 2020 at 15:39
More on Shell’s fumblings:
https://seekingalpha.com/amp/article/4378196-royal-dutch-shell-energy-transition-woes
on Oct 6th, 2020 at 19:28
Looking at the senior executive org charts revealed last week, seems there is not a lot of “Reshape” at that level… Looks like the worker bees will be sacrificed again…
on Oct 6th, 2020 at 12:09
Looks like Stacey Orlandi never stays long enough in one job for very long. I suppose long enough to be seen and then off to the next one. I wonder what she left behind for others to clear up? Neither did Walter or Malcolm and see where that got us.
The point I find difficult to swallow is her role as Refinery Manager. After two years in procurement in an office somewhere she spends a year as a production Manager and then become THE refinery manager of the Cherry Point Refinery, capable of refining 250k barrels a day plus converting Diesel from biomass etc, a large and complex plant.
Perhaps I guess she was one of a number of under-managers or if not perhaps she can convert water into wine.
Anyway, we shall see.
on Oct 1st, 2020 at 10:22
Bogus Group, hopefully the Executives will be ‘executed’ and we will be saying ‘goodbye’ to these worthless, low integrity, sociopaths to whom probity is alien.
on Sep 30th, 2020 at 19:34
Does the statement “It is very painful to know that you will end up saying goodbye to quite a few good people. I know I, and many others in Shell, will be saying goodbye to people we know well and really like and who have great loyalty to the company” mean that executives will be saying goodbye to good people, or good people will be saying goodbye to executives?
on Sep 30th, 2020 at 12:31
https://www.shell.com/media/speeches-and-articles/articles-by-date/can-shell-transform-yes-and-we-will.html
on Sep 21st, 2020 at 20:24
More on Shell’s proposed Upstream cost cutting.
https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Shell-May-Cut-Upstream-Oil-Operations-By-40.amp.html
on Sep 21st, 2020 at 10:49
Perhaps time to clear out the Brazil Asset?
https://uk.mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKCN26C0GI
on Sep 7th, 2020 at 17:04
USA USA USA. BG Group was an Internet Cafe and Cappuccino Lifestyle company that could not get its ducks lined up in a row for the simple reason that it didn’t know what a duck is. In consequence, its goose was cooked.
on Aug 31st, 2020 at 22:10
@Bonus Group… Is it dirty… air and water emissions? health and safety conditions? government permissions? facilitating commissions? facility decommissions? corruption suspicions? sycophant ambitions? accounting omissions?
that is all i have to say with respect to this petition…
(please read it to the beat of Lizzo for the full effect…)
on Aug 28th, 2020 at 17:00
‘Hiding behind NOVs for the dirty projects in Brazil and others.’ Quote USA USA USA. For ‘dirty projects in Brazil’ read ‘dirty tricks in Brazil’. This was the worst managed asset in BG Group, lurching from one lie to another and led by sociopaths.
On the subject of dirty projects and hiding behind NOVs, BG Group’s Western Delta Deep Marine (WDDM) gas fields in the Nile Delta used to produce 22,000+ BBL/Day of contaminated water which was tankered into the desert and dumped. How are Shell now disposing of that water now? It should be of interest to Greenpeace and to shareholders.
on Aug 25th, 2020 at 13:32
It is very clear to most who understand how Shell operates, that it will try to be all things to all locations. We see it clearly in the greenwashing in the EU. The race for Arctic drilling, this time in Russia. Clean natural gas, like Prelude and Crux – only no one comments on the CO2 content of these fields that is vented into the atmosphere. Hiding behind NOVs for the dirty projects in Brazil and others. Hiding behind “contractors” and “suppliers” to avoid reporting fatal accidents on the books (like Pakistan / China / Singapore Nigeria / etc.) . It just one big PR exercise. the culture is make money at any cost… The petition is just more deception, any response will be simple lip service and highlighting how well the company listens to stake holders, while it continues to focus on just make money…
on Aug 24th, 2020 at 15:36
petition. What a load of hot air and psycho-babble! You must have raised global temperatures by at least a couple of degrees through your post alone, not to mention the amount of Carbon Dioxide you have exhaled over your lifetime. But then because you are most likely Dutch, you think that just because Shell is listed as Royal Dutch Shell plc it is a Dutch company. Well it is not, it is a British Company listed on the UK Stock Exchange!
Are you aware that Shell is not the oil and gas producing company on the planet contributing to carbon emissions? See:
https://www.oilandgasiq.com/strategy-management-and-information/articles/oil-and-gas-companies
Your faith in Shell as the sole company to lead the way in the development of Renewables is remarkable. On the one hand you criticise them for polluting the atmosphere through Carbon Dioxide emissions, but on the other hand you think that they should lead the way through energy transition at the expense of their shareholders and investors.
The degree of ingratitude and hypocrisy expressed towards hydrocarbon producing companies such as Shell by so called Climate Change Activists, wearing synthetic fabrics, taking trains, planes and automobiles while living in centrally heated accommodation, is appalling. You do realise that without those companies you might not have survived birth, because your parents would have been living in a damp cave rubbing two sticks together while wearing animal skins? Like it or not hydrocarbons have enabled society to develop to where it is today and are a fundamental part of society. Hydrocarbons are not going away until they run out and they will become a lot more expensive before then.
Regardless of whether or not you believe in Climate Change and man’s contribution towards it, we all should be both seeking, and developing alternative forms of energy before the oil and gas run out and we return to living in caves. We should also be seeking to control all emissions and pollution, not just Carbon Dioxide. Those are the important points, not Climate Change. The Geological fossil record is littered with examples of past climate change. What next? Do we stop Continental Drift and Polar Wandering? Absurd.
on Aug 23rd, 2020 at 16:49
That’s the trouble with these climate fanatics, they produce so much hot air they themselves heat up the planet. So many words when far less will suffice – people start falling asleep “petition” and don’t bother reading any key points. Shell and others are trying to respond to the issue and are key to the debate and the future targets. It’s not just left wing loonies that will solve this problem. By the way “petition” it’s been bloody cold here in the UK recently and this summer has not been a good one – a little bit more warmth is welcome as far as I’m concerned.
on Aug 23rd, 2020 at 01:05
TO: Shell
Take real steps to ending climate change, and commit not to send lobbyists to the UN climate talks in Paris this year.
https://actions.sumofus.org/a/shell-dont-go-to-cop-paris
Tell Shell to take real action against climate change and not go to COP Paris
In a surprising turn of events, Shell’s board of executives has officially endorsed a SumOfUs-backed resolution committing the company to take action against climate change.
Still, Shell is lobbying UN representatives to block any kind of real climate solutions in the run-up to the UN climate talks in Paris this year.
We can’t let Shell’s stated commitment to fight climate change be mere greenwashing. If Shell’s executives are really serious about tackling climate change, then they have to stop meddling with the climate talks. And with Shell responding to our pressure for the first time, we’re in a real position to force them to act.
Ask Shell to stop blocking real climate change solutions at this year’s UN climate talks!
The UN negotiations are no place for fossil fuel lobbyists — they are where global leaders, scientists and activists meet annually and decide on real climate action. Last year’s talks in Peru collapsed in part because big polluters like Shell lobbied the UN climate committee and blocked resolutions simply because they affected their profit margins.
The stakes are very high at this year’s talks in Paris. World leaders could finally reach a climate deal that reduces carbon emissions across countries and industries, so fossil fuel companies should not be allowed to obstruct the talks. Nevertheless, big polluters have asked the UN climate committee for even more delegates and a much bigger say in the talks.
If Shell’s executives are real about climate change then it should stop meddling with UN climate negotiations.
Sign the petition asking Shell to take real steps to tackle climate change – pledge to keep your lobbyists away from the UN climate talks in Paris!
This shareholder resolution was partly brought by SumOfUs members who also hold shares in Shell. It commits Shell to reduce emissions, invest in renewable energy and remove bonus systems that promote climate-harming activities. This is an opportunity to pressure Shell to stop blocking real climate solutions and help save the planet.
It’s easy to see this as a cynical PR move by Shell — and it is that. But it also represents real, concrete commitments that Shell wouldn’t have made without being under pressure. It’s a small first step, but it’s real progress.
That’s why this is an opportunity to pressure Shell to do more. If we keep working, we can stop Shell from blocking real climate solutions and get the company out of official UN climate negotiations.
Big polluters like Shell offer lavish dinners, hold separate breakaway meetings with world leaders and negotiators, and host industry-sponsored pavilions during negotiations. All these tactics are designed to stop the UN climate committee from reaching a deal that puts the planet before profit.
We need real climate change solutions, and we need them now. 2014 was the hottest year on record, there is already serious water scarcity in the Global South and by the end of the century the earth is expected to warm by 4 or 5 degrees. Each degree is another death sentence for animals, ecosystems and our survival.
Now that Shell’s board claims to support real climate action, we have a unique opportunity to ensure that Shell sticks to its word and doesn’t send its army of lobbyists to meddle with the UN climate talks.
Tell Shell to get serious about its climate commitment and stay out of the Paris talks!
*********
For more information:
Shell’s letter to shareholders supporting special resolution on climate change, January 25th 2015.
The Climate Talks Find an Enemy at COP20: The Fossil Fuel Industry, Huffington Post, December 11 2014.
Sign the petition
TO: Shell
Take real steps to ending climate change, and commit not to send lobbyists to the UN climate talks in Paris this year.
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on Aug 22nd, 2020 at 13:52
interesting but also for me very depressing. My sole concern re Prelude from the start was not that it technically would fail to adequately produce with an eventual return on huge capital invested, after all Shell has a well-deserved record of being technically ahead of the game re LNG process design, my concern was that in risk terms it was much more risky a project with regards to health and safety of employees than the overegged statements made during its early development by folks who were either incompetent to understand offshore installations residual risks or were purposefully misleading propagandists re the true risk levels.
Anyway, perhaps your definition of the project as a White Elephant will bear out, It would be difficult to wager otherwise, but I still have a diminishing hope that it will live up to its potential, but when………………………..?
on Aug 22nd, 2020 at 13:46
From an Operations view point this recent extended stoppage must represent a world record for the restart of a hydrocarbon producing facility of any type after a power failure.
Details remain sparse as to the root cause of the total power outage. As this included the emergency power supplies from all sources begs the question were all these systems recovery interlocks “live tested”. In my experience there is always a great deal of reluctance to initiate a live shut down test with all overrides or inhibits of certain sections being prohibited. This is the only way to ensure all the sequential safety systems function as design and will expose any flaws or unexpected issues to be highlighted.
on Aug 7th, 2020 at 19:12
More on Prelude:
https://www.boilingcold.com.au/inpex-slashes-value-of-prelude-lng-by-a-third/amp/
on Aug 1st, 2020 at 08:38
Royal Dutch Shell plc Results Q2 2020:
https://seekingalpha.com/amp/article/4362597-royal-dutch-shell-plc-2020-q2-results-earnings-call-presentation
on Jul 31st, 2020 at 11:40
Shell reports $18bn loss:
https://amp.theguardian.com/business/2020/jul/30/shell-reports-18bn-financial-loss-amid-covid-19-collapse-in-global-oil-and-gas-prices
on Jul 23rd, 2020 at 08:39
Jail sentences recommended for top Shell executives. See:
https://amp.theguardian.com/business/2020/jul/22/prosecutors-seek-jail-terms-shell-eni-executives-nigeria-oil-deal
on Jul 22nd, 2020 at 14:08
Beware for the current scam going around that is called Shell Alumni Network , its basically a load of old NL employees looking to fund their retirement with promises of green lands and pastures. The ‘Core Team’ is Dutch, the ‘Supervisory Board is Dutch ‘ the advisory panel is made up of maily NL employees, very little diversty despite claiming and using COVID as an excuse for non diversity ! Oh and on top of all that charges 99 Euros a year for the priviledge of listening to van der veer. I don’t know how they get away with using the Shell name unless of course they asked permssion from……yes you got it, The Hague. So roll up roll up, help bolster the NL retired staff pensions ! Oh and before you ask, its modus operandi is for profit thinly veiled in their ‘charter’. It will be interesting to see who gets paid if they publish acocunts. I had enough experience of over regulation and excessive control by the Royal Dutch part of Shell in my career to know a trap when I see it.
on Jul 19th, 2020 at 20:55
Prelude to disaster?
See:
https://oilprice-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/oilprice.com/Energy/Natural-Gas/Shells-Big-Bet-On-Floating-LNG-May-Be-A-Flop.amp.html
on Jul 19th, 2020 at 20:41
US Citizen:
I think that AR is Anca Rusu. See:
https://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2017/06/19/shell-project-manager-says-cracker-plant-will.html
on Jul 17th, 2020 at 16:50
USA USA USA – who is AR?
on Jul 16th, 2020 at 04:09
In a recent town hall, the current project director of the Pennsylvania tax dodge, suggested the construction was 60% complete? WTF? At least he is not to blame, he was saddled with the errors and over promises of AR, who landed a holding position as “VP HSE”, doing “TFA”, prior to a new position that seems also completely invented … and purposefulessness. Can’t we just move helpless & hopeless leaders out of the organization? Unless another senior leader is worried about his role in yet another profitless folly? Memories of prelude seem to come to mind as others have suggested. Or as someone else recently implied, at what point does the king’s new suit seem invisible to more than just the seamstress?
on Jul 8th, 2020 at 17:43
Geert Vermeulen (Ethics & Compliance Officer) posted an article on Linkedin about the Shell OPL 45 debacle and all that surrounds it.
This was a response to the article by Adam Bennett:
Geert, very easy to pass judgments without knowing full facts and in hindsight. Having previously led the business integrity department at Shell I can tell you things in Nigeria are never that clear cut. One thing I remain certain of is the moral compass of shells leadership.
Can’t be the same moral compass most of us are certain of.
on Jun 27th, 2020 at 12:56
Shell restructuring.
See:
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/may/27/shell-restructuring-redundancies
No better place to start than in Shell’s Brazil Asset starting with the BG ‘Job for Life’ sycophants who have been associated with this asset for more than ten years. Start at the top with the Front End Development and Integrated Reservoir Modelling Manager and work down to the Technical Team Leads comprising sniggering Simons. Invite them all to a meeting entitled ‘Wrap-up’, make them an ‘Offer Without Prejudice’ and then constructively dismiss them by discussing their poor performance! A disgraceful asset, corrupt to the core!
on Jun 25th, 2020 at 10:31
About Dear Rob, he is hardly departing in a blaze of glory, his mission it seems is very much unaccomplished as he departs the scene.
Who will take over the poisoned chalice and get the show on the road?
In what seems a relatively short time Prelude has gone from being the expected Real Madrid of the engineering project world to a sort of Accrington Stanley, maybe being a bit unfair on the latter.
Guess the worst of times was the export of human excrement in paper bags from the installation when the lights went out and nothing on it worked ……..
on Jun 13th, 2020 at 16:04
“And 8% to 12% currently we don’t even make in our upstream business” BvB… That performance includes the huge over runs on Corrib, Penn Chem, Prelude, multiple other LNG projects, Alaska Fiasco, and many other (not to mention OPL 245). It is such an embarrassing comparison to ExxonMobil in projects like Liza, which is highly likely to exceed returns Shell is chasing as a utility. Brasil (or Mexico) have the capacity to deliver similar returns to Liza, if there was leadership and strategy for a long term development. What makes BvB so sure that Shell’s management and culture can exceed the returns of the existing players in the “new energies” this time? Maybe the job cuts should start at the top… and not the middle where there is some remaining talent left…
on Jun 9th, 2020 at 14:10
A recent comment posted here reminded me of an email I received some years ago. It is printed in italics below with one sentence deleted.
If you want some more dirt on Shell Oil, you need to go to the Inspector General’s Office, Defense Security Services, US Dept. of Defense. In 2006 DSS initiated a counter-intelligence operation and Shell USA was implicated as the primary ‘culprit’. The FBI had declined to take the case because they could not get an investigation through the US Attorney Generals office (Alberto Gonzalez) without fear of reprisal. The Houston office of DCIS (the law enforcement arm of the DoD IG’s office) had also tried to initiate an investigation but it was outside their purview.
Shell had been attempting to gain unlawful access to technical material that had been classified by the Navy Dept., Office of Naval Research in 2001. This material was the IP of a former employee. Shell was apparently trying to ‘muscle’ their way into gaining ownership of the IP material. This material was classified under DoE/DoD nuclear weapons classification authorities.
Do not contact me for further information. I will not respond. The above (alleged) conduct by Shell constitutes a capital crime under US law and there are no statutes of limitations regarding this conduct, for the company or the Shell officials involved. Because of the highly classified nature of the material Shell attempted (unsuccessfully) to gain access to the matter could well trigger a ‘diplomatic’ incident, and Shell plays ‘rough’.
I sent the information to the then top lawyer at Shell, who declined to comment. I contacted a senior official at a US Intelligence Agency. He confirmed that Shell was under investigation. I do not know the outcome, though I can guess.
Shell has friends within the US government to whom it turns for intelligence information.
I have Shell internal emails confirming this.
on Jun 9th, 2020 at 13:14
For Mr.Bogus Group: I am a Shell pensioner and I can say we all know that the company is not what it used to be. Its future is not bright and the problem is bad management. When I left the company years ago I chatted with some VP’s and they all said the company was not what it used to be and wasn’t fun to work for any longer. They also said they would be doing what I was doing if they were 20 years younger. I leave Shell to its inevitable fate.
on Jun 7th, 2020 at 22:51
USA USA USA, in response to your points. Why was the assurance process broken? – because incompetent managers and executives didn’t understand that implementing an effective work process was more than a Power Point presentation.
Why did bullies just tick the box? – because nobody had the courage to challenge them, lest it impeded their prospects to further their own aims.
Why did they ignore anyone asking difficult questions? – because imperious managers and executives regarded those who challenged as nonconformists, who threatened their craving for dominance.
on Jun 7th, 2020 at 15:16
Penn Chem is pure folly. Wasn’t the business case tax incentives, using waste products from fracking, being close to customers, good neighbor cleaning up toxic waste, never mind the cost or the risks. But now the only reason to finish is for the tax advantages, and then sell it while the PE price remains low, in the hope that someone thinks they are getting a deal. Demonstration that the first mover risks can outweigh the opportunity… kind of like prelude, or being a power utility, or us wind 15 years ago … the assurance process is completely broken – bullies just tick the box, while ignoring anyone who asks difficult questions. Maybe we can get another TRUMP visit, and more chants of “USA USA USA”?
on Jun 4th, 2020 at 23:26
More news of BG diaspora.
At the Annual General Meeting of Hurricane Energy plc held on 3rd of June, Ms Beverley Smith was elected as a Director of the Company with 99.85% of the votes in favour, 0.15% votes against.
Having previous experience as a VP and overseeing a hasty retreat from Algeria at the now defunct BG Group, will doubtless be valuable when exploring rock bottom and/or fractured basement on the Atlantic Margin!
on Jun 4th, 2020 at 18:38
Would this be the same managers and geologists that made the competent business development and exploration decision to develop the Knarr Field? A venture that failed to meet its potential, both in terms of daily production and field life. In fact, I recall the UK based BG Group General Manager for Europe was a geologist.
on Jun 3rd, 2020 at 22:53
Useless degree????.
‘Also it is not possible to be a competent geologist in the oil and gas business without having a very good background education in both sedimentation and stratigraphy. Both topics go hand in hand. Furthermore, managers at both the middle level and senior level need to be well versed in this subject area in order to make competent business development and exploration decisions.’
These would be the same ‘job for life’, middle to senior level managers and competent geologists who at BG Group, for example, assured work at a cost of £200MM which later cost the company £2Bn because it was wrong (according to the Chief Operating Officer at the time), and also spent more than five years working in an asset following corrupt workflows?
From your post on this Blog, I see that your time at a ‘reputable university’ was well spent in learning how to be exuberant with punctuation.
That is all I have to say on the topic. Cheers!
on Jun 3rd, 2020 at 19:31
I was reading your blog today and saw a reference to ‘sedimentology’ being a ‘useless degree’. I do not believe any reputable university offers such a degree. Sedimentology is a sub-discipline within the field of geology. Reputable universities do offer degrees in geology. It is possible to specialize in sedimentology I suppose, but you need to be enrolled in a geology program to do so. I know, I am a geologist, among other things.
Also it is not possible to be a competent geologist in the oil and gas business without having a very good background education in both sedimentation and stratigraphy. Both topics go hand in hand.
Furthermore, managers at both the middle level and senior level need to be well versed in this subject area in order to make competent business development and exploration decisions.
That is all I have to say on the topic. Cheers.
on May 26th, 2020 at 15:59
USA USA USA Hardly surprising is it. The company is overrun by sycophantic, grossly over paid, sniggering middle managers with numerous degrees in sedimentology, or some subject as equally useless, with little to no technical ability or technical background, who are dependent upon technical staff who likewise have little, to no, practical experience and who have only ever seen a rig laid up in the Firth of Forth in photographs, or when they went for a jolly with their wives for an outing one day. They spend their time documenting ‘Lessons Learned’ on fancy spreadsheets which are then filed in some obtuse filing system and they never learn the damn lessons!
on May 24th, 2020 at 23:56
Missed opportunities is not as bad as the botched opportunities. RDS has always claimed that there is limited capital and resources to exploit every opportunity. We all agree. But the fact that so many recent projects have failed to deliver production promises, that is more clearly a lack of management and leadership. Prelude? Penn Chem? Olympus? and the many others that have not delivered on schedule, cost or production. Then there are the projects that move forward with little to no assurance of these vital front end loading to verify that the promise is realistic. It is just more of the same – Bloat / Cut / Reorg and repeat…
on May 23rd, 2020 at 14:35
Exploration. One more for the pot!
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2004/jan/20/india.oilandpetrol
on May 21st, 2020 at 20:41
Here’s a list of missed company-maker plays by Shell since 2000. The record of exploration performance is woeful and many of the responsible are still in leadership roles. Give up and turn to wind and solar indeed…
Figures are total play discovered and recoverable, at 100% basis;
2001 – Mauritania-Senegal – 10 Billion BOE recoverable
2003 – US Gulf of Mexico Paleogene – 3 Billion BOE recoverable
2006 – Santos Pre-Salt – 45 Billion BOE recoverable
2010 – Campos Pre-Salt – 2 Billion BOE recoverable
2010 – Mozambique Rovuma – 23 Billion BOE recoverable
2011 – Angola Pre-Salt – 4 Billion BOE recoverable
2015 – Egypt Zohr – 3 Billion BOE recoverable
2016 – Guyana – 10 Billion BOE recoverable
TOTAL MISSED BY SHELL SINCE 2000 = 100 Billion BOE recoverable!
on May 18th, 2020 at 21:20
Or perhaps arrests and incarceration’s to follow?
on May 17th, 2020 at 22:57
Per my previous reference to ‘moose pasture’, see:
https://www.shell.com/media/news-and-media-releases/2020/shell-sells-us-appalachia-assets-to-national-fuel.html
Perhaps, more sales to follow?
on May 14th, 2020 at 21:18
The detail of the previous post reveals
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/the-second-british-invasion-how-royal-cronies-and-the-gas-debacle-took-australia-for-billions/
on May 14th, 2020 at 21:13
More examples of toxic leadership. Another continent same consequence.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/covert-19-government-stacks-covid-commission-with-oil-and-gas-mates-cosy-deals-follow/
on May 12th, 2020 at 22:36
Bogus Group, thank you for sharing the link. It sounds all too familiar, redolent of both BG Group and also the Shell reserves recategorisation debacle of the early 2000s. During any teleconference with BG’s offices in Houston what were conspicuous by their absence were employees, vast acres of empty desks in the background in a highly expensive building. It would be interesting to know how Shell have covered-up the financial consequences of BG’s mismanagement e.g. hectares of moose pasture acquired for shale gas development that never happened. There was good reason why BG Group delisted from the New York Stock Exchange, and that was because their global reserves would never have withstood scrutiny under SEC rules. One wonders what the auditors were doing?
Perhaps, Helge Lund was not Andrew Gould’s ‘Fall Guy’ after all and that he was complicit and therefore deserves little sympathy?
on May 12th, 2020 at 20:05
In 2007, Statoil (now Equinor) under Helge Lund, drives expansion to ‘a higher gear’. In 2014 he moves to BG Group, in 2015 he prepares BG Group for Shell takeover. This article reveals a toxic mix of murky dealings, ineptitude, mammoth salaries and bonuses and extravagant lifestyles (sound familiar?). The revolving door of organisational failure continues to spin. https://www.newsinenglish.no/2020/05/11/scandal-losses-in-us-haunt-equinor/
on May 1st, 2020 at 00:54
Hi John, looks like the Dutch Power Company Eneco helps a former Shell exec up the escalator. It is surprising to me that an IG heavy hitter thinks there are better opportunities elsewhere.
https://renews.biz/59793/eneco-appoints-new-ceo/
on Apr 29th, 2020 at 18:32
When your company general counsel authors a book “Practical Project Finance” on tendering, negotiation, financial structuring and management of infrastructure and energy projects, maybe the COO thought that corporate projects would run themselves, while he sampled corporate hospitality and champagne at Wimbledon.
Oh yes! and we have the Value Assurance process, but why worry about that when you can apply ‘back’- end loading.
on Apr 28th, 2020 at 11:52
It cannot be said with enough venom that BG Group worked hard at bringing its own demise. £200MM spent on assuring work which later cost the company £2Bn because it was wrong according to its Chief Operating Officer. The much cherished and poorly led Brasil asset with its ‘Sniggering Simons’ was the worst, forever propping up its parasitic position with lies, half truths and deeply flawed technical work flows. Now is a good time to remember that those people responsible for past errors in BG are now with Shell and are still fumbling their way around this asset. Time for them to move on!
on Apr 18th, 2020 at 17:39
Bogus Group I think that you are cutting too much slack for Mr Mr Gould.
on Apr 14th, 2020 at 22:57
People like Andrew Gould are perceived to have executive and leadership qualities, so was this slipshod, or an oversight?
Or is there another reason, is BG ‘Group’ really defunct? As a trading entity yes. Organisational weakness, the risk to the company and their shareholders was acknowledged and evasive action had to be taken.
Are there still outstanding issues that need to be resolved? This would not be in Shell’s remit, even though it involves some of the legal team inherited by them.
on Apr 14th, 2020 at 13:48
Mr Gould, clearly an avid reader of this Blog, has now amended his profile on the professional networking site LinkedIn to show that he is no longer a Board member of Saudi Aramco, but is now a Board member at Occidental Petroleum. Sadly, however, like most of his BG Group counterparts he did not check his profile thoroughly enough, because it shows that he is still (May 2012 – Present) Chairman of BG Group, a defunct oil and gas company.
linkedin.com/in/andrew-gould-8a54b239
on Apr 7th, 2020 at 11:26
Memories of inaccuracies and half truths at BG Group.
Aramco welcomes Mark Weinberger to its Board of Directors
Yet, Mr Gould still has Chairman of BG Group and Board Member of Saudi Aramco shown on his LinkedIn profile.
linkedin.com/in/andrew-gould-8a54b239
on Mar 18th, 2020 at 21:12
Ex Shell Nigeria finance director, ex BG Group CFO and current Centrica CFO’s rise up the ‘escalator to stardom’ continues as he assumes role of interim chief executive. Worth keeping this company pursuits on the radar and its affiliation with other companies. One of who’s chief executive travelled the same escalator.
https://theenergyst.com/ian-conn-exits-centrica-woe-corona/
on Mar 4th, 2020 at 16:01
Shell Brasil Announces Agreement with Ecopetrol
Source Press Release
Company Royal Dutch Shell, Ecopetrol
Tags Asset Deals, Deals, Upstream Activities
Story Focus Deals
Date October 21, 2019
Negotiation involves sale of 30% interest in the the Gato do Mato project
Shell Brasil Petroleo Ltda. (“Shell Brasil”) announces it has entered into an agreement with Ecopetrol for the sale of 30% interest in the the Gato do Mato project, a pre-salt gas-condensate discovery that covers two contiguous blocks: BM-S-54 and Sul de Gato do Mato.
Shell Brasil retains a 50% interest in Gato do Mato and continues as operator of both blocks, with consortium partners Ecopetrol (30%) and Total (20%).
“Shell Brasil has an exciting deep water portfolio with operated and non-operated positions that we are exploring, appraising, and developing. This transaction allows Shell Brasil to further optimize the portfolio. We look forward to progressing activities in the Gato do Mato blocks with our partners,” said Shell Brasil Country Chair André Araujo.
The deal is subject to regulatory approvals.
Let’s hope that the regulators don’t discover what Shell’s Brazil Unitization Team have been up to. The same group of ‘Shakespeare’s Monkeys’, previously employed by BG Group, have been working on the Brazil Asset for over ten years led by the same Front End Development and Integrated Reservoir Modelling Manager (who had been laughingly promoted to VP Developments to boost their status for the takeover by Shell).
They have woven a considerable web of lies and deceit, and by playing games and politics with Petrobras have failed to do any serious technical work on this Asset. After all as long as there is significant production, who gives a hoot about where it comes from!
Seriously though, it is about time the whole group were disbanded from their cozy ‘ring fenced’ workspace and introduced to the outside world.
Shareholders might wish to ask why these particular employees receive ‘special’ treatment and are isolated from the dreadful flexible workspace other employees have to endure.
on Feb 24th, 2020 at 12:48
Shell Energy customer score
Shell Utility came 29th out of 35 energy companies rated by 7,355 members of the public in the annual Which? energy supplier satisfaction survey – the biggest of its kind.
on Feb 22nd, 2020 at 00:40
Customers may not be aware of the discrete business segments in the Shell company or that Shell Energy is a distinct entity. From the numerous responses, they just see a company incapable of dealing with problems, which leads to excessive frustration.
Maybe the solution is a single point contact for specific issues. As Sarah Franklin (ex BG Group chief counsel) noted in a previous publication that emotional intelligence was pivotal to success, maybe she could advise on how to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges and defuse conflict, with Shell customers.
Or is she too busy with complex safety and environmental issues on Prelude?
on Feb 19th, 2020 at 00:17
A date worth forgetting?
How incompetence is rewarded.
Monday 15th February 2016
RECOMMENDED CASH AND SHARE OFFER FOR BG GROUP PLC BY ROYAL DUTCH SHELL PLC Feb 15, 2016 Royal Dutch Shell plc (“Shell”) is pleased to announce that the Scheme has become effective and that the entire issued ordinary share capital of BG Group plc (“BG”) is now owned by Shell. This follows the Court’s sanction of the Scheme at a hearing held on February 11, 2016 and the delivery of the Court Order to the Registrar of Companies today, February 15, 2016.
on Feb 10th, 2020 at 01:35
Are Rob Jager’s idiotic statements (August’19 blog #52) coming back to trouble him?
Another article in the Western Australian (23.05.19), “Shell Veteran, states the project is not driven by milestones or schedules, but by safety”, where Jager wants to methodically take his team through identifying and managing the risks towards Shell’s goal of zero incidents. However, this would appear to be in conflict with the CFO Jessica Uhl expectations of first cargo by the end of June of that year.
The article also notes he was a director of Air New Zealand and chaired its safety committee. The ex BG Group chief executive who also salivated his commitment to safety during his tenure, is now non-executive with Rolls Royce and chairman of the ethics and safety committee. Issues with poor durability of components in Rolls Royce Trent engines for Boeing 787 are now apparent and more recently the regulator has recently issued a Safety Order, for what would appear to be a separate issue.
Senior managers and executives may understand the commercial aspects of their business, but when found lacking in the technical aspects, they should be called to account, before they pass through the revolving door of opportunity and move on. Previous warning signs are conveniently forgotten, is this acceptable?
on Feb 7th, 2020 at 19:26
Prelude to disaster?
https://www.oedigital.com/news/475328-prelude-flng-shut-down
on Feb 2nd, 2020 at 16:04
Rumour has it is that the problems are due to malfunctioning valves that are being replaced hence the intrusive entry into plant, a very unusual and unwelcome occurrence it seems causing the operators to make short cuts, begs the question If shortcuts are being taken elsewhere? if this type of behaviour is prevalent and not discouraged in one area it can be contagious, no idea what valves and where in the process but likely to be a factor in the under performance of the plant reference design outputs.
on Feb 1st, 2020 at 14:18
Having worked on LNG facilities and having seen the devastation of one going wrong, concerns posted on this blog about the risks posed with Prelude FLNG, were perfectly justified.
But ‘as one would expect’, Shell would have considered and accounted for these risks! How else could they justify “Goal Zero ambition is to achieve no harm and no leaks across all of our operations”? However, ‘as some would know’, when costs are escalating , talk is cheap.
Recent concerns raised by the Australian regulator that Shell has not ensured “best practice” for its isolation procedures on Prelude FLNG, must raise warning signs. But how can these concerns be warranted? In 2014 an article alluded to the role of Shell lawyers in collaboration with all aspects of the project, including safety regulation.
If you believe the media, the acquisition of BG Group lawyers should enhance this type of collaboration. One such article centred on the responsibilities of Sarah Franklin (BG chief counsel), which included health and safety, who has inherited a new team that focuses on complex safety and environmental issues. There can be no more complex safety and environmental asset in the Shell portfolio than Prelude FLNG, yet there would appear to be a deficiency in a fundamental work control system, their isolation procedures.
The article also noted her other skill sets, such as setting up BG’s first whistleblowing programme. Other’s will attest that this programme was unquestionably fallacious.
As noted in a previous blog if you are a Shell employee with concerns, especially those with a safety connotation and you wish to engage with her………. beware.
on Jan 29th, 2020 at 23:41
Shell plans to divest assets worth $10Bn by 2021 and is reportedly looking to exit the Abadi Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) Project in Indonesia, which could raise between $1Bn and $1.6Bn
on Jan 29th, 2020 at 23:37
And the trough gets deeper…..
Sound Energy, the Moroccan focused upstream gas company, announces, further to the Company’s announcement of 20 January 2020, that the Company has today issued 5,805,555 new ordinary shares in the Company (the “New Ordinary Shares”) to Brian Mitchener, the Company’s Exploration Director, at an effective issue price of 1.86 pence per New Ordinary Share in connection with the termination of his employment contract.
As previously announced on 20 January 2020, Mr. Mitchener will step down from the Board with effect from 31 March 2020.
on Jan 20th, 2020 at 23:18
Hello,
We work with an advertising agency and we’ve got a countless amount of clients who want some new brand exposure. Does your company permits guest articles?
We’ve got the cash to pay immediately and there’s no extra cost to you.
Regards
Reply to Pearlene Bohannon:
Please contact us via email generalenquiries@shellnews.net
on Jan 20th, 2020 at 21:10
And sadly yet more news of BG Group diaspora.
A Sound move:
Sound Energy, the Moroccan focused upstream gas company, announces that, as part of its planned preparations for the forthcoming potential partial divestment of Eastern Morocco portfolio, Brian Mitchener, Exploration Director of the Company will step down from the Board with effect from 31 March 2020.
At the Board’s request, and to enable the Company to conserve cash balances, Mr. Mitchener has agreed to accept new ordinary shares in the Company (“Ordinary Shares”) in settlement of termination of his employment contract. As a result, the Company expects to issue new Ordinary Shares, at the then prevailing price per Ordinary Share, with an aggregate market value of £107,983 on or around 25 January 2020 (the “Settlement Shares”) and a further announcement will be made in this regard, as appropriate, in due course.
In addition, the Company announces that a total of 863,682 restricted stock units (“RSUs”) previously awarded to Mr. Mitchener will now vest in full on 31 March 2020, ahead of the original date of vesting of the RSUs, announced on 26 April 2018, of 1 January 2021.
on Jan 17th, 2020 at 15:50
Theo, I have ceased posting your comments because they do not belong here. You should set up your own blog so that you are free to cover wide-ranging subjects rather than being restricted to discussions relevant to Shell or this website. Best wishes. John
on Jan 14th, 2020 at 02:35
More news of BG diaspora.
Ms Beverley Smith
https://ir.q4europe.com/Solutionsstaging/Hurricane2018tf/3942/newsArticle.aspx?storyid=14551557
Memories of a catastrophic foray into Algeria, followed by a costly and hasty retreat.
on Jan 11th, 2020 at 18:58
Theo, if it is your intention to kill off this supposedly Shell focussed forum by boring everyone to death with nonsensical ramblings, which have little relevance to Shell, then you are succeeding. Shell is not even mentioned.
on Jan 11th, 2020 at 10:32
Good morning young lad in London!
You are very right in the here and now!
Everybody wants back to nature, everybody wants therefore to cut back on emissions, but nobody wants to walk!
So in the here and now the whole world is indeed saying with the freedom of speech and the freedom to read Theo Benschop, we, the about 7 Billion simple descendants of the first human beings not being a monkey would love in the history of mankind on the by Coca Coca sponsored falling star so-called planet Earth without a plan B to know what you’ve been smoking and/or drinking, because it really has made your postings somewhat unreadable.
Slow down, think and re-read what your have typed, then others may be able to understand what you are trying to say Google in the light of the free sun on this beautiful brand new day peacefully in the historic crisis in the Trias Politica with the freedom of speech and the freedom to read on the digital internet full with inspiring anti-war quotes full with ancient and modern wisdom and full with inspiring anti-cyber war quotes full of inspiring ancient and modern wisdom in the name of about 7 Billion simple descendants of the first human beings not being a monkey
Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Rise and shine! Watch out the bugs don’t bite blind world leaders on the falling by Coca Cola sponsored star so-called planet Earth without plan B!
The blind world leaders have in the historic crisis in the Trias Politica in the history of mankind the right to know Who is Free Immediately beloved Brother Julian Assange?
Who is listen to beloved sister Rep. Ilhan Omar?
Who is listen to Greta How dare you? How dare you? How dare you? Thunberg?.
PS in the history of mankind on the by Coca Cola sponsored falling star so-called planet Earth without a plan B is it by the way interesting to know that Earth is not a tiny star, but instaed of this a so-called planet.
So I’m answering everybody I’m smoking Look out! Authenthic Dutch Holland Blue. Roken is dodelijk – Stop nu!
Tabaksrook bevat meer dan 70 stoffen die kanker veroorzaken! Je had er nooit aan deze giftige troep moeten beginnen, dummy!
Stop nu met deze giftige troep! Blijf U alstublieft leven voor Uw naaste familie en Uw naaste vrienden.
Wilt U alstublieft nu stoppen?
Wilt U altublieft even kijken op http://www.ikstopnu.nl.
Of wilt U alstublieft even de stoplijn 0800-1995 gratis bellen?
Hartelijk dank voor uw medewerking!
on Dec 29th, 2019 at 18:13
Well “Theo Benschop” I would love to know what you’ve been smoking and/or drinking – it really has made your postings somewhat unreadable. Slow down, think and re-read what your have typed, then others may be able to understand what you are trying to say. Who is this Greta Thunderberg’s-R-Go?? As many have said before me she should finish her schooling off rather than playing truant. She might learn some other facts about climate change. For example rather than trying to preach to the converted she should attempt to persuade the likes of China, Russia, India and Indonesia to cut back on emissions. Even the likes of Shell are trying to help but of course most on this forum have their heads where the sun doesn’t shine when recognizing this fact. Oh, by the way Earth is not a tiny star it is a planet.
on Dec 25th, 2019 at 16:10
PS
We, the about 7 Billion smart responsible owners of the tiny star so-called planet Earth without a smart plan B and beloved sister Greta Thunberg have after 40 year smart responsible discussion about the climate all the smart desired responsible knowledge about how to solve a in a smart responsible way a so-called problem with the climate on our tiny star so-called planet Earth without a smart plan B for which tiny star we are after all just until the end of times responsible.
We and beloved sister Greta Thunberg are standing in the here and now in the vanities of the vanities where there will be nothing new under the free sun that is making the boring rounds around the free sun for the question is there a so called problem?
Would you be so kind and smart to answer this question either with a responsible yes or no?
If you have answered no, so-called problem solved, thank you very much for your smart responsible cooperation!
If you have answered yes, the so-called problem is than not solved.
In that smart case would you be so kind and smart to answer this responsible question either with yes or no?
I am a smart responsible owner of the tiny star so-called planet Earth without a smart plan B. I think the who smart responsible discussion is just hysteric responsible nonsense, so just stay until the end of times with the smart plan A. Yes or no?
If you have answered yes, so-called problem solved, thank you very much for your smart responsible cooperation!
If you have answered no, so-called problem not solved.
Would you be so kind and smart to answer this responsible question either with yes or no?
I am a smart responsible owner of the tiny star so-called planet Earth without a smart plan B. I am in the here and now willing to solve a so-called problem, like beloved sister Greta Thunberg. I choose for smart responsible plan B. Next case!
Thank you very much for your smart responsible cooperation!
on Dec 25th, 2019 at 11:47
Good morning young lad in London!
Young lad in London, I have to tell you with the freedom of speech that I in the here and now thought that I had in an earlier stadium in the history of mankind replied to your reaction.
So this means that I do this for the second time as 1+1=2. Let I start with good news: there is in the history of mankind not such a thing as a so-called problem for the simple reason it just in the history of mankind doesn’t exist. I could have started also with Happy Xmas, War is over. If for instance young men in London in the United Divided BREXIT want it.
But I didn’t as you can read with the freedom to read. Furthermore I bring under your attention that it is in the history of mankind not allowed to talk falsely about your beloved neighbours.
Hereby I repeat black on white “I know for sure that a former director has maybe in the context of the subject literally had said: everybody knows that the smart people at the oil companies have a plan B.
So it will be a problem if the government is not giving the start moment for the smart plans B.
So if you want to solve this simple problem: all what the government has to do is fix the price of the Black Gold
– sorry, I mean the oil, or petrol for the cars, as everybody wants beautiful nature, but nobody wants to walk, which is a good thing for the shareholders –
at a level nobody will notice. Maybe add something to the price. But there you have the money to pay for the transition to a more sustainable energy.
So actually what everybody wants in the agreements in Paris.
Also I know for sure that beloved sister Rep. Ilham Omar was perfectly right in her conclusion that a few guilty criminals did something to create the chaos of nine eleven, so not the rest of the Universe.
So that about 7 Billion simple descendants of the first human beings not being a monkey are supporting her for keep on being the one and only first president of all sovereign or not sovereign United Nations.
on Dec 15th, 2019 at 21:27
BG Alumni……. normally your post wouldn’t warrant a response from me, however I’m curious to know, what was the idea that was fostered?
The website is intertwined since Shell’s acquisition of BG Group, and having worked for both companies, I feel compelled to post my comments, as others should be made aware of the traits of some of their “colleagues”.
I don’t know why you’d state the website is becoming ‘bitter and twisted’, my posts are factual, and having knowledge of the workings of BG Group, there is no reason to doubt that Bonus Group’s posts are not equally factual.
I had the pleasure of working with a lot of committed people in both companies, mostly with good intent, but there were others with contrasting agendas, some bordering on sinister. Unfortunately, many of the good ones either left or were pushed, as they were seen as a threat to the lackey’s, intent in moving up the corporate ladder at all costs, emboldened by the toxic corporate culture.
Some issues must be highlighted. For example, the Brent ‘TFA policy’, fatalities in a Brent Bravo utility shaft, a further fatality 2-years later in the same utility shaft and BG Group’s 20 plus fatalities in a ten-year period. Many of the causal factors can be attributed to the same management enablers, but because they were shielded by company lawyers, there was no accountability. If anyone should be branded ‘bitter and twisted’ it’s the lawyers. Is this what Michael Coates meant when he said one of his biggest internal challenges was his in-house legal team?
It’s crucial to have people with the courage to express an opinion as opposed to those who turn a blind eye to failings. I could hazard a guess at what camp you’d be in.
on Dec 12th, 2019 at 11:37
BG Alumni. Ha, ha! Your post is a typical example of the quality of BG Group work. Can’t read what they have written, can’t check what they have written, can’t type and if you don’t know, then lie. Bonus Group’s posts are about the dismally poor standards at BG Group and their consequences. Sure, everyone liked being employed by BG Group, because they were well paid and didn’t have to do any serious work. It was a case of ‘passing the parcel’ by email when you couldn’t do the work required. All to the shareholders’ detriment. I suggest that you go back to your cappuccino. Or is it a latte?
on Dec 11th, 2019 at 16:47
It’s about time Bonus Group and Bogus Group moved on. This website is repaidly becoming all baout the bitter and twisted.I can’t imagine how that idea was fostered.
on Dec 3rd, 2019 at 00:17
For a further example of outstanding performance by BG Group Alumni, London Lad need look no further than Sound Energy where the share price has plummeted from £0.935 in February 2017 to £0.0335 December this year. This remarkable performance, however, does not detract from the Directors’ and the Senior Managers’ whopping salaries and bonuses. One can barely hear oneself think above the slurping and grunting at the trough.
on Nov 30th, 2019 at 13:26
Interesting news article. “Network Rail are well into devolving and restructuring the organisation so that all activities and roles are closer to passengers in order to drive up train performance”. In 2018, many UK train commuters had a tough time with timetable schedules, journeys that didn’t leave or arrive on-time and delays due to major projects.
Could this revival be attributed to the previous chief executive and one of the former Shell and BG Group ‘chosen few’, stepping down from his role?
on Nov 27th, 2019 at 15:28
To put London Lad’s rather naive comments into context. In the final days before the Executive Chairman, Andrew Gould ‘pulled the plug’ on the whole shooting match, at a Town Hall Meeting, the Chief Operating Officer, Sami Iskander, stood up and announced, to anyone who could be bothered to listen, that the company had spent £200MM assuring work which later cost them £2Bn because it was wrong. An absolutely, stellar performance. The people responsible for this are now deeply embedded within Shell’s matrix organisation. An excellent result for the shareholders. Perhaps, a Bridge too Far?
on Nov 27th, 2019 at 12:30
London Lad, Good to hear from you. I hope that you enjoyed your recent trip to Aberdeen. Having also been employed by Shell, I consider myself fortunate that I was not one of the ‘Chosen Few’. The ‘Chosen Few’ are the most corrupt of the corrupt and will fit in well with your ilk. In respect of the slur about my performance, BG were involved in what can only be described as a stupendous multi-billion dollar technical fraud against Petrobras based upon a corrupt workflow which was both Functionally Approved through their Assurance Team and signed-off by the relevant Discipline Functional Head. They refused to correct their workflow and that resulted in a technical fraud. They tried to make me complicit in this fraud, but I refused. That is called integrity, something which I have no doubt that you know little of. You clearly relish brushing shoulders with fraudsters and liars.
on Nov 26th, 2019 at 11:36
I can only assume from the continuous moaning from “Bonus Group” that he/she was not one of the “chosen few” from the BG group and hence the vindictiveness. Poor performance = limited or no job opportunities which applies to both Shell and ex-BG staff. As a share holder I wouldn’t want it differently.
on Nov 22nd, 2019 at 23:59
Further to Bogus Group’s post of Thursday 21st November. BG Group the failed Internet Cafe, cappucino and Belgian chocolate lifestyle company had an established reputation for: constructive dismissal, lack of transparency and corrupt ‘do as I say, not as I do’ line management. The acceptance of the ‘Chosen Few’ from BG by Shell into its upper echelons can only lead to further corruption. After all what was on the BG Portal in terms of Company Policy was of course also law, or at least that is what they would have you believe. As employers they were a complete disgrace and the company a complete shambles from top to bottom. Visitors to this site can look forward to more revelations of incompetence in due course as they unfold.
on Nov 21st, 2019 at 23:06
I was lured by the Michael Coates (Associate General Counsel at Shell) interview by Lawyer Monthly, and the question……. what is the most challenging aspect of your job and how do you overcome this? His response “There are a number of interesting challenges but I will share one internal challenge, the management of our in-house legal team”
The acquisition of BG Group and the infiltration of “the chosen few” from that company’s in-house legal team, may have bestowed a challenge he could never have imagined.
on Nov 10th, 2019 at 15:17
Well “Theo” when you say that “I know for sure the following” followed by a former director said “Black Gold we are digging up” then I think perhaps you are making this up. Most directors of an oil company (even including Shell) would not use the word “digging”! “Drilling” or “producing” yes but certainly not “digging” – exception being the muppets in the HR departments perhaps. In addition your last two sentences are irrelevant to the usual attacks on Shell and are somewhat waffle and insulting to most readers here. You clearly have a problem. I await the onslaught!!
on Nov 8th, 2019 at 22:47
There are normally two sides to every story, but Mike Curless’ version of his termination employment under the pretext of the takeover of BG reorganisation could hold some credence. However, if there was a fair and transparent succession strategy, Sarah Franklin’s self-promotion, see previous post and article, https://www.accdocket.com/articles/tips-and-insights-a-world-class-combination.cfm must have made her a good candidate for one of the “vacant” roles within the Shell legal team. Time will tell if the relevant due diligence was done on Ms Franklin, considering her escapades with a previous company.
on Nov 6th, 2019 at 15:10
I know for sure the following. A former director of Royal Dutch Shell had said: it is a simple problem with the Black Gold that we are digging up and selling. All what the government has to do is fix the price of the Black Gold at a level nobody will notice. Maybe add something. But there you have the money to pay for the transition to a more sustainable energy. So actually what everybody wants in the agreements in Paris.
Also I know for sure that beloved sister Rep. Ilham Omar was perfectly right in her conclusion that a few guilty criminals did something to create the chaos of nine eleven, so not the rest of the world.
So that about 7 Billion simple descendants of the first human beings not being a monkey are supporting her for keep on being the one and only first president of all sovereign or not sovereign United Nations.
on Nov 6th, 2019 at 13:16
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on Oct 23rd, 2019 at 13:28
Caution needed over false almost hysterical claims about current Brent Structures
It was a long time ago but as London Lad highlights in his blog post the onshore disposal of Brent Spar Greenpeace apologised formally to Shell for its claims during that period of intense scrutiny and public interest that the Spar could not be disposed of at sea because it held over 5000 tons of crude oil when in fact it was found to have contained 100 tons of oily sludge much of which was inert silt.
We currently see the emergence again of false and highly emotive claims about what remains in the Brent structures despite Shell and independent published reports being available with assessments of what remains in the cells. These assessments indicate that the environmental impact of leaving these structures in situ is negligible compared to the safety risks to personnel involved in the attempted removal and disposal on land.
Bill
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/greenpeaces-brent-spar-apology-1599647.html
on Oct 19th, 2019 at 14:24
The next round of Nigerian “engagements” are well and truly happening now. Bonga SW/A has been a great tool for regulators and others to return to the potential contractors for additional assistance to progress the project.
It might just fly in 2020, and get on stream 20 years after the initial project.
This will be a real money maker to everyone that can participate (staff, EPC contractors, fabricators, installers, regulators, etc.) just not the nation that continues to suffer.
on Oct 18th, 2019 at 19:49
Hello LondonLad.
Good to see that you still visit. Hope you are well. Glad you have felt sufficiently motivated to post a comment again, the first one since 2013 if I recall correctly.
Under your former alias as MUsaint and your current alias LondonLad we have argued extensively about Shell’s track record in Nigeria.
I know you speak with authority given your own years in a senior position with Shell in Nigeria.
Suffice it to say that Shell has already paid out over £15 million in compensation to some relatives of the Ogoni 9 and millions more in fines relating to Shell corruption in Nigeria.
The posting of articles and other evidence dating back to those days have emerged from the current Dutch litigation against Shell brought by Esther Kiobel and two other Ogoni 9 widows who have yet to be compensated for the loss of their beloved husbands. Most of the archived articles supplied to me via Amnesty International have never been posted online. There are more to follow.
I note your mention of Greenpeace, the unfortunate subject of undercover activity by Shell’s cherished MI6 hires via Hakluyt & Company. No doubt that situation continues.
RELATED INFORMATION
Shell to pay $48m Nigerian bribe fine: Daily Telegraph 4 November 2010
Extract
These companies, including Shell, admitted they “approved of or condoned the payment of bribes on their behalf in Nigeria and falsely recorded the bribe payments made on their behalf as legitimate business expenses in their corporate books, records and accounts”.
SHELL IN BRIBERY FINE: Daily Express 6 November 2010
Extract
Shell must pay a $30million “criminal penalty” over charges it paid $2million to a sub-contractor “with the knowledge that some or all of the money” would be used to bribe Nigerian officials to allow equipment into the country without paying duty. Shell, which has not admitted guilt, must pay a further $18million to repay profits and interests.
U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission Cease and Desist Order: Shell Corruption in Nigeria
Shell pays out $15.5m over Saro-Wiwa killing: The Guardian: 9 June 2009
on Oct 18th, 2019 at 19:11
Hi London Lad great to have you back!
How was Mykonos? A bit chilly at this time of year?
How much residual oil is left in the legs of Brent Bravo?
See:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-50040803
https://phys.org/news/2019-10-germany-crisis-shell-north-sea.html
on Oct 18th, 2019 at 16:22
Oh, and while I’m on my soapbox why don’t those idiots at Greenpeace learn from their mistakes? Now claiming that various Shell North Sea production platforms contain this and that amount of crude should trigger someone in the German Government to question their numbers. Greenpeace were completely wrong with their figures quoted for Brent Spar.
on Oct 18th, 2019 at 16:11
Jeeeez Mr.D you really are scraping the barrel. Articles from the “Tempo” dating from 1996 with still unproven (so one might assume false) claims about corruption in Ogoniland. Have to say that it’s still clear that Nigerians remain convinced that the best way to extort money is by attacking Shell (SPDC/SNEPCO) rather than the real culprits which still remain as the State Government, DPR, NAPIMS etc. etc.
on Oct 17th, 2019 at 20:19
https://www.accdocket.com/articles/tips-and-insights-a-world-class-combination.cfm
Sarah Franklin, Shell’s Associate General Counsel for Safety & Environment and her new team still don’t appear to have a focus on “complex safety matters”. As noted in the article, she would still appear to be “getting her Shell sea legs” despite being in the role for nearly 3 years.
Yesterday’s announcement that the HSE had issued Shell with an Improvement Notice for failing to ensure that the Temporary Refuge on the Gannet Alpha Installation was capable of remaining effective in an emergency, must question the validity of Shell’s focus on safety. TR compliance is not complex, it’s a fundamental prerequisite for the safety of the installation’s personnel in the event of an emergency, anything less is tantamount to dereliction.
If they can’t get basic safety requirement’s right, what chance have they with something more complex. Word of advice to Shell, employ more technically competent people who disclose and address safety concerns and fewer lawyers who suppress them.
on Oct 8th, 2019 at 13:39
National Theatre to end Shell funding
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-49936748
on Oct 5th, 2019 at 03:47
The most profitable downstream site, we are losing good leader after leader, and we can’t figure out why? Maybe having mangers that say people get paid too much and don’t work hard enough and driving morale into the tank is the problem? When you actively devalue people, what do you expect? Now you throw a 5% raise at us? Really? What a disaster!
on Oct 3rd, 2019 at 21:26
Further to my post about how seriously Rob Jager takes his role as VP Prelude, his profile on LinkedIn shows him as being a Non Executive Director for Air New Zealand above being a Shell VP for Prelude. He is clearly a high flyer. Do Air New Zealand do Airmiles?
on Oct 3rd, 2019 at 21:17
Shell, Eni Relax After Major Investigation Comes Up Empty
https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Shell-Eni-Relax-After-Major-Investigation-Comes-Up-Empty.html
on Sep 25th, 2019 at 12:44
Oliver, regarding your message, please contact me via john@shellnews.net
on Sep 14th, 2019 at 14:57
Rumor on the street is the Shell Vito project is over a year behind schedule, AND Shell plans to double down and award Whale to the same contractors in the coming weeks.
Must be some serious love going on between the Singaporeans and Shell decision makers….
on Sep 12th, 2019 at 12:15
To uscitizen,
BRAZIL:
‘PS – Shell is investing 2 billion a year into Brazil and already paying off’. Assuming $2Bn (you did not quote currency), that would just about cover Shell’s share of the costs of replicants, operating expenses and of course managers’ BONUSES!
$2Bn would represent approximately 10% of Shell’s income in 2018.
https://reports.shell.com/annual-report/2018/consolidated-financial-statements/statement-of-cash-flows.php
FPSO unit cost: our initial case ($91bn total capex) assumed a cost of $2.5 billion for each of 13 FPSO units. However, our research shows a wide range of possibilities for this cost depending on the vessel configuration; plus the fact that Brazilian shipyards should get better at building them so the cost could reduce over time. Also the project might choose to lease rather than buy the FPSOs outright, which could improve economics for the consortium depending on the lease terms.
http://openoil.net/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/OO_br_Libra_narrative_1.0_161104.pdf
on Sep 12th, 2019 at 12:13
To uscitizen,
BG GROUP ASSETS SOLD BY SHELL SUBSEQUENT TO TAKEOVER:
Petrobras and Total announced that they have finalized a decisive milestone in the realization of their Strategic Alliance, signed in March 2017, with the completion of the following transactions: Transfer from Petrobras to Total of 22.5% of the rights of the Iara area, which comprises the Sururu, Berbigão and Oeste de Atapu fields in Block BM-S-11A in the Santos Basin pre-salt, operated by Petrobras (42.5%) alongside Shell (25%) and Petrogal (10%). The consideration for the above transactions amounts to US$1.95 billion, including closing adjustments. This amount does not include US$ 400 million that can be triggered by Petrobras to carry a part of its investment share in the Iara development fields and contingent payments.
http://www.petrobras.com.br/en/news/petrobras-and-total-complete-the-transfer-of-rights-in-the-lapa-and-iara-concessions-as-part-of-their-strategic-alliance.htm
Royal Dutch Shell is nearing the sale of a large part of its North Sea oil and gas assets to private equity-backed Chrysaor for $3 billion, banking sources said, marking a milestone in its drive to reduce debt after buying BG Group.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-shell-m-a-northsea/shell-set-to-sell-3-billion-north-sea-assets-to-chrysaor-idUSKBN15B14M
Including this week’s US$750 million sale of an offshore shallow water gas field in Thailand.
https://www.jwnenergy.com/article/2018/1/shell-has-sold-us27-billion-assets-acquiring-bg-group-charts/
The deal covers Shell’s interests in the fields Buzzard, Beryl, Bressay, Elgin-Franklin, J-Block, the Greater Armada cluster, Everest, Lomond and Erskine, and a 10% stake in Schiehallion. Shell also announced on Tuesday that it had sold its stake in a Thai gas field for $900m to a subsidiary of the Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/jan/31/shell-sells-north-sea-oil-gas-fields-chrysaor-linda-cook
TOTAL: $5.7Bn = 21% of $27Bn
on Sep 12th, 2019 at 12:12
To uscitizen:
OVERPAID:
Shell offered BG Group Shareholders a premium of approximately 52% to the 90 trading day volume weighted average price of 890.4pence per BG Share on 7 April 2015
https://www.shell.com/investors/financial-reporting/pre-combination-bg-group-publications/recommended-cash-and-share-offer-for-bg-group-plc-by-royal-dutch-shell-plc/_jcr_content/par/textimage_931903780.stream/1447807511882/98173e46e15c9a96a2e68397b2b75093c96c3720/offer-announcement-royaldutchshellplc-bggroupplc.pdf
Since agreeing the largest single upstream-centric deal of the past 10 years to purchase BG Group in April 2015, Royal Dutch Shell has been selling assets all over the world to rationalize its portfolio.
https://www.jwnenergy.com/article/2018/1/shell-has-sold-us27-billion-assets-acquiring-bg-group-charts/
on Sep 11th, 2019 at 20:37
Bonus group, Contradict myself – lol. Poor guy – like I said do your own research – tell us what you find, you will look like the irrational uneducated poster you are. PS – Shell is investing 2 billion a year into Brazil and already paying off. Do you ever look anything up?
on Sep 9th, 2019 at 23:36
To US Citizen. Thank you for your post of September 9th 2019 20:12. Congratulations on also being an avid reader of this blog. You are correct in my post of June 26th 2019 23:05 I did say that ‘..Shell had a ‘fire sale’ of a plethora of BG ‘dross’ assets in order to raise $30Bn to disguise the amount by which they had overpaid for BG Group.’ More correctly, Shell had a ‘fire sale’ including a plethora of BG ‘dross’ assets in order to raise $30Bn to disguise the amount by which they had overpaid for BG Group. This does not detract from the fact that Shell did have a ‘fire sale’ in order to raise $30Bn. By my estimation Shell over paid for BG Group by about 30%. The Christmas boxes were very large, but the presents were very small. You contradict yourself when you say that you will not do my homework for me, but then tell me that the split of the $30Bn assets sold was 80:20 Shell:BG. Is that correct? If so, thank you that just goes to show how worthless those BG assets were, but then that is what you can expect from a Cappuccino and Belgian chocolate lifestyle company. Any comments about what the Brazil Asset are up to these days?
on Sep 9th, 2019 at 20:12
To Bonus Group – the large percentage of assets sold by Shell were non BG assets. I will not do your homework for you, but the split is 80/20. A great example of why you do not take what this sites protagonists post as good information. But go ahead, say I am wrong and also posting garbage, do your research and tell me the number of BG asset sales vs the 30 billion Shell raised thru asset sales.
on Sep 6th, 2019 at 18:29
MESSAGE FROM JOHN FOR THE ATTENTION OF BOGUS GROUP. I have received the information you kindly sent and have replied by encrypted email.
on Aug 25th, 2019 at 15:48
I might write in more detail but I find it rather ironic that it was this website that was telling the world 6 or so years ago that this installation did not have risk levels as low as claimed and one of the principal risk drivers was the compact nature of a hazardous substances plant with not enough space to swing a cat in. Unless you are not aware I wrote to Shell Australia at the time giving them data from 8 existing or planned onshore LNG plants which varied from 80 to 100 hectares or on average 20 to 22 times the footprint of Prelude, could they tell me as a stakeholder with shares in the Company how they arrived at their ridiculously low number but can guess I assume that a reasonable explanatory reply was not forthcoming, as sure as eggs are eggs if this plant is currently having problems or if it has problems or major accident events in future it will be due to the force fitting a complex plant, with risk levels much above which they have published, on a postage stamp of a footprint.
God willing they will never live to regret their fraudulent overly optimistic claims, risk is based on reality not wishful thinking.
Bill
on Aug 24th, 2019 at 00:24
UPDATED SAT 24 AUG 22.00.
John, here’s the link, can you access from here? https://www.upstreamonline.com/live/1836861/shell-learns-from-prelude-challenges
REPLY FROM JOHN:
Thanks. Problem is that it’s behind a paywall and despite it being a great publication for the oil industry, none of us retired folk wants to invest in a subscription.
FURTHER REPLY FROM JOHN
I have received the further Prelude information you have kindly provided and have replied by encripted email.
on Aug 23rd, 2019 at 12:43
Further to Bogus Group’s post yesterday. I am absolutely appalled that a Senior Executive of Royal Dutch Shell plc should spout so much nonsense concerning the Prelude installation. The statement is redolent of Malcolm Brinded and his ‘Touch F*ck All’ policy, which led to the deaths of Keith Moncrieff and Sean McCue on Brent Bravo on 11th September 2003. What is boring is the continuous misleading spin and blather from the top of this company and their lackadaisical approach to safety. ‘Chronic Unease’ is a well known expression in the Oil and Gas Industry, and that state of mind is far from boring or routine. In fact nothing is either boring or routine in Oil and Gas operations. Rob Jager moved last year to the post of VP Prelude after spending thirteen years as Country Chair and VP for Shell New Zealand/Shell Taranaki, after Shell announced the sale of its New Zealand interests in March 2018. Jager clearly previously has spent too much time being ‘laid back’ in the fantasy land of Lord of the Rings, marvelling at New Zealand’s scenery and wondering who will be entertaining him for his next luxury seafood dinner accompanied by a glass of chilled expensive New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
on Aug 22nd, 2019 at 00:05
PLEASE SEE REPLY FROM JOHN WHICH FOLLOWS THE COMMENT FROM BOGUS GROUP
More on Prelude article in Upstream.
I’m stunned by what can only be described as idiotic statements. Nothing like the utopia of self-aggrandisement without verification. What is Jagers’ level of technical and operational capabilities? I recall similar rhetoric from BG Group charlatans, with the “best in class” mentality and use of the most overstated expression ever to be used outside the education sector, all aimed at pleasing their taskmasters.
Ramp-up of Prelude and what Jager hopes will be decades of “uneventful” and “boring” operation.
“This will be a state where little or nothing happens. We have few if any alarms, no surprises and where things are running like clock work and we are effectively in autopilot,” he said.
“We will know when we have succeeded in this ambition because Prelude will be recognised as the most boring asset in Shell global portfolio our people will refer to it as the safest and most desirable place to work, and when the rest of the industry is knocking on our door to find out how we have achieved such a best in class outcome, especially for a facility as complex and unique as Prelude.”
REPLY FROM JOHN
Hello, I would be grateful if you could send me a copy of the article via john@shellnews.net using an anonymous email address. I would pass it on to retired Shell EP experts for their assessment.
on Aug 19th, 2019 at 19:11
Shell may claim to be not responsible for the contractors’ instruction to staff to attend the meeting or loose pay, however, contractors working for Shell have a contractual obligation to comply with Shell’s General Business Principles and its Code of Conduct. Facilitating political rallying and coercing staff would certainly go against that.
Disappointing to see these principles are pushed aside when it comes to US politics.
on Aug 19th, 2019 at 18:51
I would be interested to know the content of the article just published by Upstream Online about the Prelude FLNG problems?
Upstream Online: Shell learns from Prelude challenges
Shell is currently in the process of ramping up its Prelude floating liquefied natural gas development off Western Australia, but the ambitious project …
What I do know is that Prelude is still having difficulties in with the processed volumes of any of the three streams of product, LNG, LPG and condensate.
I have been monitoring the Marine Traffic web site with Prelude as the target. The offtake tankers, LNG or condensate, can be seen hanging around but at a greater distance from Prelude making it not as easy to keep track of as in previous occasions. The latest LNG tanker, Symphonic Breeze, has been nearby for nearly a week waiting for its nominated cargo. The demurrage costs must be quite high by now as the “notice of readiness” will have been tabled on arrival.
The pressure on the Prelude Operational Staff must be intense and unrelenting, so much for a plug and play project that Brinded made so much noise about.
on Aug 19th, 2019 at 08:24
After reading in the news that workers in our Pennsylvania plant wore FORCED
to sit and listen to trump you can count on me PASSING EVERY SHELL station I see. (Comment received via email)
on Aug 19th, 2019 at 08:18
Is the payment of workers by Shell to attend a Trump rally appropriate?
How does Shell justify it?
Is Shell going to pay workers to attend opposition rallies for balance?
What’s next payment for attending Bolsonaro rallies? (Received via email)
on Aug 17th, 2019 at 19:46
Saw news on Shell’s practice of coercing union employees into attending a campaign rally with Trump. I used to fill up with Shell gasoline. Will no longer purchase anything from Shell or anything that is in anyway obviously associated with Royal Dutch Shell (Posted comment was received by email)
on Aug 16th, 2019 at 19:16
Bonus Group has previously mentioned John de Lange, once upon a time VP Well Engineering and Operations BG Brasil, last heard of kicking his heels in Chad as VP Operations for Glencore E&P (Canada) Inc before he fell foul of jackals and going to ground. This very wealthy man by his own admission now finds himself literally in hot water, or more precisely as a director of Geothermie Groep Nederland B.V. This is probably the best outcome for the oil and gas industry as his competency and motives were questionable at best.
on Aug 15th, 2019 at 17:38
John, thanks for posting the article on the Trump visit to Penn Chem. Most insiders don’t think Shell will really want that kind of connection to Trump. But if he asks to come with the EPA administrator and DOE Minister, what can you do, but say yes? Saying no would have resulted in a backlash for sure. Makes it difficult to stay politically neutral.
Shell still wants to play both sides on the US agenda, and win regardless of the outcome. This is more troubling for many, as it shows the messaging in EU is low carbon future, in the USA its drill baby drill. It makes your point on culture, that some still seem to doubt.
on Aug 14th, 2019 at 12:35
it was very interesting to see Shell host President Trump at Penn Chem for Energy Speech that turned into a campaign rally.
More interesting that he seemed to take credit for making it happen.
https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2019/08/13/donald-trump-in-beaver-county/
Scroll down to the middle and you can watch the full hour speech.
on Jul 27th, 2019 at 01:47
Hello, I am interested in purchasing royaldutchshellplc.com Are you interested?
REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN
I would have taken your question more seriously if you had contacted me privately via email rather than via a public forum.
on Jul 13th, 2019 at 11:31
What makes you think that anyone is interested in Shell’s business dealings with the Germans several decades ago?
REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN
Shell’s historians must have thought someone would be interested or they would not have included dozens of pages filled with supporting evidence in “A History of Royal Dutch Shell” Volumes 1 & 2 published in 2007. Understandably, they spun the evidence in favour of their paying client, Shell. Another indication of interest is the many thousands of visitors to our new sister website shellnazihistory.com. Likewise, 17,918 blocked malicious login attempts on the new site with 1,696 blocked spam comments (by Akismet). All stats as of today, 13 July 2019. In addition to the public interest, clearly, there is evil intent towards the website. Wonder who that might be?
on Jun 26th, 2019 at 23:05
In answer to uscitizen’s post proclaiming the wonders of the acquisition of BG Group by Shell, it should be remembered that Shell had a ‘fire sale’ of a plethora of BG ‘dross’ assets in order to raise $30Bn to disguise the amount by which they had overpaid for BG Group. Sooner or later there must be another reserves recategorisation. The Brasil Asset is a prime candidate for this given that it is still staffed by ex-BG sycophants propping up the illusion. As highlighted by Bogus Group, it would seem that Knarr is the latest posthumous failure of BG Group. They were always over stating the value to the shareholders.
on Jun 14th, 2019 at 22:08
In 2015 this prospect was given a production life of “at least 10 years”Did Shell expect such an early exit, or was this another BG Group recoverable miscalculation?https://www.upstreamonline.com/hardcopy/1805800/shell-to-pull-plug-at-knarr
on Jun 11th, 2019 at 18:45
Shell, the world’s second-largest listed oil and gas company after Exxon, cut costs heavily following its 2016 acquisition of BG Group for $53 billion and the 2014 oil crash.
Despite a slow and bumpy recovery in oil prices, it reported the largest profit among its peers last year and a jump in revenue from previous years.
Shell said its free cash flow – cash available for dividends and share buybacks – was set to rise to around $35 billion per year by 2025 based on a Brent crude oil price of $60 per barrel.
That compares with $28-33 billion in free cash flow it expects to deliver by the end of next year. Brent is currently trading just under $61 per barrel.
Shell, the world’s biggest dividend payer at $16 billion in 2018, expects to increase its dividend payouts to shareholders once it completes the $25 billion share buyback by the end of 2020 that it promised following the BG acquisition.
Shell last increased its quarterly dividend in the first quarter of 2014 to $0.47 per share.
on Jun 11th, 2019 at 18:36
All of the folks bashing Shell for the BG merger, I think we can now say this has been a very good financial move. Shell has overtaken Exxon and Integrated Gas is a big reason why. I am sure there are examples where some good people got pushed out, and I hate to hear that. However, lets not pull the wool over folks eyes and say this business decision was not sound.
on May 28th, 2019 at 22:20
Further to yesterday’s post.
Sound Energy plc
(“Sound Energy” or the “Company”)
Director/PDMR Shareholding
Sound Energy, the Moroccan focused upstream gas company, announces that it has been notified that Brian Mitchener, Executive Director, has today purchased 150,000 ordinary shares in the Company (“Ordinary Shares”) at a price of 12.04 pence per Ordinary Share. As a result of this purchase, Mr Mitchener is interested in 150,000 Ordinary Shares, representing 0.0142% of the Company’s issued ordinary share capital.
on May 27th, 2019 at 20:26
UnSound Energy?
Readers may wonder why the darling of the AIM Market is now preparing itself for a sale of its Eastern Morocco acreage.
Perhaps, the answer may be found in the Annual Report 2018 available to download as a .PDF from the Sound Energy Website:
Page 49
Loss of Office and Change of Control Provisions
In the event of a change of control of the Company, the CEO, CFO and Exploration Director have the option to give notice and receive a lump sum equivalent to 18 months’ salary for the CEO, 12 months’ salary for the CFO and 8 months’ salary for the Exploration Director.All of the Company’s current share plans contain provisions relating to a change of control.
On a change of control, outstanding awards would normally vest and become exercisable, subject to the satisfaction of any performance conditions at that time.
Page 50
Summary Of Actual Remuneration (including Benefits in Kind and Performance Awards) Of Directors
Executive Directors
James Parsons £995,000
Brian Mitchener £323,000 (RSU Awards No. of Shares 862,682, Granted 26.04.18 Settlement date 01.01.21)
JJ Traynor £168,000 (RSU Awards No. of Shares 961,194, Granted 26.04.18 Settlement Date 01.01.21)
It should be remembered that Brian Mitchener is of the failed BG Group stable. It would seem that Bonus Group habits are hard to let g0!
on Apr 9th, 2019 at 20:40
I concur with Bonus Group recollection of the tin pot, lacklustre, parvenu outfit. There was no place in BG Group for experienced professionals if they didn’t possess the sycophant tendencies required to stoke the egos of those deluded by corporate grandeur.
Large remuneration packages were not uncommon then too, the chief executive received circa £13mm (published) in bonuses throughout his 12 year tenure. During that period there were 26 fatalities, roughly £500k for each. That was more than distasteful.
on Apr 8th, 2019 at 17:02
Today is the anniversary date of the agreement on terms of the takeover of BG Group (a tin pot, lacklustre, parvenu outfit) by Royal Dutch Shell plc in 2015. In consequence of BG Group’s consistent failures to meet targets and the engineered predatory takeover by Royal Dutch Shell plc the careers and professional lives of many experienced Geoscientists and Engineers were brutally butchered, terminated, and cast aside like so much offal, so it is rather distasteful to see the size of Ben van Beurden’s remuneration package being flaunted in the press by Royal Dutch Shell plc.
on Apr 1st, 2019 at 19:07
It seems to be impossible right now to get any chance of landing a job inside Shell these days. Everytime people apply for jobs unless they have high potential or a diversity point they get rejections. I got told recently that the hiring manager was looking for someone with high potential. Don’t these people realise that they also need QUALIFIED people to actually do the work. Ridiculous but it almost getting to age discrimination these days. Rant over.
on Feb 25th, 2019 at 09:46
SHELL CANADA
…they are wanting to sell their Alberta operations….. because there is no money left in it…they have syphoned it all off…..
https://business.financialpost.com/commodities/energy/shell-seeks-sale-of-canadian-refinery-to-focus-on-lng-project
in Caroline Alberta they had a massive sour gas leak on March 23 2003. It was in the local paper….Caroline Alberta or Sundre Alberta. (Sundre roundup)
I think also on 2010-2011 they had multiple explosions at their Caroline facility supposedly an employee during an explosion at the south compressor station had to be airlifted to hospital and was seriously injured.
The aer/ govt shut it down. it was closed for 6 months and half of the plant was decommissioned when it restarted.
That must have cost them millions of dollars…..there should be government records of this stuff….
on Feb 14th, 2019 at 13:08
THE ROYAL MINT HAVE RELEASED A NEW 50p COIN TO COMMEMORATE THE BREXIT DEAL
on Feb 12th, 2019 at 21:05
John,
PRELUDE
The description of the fairleads causing the mooring ropes to chafe to such an extent is almost so ridiculous to render ex-seafarer speechless. The fitting of nylon liners inside the fairleads is something new for me but the idea behind it would may be to reduce the friction of the mooring lines when running through the fairlead thus reduce any temperature potential in a zone 2 area. Fixing one potential risk appears to have created another one of greater risk potential. I am not sure how the nylon liners in the fairleads would have such sharp edges to chafe the mooring lines on their own and perhaps there may have been something else to which the journalist has missed out. The reported leakage of LNG in the manifold area from a flange should not have happened but the liquid transfer areas are all bunded in low-temperature materials and provided with a constant supply of running water during cargo handling activities. Power outages during start-up operations and ongoing are nothing new and others can be expected, hopefully not very often as the restart of such a complicated process system takes a long time and much effort. The problem with firewater deluge over the LNG storage tanks reported is of considerable concern but the journalist does not mention if this was during the period when systems were being tested prior to the introduction of LNG or after. If before then this section of the report is just journalistic license and of no consequence whatsoever. The other issues as reported can be considered minor during the preparation phase before the introduction of hydrocarbons in any form but definitely of concern if these incidents were after the introduction of hydrocarbons. I wish the people who are experiencing the startup of such a complicated and complex plant every success. Take the time that is needed to be successful by being safe, good luck.
on Feb 5th, 2019 at 23:34
Irish Backstop Update
According to a Sunday Times article two days ago, “Ireland continues to dodge difficult questions about how it will protect the single market and also maintain an open border under a no-deal.”
The Express published an article this evening under the headline “IRELAND BREXIT ULTIMATUM: EU to enforce hard border or KICK DUBLIN OUT of single market.“
EXTRACT
IRELAND has been warned it faces the difficult choice between implementing a hard border or being forced out of the EU’s single market in an unprecedented move to protect the bloc from a no-deal Brexit.
Dublin will be forced to make the tough choice if Britain quits the EU without a deal, according to a number of senior EU figures.
The European Commission sparked fury from Ireland after declaring Dublin would have to implement a hard border in the event of a no-deal Brexit. After significant protests from, which involved a heated debate between Leo Varadkar and Jean-Claude Juncker, Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, suggested “operational solutions” would have to be found in order to prevent a hardening of the border.
But now high-ranking MEPs have hardened their position, insisting the single market must not be compromised even to maintain peace on the island of Ireland.
Elmar Brok, a German MEP with close ties to Angela Merkel, insisted that if Ireland failed to police its own borders the EU would have to take its own protectionist action.
“We would have to set up a customs border with Ireland,” the German said.
He also warned that if Brussels didn’t make the demands then “we will soon have American chlorine chicken in the EU”.
on Feb 2nd, 2019 at 00:37
BvB has been quoted in many articles following the outcome of the Brexit vote as expressing negativity about Brexit and the effect it could have on RDS. This can be confirmed by running a Google search on “Ben van Beurden Brexit”. The articles today in the Scottish press and Upstreamonline are but the latest publishing his views on the subject. Despite all of the negativity, my own view is that a satisfactory Brexit deal without the backstop will be done. If not, the EU and Ireland will be an international laughing stock when they create a hard border soon after Brexit, the outcome they were supposedly trying to avoid. That development would provide a better example of the consequences of deranged Irish logic than any infantile Paddy joke I can recall. The stupidity of certain Irish politicians is poisoning previously improved relations between the UK and Ireland, which is a great pity.
on Jan 29th, 2019 at 00:01
All of the ingredients will be there for a return to violence in the event of the UK being forced into a no deal by Ireland. The current impasse is down to Ireland which may well come to regret its hostility towards the UK. How many of the 17 million Brits who voted for Brexit will wish to holiday in Ireland now?
on Jan 14th, 2019 at 23:12
I find it fascinating how so many brainwashed Shell slaves are quick to criticise Mr Donovan for the work he is doing. It is surely his decision and prerogative to do whatever he wants with his own time? Just like you and I choose to work for a slimy, corrupt, evil, fascist, environment destroying company. The only difference is that I actually admit to being a whore that’s sold my soul for money!
As for your defence of Brinded, I find it laughable. That man was an abnoxious individual who was acting more like an SS officer than a senior executive.
Keep up the good work John. Warm wishes and my heartfelt thanks to for keeping us all informed of Shell’s true nature.
REPLY BY JOHN
While I am grateful for the kind words, I do not know of any grounds to support your comment that Shell is a fascist company. With regard to Mr Brinded, despite my many negative comments about him over the years, comparing him with an SS officer is wrong.
on Jan 4th, 2019 at 16:02
Mr Donovan if it is your twisted objective to poison the Internet for the Shell brand you, unfortunately, seem to be succeeding. Searching for any subject connected with Shell inevitably seems to generate negative news reports, negative information and anti-Shell images, all apparently originated by you. Your allegations about Shell’s alleged Nazi history seem to be spreading across the Internet like a virus. Your Shell-branded counterfeit websites seem to be multiplying almost by the day. I am losing count of them all. This situation is bad for all stakeholders including employees, shareholders and pensioners. I also object to the personal attacks on Shell people, for example on Malcolm Brinded who has never been found guilty of any wrongdoing. Don’t you have any scruples? I am also concerned for your mental health and your bank balance. Is a third party also hostile to Shell funding your pervasive and malicious online activities? What’s the betting that my comments will not appear on your supposedly uncensored Shell Blog? I am also mystified why Shell has not taken action to protect its reputation?
REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN
Shell has been complaining about my online activities since March 1995 and on occasion has taken legal action, including a three-week high court trial in 1999. There is no possible defamation if what is stated is true.
The most recent proceedings were in 2005 via the World Intellectual Property Organisation. Shell unsuccessfully attempted to seize some of our Shell related domain names including royaldutchshellplc.com and royaldutchshellgroup.com.
All of the litigation cost Shell tons of wasted money in legal fees and attracted negative publicity.
Shell lost every case.
We have sued Shell twice for defamation. Shell settled both cases.
A covert attempt by Shell to close down hosting for our websites failed.
More recently, RDS Company Secretary/Main board member Michel Brandjes threatened legal action over my book about Shell’s Nazi history. His emailed threats turned out to be nothing but bluster. Shell will never take legal action on the topic as it would draw attention to the most toxic subject relating to any existing major multinational in the world.
I will continue to publish true facts about Shell and where appropriate corrupt senior management involved in scandals such as the Shell SMART rigged contract tender, the Brent Bravo deaths, the reserves fraud and OPL 245. Mr Brinded has involvement in all four scandals.
on Dec 28th, 2018 at 18:00
ON THE SUBJECT OF BRINDED:
He has such a strange brain, could outthink most people in Shell but rather than concentrate on doing good things for Shell and developing people he became the ultimate micromanager and surrounded himself with sycophants. Until the 2nd half of the eighties he was OK and the driving force of the highly successful SLIM technology. I believe this was what launched his big career. Thereafter he became moody and unpleasant for people who dared to question him or make good suggestions to him. Probably quite insecure and status conscious. Never understood this. He just took himself too seriously.
on Dec 27th, 2018 at 16:47
Donovan has already said suggested he won’t name the individual. He is more determined to go after Brinded with whom he has a personal issue. As Veritas suggests there is something deeper there which makes this whole issue inconsistent in his refusing to name the guilty individual.
on Dec 27th, 2018 at 16:08
John Donovan, you are such a hypocrite. You claim you don’t want the convicted pedophile’s family to suffer, but you keep dragging Brinded’s family through mud. You should be consistent in your actions. The only thing consistent about you is how you continue to live off of some overblown ‘offense’ your father experienced decades ago. You claim to be an open wound to Shell. The only open wound I see is the one in your damaged psyche that you continue to nurse.
REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN
Happy Christmas to you too.
P.S. It was actually my experience, with my late father kindly giving me his support. BTW, I don’t think Mr Brinded will be pleased that you keep bringing his name up.
on Dec 20th, 2018 at 16:19
So its OK to go after Brinded who hasn’t been convicted and to name and shame him for alleged financial wrongdoings and there are pictures of him and his family on the web but you draw the line at naming a CONVICTED individual. Mmmmm
REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN
I have been warning Shell about Malcolm Brindeds’ lack of scruples for nearly two decades. He gave his full backing to the Shell exec who rigged the SMART loyalty scheme contract tender. He has been a key player in a number of other Shell scandals. The related SMART litigation that Shell settled. The Brent Bravo deaths. The reserves securities fraud. His dealings with the despot Muammar Gaddafi on behalf of Shell. And currently, his starring role in the OPL 245 corruption scandal. Mr Brinded is free to sue me for defamation if he disputes what I am saying about him. I have a huge amount of evidence to support what I say. I know a lot about him. I have been coincidentally reading documents about his misdeeds for several days that I will publish in the New Year. More revelations about just how ruthless he is.
on Dec 20th, 2018 at 15:42
“The name of the relevant individual in a Shell leadership role has been verified from court records and social media)”
REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN
Because having seen the Shell leader in question in a photograph with his family, I have reservations about naming him some 14 years after the offences took place. Why should his family suffer?
on Dec 13th, 2018 at 01:36
I concur with Bonus’s comment’s. Unfortunately these “turkeys’ can’t comprehend their deficiencies and actualy believe they are something special. A throwback of the rampant deviant executive culture at the time, which fostered them.
on Dec 10th, 2018 at 18:04
Christmas is coming,
The goose is getting fat,
Please, put a penny in the ex BG employee’s hat!
Rumour has it that the turkeys in the Brasil Asset, having contributed little to nothing to the asset over the past year, are now rubbing their hands with glee in anticipation of their annual bonuses. Hopefully, there will be another round of cost cutting in the New Year and they will be out on the street!
on Nov 11th, 2018 at 20:46
I am not sure I want to know which one of our leaders is a child sex offender. I would like to know if management hired the guy aware of his past history?
on Nov 9th, 2018 at 13:43
Is this another sensitive subject where we can we expect a memo from Donny Ching warning us not to discuss it with colleagues?
on Nov 9th, 2018 at 13:41
Guess his hiring and promotion prove Shell is an equal opportunities employer.
“Equal opportunity means that all people will be treated equally or similarly and not disadvantaged by prejudices or bias. This means that the best person for a job or a promotion is the person who earns that position based on qualifications, experience and knowledge. Workplace diversity values everyone’s differences.”
Apparently, with Shell HR this applies even if convicted of aggravated child sex offences on multiple counts with an appearance on the Sex Offenders Register.
It does make the workplace uncomfortable for everyone who has contact with him. On the other hand, he has to work somewhere or otherwise conviction would amount to a life sentence for repellent acts carried out 14 years ago.
Is it a praiseworthy policy or an act of folly to hire and promote such individuals? Or an act of negligence if HR pleads ignorance of his past criminal history? The latter seems unlikely bearing in mind that his past is common knowledge among colleagues and apparently, even suppliers.
on Nov 9th, 2018 at 00:14
RECEIVED FROM A SHELL INSIDER SOURCE
“INTEGRITY OF LEADERSHIP” …as a Shell staff member, I am always concerned about the integrity of the leadership team at any level. …there is a recently promoted individual in a key leadership role. Staff are not happy working for this person as he is a registered sex offender since 2004 for aggravated sexual assault against a child. xxxxxxx website has his full profile including yearly pictures. All verifiable in the public domain. …but for some reason management are turning a blind eye. It says a lot for the company! His conviction lists his full name as………….. You can confirm the Shell link via xxx. He works for Shell xxxxxx. Staff are appalled that he has now promoted in a key leadership role working with suppliers like xxxxxxx to improve the quality of services provided to Shell. Some suppliers are now also beginning to learn his history and quietly voicing surprise.” (Some of the above information has been redacted by John Donovan. The name of the relevant individual in a Shell leadership role has been verified from court records and social media)
on Oct 27th, 2018 at 16:11
Exshellman speaks of ‘The BG merger for many was a final nail in the coffin, some of the hand picked people for the new club don’t know their arse from their elbows.’ This could not be more appropriate than for the Brasil Asset which is probably currently plotting its next fraud against Petrobras. These miscreants should be flushed out of the system, but are probably biding their time and counting their share options waiting for them to vest, and also waiting for their next bonus to be announced before considering jumping ship. They make little to no valid contribution to the Asset. Let’s hope that their commutes are long and arduous, though most of them have probably weaselled a ‘working from home’ option, from where they do little work and can make endless cappuccinos at the shareholders expense!
on Oct 21st, 2018 at 16:28
That well known Schlumberger ex-Chief with ‘operations experience’, Andrew Gould (Mr Corridor having seen fit to distance himself from the BG Group debacle) is now in the news as Chairman of a Houston based outfit called Sentinel, a blank-check company . The latter having struck lucky with a pipeline company called Strike in a $854MM deal. “If I take all my experience in the oilfield, I don’t think I see any other service segment which has been so outsourced as this one,” said Gould. Strike’s main focus will remain pipeline maintenance.
The deal comes less than a year after Sentinel raised $345 million in an initial public offering. The company, which up until now had no assets, was set up as a so-called special-purpose acquisition company, or SPAC.
Gould is returning to public life after helping orchestrate the sale of the failed BG Group to Shell for $54 billion in 2016. Let’s hope that there is a knighthood in it for him!
on Sep 29th, 2018 at 18:06
The release of the Shell Brent PSMR is shocking testimony of the culture these pathetic incompetents administered without challenge. When Shell was generating huge revenue for the treasury, the regulator, even government ministers had their heads in the sand and a lack of accountability meant they could move on to spread their malignance. Finlayson took his “talents” to BG, another company ruined by pathetic incompetents with the same DNA.
Brinded joined Network Rail who appointed Mark Carne, another Shell/BG stray, described in one tabloid as the “bungling rail chief”. It’s ironic he now talks about (Rail Engineer 27.09.18) joining from Shell “part of an industry with a strong safety culture” and being motivated by big businesses, which are “safety-critical”, with more waffle about safety leadership and safety performance.
Will someone ever be able to “drain the British swamp” of these conceited executives who disingenuously hide behind the “safety and good old business principle banners”, to further their greed and lust for power at whatever cost.
on Sep 28th, 2018 at 22:25
Bill, now the full horror of your findings during the Expro audit have been made available via Johns’ web site I wonder what kind of reaction, if any, will be generated. In retrospect and with hindsight, publishing earlier might have sealed Brinded’s demise sooner and he would never have risen to an apparent level of “the untouchable”.
The Italians hopefully will ensure he will be disgraced never to be any where near a responsible position again.
Sad to think the MF will be drawing several million £ pounds a year in pension rights as well as the vast number of Shell shares he was allocated as a direct result of his dictatorial years of apparent criminal behaviour. Just one of people who turned Shell from a well respected Company who treated Staff as a precious asset to be nurtured rather than be coerced and then dumped at the first opportunity.
on Aug 23rd, 2018 at 11:54
After the Shell BG merger completed in 2016 , a lot of really good people lost their jobs , it was handled terribly by the HR dept and the so called ‘General Managers’ culled some of the best experts they had …in less than a year of the redundancies Shell were struggling and now with the lack of expertise…they have had to take in contractors to fill staff positions ..within a year of the redundancies … they could be liable if people took this issue up.. Also Shell were looking at hiring back some old boy network …who are now pensioners to come back in as managers to help out with the problems ..LOL . they have so much dead wood staff on their books and the company is ran like a club. I’m glad to be away from the farce that Shell became , the malaise started around about 2004 when they began to lose the plot. The BG merger for many was a final nail in the coffin, some of the hand picked people for the new club don’t know their arse from their elbows. The only way Shell actually make profits is when the oil price goes high… when Brent is low they can’t compete within their quartile or peer groups. I’ll keep abreast here on the blog
on Aug 13th, 2018 at 23:36
I’ve just come across an article “Tips & Insights: A World-class Combination” about the proposed combination of Royal Dutch Shell, one of the largest companies in the world and ‘best known for its gasoline stations’ and BG Group, a natural gas specialist.
The article centres on Sarah Franklin, (BG chief counsel, with a list of responsibilities, including health and safety after her name), who would be BG’s legal lead for integration planning.
In the article she explains that emotional intelligence was pivotal to success. I find this strange, as emotional intelligence wasn’t an attribute in BG Group. Could this be integration jargon?
Franklin has apparently added other governance matters, including human rights and whistleblowing investigations to her legal skill set. She set up BG’s first whistleblowing program.
She has inherited a new team that focuses on complex safety and environmental issues. As noted in the article, in Shell Legal, many lawyers advise on safety and environmental matters but it didn’t have a global core of experts.
If you are a Shell employee, be extremely cautious about the content of the two preceding paragraphs. If you have concerns, especially those with a safety connotation and you wish to engage with her……….beware.
I’m sure other revelations will eventually surface.
on Aug 11th, 2018 at 15:24
I listened to the then BG Group chief executive drool over the Petrobras ‘partnership’ at his award speech for GB Personality of the Year by the Brazilian Chamber of Commerce in 2013 (https://youtu.be/pfknsxjT2Rw). He described many extraordinary moments during this partnership, a relationship that had flourished with ‘mutual trust and respect and super giant discoveries’, which was going from strength to strength. He was looking to a very long future with many more Eureka moments for BG and its partners in the years and decades to come.
So why would they want to put such ‘jewel’ in the Shell crown and who was responsible for this? At that time did anyone envisage the fall from grace in the coming months and years? Since then there has been turmoil in both companies, what could possibly have gone wrong.
Insiders will know the answer.
on Aug 9th, 2018 at 23:44
Andrew Gould, Chairman of the disgraced BG Group, who allegedly was seeking a knighthood by joining the company has gone to ground. Given his contractor mind set coupled with his training as an accountant does not bode well for the industry. His LinkedIn profile shows that he is still Chairman of BG Group, as well as being a Board Member (Non Executive!) of Saudi Aramco. Given that Saudi Aramco are going to drop their IPO, this could well leave ‘Mr Corridor’ twiddling his thumbs and wondering how he can manoeuvre back into a position where he can achieve his ambition of being knighted.
on Jul 22nd, 2018 at 20:01
It looks like Prelude has 19 helicopter fights per week. All of them are routed to the “Posh Arcaida” which is an accommodation vessel with up to 750 beds on board.
An article I read dated 17th March indicated that more than 17,500 people had been moved by helicopter since arrival.
Currently CHC Helicopters are scheduling up to 19 flights a week. That may equate to about 360 each way or a total of around 750 people. I think this may indicate the potential panic at the “slow startup”. I wonder what the contractual LNG delivery dates were to be and if any cargos have had to have been bought by Shell on the open market.
Link to the helicopter operators web site
on Jun 22nd, 2018 at 23:21
Andrey Golubel. It’s an oil painting, what would you expect?
on Jun 19th, 2018 at 23:51
There’s a bit of pattern here. Corruption seems to be running through the veins of Shell. We see in all these recent tax articles how they seem to be snuggled up in bed with the Dutch Government. Will anything come of this? Of course not silly. It has been going on for years. There is even a department called Government Relations which is staffed by – yes you guessed it – former government employees. Where was Van Beurden a few days ago, for three whole days? The very secretive Bilderberg meeting in Turin (Guardian article by Charlie Skelton can be found on this website), along with many of the worlds elite businessmen and politicians, AND the Dutch king. The outcomes of the meeting were not something I saw on any of the Shell internal or external communication messaging. Funny that, seeing how they always share even the most mundane van Beurden news. So will Shell be brought to account for its actions in OPL? I somehow doubt it. But there is some hope. Will the real Slim Robinson please stand up.
on Jun 16th, 2018 at 23:39
For centuries “The Mocking of Samson” was thought to be a copy of a famous Dutch painting. Then a Shell microscope made a remarkable discovery.
on Jun 12th, 2018 at 23:23
This gets interesting….Enron links to Dynegi, links to accounting scandal, custodial sentences, links to BG Group, links to Non Exec Directors in BG Group, more links to Dynegi ‘strays’ on the BG Exec committee!!! Interested parties may want to dig deeper.
on Jun 12th, 2018 at 17:07
Biggest Fraud in History. I object! BG Group was clearly the biggest fraud in recent oil and gas industry history after Enron. The company had over-inflated its reserves on little substance and fact, and the auditors were either gullible or complicit. BG had been lucky with production, but the Geoscience supporting the production was usually fabricated. What they didn’t understand they speculated about or made-up. The Board bid the shareholders up the cobblers, Project Berkshire in the Brasil Asset was a classic example of this deceit – the Emperor’s new clothes. Their undoing was not that they had lied to the shareholders, but that they actually believed their own lies and flawed integrity. Their assurance process was corrupt and their cappucino and pepper plant culture led to them failing to meet targets. Ultimately, they managed to get away with it by selling-out to Shell after a protracted period of alignment, who turned around the toxic purchase by spewing-out most of BG’s worthless assets, Caveat Emptor!
on Jun 11th, 2018 at 20:22
Lawyers for the many parties involved will be reading these series of postings with great interest as will the Italian Prosecutors.
on Jun 6th, 2018 at 08:02
UPDATE 6 JUNE 2018: Overnight developments:
After putting “A Mole” in direct contact with one of the key investigative organisations in relation to the OPL 245 corruption scandal, this anonymous source has now supplied them with more information relating to the OML 30 Nigerian oil deal involving Shell/Heritage Oil and Guy Colegate.
I am also in contact with a person who appears to be a key player in the OPL 245 scandal. I await promised documents from this insider source to whom I have also guaranteed anonymity.
on Jun 3rd, 2018 at 14:02
Dear John,
I believe Shell are in trouble. Deep trouble. Not only has this OPL OML debacle seen the back of some of its most senior execs, Brinded, Voser, Henry etc but now we can expect to see a Pandora’s Box being opened by Peter Robinson. I expect fireworks. The company is very quick when it comes to deploying its resources to bully and shut up it’s external critics or shamelessly pay off those that dare to challenge them. However, in Robinson they are going in to battle with a street fighter who will fight dirty and go down fighting given the alternative is to spend years behind bars. Robinson is a very shrewd business man and will have records of all the corrupt practices that the company was part of, the processes being flouted and the management who were turning a blind eye. I’ve been to Nigeria a few times on business and am always left dumbfounded by how many dodgy things take place in the offices and are part of everyday life. Robinson spent years there and will have an extensive dossier. I think its too late now for Shell to be able to stop the likes of Robinson opening their mouths, with the use of money. Having made an enemy of him points again to seriously incompetent senior advisors within the company. Had no-one heard of ‘keep your friends close, keep your enemies even closer’? It will be a very slippery slope. Van Beurden should use a part of his obscene salary it invest in a good tin hat. I would also advise him to have a good summer clear out of all those who have been advising him on the matter, and of those who failed to stop this from becoming an issue as big, if not bigger, than the infamous reserves scandal.
on May 30th, 2018 at 20:17
Re. The message from “a mole” – TB looks like Tony Buckingham, the founder of Heritage before it got sold to Qatar… https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/heritage-oil-founder-sells-to-qatari-sheikh-in-1bn-deal-9309140.html
on May 22nd, 2018 at 17:03
Yet another appears to have failed outside the cossetted Shell and BG echelons. The chief executive of Network Rail increasingly irked shareholders and commuters alike with a legacy of delays, cancellations and general disruption to services and will now take “early retirement” from the role. However with the praises of his chairman and the Transport Secretary ringing in his ears, I’m sure another revolving door will beckon.
on May 17th, 2018 at 21:26
LondonLad, well I am surprised, I had you down as an Arsenal, not Man U fan. However, you are probably right about B v B, anyone who can pull a rabbit out of the hat after swallowing BG Group’s toxic assets and them jettisoning them like the faecal pellet from an owl deserves some credibility.
on May 16th, 2018 at 17:08
People complaining about van Beurden’s pay of £7.9 million should have nothing to worry about (he’s probably well worth this). Just think about Manchester United fans having to watch Alexis Sanchez being paid over £31 million (£600,000 per week) and providing performances that do not justify such sums.
on May 16th, 2018 at 11:05
Carillion in the news again for greed, corruption, rotten corporate culture etc. Shell EVP (ex) Ceri Powell was a Director. Is she fit for a senior job in Shell ??
on May 14th, 2018 at 23:40
There could be trouble ahead!
On 15th January 2018 Total took over Operatorship (22.5%) of Berbigao, Sururu and Atapu West (previously Iara West, Iara Central and Iara East respectively) Pre-Salt oil Fields in the Entorno de Iara (Block BM-S-11A) area in the Santos Basin. Shell acquired its interest (25%) in Iara through its acquisition of BG Group.
Production in Iara was expected to start in 2018 through the 150,000 barrel per day capacity P-68 FPSO in Berbigão-Sururu fields, which would have been followed by a second FPSO in 2019 in the Atapu field.
Upstream reports that first oil from Petrobras’/Total’s pre-salt Berbigao field in the Santos basin could be delayed to next year due to slower than expected integration work with the Berbigao FPSO, P-68.
This in contrast to the report from Royal Dutch Shell plc.com March 19th 2018, wherein Ben van Beurden is quoted:
quote
‘And growth will continue in 2018 as we expect three more FPSOs to start up. We have P-67 coming on Lula North. We have P-68 in Berbigao. We have P-69 in Lula Extreme South. And altogether, that represents over 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day peak production capacity, all Shell share.’
end quote
But, no doubt, the Executive bonuses will still be paid regardless!
on May 9th, 2018 at 09:06
Touching to see how LondonLad seeks millenial reassurance from Line Management in the form of Mr D. One wonders if he does the same at work?
on May 6th, 2018 at 12:05
Please note that the previous comments by “LondonLad” have not come from me – Mr.D might be able to confirm this with the IP address. Presumably written by one of the fanatic anti-Shell nutters that troll this website.
Warning from John Donovan: I would like to repeat a warning I have mentioned before about postings on this blog. Websites allowing aliases to be used are especially vulnerable to manipulation. That includes Wikipedia and blogs such as this one. It follows that I can only vouch for the bona fides of postings made in my name or by contributors such as Bill Campbell, who choose not to use an alias. Some contributors using aliases, such as “Outsider” (sadly now deceased) and MUSaint/LondonLad, have built up reputations here over several years for the integrity of their postings on this website. It seems that someone has mischievous intent in making a posting under a false flag.
on May 4th, 2018 at 20:24
Hi Jose, I wondered if you would like to meet? From your comments, I think we both work in the Brasil Asset, but I am not sure. I think we have a lot in common. How about we meet next week in Nando’s, 45 Bank Street at 12.00 on Tuesday next week? You’ll recognise me from the size of my package.
on May 4th, 2018 at 05:15
Methinks, I hit a bullseye. As I wrote: a bunch of losers with their snouts in the salary and bonus troughs, but don’t have the helicopter quality to see the good side of Shell. Pretty sad, really.
on Apr 30th, 2018 at 21:18
Enough of London Lad and Jose (one and the same?) they are probably migrants from BG looking to make a name for themselves, but not realising that they are already castrated by a poor CEP and PIR.
On the subject of BG what are Shell doing with the over 20,000 BBLs per day of contaminated produced water from the Western Delta Deep Marine Fields? BG used to tanker this into the desert and dump it. Their feeble attempts to dispose of it in another fashion fell short. Perhaps, Greenpeace should investigate this outrage?
Then of course there was BG’s Brasil Asset, a disgrace at the best of times, starved of information by Petrobras, but that didn’t stop them from making things up and gingerly playing barbed games with Petrobras at the instigation of the Asset Manager. These sad, technically lacking, individuals are now at Shell and having to perpetuate their BG untruths, they are ring fenced like lepers in Bank Street so that nobody can spot their lies. This slack Asset needs a thoroughly good shake up, starting from the top down. Petrobras will breathe a sigh of relief when they are replaced.
BG was well known for constructively dismissing those who refused to support their lies, venomous whispers about ‘poor performance’ and offers were made ‘made without prejudice’. The Industry is well rid of them and their ilk, rotten to the core.
on Apr 22nd, 2018 at 22:27
To LondonLad and Jose Valente. If it’s ok with you both I would like to continue to post my views on this website. I hope by doing so you won’t accuse me of being ungrateful or of being a bad performer. Because being a good performer at Shell is what I spend all my nights dreaming about.
Anyway, back to ruthless Shell shenanigans. It’s a well known fact that Shell monitors its employees social media activity. You would be a fool to think otherwise. Our Norwegian colleague Runar has not revealed anything new. You sell any rights to privacy and rights to hold the moral high ground when you sign the sHell contract. Helplines set up by HR are all bogus and are never anonymous. HR will always join up the dots and it will be linked to you. Disgruntled staff are leaking information externally all the time. Being free to speak your mind comes up in the joke that is the Shell Sheeple Survey every year as an issue. And every year managers mark the cards of anyone that is brave enough to speak out against management or issues. Fear rules.
HR are ignoring internal frustration and instead have made it a priority to get more women into senior positions, regardless of competence and experience levels, and ignoring what’s good for the company’s profitability. Common sense has gone out of the window and it is no longer a fair place to work. Unless this changes soon, I may consider getting the snip and growing some breasts like LondonLad did to further my career and increase my chances of being able to “Make It”.
on Apr 22nd, 2018 at 11:03
Happy 60th Birthday Ben Van Beurden.
on Apr 22nd, 2018 at 10:02
London Lad & Jose. Clearly sociopaths who are keen to make a name for themselves within Shell and trolling sites like this to build a bigger picture on what empathetic employees actually feel because they miss this part in their own sad personalities; believing that Shell is the only company to work for and that it actually means something if you ‘make it’. Get a life. As for the people who open up on here, keep opening up.
on Apr 21st, 2018 at 22:32
London Lad & Jose
What makes me laugh about you pair of clowns is that you are critical of the value of this website and insult those who use it as a channel to air their views, YET you visit it
on a regular basis and seem to know quite a lot about it in terms of the topics and the posters etc!!! That makes you quite the illogical hypocrites, don’t you think? What’s ironic is that the logic you both apply (if you are indeed different people) is
the same as those of most of the staff that make it to senior positions, and users of this website despize. Well done and good luck in your careers.
on Apr 21st, 2018 at 21:26
LondonLad and Jose Valente. It sounds to me as if you two sociopathic Metrosexuals should get together over a cappucino or two to talk about your bonuses and then adjourn to a sauna where you can hold hands, ease some of the office tensions and frustrations, and compare the size of your egos.
on Apr 20th, 2018 at 16:45
Been saying the same thing for a several years now Jose. They didn’t make it at (or in one case with) Shell or were given early retirement because of poor performance. The combination of such persons, Greenpeace liars, Irish moaners and corrupt Nigerians trying to make money off the back of Shell make this site quite a laugh at times.
on Apr 19th, 2018 at 16:38
To concerned employee et al: it is amazing how much crap people can write on this blog. I can only presume these are a bunch of losers, that did not make it at Shell. Frustrated, desillusioned – but still with their snouts in the Shell trough, slurping away their salaries AND bonuses. Have at least the guts to leave Shell.
on Apr 15th, 2018 at 23:27
Bill & Concerned Employee,
The business integrity problems have always been dormant under the surface (since the last integrity crisis at least) and despite the efforts to improve its public image, the problems were bound to keep returning like a bout of gonorrhoea. I wasn’t really surprised when I read the horrendous internal company note blaming Robinson. Shell has form. It seems only yesterday when the Shell turrets turned towards Bill Campbell when he exposed Brinded, Bayliss et al for supporting and encouraging a narcissistic cavalier culture towards safety.
Despite all the internal BS to deflect blame and external PR campaign to falsely portray that Shell as caring deeply for the environment and business integrity, internally staff are fully aware that management are only interested in profits, and that staff should be grateful for their jobs and speak out at their own peril.
I suspect that the only regret the EC privately have is that their generals were incompetent enough to get caught out with respect to OPL, but unfortunately Robinson is a gift for them and does make a rather convenient scapegoat. In a Shell world where for the majority of my colleagues its all about bonuses, promotions and job survival, I can understand (but in no way condone) why colleagues are more prepared to cross the integrity line. And if caught they will get a slapped wrist over a coffee meeting and no-one other than (the unashamedly corrupt) HR will know (only to raise it up against you when needed).
I genuinely believe that Ben van Beurden is a decent man and appears to have a good heart, but his weakness in dealing with the army of internal rogue corrupt dictators and getting control of the HR mafia has already cost him his legacy.
OPL is causing a lot of additional stress and gloomy faces in the office corridors and alarming gossip around the coffee machines. Thankfully we have our incompetent lawyers, unscrupulous finance staff, dishonourable HR, shameless spin doctors and ineffective (un)ethics and compliance colleagues at hand to make the OPL problem disappear. Or maybe not.
on Apr 15th, 2018 at 23:05
Behind the glossy facade of its brightly coloured filling stations and shiny reflective glass towers, Shell is truly a dark malevolent force. It is not only the Church of the poisoned mind, but also home to the parasitic mind which snatches thoughts from others and presents them as its own. Experience and being correct are not recognised, only ‘Process’. Many, through either bitter experience, incompetence or ignorance have learned to hide behind process and can no longer think for themselves. Merit is trodden under heel into the mud. Often one bad decision after another results in a predictable squandering of shareholders’ money, not by the millions or tens of millions of dollars, but by the hundreds of millions of dollars. Lessons learned are written down then forgotten as the machine moves forwards. This is rewarded by large bonuses. Reality plays little part in the daily running of the business, the public image of the ‘Brand’ must be protected at all cost.
on Apr 12th, 2018 at 20:51
I share your sentiments wholeheartedly Bill. The company has been caught with its pants down, with senior staff most likely involved in kickbacks. How could this have got through the numerous assurance including Integrity teams, Auditors etc who all form part of the checks and balances to ensure this is easily picked up (particularly in Nigeria). Either the company is full of incompetence, or there has been a blind eye turned to such corruption. I say (a lot of) both. The amounts of money involved is not loose change. I say this problem is endemic in many of the hardship countries we do business in. Shell is dark, corrupt and dirty and I am beginning to question if I am working for a far more sinister company than I originally thought. And this is playing on my mind.
on Mar 30th, 2018 at 22:09
A Goodfriday CRUXIFIXCTION …took place to day in Mayo …4 Irish Shell booze cops and a Mayo Co Co officer heard from OSSL that that the oil giant Shell has unambiguously stated that ” bribery and corruption ” does take place in their orginisation …the Mayo police and county council gentlemens ” who me ” stance is not looking to good now …this is not small ” potatoes ” one guy demanded and got 280k Euro spent on his house …watch this space .
on Mar 22nd, 2018 at 00:02
TotallyHackedOff. To pick-up on your comment, most large Oil and Gas corporations comprise two main elements, to use a nautical analogy: the Leadership Team (The Flotsam: debris in the water that was not deliberately thrown overboard) and the Technical Staff (The Jetsam: debris that was deliberately thrown overboard). The Flotsam can usually also be found in a septic tank!
BG Group was run on processes parallel to those of Shell. There were Shell ‘plants’ in the Management Team to ensure that there could be a seamless takeover; it was insidious. BG spent the three years before the takeover bid was announced aligning themselves with Shell. After all if things were to go ‘tits-up’ and you were the CEO who had come from Shell in the first place, you would want an escape plan to protect your reputation and the shareholders.
on Mar 21st, 2018 at 00:04
Further to Bogus Group’s post on 14th December concerning Neil McCulloch’s departure from Enquest, it has not taken long for him to land a plum job as Technical and HSE Director at Spirit Energy where Chris Cox, late of BG is CEO. The storm clouds are beginning to gather as fast as the nepotism allows. Chris is rapidly building on his mandate to develop Spirit Energy (previously Centrica’s oil and gas assets, now rebranded) to a level where it can be assimilated by Shell, as the third of the companies spun-off by the British Gas privatisation in the ’80s and long stalked by Shell.
on Mar 17th, 2018 at 19:18
Further to my post on this blog, 28 August’17, there may be some interest an an article in yesterday’s Upstream “Trial set for clash of LNG players”.
on Mar 13th, 2018 at 21:28
Shell – as I am sure with many global super majors- is heavy with narcissists at all levels. Lots of people like Trump rollicking around- get in their way and you’re a gonner! See you later Rexy baby!
on Mar 13th, 2018 at 20:54
In reply to Bonus Group and Another Concerned Employee- its clear reading from your posts that Shell and BG shared many business cultural similarities making the tie-up an obvious one. I know of a few Shell employees who resigned, joined BG and are now back at Shell again- it stinks of a plant/trojan horse ending! It is well known that Shell has an ‘inner circle’ and if you find yourself outside that as many of the technical folk do, you don’t stand a chance. Its all a bit wink, wink nudge, nudge. I even remember one manager (now a VP of something) telling me how I needed to ‘read between the lines’ which made me think it was all a load of bollocks and how the politically adept arse kissers rose through the ranks blissfully unaware of how their actions impacted their colleagues. The alpha men and women were all the same- keen to get ahead at anyones expense and doing secret backroom deals. Its one ginormous playground and the bullies will win as they are keeping the other bullies in place.
on Mar 12th, 2018 at 15:40
‘Another Concerned Employee’talks about Shell’s ‘scooby-doo’ business priciples, BG’s were just as opaque. If you asked someone in HR about policy you would be deflected to ‘The Portal’ and left to fend for yourself. Often the policies conflicted with each other and had no foundation in law. This was reflected in the hypocritical management ‘do as I say, not as I do’ policy.
The closest experience most of BG Senior Management had of oil rigs and platforms was reading about them in comic books. The Brasil Asset was a complete shambles with its ‘Simple Simon’ approach to geoscience and cappuccino lifestyle. Unfortunately, most of these overpaid sociopaths migrated to Shell and are waiting, mouth’s open for their next bonus. Shell must be trying hard to find ways to cover up grotesque errors in reserves booked by this Asset. Hopefully, Shell’s assurance process is better than BG’s with its £2Bn failure.
on Mar 10th, 2018 at 00:02
Carillion, for whom the bell tolls! Remarkable that a Shell Executive should have a finger in this pie with its aggressive auditing practices. More ‘pulling the wool’ over the shareholder’s eyes. Were the auditors asleep at the wheel when this was happening? There should be a full investigation, and those responsible made accountable. Perhaps, sunny Brunei is a safe haven? I wonder what the extradition treaties between the UK and Brunei are?
on Mar 1st, 2018 at 01:25
Shell HR finds it easy to overlook its fake scooby doo business principles whenever it suits them. A number of staff implicit in OPL and the spin doctors trying desperately to cover up the crisis are still on payroll. It won’t surprise anyone that Ceri was one of Brinded’s loyal lapdogs during his dictatorship. Also no surprise she landed such a sweet job in Brunei.
on Feb 27th, 2018 at 14:13
Not sure if you know but..
Cerie Powell – ex EVP exploration now MD Brunei Shell Petroleum was a non exec director of Carillion (now in liquidation). She resigned once she was demoted to Brunei in 2016 (?) but given the news around the legacy issues involving Carillion, should she really hold a senior position in Shell Group ?
on Feb 18th, 2018 at 20:19
It is understandable that a niche now exists in the market for a company similar to BG Group, but for Neptune Energy to set its aim at emulating and becoming like BG is nothing short of horrifying. Why anyone should wish to recreate the inept management, twisted HR policies and rancid technical half truths of BG Group in order to deceive the shareholders is beyond comprehension. If they do, then the Serious Fraud Office should be on the alert. Sammy ‘two pools’, whose past remit included selling Enterprise Oil to Shell, rather than ENI is made of sterner stuff. That said, his nuclear ambitions did fall somewhat short of those of Kim Yong Un. Let’s wish Neptune Energy a long, scandal free future and greater integrity than bungling BG with its House of Cards and flamboyant ineptitude.
on Feb 16th, 2018 at 20:09
Following the acquisition of Engie the Financial Times headline “Neptune Energy sets aim on being the next BG Group” may have sent a chill through some. To think there could possibly be a rise from the ashes is an alarming prospect
However there was some comfort in the company chairman statement “We have the opportunity to take the time to get it right”.
Hopefully this means their Ethics and Compliance foundation will actually be more than just another policy open to distortion by misconduct.
on Feb 14th, 2018 at 18:43
Is the New York City case against Oil Companies justifiable or just hot air?
Many, if not all prestigious US scientific journals estimate largest source of air pollution in US is caused by vehicle emissions. Current estimates that US has some 260 million automobiles and 11 million trucks. It is the daily emissions from these vehicles that are the cause of scientific concern. But anybody visiting Florida, and following a construction truck, will be familiar with black smoke in copious amounts emitting from the vertical exhaust pipe, sometimes it’s so bad it can restrict your vision but Florida is not the only state of the US that does not require emission control, there are many more, monitoring for example (like a UK vehicle MOT) is not legally required or carried out.
So perhaps De Blasio should start suing these delinquent states.
In any case, I find the whole matter ludicrous in a country, where their President claims that human activity is not related in any way to global warming and appoints a head of EPA who is also so inclined (a man described by NY Times as an arsonist in the Fire Station) so why does Shell et all not call as witnesses in their defence the current EPA Director, or otherwise why does De Blasio not start by suing those states that allow millions of vehicles to pollute the atmosphere daily.
Bill
on Feb 6th, 2018 at 12:09
Further to my last post on this blog. Sound Energy have now arranged a slap-up bean feast for their shareholders to be held on 15th February at Grace Hall, Leadenhall Street, London. Drinks at Carriages afterwards. Dress is formal so don’t expect too energetic a food fight. Attendees must pay for their own tickets! All will be revealed about the new Coro strategy. You may recall that Sound shareholders will receive Coro shares as a result of the divestment of Sound’s Italian assets. The question is whether Sound shareholders will end up in the soup.
on Jan 29th, 2018 at 00:15
There are rumblings in the ether about Rockhopper Exploration plc having failed to perform Due Diligence with integrity in respect of their purchase of the Italian focused company Mediterranean Oil and Gas (MOG) in 2014, and in particular MOG’s asset, the Ombrina Mare oil field.
Following the decision in February 2016 by the Ministry of Economic Development not to award the company a production concession covering the Ombrina Mare field, the company has considered its legal options with regard to obtaining damages and compensation from the Republic of Italy for breaching the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT).
Could this have anything to do with the sudden and unexpected departure of Rockhopper’s Chief Operating Officer, one ‘Good Time’ Fiona MacAuley? Fiona, a Chartered Geologist, started her career with Mobil North Sea Limited in 1985 and has subsequently held key roles in a number of leading oil and gas firms across large mid and small cap E&Ps including BG and Hess.
Fiona is now Chief Executive Officer of Echo Energy plc where Stephen Whyte (also ex BG) is a Non-Executive Director, previously having been Chairman of Sound Energy. Fiona will also become a Non-Executive Director of Saffron Energy plc. It is proposed that Saffron acquires Sound Energy’s portfolio of Italian interests and permits through the acquisition by Saffron of Sound Energy Holdings Italy Limited (SEHIL). SEHIL holds all of Sound Energy’s Italian oil and gas interests through its own wholly owned subsidiary, Apennine Energy SpA (APN). It is proposed that Saffron will be renamed Coro Energy plc.
This is yet another ‘reverse takeover’ by the Sound Energy/Echo Energy Team. The share options for the directors are raining on them like confetti. Could there be bonuses in store for the Directors of this association of companies where the paint is never allowed to dry?
Plenty of ‘smoke and mirrors’ and wool being pulled over the shareholders’ eyes in this can of worms.
on Jan 27th, 2018 at 21:07
No doubt Chevron and partner Serica Energy will have their legal and commercial teams in action. Production on the partner owned Erskine platform has been shut down due to a blockage in the Chrysaor operated Lomond – Everest pipeline export route. Chrysaor purchased the assets from Shell who in turn inherited from BG Group.
Déjà vu springs to mind, as the Chevron partnership’s revenue was affected two years ago, due to a blockage in the same pipeline when BG Group was the operator.
The well-touted “lessons learned” jargon, will no doubt be on the lips of these companies executives as they scurry to apportion blame.
In a previous post Bonus Group stated “BG shrapnel has fragmented in the direction of Tailwind Energy”
This appears to be a similar story as other BG shrapnel (both operations and legal) moved to Chrysaor via the Shell route.
I’m sure the Chrysaor mob will feel comfortable dealing with the legal and commercial issues experienced with BG Group (later Shell), as it will be the same rhetoric for the causal factors. However Chevron and Serica may want to dig a bit deeper into the previous incident, to see how BG Group dealt with this, the transparency of reporting and who was made accountable.
on Jan 15th, 2018 at 20:42
If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it may well turn out not to be a penguin!
on Jan 15th, 2018 at 20:18
BG shrapnel has fragmented in the direction of Tailwind Energy (aka Tailspin Energy!). Much hot air from after-burn can be expected from this company – mercurial bunch. In December they announced the acquisition of Shell Expro’s interests in Triton Cluster, located in the UK Central North Sea 190km east of Aberdeen. Their stated intention is to further develop the asset. Probably through a three pronged approach: bonus, bonus and more bonus! Will Triton turn-out to be a flounder?
on Jan 12th, 2018 at 17:33
End of ammunition supply!
Not sure what the ammunition comment means, are you being positive or negative. If Shell keep supplying the ammo well this website is under no obligation not to use it surely. We would all like the ammo to dry up. It would be pleasant to see the most corrupt organisation in Europe turn the corner, and for example demonstrate daily openness,honesty and integrity instead of serial lies. When I say it’s a corrupt organisation I do not infer this characteristic on the worker bees, but it is clearly corrupt from the top to the top, that is in its boardroom, including the non-executives who tend to know what goes on but sit on their hands, anything for an easy life. Highly paid window dressing.
on Jan 10th, 2018 at 16:06
Mr Donovan, Shell seems to have provided you with a huge amount of ammunition over the years. Is there any end in sight?
on Jan 4th, 2018 at 12:09
Hello website, can I suggest that if the Dutch and Itailian Prosecution services are not aware of the Shell /police authority “happenings” in Eire, that they should be and quickly.
on Dec 22nd, 2017 at 11:05
Mr D I make the reference of a link with police heroin dealing inquiry on this fact Athlone police station ( Heroin hub ) was the chosen destination for the balance of the Shell alcohol consignment on the instruction of Garda Sub Aqua SUPREMO Liam Grimes so that’s drugs and alcohol meeting in the same police station “of all the police stations in all the world you had to walk into mine “…is there a ” link. “Time will tell …we recognise that 99 out of 100 Irish police personnel are amongst the finest in Europe….however ….
on Dec 21st, 2017 at 06:50
As previously advised on this Shell Info site …NEW MINISTER FOR INVESTIGATION OF POLICE CORRUPTION Links HEROIN DEALING COPS with SHELL ATHLONE ALCOHOL STORY …full investigation to follow ( see Irish Times under Minister Flanagan Drug dealing in Police Force )
Comment by John Donovan
Can you please state the exact headline of the relevant article as I have been unable to find any such story in the Irish Times?
Further comment by John Donovan
Apparently the article in question – Flanagan open to inquiry over claims gardai colluded with drug gang – was published by RTE, not the Irish Times. I cannot see the claimed reference to Shell or the alcohol story.
on Dec 20th, 2017 at 01:08
Having worked for BG, the ‘bad penny’ will be well versed in unpalatable culture, he conveys he’s the “accountable person” for Glencore operations. Could this be a buffer for the chairman, better known for his nocuous statement following the Deepwater Horizon tragedy ‘I’d like my life back’? The chairman is a member of the health and safety committee?
The committee reviews every fatal incident with the senior management of the department and asset affected, and circulates any relevant lessons across the Group.
The rhetoric sounds all too familiar, statements about ‘loss of life being unacceptable’ and ‘transforming behaviour at all levels” seem worlds away from the reality of 16 fatalities in 2016.
on Dec 19th, 2017 at 22:26
Another BG ‘bad penny’ that has turned up is John de Lange who is now Head of Operations at Glencore (PetroChad) which is probably the best place for him. Having left Shell in 2007 where he was Chief Well Engineering, this Shell itinerant fumbled his way through two roles at BG, Head of Well Engineering BG Group and VP Well Engineering and Operations BG Brazil. A ‘very wealthy man’ by his own words he must be enjoying the high life in n’Djamena where the dust never settles.
on Dec 19th, 2017 at 21:41
Further to Bogus Group’s post, it is interesting to see how BG diaspora have spread like anthrax throughout the UK Oil and Gas Industry withering everything they touch. In respect of Spirit Energy, it should not be forgotten that Centrica E&P was the third of the companies spawned by privatisation of British Gas in the 1980s. The other two companies, Enterprise Oil and BG Group, have already fallen to Shell. Consequently, Spirit Energy is the ‘Holy Ghost’ in the Trinity. Will merging with Bayerngas Norway and changing it’s name from Centrica E&P to Spirit Energy disguise Shell’s long term strategy of taking over all of the British Gas spin offs? Indeed, is it Chris Cox’s mandate to prepare the company for take over in 5 to ten years time? What neater way than for Shell to segue from the UKCS to Norway? The bonuses will be large!
on Dec 14th, 2017 at 02:21
Two thought provoking events occurred recently.
The first was the exit of Neil McCulloch, Enquest COO “by mutual agreement”, reported by Alys Key (City A.M). Ms Key also reports on white-collar crime.
The second was the Scotsman article hailing the launch of a new exploration and production business, Spirit Energy, a venture combining Centrica E&P and Bayerngas Norge. The chief executive of Oil & Gas UK also welcomed the arrival of the new operator to “the basin” proclaiming the need for “a diversity of companies with fresh ideas and innovative thinking”.
Spirit Energy chief executive Chris Cox commented on the opportunities “right across the region to maximise combined assets and build the portfolio”.
It may be a new player, but the rhetoric is the same, as is the leadership.
Cox “stepped down” from the executive committee of BG Group November 2014, prior to moving to Centrica a few months later.
Both he and McCulloch served as asset managers with BG Group (UK Upstream), before the acquisition by Shell.
on Dec 12th, 2017 at 16:09
after reading so many behavioral issue with Shell and having worked for them more than once just staggers me . I am glad to see Shellnews.net reporting them so eloquently. After being totally left for dead after a massive NORM exposure when working for AFPC in Syria in 2000 they have never been made accountable for destrroying my life. based of those horrific events I hope that karma comes back to them
on Dec 8th, 2017 at 10:43
Robin- sorry to hear of your dealings with Shell. I too had considered reporting an issue to the ‘tell shell’ line but was put off by outsiders who had said that whistleblowing never ends well for the whistleblower. And I guess their advice was right. However it made no difference to me as I lost my job anyway and now with hindsight I wished I’d had reported it just so as to get the bloody bean counters and Human Remains department to do some work for a change. Anyway, if they treated you like that, your better off out of Shell. You sound like you are more upstanding then them and actually have principles. Dust yourself off and get back on that wagon. Forget about for Shell although I am sure it feels pretty raw right now. Time will make it better.
on Dec 4th, 2017 at 23:00
I was interested to read the Sunday Times article yesterday headlined “Brexit, dirty tricks and an international game of I spy.” It identifies former Monaco spymaster Robert Eringer as the most likely person to be the unidentified author of an 88 page intelligence report about the Russian links (including Gazprom) of a billionaire backer of a Brexit think tank. Robert Eringer is a former FBI counter-intelligence agent and later an associate of Clair George, the retired Deputy Director of Operations of the CIA. Does not mention Eringers’ past relationship with a KGB Chairman. In more recent times Eringer has worked under cover of being an investigative journalist and book author sometimes writing about Shell. Ask Mr Donovan.
REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN
Yes, this is the same Robert Eringer – the author of a book and American newspaper article about this website and my unusual relationship with Shell. One of many spooks with whom I have come into contact over the years in this regard, some working for Shell Corporate Security outfits such as CAS, some investigating Shell’s nefarious activities.
on Dec 3rd, 2017 at 17:42
The former BG operating model suppressed challenge and fostered a breeding ground for sycophant’s, whose main role was to communicate only good news for the corporate image. The need for flatterers’ far outweighed the need for competency. Bonus Group noted one of the traits of the Asset Leadership Team (ALT)……….Lacklustre, the other two were Apathetic and Technically-inept. An unstable and hazardous combination. The bad news for Shell is that there are more of these BG “migrants” still in on their books.
on Nov 30th, 2017 at 12:17
Good news and Bad news! The good news is that Shell have got rid of five BG sycophantic Asset Managers and one more. The bad news is that they were parcelled off to Chrysaor in Aberdeen where they have now formed a BG club, similar to The Riot Club. We can look forward to more lacklustre performance from these five as they lurch from one untruth to another with no technical foundation and plausible Geoscience, as per the former BG operating model. Chrysaor is in for a rocky road with these five at the helm. Expensive times ahead for Chrysaor as technical disasters unfold.
on Nov 28th, 2017 at 14:53
Hi Ben van Beurden ..MINISTER FOR CORRUPT ALCOHOL COPS SUPPLIED BY SHELL …..is now history ..WE WILL CONCENTRATE OUR EFFORTS ON YOUR BEHALF ON HER REPLACEMNT MINISTER FLANNIGAN ….BEST REGARDS await apology …OSSL
on Nov 27th, 2017 at 18:23
If US, UK, France, Germany, Russia and Europe want to sell crude oil at 20 dollars per barrel then please do develop oil and gas wells, refineries in Iran and Iraq. I guarantee you what ever money Iraq and Iran gets from selling oil and gas would directly go to fund Iranian Missiles, which are increasing at the rate of 10 missiles per day. Money would be used to fund terrorists Hamas and Hezbollah. It would also help Iran develop long range missiles to target and threaten your country, just like how North Korea does. One thing you know for clear is Iran and Iraq, after Saddam Hussein, have become conjoined twins, because of shia ideology. So if you want to be targeted by Iranian missiles plus ruin your economies by selling crude oil at 20 dollars per barrel, then invest in Iraq and Iranian oil and gas fields. Choice is yours.
on Nov 24th, 2017 at 13:24
BVB …I know u visit this site regularly… Michiel Brandjes told me …Visit Sky News on the hour all day today and watch the Minister who covered for the corrupt cops in Mayo bring the government down ….as I told you she would ….apology any time soon …let us clear our name you know the drill ….OSSL
on Nov 23rd, 2017 at 00:50
So much for Shell caring about the environment. Looks like they will be part of the consortium that destroys Bolivia’s ecological beauty. There is no limit to what this dirty money grabbing hypocrite will do.
on Nov 10th, 2017 at 18:06
i read a lot in paradise papers about scandal about shell companies. why are you not reporting it – i would be interested in hearing more about the devil shell and its companies.
Viele Grusse, Ruediger
on Nov 8th, 2017 at 00:16
In response to Bogus Group’s recent post, the worst asset for sycophancy was BG’s Brasil asset. It is clear that Shell have retained most of the BG sycophants in order not to disrupt continuity and external perceptions of this asset. However, there may yet be some surprises in store, hopefully, including some serious staff cuts. It is about time honesty and integrity were employed in this asset. Bring on the staff cuts, starting with management!
on Nov 6th, 2017 at 21:49
Understanding the culture of BG Group, swallowing up Chapman’s fiefdom of cronyism and sycophants by Shell, to protect the interests of employees and investors would have been easy. The difficult part would be how to regurgitate the malignance that had been fostered and eroded the foundations of a great company
on Nov 6th, 2017 at 18:52
While previous articles have reported on the vast sums being “extracted” from the energy sector, spare a thought for those apparently at the other end of the scale, as the oil and gas industry may be going through a bigger downturn than first thought. Following a Freedom of Information request by a national newspaper, the chief executive of the OGA has apparently been supplementing his £335k salary, with expense claims for a bag of crisps 98p, a drink 99p, a chocolate bar £1.55 and a packet of nuts £1.65.
on Nov 5th, 2017 at 13:18
All Mayo Corrib corruption correspondence to BVB and others ….is now being dealt with by Shells ALEXANDER JACKSON …who is he ? …anybody know ..thanks
on Nov 4th, 2017 at 23:23
No corruption? What planet are you from? A number of the Executive Committee have already run away from the company, and Shell have been caught out telling lie after lie and then having to own up when evidence has been produced. Global Witness have done a sterling job. The deluded Shell stooges that come on here defending the company make me chuckle!
on Nov 3rd, 2017 at 06:16
I believe that there is no corruption until I see those that are alleging corruption report to the right authorities than lamenting in the media because you were fired.
on Oct 5th, 2017 at 06:55
Mark Machin of CPPIB (answerable to shareholders) …is aware of outstanding corruption allegations involving Mayo Co Co and Irish Police. Shell blaming Roadbridge and rogue Shell employee. Head of legal at Shell Julia Busby confirmed corruption in the presence of the Shell CEO ..what will CPPIB do ..pull out?
on Oct 1st, 2017 at 14:06
With regards your current coverage a Mayo council officer based near site of Corrib gassing near tragedy had a fortune spent on his house by Shell disguised as Roadbridge the cash was spent for no operational reason purely as a favour WHO IS ENFORCING SAFETY LOCALLY Condon and Haynes of Mayo Co Co fully aware …MASSIVE QUESTIONS TO ANSWER
on Sep 25th, 2017 at 22:42
Try under Minister and all skeletons in all cupboards‘ in Irish Independent Newspaper & various other news outlets
on Sep 25th, 2017 at 20:29
Where can I find the claimed announcement by Flanagan about Police corruption in connection with Shell or Corrib? Or is someone just making it up? No such information found on a Google search?
on Sep 25th, 2017 at 14:55
At last …new Minister for Justice in Ireland Charles Flanagan has today announced that police corruption and cover up of same including Shell Mayo activities with senior officers will be fully investigated…or to quote the Minister ” all skeletons in all cupboards will be exposed “….we will see .
on Sep 16th, 2017 at 00:15
Former Shell CEO to lead Houston’s recovery from Harvey
Presumably he is setting himself for a run at the mayorship by attempting to rebuild Houston. I pity the Houstonians because his organisation skills in UA were legendary !!
on Sep 14th, 2017 at 16:45
In response to Bogus Group’s post about the Petrobras scandal, BG Group were not to be outdone in this respect with their Brasil Asset playing ‘Games’ against Petrobras’ ‘Bad Boys’! There is a rumour going around that one of BG’s Brasil technical workflows had an error that worked substantially in BG’s favour. Entirely believable, given BG’s technical incompetence.
on Sep 13th, 2017 at 21:57
How much money did Shell waste in its attempts to get its grubby hands on Iraqi oil? They also have blood on their hands as they were licking their lips when the prospect of dropping cluster bombs on Iraqis was a very real prospect. It looks like Brazil and Iran are the new flavors of the month. Let the ass kissing begin. And if that fails, send in the yanks.
on Sep 13th, 2017 at 20:40
In a surprise move the Corrupt lady Commisioner who covered for Shells alcohol recipient cops in Mayo is to be replaced by Sir Bernard Hogan Howe a British Knight of the Realm policing Ireland ?# SHELL CORRIB CORRUPTION FULLY EXPOSED
on Sep 13th, 2017 at 19:49
More interesting links on this scandal.
Upstream (5 June 2008) article on Petrobras chief executive and BG executive comment on “how much gas there is”. The article links to Alexander Gas & Oil (8 February 2010) on “who’s who” in the deal. One of who was subject of an article in “Debtwire” (29 August 2016), the other was noted in an article on this blog, (28 August 2017 at 16.40).
on Sep 13th, 2017 at 01:05
Shell MoU with Petrobras and their partnership to share experience on cost efficiency and use of technology.
Déjà vu springs to mind (Daily Telegraph 01 March 2012) on BG Group finance of $1.8bn from Brazilian Development Bank to fund interests offshore Brazil (was this the same interests that Chapman demanded his cohorts in Brazil disclose over estimated reserves?).
Daily Telegraph 14 May 2013 also noted Chris Finlayson rhetoric to “keep up the pace with huge discoveries” and focusing on “value over volume”, leaving the company “lean and agile”.
We know the story behind Petrobras corruption; did this other “great company and their great leaders” come into the equation?
on Sep 10th, 2017 at 19:32
It took a little longer than anticipated but now the Irish Police Commisioner who aided the Shell police alcohol cover up has tonight gone having failed to silence OSSL …next up is CS Gannon for whom Shell CEO demanded statement falsification following the CS abhorrent threats to “drive the people of Erris into the sea “…
on Sep 4th, 2017 at 18:45
Energy Voice lands another “exclusive”, in The Hague this time. Yet another good news story in the making, no doubt portraying a “warm cosy feeling” in the industry. I wonder if EV would ever run an exclusive on some of the less welcome news that executives don’t want to hear. I think not, this would mean biting the hand that feeds them.
on Sep 2nd, 2017 at 15:26
Armada typifies the slack ‘cappuccino’ lifestyle idiots that BG Group had working for them. No integrity and just looking for the next bonus hand-out. Remember Keith Moncrieff and Sean McCue!
on Sep 2nd, 2017 at 10:51
Dear Armada, your statement “it is only…” shows a serious flaw in current safety thinking. This increased acceptance and normalisation of risk is a trend amongst staff who have not witnessed serious events themselves, and therefore assume it won’t happen. The only outcome of this normalisation can only be a devastating event, big enough to reset thinking.
on Sep 1st, 2017 at 22:38
I find it fascinating how so called Shell experts who visit this website (not mentioning any names, Armada) can so nonchalantly dismiss safety critical risks/factors as being overstated. I hope that these people are not in technical or HSE type roles. Its these type of company cronies who were falsely handing out permits to work like sweets or allowing for corners to be cut if it meant money being saved and bigger bonuses during my time working on Shearwater. At that time there were auditors like Bill. Now we get wet behind the ear financial auditors who come round with giant spreadsheets. It does not surprise me at all that we are getting these Safety Notices. I only hope that the cost reductions and subsequent corner cutting doesn’t end up in lives being lost.
on Aug 31st, 2017 at 18:25
Only on the flare stack!!!!
“Blowdown and Pressure Relief” is a safety critical system and as such had a BG Performance Standard (Ref: PSB-80). The Functionality Criteria for the Written Scheme of Examination states, “Thermal radiation from ignited vent or flare tip to be less than 4.7Kw/m2 (1,500BTU/ft2) at manned areas and helidecks”.
Any breach of the flare system could have released huge volumes of gas (from an emergency blowdown) well before it reached the flare tip. Very much an explosion risk.
on Aug 31st, 2017 at 10:22
I love the way you make a very tenuous link to Malcolm Brinded when the Armada platform had one flare pipe corrosion issue. Aramda was of course a BG platform until recently and thus out of reach of Brinded. The ‘explosion risk’ is being vastly overstated as this was only on the flare stack and not on safety critical equipment.
REPLY BY JOHN
The same cannot be said about his past connection to Shell Brent platforms including Brent Charlie.
on Aug 31st, 2017 at 00:27
Recent revelations of Prohibition Notice on Shell (ex BG) Armada and Improvement Notices on Shell (ex BG) Lomond, served by the HSE are alarming. In 2012 similar concerns were put to Oil & Gas UK and the HSE, but for some reason they were disregarded by both organisations.
on Aug 30th, 2017 at 12:29
BG was the parasitic flea on the back of Petrobras’ elephant. BG’s Brasil Asset was not their smartest, with shoes, trainers, confidential company and personal documents, and open handbags littering the open plan office in Drake Building. Run with a lack of probity, some got off scot-free, some were not as rock solid as their name might suggest and others were enough to give you the collywobbles, and all that along with a ragtag assortment of refugees from Syria and Iran.
on Aug 28th, 2017 at 20:56
Another Energy Voice “exclusive” (February 17) with Martin Houston, on how he had no regrets about “turning down” the CEO role with BG Group. I’m surprised EV didn’t validate this claim, as a FT article (2013) noted he’d “lost out” on a race for the top job to Chris Finlayson. Upstream also published an article (2013) on how he left BG Group “with immediate effect” having been overlooked for the CEO role. Houston is now embroiled in a lawsuit with Cheniere Energy, for defaulting on a US$46 million loan, paid to a company wholly owned by him. See LNG Boil-off.
on Aug 28th, 2017 at 16:40
I note Malcolm Brinded has given his first interview (Energy Voice 28 August) since becoming president of the Energy Institute in July.
It’s not the first time Energy Voice has landed an “exclusive” with someone of a conceited disposition.
on Aug 19th, 2017 at 17:00
More on the Shell – BG executive merry-go-round. It was announced (May’17) that Chris O’Shea, Chief Financial Officer Smith’s Group was “stepping down with immediate effect, to pursue a career outside the group”, he is now on gardening leave.
In 2012 he also stepped down from his role as CFO with BG Group, during a period of turmoil within the executive committee. Prior to joining them in 2006 he was Finance Director for Shell in Nigeria.
on Aug 16th, 2017 at 23:27
So Shell has been caught with its pants down again, telling blatant lies, this time about the cleanliness of gas. All so that it can improve its clean credentials and make even more $$$. Can we believe anything they tell us? Where would we be without the likes of Friends of the Earth who bring Shell to task. Where does it say we are allowed to lie and mislead in our business principles? This is a great message from the leaders to the worker bees “Do as we say, not as we do”. Im sure the paid Shell apologists will come on here and tell us we shouldnt pick on Shell and they are a caring company and we should be greatful for working for them and that John Donovan is to blame.
on Aug 9th, 2017 at 23:01
A media article has revealed that Shell is already suffering from the legacy of BG Group negligence in maintaining safety critical equipment. The HSE have issued an improvement notice for failing to install gas detection equipment on the Lomond Platform, despite recommendations from two separate studies. A second improvement notice was issued for failing to test a High Integrity Protection System (HIPS) since 2014, despite the associated Performance Standard requirement to test annually. It could be assumed that Finlayson encouraged the infamous Brent TFA during his tenure at the helm of BG to maximise production volumes (an obsession with executives), at the expense of safety system testing. That assumption would not be entirely accurate, the same culture was evident in BG Group long before. Previous failures of a HIPS testing regime had been exposed at another BG operational location, yet despite this no one was held accountable. Maybe if they had been the ‘management team’ in question would not have been implanted in Aberdeen in 2012.
SEE: Shell gets two Lomond warnings from HSE
on Aug 9th, 2017 at 22:56
This Lower Forever strategy is something that has so obviously been dreamt up by HR and the bean counters so that the company can justify all the savage cost cutting and job culling. I find the company tactics revolting. Anyone with half a brain cell in the oil world knows that its only a matter of time before oil starts to motor upwards.
on Aug 4th, 2017 at 10:30
Shell shuts Pernis plant until mid August after fire and leak
See above article:
The second leak, a story in itself, but also what leaked, (HF) hydrogen fluoride is a very dangerous gas when it reacts with the atmosphere, also very harmful to health, look it up. Article does not say what volumes involved but the closure of this super sized plant is a big deal commercially apart from reputation issues.
on Aug 3rd, 2017 at 08:41
As much as I like some of Bill Campbell’s articles this latest one is just going a bit too far. there are so many variables which will change the prognosis here that its almost impossible to predict the leakage potential of Prelude. The major ones are location and hydrocarbon profile. I wonder what Bill Campbell would advocate as a solution? It almost appears as if he wants to be in a position to say “I told you so” and not in a supportive mode of “this is what you could do”. The safety cases for Prelude do of course look at spill scenarios and remediation is the key, none of us at Shell is naive enough to believe in the 100% carbon loss free situation but common sense, good engineering and good training will do a lot to combat what Bill sees as the inevitable. armchair criticism at its best.
on Aug 2nd, 2017 at 22:36
Reading Bill’s comments has inspired me to chime in. Ruthless cost cutting is leading to such HSE incidents. The sacking of skilled and experienced staff is taking place all over the place. The risk level is being seen as acceptable where there is heavy cost injection required to be on the safe side. Nobody dares question this due to the HR assassins that are currently patrolling the corridors looking for their next victims.
on Aug 2nd, 2017 at 18:42
You have to laugh when you read these documents which HR have produced. It must have been written by someone with verbal diarrhea. Expressions like “Focusing capability from both an organisational and locational design perspective to drive productivity, ideation and promote Agile ways of working” show just how far these people are away from the rest of us at the coal face. Some of the invented words (ideation) are superb ! I guess this is all to protect the jobs in HR as someone has to translate this BS into what happens in the real world. It appears we have regressed into the bad old days of buzzword bingo, how many buzzwords can we put into one document. Sigh.
on Jul 31st, 2017 at 18:06
I am grateful for the information I read in the New York Times as being in the US we are far from whats happening in the American hating HQ. Such job culling decisions are made behind the scenes without just cause or any consultation and then we are told about it when all the decisions are already made. As for this being stolen property, I would love to see Shell try to take John Donovan to the courts again. I’m sure he and his attorney are licking their lips at such a (butt kicking) prospect.
REPLY BY JOHN
Sorry, no prospect of Shell suing me. I have a Shell internal communication stating that they decided long ago that any legal action against me is ruled out. Too much “internal laundry” that they do not want revealed in open court. So I have a free hand to say and publish whatever I want about Shell without fear of retribution. Always sticking to the truth, but perhaps prone to exaggeration as “Cash All Gone” suggests in the nicest possible way.
on Jul 31st, 2017 at 17:40
The “leaked” document is not so dramatic as you make it seem – every Shell employee can freely access it, including all the to-be org charts. Everyone should already have had a 1-on-1 conversation with their line manager on whether their job is at risk or not. So Shell is actually very transparently approaching this. On the VP musical chairs – numbers quoted are 50% of VPs would have to leave, and GM level even more. So the cull really cuts right through it…
on Jul 31st, 2017 at 16:30
How do we know that the Shell document referred to in the Reuters article is not fake? If genuine, and therefore stolen property, why would Shell allow you to publish any of the content?
REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN
Shell was given the opportunity days ago by myself and more recently by Reuters to take issue with the authenticity of the 88 page document. I supplied extracts and offered BvB sight of the whole document in a security sanitised form. Shell had the option to ask me not to publish (I have accommodated high level requests from Shell previously when grounds were provided) or could have sought an injunction. Shell knew it was authentic and kindly provided comment for Reuters to use in their article.
on Jul 31st, 2017 at 15:41
PS Cadfael, why do you assume I am a man?
on Jul 31st, 2017 at 12:59
Cadfael, clearly you’re living in the past. It sounds like you are one of those folks who expect you have a job for life. The staff numbers especially in the Head Offices have always been bloated and a legacy of high oil prices. Ben and his management team have taken what most sensible boards would have done. Look, for example, at the costs in Deepwater which have been reduced by over 50% by prudent management and getting rid of the ‘good old boy’ network. I agree it is not nice for people to lose their jobs, thankfully a lot of the losses have been with the older guys who ran laughing all the way to the bank leaving some of us in good positions. Yes I will look over my back but Shell isn’t the only company in the world and people need to realize that protection of jobs comes at a cost. As for Ben looking “an aging, sorry, tired figure”, I have never heard so much rubbish. I saw him two days ago and your statement could not be further from the truth. Sad false news I’m afraid.
on Jul 27th, 2017 at 21:58
Please have a bit of heart, or have you been too brainwashed that you cant tell right form wrong anymore? Its definitely not good news when profits are put ahead of peoples livelihoods. Tell the hordes of great colleagues who have lost their jobs as a result of the heartless cost cutting drive in order to make more profits that its *good news*. As for van Beurden, he looks an aging, sorry, tired figure as the job seems to have really taken its toll on him. And Mr Good News, before you get too comfortable keep watching over your shoulder, it could very well be you that receives the “good news” next.
on Jul 27th, 2017 at 11:32
It’s about time we had some good news and comments on this blog.
Congratulations to Ben and his team for delivering an outstanding quarters results. Dividends covered by cashflow and debt/equity reduction is all good news for sure and one in the eye for all those analysts (hoping) who predicted a dividend cut and probably sold the shares short.
Now cue the haters with their comments. Have at it boys.
REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN
I suspect that many will share view my view that Ben van Beurden is the best leader Shell has had for a very long time. He had the guts to gamble on the BG Group takeover. Says his next car will be electric which is an interesting comment for an oil company CEO to say. Many legacy problems left at Shell for him to tackle. That is about as much positive comment about Shell that I can muster at this time. Hope it will do.
on Jul 21st, 2017 at 00:04
I feel sorry for that young lady who is making claims against shell oil. Here across the US discrimination is common place in shell locations. its part of normal life. It is just always swept under the carpet unless if there is physical contact involved or a guy they want to fire already. i have lots of examples of this happening. i one day hope i can say more but at the moment i have kids to feed and i don’t want shell to track me down! yes shame on me i know.
on Jul 19th, 2017 at 14:32
The Nigerian state pretends not to know the truth about the pains of the Ogoni people and the discrimination against the minorities of the Niger Delta whose resources have funded our federal budgets and supports our predominantly poor states which cannot survive without federal subventions.
Shell and Nigeria has consciously and completely destroyed the Niger Delta and particularly Ogoniland. Today, one Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) is shamelessly making moves to re-enter Ogoniland for oil. It is ridiculous to imagine that despite repeated warnings and a rejection of this pest-like company, the NPDC continuous its corrupt traits for which it is widely known and want to get the Ogoni oil through the back-door.
The NPDC is Nigeria’s oil drilling company, it epitomizes the true attitude of the Nigerian state towards the Ogoni people. Shamelessly and callously looking at the face of a dying population and telling them “we will kill you and take your oil”. And as usual, Nigeria will certainly be willing to provide its security forces to shoot and kill any resistance just as they have always done.
It is quite disturbing to see our country not bother about its mighty army showing its strength against a small and peaceful struggle like that of the Ogoni while the government offers amnesty to Niger Delta civilians who managed to gain access to arms and will perpetually look for negotiators with the Boko Haram insurgents. I see it as a national shame to send our well trained army against a peaceful and civil protest.
All Nigeria care about is the Ogoni oil. They want it at all cost and will kill for it like we saw in 1995 with the hanging of Ken Saro-Wiwa and 8 others. For over 50 years, they have shown this brutal attitude towards the oil producing Niger Delta and that attitude has not changed.
On Sunday, July 16, 2017, I was in Biara in Gokana local government area where reports of pipe laying activities had surfaced. One Kagbara (full name withheld) came with the complaint. We confirmed the massive land grading in parts of Biara in Gokana local government area. In Nigeria, I see a government that should promote human dignity, care and protect becoming so oppressive acting in utter disregard to the sensitivities of its own people.
But Nigeria, Shell or the NPDC can be sure that Ogoni will not surrender to this harassment and intimidation. We will all match down to the oil fields to protest this unending abuse and disregard for our rejection of all forms of oil production in Ogoniland for now.
Unfortunately, our leaders do not seem to bother about our dignity and the need to protect the integrity of our armed forces. They continue to abuse and ridicule our soldiers.
As the struggle for a better society continues, the current moves regarding the un-permitted invasion of parts of Ogoniland should be seen as an invitation for the people to fight for what belongs to them. As a people, we cannot be silent in the face of this affront.
Shell and her ally, the NPDC are at it again and let it be known that another round of bloodshed is about to take place in Ogoniland because as a people, we are bound to say “NO” to any form of oil production activity in Ogoniland.
The writer, Fegalo Nsuke is the Publicity Secretary of The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) He wrote from Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
on Jul 15th, 2017 at 21:45
Under the Hood of Shell’s $100 Million Loyalty Program
several years ago, shell made the mistake of disbanding their trucking fleet, and leasing the retail locations to wholesalers, who now control the rents, and the price of the fuel the dealers pay. the wholesalers purchase the fuel from shell, and resell it to the dealers, adding on a few cents profit, plus a charge to have a carrier deliver it to the station. this leaves the shell dealers unable to compete with the other area stations. in my local area, the shell station is charging 38 cents more per gallon for regular, self service cash, and up to 60 cents more for credit, while 3 other major brand stations are the same price (38 cents less) for cash or credit! 3 or 5 cents a gallon is not a big deal, but 38 cents has sent many long time loyal customers defecting to the competition.
on Jul 14th, 2017 at 19:12
So Shell is due to get €830m upfront for selling its Corrib stake holding. Any further payment is dependent on exceeding production targets and also partly on gas prices. Not the outcome Shell would have wished but the best obtainable after it has long worn out its welcome.
on Jun 29th, 2017 at 01:16
I am surprised that Shell is still able to operate the way it does despite OPL 245, illegal cover up of oil spills, spectacular uturn on the arctic, animal testing, being the cause of earthquakes in Groningen, spying by Shell Security and Government teams, screwing over its pensioners and many many more disgraceful actions. bad management and refusal to listen to staff concerns is whats destroying the company. The company has lost its way and its morals and what it used to stand for.
on Jun 22nd, 2017 at 12:19
I commend you on your article Shell Money Laundering for Saudi Arabia
As the NGO Global Witness pointed out earlier this year in relation to the OPL 245 corruption scandal, nobody should be above the law, even the mighty Royal Dutch Shell enterprise.
Global Witness and The Corner House have campaigned and exposed the corruption around the OPL 245 deal for several years. In 2011, Shell and Eni paid $1.1 billion to Malabu Oil and Gas, a front company secretly owned by a former Nigerian oil minister. Prosecutors have alleged that over US$500m went to “fronts for [former] President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria”. This crooked deal deprived Nigeria’s people of a sum worth 80% of its 2015 healthcare budget. Shell and Eni have always denied that they knew the money would go to Malabu, but documents seen by Global Witness show that the companies constructed the deal knowing that the money would flow ultimately to Etete’s company.
on Jun 20th, 2017 at 09:05
With regards to the matter raised by Jazmin Anderson, it may indeed be a scam – see FRAUD AND SCAM ALERT on the Shell.com website. It should be easy to verify whether any documents purported to be Shell documents are authentic or fake. If fake, then the scam should immediately be reported to the appropriate police authority.
on Jun 19th, 2017 at 22:53
Sounds like a classic 419 scam to me !!
on Jun 19th, 2017 at 06:16
To Mr. John Donovan:
Thank you, Mr. Donovan, for the kind attention. I will provide and email you the details of my husband’s ordeal. I also tried to reach Shell Global Hotline but I am not sure if they even entertain such circumstance especially coming from an ordinary person like myself.
I am grateful for this opportunity to obtain all the help, referral, and assistance I could get.
Sincerely, I remain.
on Jun 18th, 2017 at 11:45
Message to “Jazmin Anderson”
We published your appeal for information concerning “Patrick Blinks”.
You have followed this up with various allegations in a further posting submitted for publication.
Before we proceed further, please provide a detailed account of the background to this story, ideally in chronological order and with supporting evidence.
We would then put the allegations directly to Shell CEO Mr Ben van Burden so that Shell has the opportunity to investigate and respond if it wishes to do so.
Any further publication by us will depend on the information you supply and any response by Shell. Please send to john@shellnews.net
on Jun 16th, 2017 at 22:53
Hello All,
I have read some of the blogs here from former employees of Shell and I would like to ask if you know someone by the name of “Patrick Blinks”. He is a Purchasing Officer / Contractor with Shell and currently has a project in the Gulf of Mexico (in a rig called “Taiwan Ocean”).
My husband is the Project Manager and he and his workers have been there for five months now. The project is done. Although there were some issues with the pipes being damaged, my husband’s team were able to extract barrels of crude oil. Right now, the problem is, “Patrick Blinks” would like to get his workers paid BEFORE letting my husband and his team to leave. This is not possible at all since they don’t have any access to any bank. My husband asked Mr. Blinks to let him go to his bank so he could get some money out and Mr. Blinks don’t want to do that and does not even answer phone calls or emails.
I have been searching for “Patrick Blinks” so I could speak to him either in person or by phone and to let my husband leave the Gulf for health reasons.
If any one of you, by any chance, who knows this person or know someone who may be associated with him, please inform me right away. I have limited communication with my husband and I am helping them to get out of the Gulf. Moreso, since there was contract signed, Shell and its legal department cannot assist.
Thank you all for your time and effort and with sincere gratitude for your help…
on Jun 14th, 2017 at 23:28
Role of a hapless Ann Pickard in OPL 245
Many people heaved a sigh of relief when she left Shell. She was the result of the positive discrimination process.
on Jun 12th, 2017 at 23:57
Malcolm Brinded, number 2 in the Shell hierarchy, sanctioned corrupt practices, deceit, theft and other illegal action involving a conspiracy of Shell managers.
on Jun 11th, 2017 at 21:39
FAO “the Real Shell” I’m not sure what you mean, my post was not an attack it was a factual statement about safety performance under Visser which Boumann got terribly wrong.
on Jun 2nd, 2017 at 15:00
As a soon to be Shell pensioner I too take my hat off to Paddy Briggs. Well done.
on May 29th, 2017 at 08:39
Hello all, I am new to this site..
i have been following a company called Ossl on another forum , they were a contractor to shell E&P Ireland Limited on the Corrib project,
I also remember the investigation re.. The Garda (Irish police) and alcohol supplied to them by Ossl on SHELL’s instructions … ( which found no alcohol— i can only think they drank it alll)
Now that the Irish police force seems to been coming apart thread by thread over the past few months , surely a proper investigation would be required to get to the bottom of this whisky barrel of corruption and collusion .. I think its in the interest of the Irish people and to stop these large Multinationals puppeteering our Government… Ossl have never veered or indeed backed down from their allegations and one can only think that it happened .. there is also many other parts to the dismissal from the project ..including not changing a statement to GSOC to protect a Supt. Joe Gannon ..I think these guys need RTE slot to get the proper story heard …
MAKE IRELAND GREAT AGAIN
on May 27th, 2017 at 18:02
Thank you for the kind remarks friends. Much appreciated. Paddy
on May 26th, 2017 at 06:24
Wildly generous to themselves and uncaring to pensioners. Says it all about Shell top.
on May 25th, 2017 at 20:05
Paddy Briggs did brilliantly at the AGM. Cornered the board of directors with a cleverly framed question that put BvB and his colleagues in a very bad light. He provided a classic example of taking care of the few not the many. A few horrendously over-paid people at the top of Shell compared with the welfare of 29,000 elderly Shell pensioners, many just managing to scrape by.
on May 24th, 2017 at 10:37
Agree with the last point by The real Shell- my take is that employees take on a cult status and are actually proud of it (this is sad by the way, but understandable as they all want to feel some sort of safety in numbers; group think springs to mind, and it smacks of some massive level of insecurity in these individuals). Management loves this too as they breed staunch supporters at the lower levels, protecting them from anyone who wishes to stand up against something they see which is not right. Same old shit, different company.
on May 23rd, 2017 at 18:27
This is exactly what Shell does to staff who dare speak out against them. They discredit them and intimidate. Ladies and Gentleman you can see in full sight Shell using this forum to attack anyone who has an alternative view to their own. I hope they are compensating you enough Annoyed and Hello Haterz. You have well and truly sold your souls to the van Beurden.
on May 22nd, 2017 at 14:56
Just a quick question Hans Bouman, you said that Koos Visser improved HSE but the data doesn’t support that at all. The two major lagging indicators suggest there was very little improvement under Visa but the number of audit findings increased highlighting a love for bureaucracy and not getting into the hearts and minds. It wasn’t till about three years after Koos left that we saw real improvements.
on May 21st, 2017 at 21:03
The latest posting on executives remuneration was based on an article by a City A.M. journalist who reports on the Industrials sector.
She also “keeps an eye on the Vice and Leisure industries, including booze, gambling and more”.
This executive compensation package seems akin to the latter, where good old business principles are dependent on the spin of a roulette wheel.
on May 21st, 2017 at 11:10
As a dutchman and having worked in the upstream of Shell, I take exception at the false and devious statement of ‘annoyed’. I know Bill Campbell was a very good auditor and not a ‘miereneuker’. He did expose systemic weaknesses during his audits rather than amplifying unimportant findings in order to reach a minimum number of findings as preached by the then head of HSE Koos Visser. (As the head of such an outfit one often has to take more extreme views in order to get the message across and Koos managed to irritate a great many directors in Shell but he did improved the standard of HSE with his often dogmatic stance!) His team of auditors largely consisted of true professionals.
Bill, himself a top professional from the maintenance sector, always put the finger on the sore spot and the good thing is he did not back down under pressure. And when you expose a systemic weakness the pain is immediately felt at the very top. And then things start to happen, either the problem is fixed or more devious actions of self preservation commence. These ALWAYS are detrimental to some minions. Many auditors back down in such a situation.
I assume that the annoyed dutchman never has put his finger on a weak spot important enough to be invited for an interview with the CEO of Shell. And believe me, this only happens if there is a real issue…
REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN
Many thanks for your posting. Please note that Bill Campbell has replied to the comment in question. See “Annoyed” below.
on May 20th, 2017 at 13:59
It’s about time Bill Campbell stops commenting, especially about stuff he knows little (aka nothing) about. He was a useless auditor at Shell (us Dutch called him a mierenneuker) and is a useless contributor now.
REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN
Readers might give more credence to your attack on Bill Campbell if it was not done hiding behind an alias. Something Bill and I never do. No attempt to discuss the issues. Just a blanket condemnation. Thus, not only rude, also lazy.
REPLY BY BILL CAMPBELL
I was such a poor auditor that I was asked back to carry out audits for SIEP after I retired but anyway you are entitled to your cowardly opinion.
I comment often in frustration that Shell does not appear to learn from its past experiences. It is not hard to understand the latest claims by the Head of Legal, here is someone who declares publicly to investors etc that we RDS had no visibility, no knowledge or understanding that monies in the deal would go to individuals but on 10 April this year RDS said they did, they knew up to Director level. Only forced into this admission by the surfacing of the emails called stupid and unhelpful by Simon Henry, what else is there to know, it’s not complicated.
on May 20th, 2017 at 09:57
On that we are totally in agreement! The difference between Voser and BvB in indeed like night and day. Not that far off the quiet life myself and its reassuring to see some of the terrible EVP’s and VP’s displaced so i can share in your glass half full hopes. What I fear is that there is now an entrenched culture that is detrimental to progress and i believe that will be very hard to shake, not to mention the animosity between the Shell and BG staff over the ‘packages’. I think that will end up costing the company dearly when it boils over, but we shall see.
on May 18th, 2017 at 22:31
Well Regular Browser I guess we just have to agree to disagree. I am probably labelled an optimist by my staff and most likely because I only have a few years left to go. I do however see.a step change in the management from Vosser to BvB. Its like a light has been turned on and the failings of the past CEO’s have been absorbed and gradually things are changing for the better. For me the glass is half full and maybe one day it will even be brimming over !
on May 17th, 2017 at 19:40
I am not sure Donovan would necessarily disagree – there were shysters then and there are shysters now, that at least has been consistent. As I mentioned in my reply, the accountability existed in a different framework and are not equitable I should also point out that Shell and companies like it were not peddling one set of principles while living another.
Deaths are a bit of a red herring, industry across the board has got a lot safer due to regulation and interventions after some painful lessons learned – if you think that this has anything to do with anyone at Shell you are seriously deluded. One only needs to take a walk around the buildings and sites where management flouts their own rules and even calls up people on mentioning it. The often lamented ‘hold the handrail’ policy has been broken on numerous occasions by SEC members and when over anxious staff have pointed this out to the the SEC members they are treated with contempt – this is a prime example of “do as I say and not as I do” and is categoric of the double standards that management hold themselves to compared to the general population, particularly when the latter is adding the value for shareholders.
As for Nigeria we are still polluting there and doing great damage on a daily basis, yes there is more transparency but there has been no movement or desire on the company’s part to address any of the issues which are going on there and which management have been advised time and time again. I lose count of the amount of work groups and think tanks that report perfectly actionable plans to the SEC but due to financial expediency are ignored.
I have no problem with BvB as an individual, he is a smart guy and did a great job in Downstream and was a much more palatable choice than Brinded or anyone else for the top job. Like I said I also had great hopes that this would be the guy that broke the poor leadership mould but after a positive start he has gone into the same tired and failed policies that all of his predecessors fell into. Can he turn it around? Maybe, but after the contempt he showed for the OPL245 raids I doubt it.
One thing we are definitely aligned on and agree on is how much leaner the company is. Technical competence has been gutted from the organisation and all the sycophants have been promoted beyond their capability. it has gone back to the bad old days of who you know rather than what you know and the company will reap what it sows. I will be the first to admit that there was some “dead wood” that needed cutting, even so the callous disregard with which people were treated was absolutely disgraceful. Families coming home from expat assignments to find a letter telling them they were fired, competent senior people ‘retired’ to make way for the diversity pick, bullies promoting bullies and BG plants being elevated beyond the incompetence they showed in their own organisation. A cursory walk around any of the main offices shows you how well this has turned out with a toxic and uncollegiate atmosphere. This stands in stark contrast to what I referred to as the ‘halcyon days’. That was a time to be proud to work for this great company, now they have now EVP different from any other two-bit operation. Those of us who want the company to succeed look around at what has been done and shake our heads and if you read the comments closely on here you will see that while most of us have gripes it is because we have a love for the company and want it to reach its potential, not be frittered away on a whim.
As for the gold plating that still goes on, where there is any spending at all. The problem with cutting corners here is that you pay for it later. Talk to the clever folks who cut corners on Bonga FPSO and have now screwed up the wells, or the clever managers over at Sakhalin who abandoned the WFRM plan and for which the recovery will never be what was promised, or better still the clever commercial managers who purchased acreage in the Eagleford with no eagle ford (not to mention the $40billion that was poured into that particular black hole). It is this that we remaining technical people with integrity want challenge to, not because we have any particular axe to grind, or did not get promoted (some of us are happy doing solid technical work), but rather we desire to do the right thing and deliver for our shareholders.
As for BG, if you read other posters here the concern is not that it was a poor choice but rather it was overpaid. BG was not all it promised to be and this deal had a very long burn on it and was probably the only deal Shell could do to remain competitive. As for the integration, we will see, Enterprise was also a smooth acquisition and has hung a number of albatross around the company’s neck. Ultimately the BG deal was the acceptance by management that they had failed in their ability to grow the company organically through poor leadership on the Upstream side over many years. Much of the acreage that Shell paid billions more than it needed to was looked over by Shell time and time again and management opted to ignore the recommendations of technical people in favour of playing financial games or dabbling in business that Shell could never hope to master – all under the auspices of doing things on the cheap.
I welcome the optimistic counterpoint that you bring to the table, for sure it livens up the discussion and gives readers a chance to see a different side of the company, although on most points it is clear that we will have to agree to disagree. As I have mentioned in my contributions in the past (well before the time of BvB) at its heart the company is a great company, full of many talented, capable people who have done some wonderful things over a century. On the flip side it is ruled by a generally incompetent, vacuous, short sighted, group think management team that does not welcome any dissenting opinion (despite the rhetorics) and is not open to the fact that the world is changing and business as usual won’t cut it. For as long as these people continue to prosper in positions of power throughout the company and promote more of the same type of people the company will always underperform and this particular site will always have a pool of people who get just frustrated enough to shine a light on the dark corners that the same management team try and keep in the dark.
on May 17th, 2017 at 14:25
Thank you Regular Browser for your interpretation of the Halcyon Days but I am sure that the owner of this site would totally and categorically disagree with you, especially as in the days you refer to there was very little public accountability. These were the days when the Donovan’s were take for a ride, when all people could do was protest outside Shell Mex house before the days of the wild internet when people like you and I could debate in open forum. So I respectfully have to disagree these were halcyon days. They may have appeared to be all singing all dancing fun days but there was far less accountability in those days, we killed more than 20 people a year with little public outcry, we polluted wildly in Nigeria without the visibility and true we were led by technical professionals. Ben’s degree is in chemical engineering not financial planning or anything similar so I presume you will allow him that accolade. I do agree though we have had some shockers in the past including Vosser who was a pure bean counter. As for what Ben has done I think you only have to look around the company to see how much leaner we are now, the days of hundreds of men building things to way above any known standards and gold plating projects has long gone. The GHG numbers continue to tumble, our incident frequency rate continues at an all time low, our process safety incidents also near an all time low. You may scoff and say things are covered up but you can’t hide body bags or Tier 1 incidents. You say the industry was leading this progress again I disagree Shell was out there as a leader, we invented the Golden Rules now seen throughout industry, we pioneered Tier 1 and Tier 2 reporting metrics and used them to drive performance and Goal Zero was ground-breaking in its day. They are out there for all to see.
Ben’s greatest achievement will of course always be the acquisition and amalgamation of BG, this has been a relatively smooth transition with very little disruption to normal business and blending nicely into our new age gas portfolio. I hope we can revisit this debate in a couple of years time when I hope you will (even grudgingly) agree BvB is doing a pretty good job.
on May 16th, 2017 at 11:06
The Halcyon Days were when this great company was led by technical professionals instead of bean counters. I can talk about many things such as the early North Sea discoveries, the first steps towards GTL, the days when there was a hum of excitement around O75 and Shell Centre, the exciting innovations coming out of Kessler Park and Bellaire. Yes, there were problems in those days too but the system was different and the company was not pushing its credentials through a set of business principles that it does not adhere too. This led into the era of fundamental mistakes starting in the late 80’s-early 90’s which is when I start to have a problem with the how the company conducts itself and for which I blame the purge of technically competent people in favour of the sycophants. From that point on we have the Nigerian problems (although I would argue they began before this and concur they were badly managed from the beginning), the hollowing out of technical capability, the selling off of parts of the business which made a difference, the reserves crisis all the way through to the Brinded, Van der Veer and Voser era. After what I thought was a promising start and a fresh approach BvB seems to have decided to tread this well worn route.
Don’t fool yourself on the deaths and goal zero, yes it is tragic when anyone loses their life as part of work for Shell however I can tell you if half as much time was spent in prevention and education than in covering up and deciding how to classify ‘incidents’ goal zero would be a much more effective tool by now. That said it should be praised that the HSSE function has made a significant dent in major incidents such as deaths over the last decade or so. Much of this has come off the back of greater scrutiny and learnings from incidents such as piper Alpha so it is not an island in itself and I would argue the industry is generally safer not just Shell – although we see the consequences when these things are ignored.
You are right that many of the transgressions come to light due to greater scrutiny and the internet is a great enabler of this. I would counter that these are choices made by management and the SEC though as time and again the Shell People Survey tells them what is wrong and they choose to ignore it because it is inconvenient. That is why this site exists as there is no other outlet to vent frustration when the SEC does not listen. The general population of Shell is much more ethical and wants a much better company than the SEC do, yet nothing changes and things only seem to get worse. Walk around any of the main buildings and you see this in peoples actions and faces. The atmosphere in C16 is toxic, as with Bank Street, Woodcreek and Shell Centre and this was the case long before the current crash in prices and the BG merger.
As a counterpoint perhaps you can provide us with some of the ‘wins’ of BvB or examples of celebration for the company over the last few years, it would make a difference to celebrate success for sure.
on May 16th, 2017 at 10:52
TWITTER alive in Dublin for Shell double whammy MAYO BRIBES AND MISSING STATEMENT ABOUT COP CORRUPTION will sink both Commissioner and Justice Minister if honest cops have their way …nice one SHELL .
on May 16th, 2017 at 04:39
Regular Browser, I too welcome debate and glad you also despise the trolling. I do however disagree with your concept of the Halcyon days, are you referring to the period when we killed more than 20 people a year but made massive profits, perhaps you can enlighten us. What were the ‘halcyon years” ? In my opinion the ‘spin’ is just a result of faster, more rapid communications like the internet and other electronic means. In past years this forum would not have even been possible and so handling of the negative viewpoints will always require some spin to undo the ‘anti-spin’. I’m glad you re prepared to give BvB some credit, who knows perhaps in 20 years time he will be a super hero !
on May 16th, 2017 at 00:22
More tidbits. For those who said the Port Arthur refinery was a bad project. In the past 3 years the plant has been first quartile on income and a leader in reliability. The most profitable Shell refinery and now Saudi has it. Hmmmm
on May 16th, 2017 at 00:10
To all of the folks who derided Shell for firing Todd Monette, he has been sacked again by Lyondell for the same reasons, ethics violations!
on May 15th, 2017 at 12:55
Trolls is not name calling merely pointing out a particular type of action. I think you will find that downstream does not post the largest profits – perhaps you should look further than one year. Downstream should be making a profit when upstream is down as feedstock is lower – the advantages of vertical integration. Yes the fundamentals are not straightforward but there is a clear linkage as the refineries and chemical plants use crude derived feedstock aside from Pearl and some of the others. I think it is a bit of a leap to assume that natural gas is going up all evidence points to a world awash in both natural gas and LNG – the analysts and people whose job it is to forecast these things do not share your rosy picture. I of course welcome debate and I agree some of what BvB has done is to be commended on other things he has fallen short, just like any other company. What I don’t agree on is the spin and the mismanagement that falls at his door from a great deal of unspectacular sycophants. As regular watchers of the company will note it has substantially underperformed compared to its halcyon days and while that is not all to do with BvB and the SEC those people play out the same failed policies and strategies and learn nothing from the wealth of data that being around for over a hundred years provides. This is what I rail against as well as nepotism, sycophancy and ineptitude. If you have read my posts you see that I am fair and reasonable and credit where credit is due. Like many posters on this blog however we get tired of “do as I say, not as I do” approaches and the same violations of ethics over and over again. There is a lot to celebrate as well as to criticise and perhaps you can have a role as countenance here to pointing out all these positives beyond the financials so that people can draw their own conclusion. I am sure Donovan, I and others would welcome the opportunity.
on May 14th, 2017 at 22:14
Regular Browser, before calling people names like trolls perhaps you should look at your own posts ! Downstream nearly always produces the largest profits in Shell, but if you too look closely you will see the turnaround in Upstream from a 1.4B loss in 2016 to a 540 Million profit in 2017, also the rise in natural gas which will only continue as dependancy on gas increases. The downstream increases are not directly linked to crude oil prices as you incorrectly state its more complicated than that. I was suggesting that instead of people being so critical of the current management they should perhaps give them a break and see what a great job Ben and the SEC is doing.
on May 11th, 2017 at 06:17
We applaud the ” booze vendor” whistleblowing not a good move in Ireland, the Commissioner has days to go and that’s a good thing. Other culprits remain in the shadows but not for long hopefully.
on May 10th, 2017 at 09:28
With regards to 1995 BG take over plans, a proposal was indeed put to the Boards of ST&T and RDS, but they rejected the plan as at the time BG still had retail gas activities and the Boards didn’t want to buy those. What they could have decided instead was to buy BG and spin off the gas retail business, which BG did itself not long afterwards!
on May 4th, 2017 at 22:05
Perhaps you should look again at the results Hello Haterz all of the profit has been in the Downstream which is to be expected in a low price environment where raw materials are low. The Upstream earnings are abysmal considering the deal was predicated on buying plum BG assets. The results have also come off the back of stripping the combined company of assets and staff so we will see how sustainable they are moving forward, especially when the balance sheet cannot be massaged by creative accounting and when there are reserve write downs and asset repricing based on BG Groups poor cost control and project management. M&A can only be judged over the long term not in one quarters results so I would be cautious about gloating too soon. I hope that you are proved correct and over the long term the hefty price tag was worth it but make no mistake the jury is still out and thats even without accounting for all of the troubles in the courts the company is facing. Contrary to your trolling I would also say that most people on this site desire the company to succeed and only ask that the company live up to its own principles which would ensure long term profitability, BP showed what happened when you put short term gain ahead of sustainability.
on May 4th, 2017 at 20:58
No need for an apology BonusGroup, glad to see others dragging the skeletons from the closet. Unfortunately many of Chapman’s “disciples” have evaded the accountability noose (so far) and continue to contribute little to industry. Even the remuneration committee’s ethics were questionable as they acted with impunity by awarding obscene annual bonuses to executives, despite multiple fatalities at operational locations. Life may have been a continuous garden party for some, sadly others were not so lucky.
Chapman sits on the board of Rolls-Royce, ironically chairman of the Safety and Ethics committee.
on May 4th, 2017 at 20:13
Hi Hello Haterz, it was predestined that Shell would buy BG Group. That is why Frank Chapman set-up BG Group like a mini-Shell, copying processes and ensuring asset fit between the two companies. Who would you have sold BG Group to when you retired? This did not happen over night it took years of manouevering. It was not of BvB’s making, all he did was fire the starting pistol for the process to begin.
on May 4th, 2017 at 13:52
The results just in show how wrong the press and common opinion was. The acquisition of BG was a perfect match for the Shell Portfolio and BvB plan for the post merger company change is reaping rewards as RDS profits settle back into the ‘normal’ levels. The dividend is once more not under threat. I wonder what the haters will go back to moving about now? #benrocks
on May 4th, 2017 at 11:38
My sincerest apologies to BogusGroup for having inadvertantly hijacked his/her monicker through a typographical error. At least on this occasion there is accountability, but not learnt at BG Group.
on May 4th, 2017 at 09:18
Project leader Deasy it’s time for the “mistakes were made on Corrib “speech. Not all cops fell for your trinkets for the natives corruption but all cops are paying a price. Think on it .
on May 3rd, 2017 at 18:49
I posted articles on 16th & 17th April. I did not post the articles 28th April (BonusGroup) and 3rd May @15.23 (BogusGroup). While I wholeheartedly agree with the content of both of these articles, I can’t take credit for them.
on May 3rd, 2017 at 15:23
BG Group was founded on very little credible geoscience. Frank Chapman’s precious ‘treasures’. Technically inept staff promoted to heady heights as a reward for longevity, loyalty and willingness to play corrupt corporate games. Probity was a word never heard in the corridors of the pavilions of Thames Valley Park. As long as there was production and accompanying revenue stream it didn’t matter if they understood where it came from or not. Life was a continuous garden party on a ‘Knight to be remembered’!
on May 1st, 2017 at 14:36
The article about carcinogens in drinking water reminds me of the ‘drins’ scandal of so many years ago. The more things change the more they stay the same, i.e., a wolf in sheep’s clothing is still a wolf.
on Apr 28th, 2017 at 17:21
Then there was the BG Townhall meeting late in 2014 when the COO, Sami Iskander stood up and said the the company had spent £200MM assuring projects which later cost the company £2BN because the assurance process was flawed and broken. Too many lunches at the Bull in Sonning and 10k runs on the Thames towpath!
on Apr 25th, 2017 at 16:07
John, re the Cable/Brinded letter you have got the wrong end of the stick. It was HM Govt who created the role of ‘contact minister’ and not just for Shell; other ministers handled other big companies. So describing this role as an underhand attempt by Shell to gain influence is ‘spin’ on your part and factually wrong.
REPLY BY JOHN
Hello Factman. Fairpoint.
Nonetheless, it was entirely inappropriate for a former high-level Shell official to act as contact minister for Shell. See this article – Vince Cable – Minister for Shell.
Also, related article from which these extracts are taken:
“These revelations once again show the shocking amount of access that Shell has to government ministers. Shell are not only one of the world’s most environmentally damaging companies but, as Platform’s research shows, their continual payments to armed militant groups in the Niger Delta has had a serious negative impact on human rights.”
Cable worked as Shell’s Chief Economist from 1995 to 1997, a period in which the company allegedly paid and supported the Nigerian military to commit international crimes. In 1995 the writer Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other leaders of the southern Nigerian Ogoni ethnic group were executed by the Sani Abacha military government. In 2011, relatives of the assassinated Ogoni 9, as they became known, began legal proceedings against Shell resulting in an out-of-court settlement [3] in which Shell paid the victims’ families $15.5m, rather then face a New York Federal court.
Vince Cable has remained quiet about his time at Shell and denies any knowledge of the company’s alleged links to the assassinations. Last month, the oil watchdog Platform revealed [4] how Shell’s funding of armed militant groups in Nigeria has continued in recent years. In 2009, during the height of insurgency in the region, Shell paid $65m to government forces and a further $75m in “other” unexplained security costs.
on Apr 25th, 2017 at 06:44
I guess what we have all realised is that Shell and BG (as with most other big, ancient blue chips) hire based on personality traits- alpha males and females , in the vain hope that they create healthy competition and motivation amongst the lower job groups who aspire to lead bigger teams with more control (power). What has happened however as witnessed in the current downturn is the malingering presence of alpha’s who cling on to their jobs whilst the collaborative team players doing the grunt work are let go. Can’t blame them too much as we all wish to survive but what it does is erode integrity and authenticity- behavioural traits, codes of conduct and company value can only but be destroyed with this sort of crappy culture. Anyone who has been let go from Shell- trust me, it’ll be the best thing that’s happened to you.
on Apr 24th, 2017 at 19:51
BogusGroup talks of Shell ‘pets’. BG had it’s own, particularly in its Brasil Asset where some were gingerly sucking their way-up the rigid, masculine corporate pole. Others were more coprolite than corporate.
on Apr 21st, 2017 at 15:57
RDS – What a snakepit. And it keeps on getting worse. I am surprised they can recruit decent people. Lord knows they can’t keep them.
on Apr 20th, 2017 at 08:14
To Bill Campbell…your last post Bill the instructions regarding police alcohol and local ” love bombing ” came from the top CEO level the word ” corruption ” was only introduced by Shells BID DEPT in Den Haag to scare OSSL into silence …the police alcohol is just the tip of the VAN BEURDEN ICEBERG .
on Apr 19th, 2017 at 18:56
Cannot see why a prosecution could not go ahead and be successful, it appears abundantly clear from the correspondence that handouts to certain individuals would be required to secure a deal and many senior officers in the RDS organisation were aware of this and were complicit indirectly or directly. Their defence may be well that’s what it takes to operate with Nigeria but that is not a pertinent defence in international law and dare I state the obvious that this behaviour is a million miles from the intent of those wonderfully worded but completely ignored business principles that all in RDS from Chairman to office boy are supposed to hold as sacrosanct. My experience after many years especially as a Auditor for the then SIEP and then RDS is that compliance with the aforestated principles diminishes exponentially the nearer you get to the Boardroom. Time will tell.
Bill
on Apr 18th, 2017 at 16:53
Finlayson was clearly a Shell plant, who was supposed to oversee the sale of BG Group to Shell. There was a pseudo competition as to who would be the next CEO after Frank Chapman, but it was clear from the outset that it could only ever be Finlayson. However, he got too comfortable in the role, had a falling-out with Andrew Gould and left in a huff, probably because he did not want to sell to Shell. This left Gould holding the baby when the share price was rock bottom. One might ask one’s self why did Shell not pounce when Gould was Executive Chairman? He desperately needed a CEO to oversee the sale to Shell,and he eventually set-up Helge Lunde as his ‘fall guy’ as the whole house of cards was rapidly falling down. Even demanding that Helge start with BG Group earlier than planned. The whole scenario was transparent from the outset. And what of Andrew Gould? Is it not rather odd that the previous Chairman and CEO of Schlumberger should end-up as Chairman of a tin pot outfit like BG Group? Or, perhaps, he thought that by working for a British plc he might be in with a chance of a Knighthood? And what better way of getting a Knighthood than by selling a failing company and, thereby, achieving shareholder value.He knew where BG Group was in its life cycle and also when Frank Chapman was due to retire. With the limited truths upon which BG had built its foundations, it was a safe bet that the illusion would fail sooner or later.
on Apr 17th, 2017 at 19:45
I had to smile when I read the comments about this worthless piece of HR BS. Every year the same answers come back about speed of decision making, working environment (the chicken cubes) and effectiveness of management communication. Each year we, the long suffering staff, are told this is not stuff we can affect and to concentrate on trivial items lower down the list. That piece of HR BS should be laid to rest and senior management made to read this site to see what the real issues are.
on Apr 17th, 2017 at 13:41
Regular browser………….I concur with your response, my comment was from an ex BG (purged) employee perspective. A number of senior executives ‘left’ BG under the facade of re-structuring, some slithered through the revolving door of unaccountability to join other organisations, while some slipped the net to join Shell. You’re correct about the former Shell pets, I was aware of the TFA culture in Brent but gave Chris Finlayson the benefit of the doubt when he joined BG group. However having dealt with him first hand on organisational failings and deficiencies in safety management, the causal factors for fatalities and serious injuries in BG operations, his intransigence in dealing with the issue showed his true colours. Hopefully he is still on someone’s culpability radar.
on Apr 16th, 2017 at 22:15
In all my years i havent ever seen such reckless decisions, bullying, incompetence and nepotism. We have Shell People Survey which confirm this every year but management always blame it on restructuring. At least we have the RDS blog to tell us the truth! This is all very exciting! What next? Wouldnt surprise me to hear revelations that HR are secretly waterboarding managers who are caught using Shell’s code of conduct.
on Apr 16th, 2017 at 15:46
Don’t be so sure bogus group the key players and wasters are all still there along with their sycophants. Plus a lot of BG managers were former Shell pets too. The more things change the more they stay the same. Only folk who could make a difference tend to get purged so the inept status quo is maintained. One can only hope that there is a severe clear out if guilt is proven in the OPL245 case really every manager JG1 and above should go, trouble is the ‘stars’ have been hand picked by the rotten management for greatness so the carousel continues.
on Apr 16th, 2017 at 11:47
A positive about the Shell/BG deal was there was an element of ‘ethnic cleansing’ of the management team and their sycophants. A negative is there are still some left, hiding under their stones.
on Apr 15th, 2017 at 22:39
You must not know Bruce. He has a very foul mouth and curses quite a bit in business settings. I find it ironic he is accusing another organization of being useless recognizing he comes from one of the most useless organizations in Shell
on Apr 13th, 2017 at 23:12
Wot, corruption in Nigeria? Cannot be. I never see de disting! Dey be hones people. Shame on de Oyibo (=white man) for making de nigerian people look bad. De most hones people in de world.
on Apr 13th, 2017 at 18:05
I am shocked that Bruce Culpepper would use the F word at work, he always seems such a gentle person 😉
on Apr 13th, 2017 at 02:40
Who in their right mind would want to work for such a vile company? Allegations of corruption, serial polluters and ill treatment of their staff. Sounds like a Bangalore call centre would be a more fun place to work. Well done to that boy Crockett for standing up for himself.
on Apr 11th, 2017 at 12:55
Re Corrib I was stationed in Mayo for a short time, there was a lot of us drafted in to deal with and monitor protestors at various locations including the main terminal.. its wasn’t enjoyable work… i feel that Shell used and abused us to get their gas.. and what deals they done with the government to get the deal they did is a total abomination .. the local people were treated like criminals ..
on Apr 11th, 2017 at 06:00
Corrib vendor trashed for cover up looking very believable now. Police now banned photos of Corrib brutality against locals… yes u could not make it up.
on Apr 10th, 2017 at 22:51
BG Group were no better!
on Apr 10th, 2017 at 14:42
Shock! Horror! OMG in modern parlance. Bribes were paid in Nigeria, really. I would never have seen that coming. Almost as bad as the fantastic revelation that Shell HR force fitted female and POC candidates for senior positions interviews. It was common practice.
on Apr 10th, 2017 at 07:30
I am utterly disgusted and ashamed of the hypocritical company I work for. The shell business principles are officially dead. RIP
on Apr 6th, 2017 at 02:32
Welcome to the Zeke/Ogoni/Nigeria complaint site
on Apr 3rd, 2017 at 13:07
I suspect a lot of folks are getting fed up with the hijacking of this site by Nigerian activists who continually make false claims against Shell rather than pursue their own government. I guess Shell is the easy target. Most of the spills in Ogoniland have been created by the Nigerian folks drilling into pipelines and trying to steal oil and yet this is passed off onto Shell in an attempt to extort money from the corporate world. I wonder where that money would go to in any case. Continual lengthy sermons are getting boring.
on Mar 28th, 2017 at 13:35
The expected cleanup of Ogoniland may save the land but many may never recover from the terminal diseases pervading Ogoniland and increasingly killing our people. Shell’s lies and irresponsibility has left an irreparable damage on the health on thousands in Ogoniland necessitating an urgent need for a health audit.
We are getting more revelation about Shell’s wickedness in Ogoniland. German Geologist hired by Shell, Kay Holtzmann, has recently revealed Shell concealed data on the level of environmental contamination of Ogoniland. Shell’s immediate response suggest that Holtzmann’s revelations did not require emergency measures. The company is largely irresponsible and will rather wish all Ogonis die.
I call this an Armageddon. It is a shame that Shell tried to conceal atrocities against the Ogoni people for over 50 years and will not get any punishment from the Nigerian state outside a meager $1billion dollar clean up funding. recommended by UNEP. Livelihoods have been destroyed and none will be compensated, Shell and the Nigerian government continue to launder their image with a lazy-loaded clean-up programme after many have died from heavy pollution and many currently suffer from terminal illnesses. Shell should have been ashamed of her actions in Ogoni and act quickly to address this mess.
The neglect of a people who have contributed over $50 billion dollars to the Nigerian economy, a small minority whose current input to the Nigerian economy still exceeds those of 20 Nigerian states put together. A people callously neglected because of their small size, the poorest of Nigeria’s poor and yet they live on a richly endowed land whose benefit they never feel is definitely a sad tale to tell about a state in the twenty-first century.
Ogoni is faced with ultimate death. Grappling to survive in an environment that can no longer sustain families, decreasing agricultural output, increasing insecurity and recourse to stealing to survive, and even more shameful is the conscienceless attempt by Nigeria’s drilling company, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, to resume oil production in the area.
The story of the Ogoni should not be told about any civilized society. Nigeria’s failure to resolve the Ogoni problem especially as related to our environment and right to self-determination signals a failure on the part of our country’s leadership to build a united and progressive Nigeria.
The world must continue to be made aware of the story of the Ogoni, a small minority that had been exploited to death by Shell.
We will continue to prick the conscience of the world and highlight the injustices perpetrated against the Ogoni people until they are addressed. We will not let Shell hide her crimes against the Ogoni people nor shall we be persuaded by political manoeuvres which do not address our concerns for a safe environment and our right to self-determination.
About the Author: Fegalo Nsuke is Publicity Secretary of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People(MOSOP), He wrote from Bori, Ogoniland.
on Mar 27th, 2017 at 00:46
There is definitely a stench of discontent in the office where I work. Everyone I know has one eye on a new job and have accepted that
shell is no longer the great employer it once was. The crown jewels are being sold to fund BG deal and pay dividends. Staff are being treated atrociously, unless you are prepared to brown nose and turn a blind eye to the deplorable and corrupt behaviour of the prison guards (EVP’s and VP’s). It surprises me not that HR management like Mr Darcy are reading this. John you got any jobs going?
on Mar 24th, 2017 at 12:46
Wikipedia “Mr. Darcy is a proud and arrogant man to whom those are lower classes than him. He thinks he is better than them in rank and connections so he does not wish to interact with them”. Someone has a chip on their shoulder! Come join the real people instead of living in the clouds…oh but hang on, you’ve been at Shell for so long you forgot how the rest of the world lives. Time to bring yourself down to earth and recognise what is really important to people. Keep the blog going John. Its gives us an avenue straight to the top.
on Mar 22nd, 2017 at 13:31
@Corrib Shell Police Corruption – If they ran for the hills I would question whether they had integrity at all. It is very easy to be a ‘fair weather friend’ you only truly know people have integrity when they stand up for what is right. Sadly Shell never cleaned up the whole Corrib fiasco post takeover of Enterprise and continues to pay the price today. As I pointed out the same corrupt management sycophants are put in charge of trouble projects as they will toe the party line instead of actually fixing the problems. You only get promoted to JG2 and above these days if you actually leave your moral compass and own mind at the door each day.
on Mar 21st, 2017 at 11:32
To the last post Contributor when the s**t hit the fan here in Mayo Shell men of supposed integrity ran for the hills. It was shocking and somewhat disgusting what happened to former allies.
on Mar 20th, 2017 at 23:32
Well it is refreshing that there is tacit acknowledgement of the ‘culture of fear’ not just in Norway but more broadly in the company. Although Shell does indeed welcome ‘alternative viewpoints’ to do so is a career ending decision. This is supported by numerous Shell People Surveys over many years where this has been raised as an issue time and again. Management ‘listen’ but the status quo remains. Like all large corporations Shell is not interested in anything which disrupts the existing power structures and fiefdoms – though there are some places where the culture is a little more open. Those who do choose to speak out either get sanctioned via their IPS or CEP and are marginalised, while the sycophants and nepotists rise to the top to ingrain the culture. This has been particularly apparent since the merger with BG and the message is Shell folk should be grateful that they have a job and should put up and shut up. Rocking the boat on HSE, the pay freeze, filling of jobs with unqualified graduates or brown losers etc. Management have succeeded over a number of years in taking a once great company and turning it into a mediocre shadow of its former self characterised by mismanagement and poor strategic choices. This is a great shame as there are a lot of dedicated and talented employees across the company, though they do not stand a chance in a culture that does not reward competence but sycophancy.
on Mar 19th, 2017 at 06:17
That made me smile John. I certainly don’t wish to crowd out other contributors.
Have a good day.
on Mar 18th, 2017 at 01:21
John you know the shell machine is hurting when they desperately ask you to stop what youre doing! Spare a thought for us prisoners who have these people as our masters and have to jump on command (or face HR death squad). OPL 245 details, Mayo, and the appalling management actions in Norway have been hidden from us. Thanks for keeping us informed! Good health to you sir. You have many appreciative admirers.
on Mar 16th, 2017 at 11:06
John,
Looking back at the same period of time over the last three years (1 January to 15 March) there were 60 postings in 2015, 45 in 2016 And 14 this year. Clearly a downward trend.
You’re insinuation that anyone who challenges this site must be a Shell management lackey exposes a degree of paranoia.
I’m in the industry – an industry that has served many and driven the wealth and well being of nations. You yourself have done well from it.
Have a good weekend.
RESPONSE BY JOHN
Thanks for your comments. Good of you to create this sudden surge but seems rather counter-productive to your suggestion that it should be closed based on the lack of use. if you really think that, why do you continue to visit such a supposedly boring forum on a regular basis, as you self-evidently do? Hence my suspicion about your background and the integrity of your postings. We are used to regular DoS attacks and other covert activity (including by Shell). 891,714 blocked malicious login attempts and 1,015,968 spam comments at the last count. Some people do not like what we are doing, yet keep returning, as you do. Your postings remind me of comments made long ago by Musaint and LondonLad who happened to be one and the same. A former senior Shell executive. Do the aliases seem familiar? If your objection is just the Shell Blog, then visit royaldutchshellgroup.com which does not have one. The way this is going, I am anticipating a complaint from Zik that you are hogging the forum.
on Mar 15th, 2017 at 21:02
Mr. D’Arcy, I fully agree with you. I find I am visiting this site less and less due to lack of content. Plus Zeke has “hi-jacked” the comments section and uses it as his personal “soapbox”
RESPONSE BY JOHN DONOVAN
How fortunate then that you are free to do as you wish. The website and the blog will remain as they have for over a decade, the leading source of Shell insider information for the mainstream news media and for all parties interested in Shell.
on Mar 15th, 2017 at 11:03
Has this blog curled up and died? Why is it still nailed to its perch?
14 posts so far this year – same old tired, worn out complaints. Even Paddy Briggs has given up.
Come on Mr Donovan, Do the decent thing. Time to say goodbye?
RESPONSE BY JOHN DONOVAN
Over 3,500 comments posted overall, over 2,800 on the Shell Blog. Why do you want me to close down this free speech forum available to Shell employees and other parties interested in Shell? It costs nothing and no one is compelled to look at it or post comments on it. Since you obviously don’t like it that on its own is a good reason to keep it. Do you by any chance have a connection with Shell management, which has tried very hard to close down this website?
on Mar 6th, 2017 at 12:00
Our BVB in European stand with EU partner Ireland in maintaining the silence that binds the cover up of Shell Corporate Corruption with Irish police. Justice Peter Charleton opens a public inquiry next week in Dublin Castle. He has total power to act as he sees fit. POLICE CORRUPTION BY A MULTINATIONAL IS A SERIOUS OFFENCE IN EU… including Ireland.
on Mar 2nd, 2017 at 16:47
Go to Twitter@ osslsafety if those guys are not in jail by now it tells you all you need to know about bent cops in Ireland
on Mar 1st, 2017 at 21:42
We need a ZIK filter please John.
on Feb 23rd, 2017 at 11:25
NIGERIA OIL SECTOR LOSES N200BN TO PRODUCTION DISRUPTION – IF ONLY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD LISTEN AND DO THE NEEDFUL
It was recently reported that Nigeria has lost over N200 billion in the last 11 months due to the force majeure declared by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) as a result of the vandalism of the 48-inch Forcados export line in 2016. But the truth of the matter is that this issue regarding the disruption of oil production can be tackled and addressed appropriately if the Federal Government and the relevant authorities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) are ‘genuinely interested’ in addressing it in the first place. Rather than ‘playing politics’ with such matters.
The NNPC put the monthly loss to the damaged pipeline, which was shut down February last year at N20 billion monthly. But like we said, the issues that have led to these oil production disruptions are obvious, however, the Federal Government and its Oil Corporation – NNPC, are busy beating around the bush, playing politics with these issues and dilly-dallying with the whole problem. The truth of the matter is that both the Federal Government and the Nigerian lawmakers, including the relevant authorities of the NNPC; know exactly what and what to do to put an end to all these disruptions of oil production in the Niger Delta region, as well as other issues adversely affecting the host communities’ stakeholders.
It is an established fact that the issues bothering the Niger Delta region are well known globally and by all, and as such, the solutions to these issues, which have been “long proffered” and how to resolve them for ‘sustainable growth’, is all that is required and expected of the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari to address/implement/execute with all sincerity of purpose. And not all these, for instance, so called fact-finding visits and dilly-dallying by the Presidency to score cheap political points and make it look like they are doing something to address the Niger Delta situation. What other ‘facts’ are they looking for with these visits? What exactly are they looking for when all the issues are there for all to see.
When we still have the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) hanging in the corridors of the National Assembly for close to a decade without being passed/signed into law, and even the reported, attempted removal of the strategic 10% Host Community Development Fund as enshrined in the PIB document; the Government and the lawmakers should not be surprised when these things are happening in the region. Besides, how would oil and gas host communities’ locals and stakeholders ‘trust’ and ‘believe’ regarding its ‘plans and intentions’ for the region’s development when such sensitive bills like the PIB are used to play politics?
The Nigerian Governments (both States and Federal), should realize that since they have failed, and still failing in its statutory roles to address all the issues daily adversely affecting the oil and gas host communities’ locals and stakeholders, the people have shifted their attention and have decided to hold the Oil and Gas companies responsible for what they see wrong in their communities, so as to attract the Governments’ attention.
The Oil and Gas companies on the other hand (which includes both IOCs and Indigenous Oil and Gas companies), should wise up and overwhelmingly carry the community people along and make them ‘benefit more’ from the oil and gas exploration and production activities in the region. The Oil and Gas Companies, including the Federal Government should realize that no matter the ‘heavy presence’ of the military in the region, “they still need the cooperation and active participation of the host communities’ locals. They should bear this in mind and probably change some of their policies and operation-practices in favour of the host communities’ people. The Oil and Gas company policies that work in Europe and US may not work here in the Niger Delta region; hence they should adopt policies that are friendly and accommodating to the host community locals and elites. Since the Federal Government is not doing enough to ‘sustain peace’ in the Niger Delta region, then the Oil and Gas companies if they should remain in business, then they should carry the interest of the people in all they do. They should not use force or coercion to try to drive their business because this will be counterproductive, as has been seen in the past.
The Federal Government, the lawmakers and the Oil and Gas Companies should realize that these oil and gas host communities’ people in the region have given their farmlands for oil and gas production. Most of them have even had their rivers (meant for fishing business) polluted and damaged for good due to oil and gas exploration and production activities. So, in order to ‘buy peace’ and keep it sustainable, they need to “change their policies, style of approach and manners of doing things”, to favour the ‘overall interests’ of the oil and gas host community locals. The Oil and Gas companies operating in the region should take and treat the host communities’ people as ‘real stakeholders’ that ought to be carried along in their operations and not just ‘stakeholders on paper’.
All our farmlands, rivers and creeks have been rendered ‘unprofitable’ and ‘environmentally hazardous’ due to the over five decades of oil and gas exploration and production in the Niger Delta region. So, the Federal Government and relevant authorities need to put themselves in our shoes to fully understand what we are saying here. For instance, by removing the said 10% Host Community Development Fund from the PIB, what then does the host communities locals in the region have to hold on to as benefits, to atone for their sufferings from the extractive industry all these years? These and many more are some of the issues that Government needs to start looking into.
on Feb 19th, 2017 at 16:28
Sale of Sarnia refinery neither confirmed nor denied by insiders.
on Feb 12th, 2017 at 21:10
Shell Canada Sarnia refinery is being sold off to SUNCOR in 2017 as part of asset fire sale. Suncor sources confirm that final sale details are being finalised for announcement in Q2-2017.
on Feb 11th, 2017 at 18:30
Shells Cop protecting Shell booze Cops ..has just plumbed the depths to aid vilification of an honest man ..check Irish press and be prepared to be disgusted Mr Van Beurden
distance yourself from this filth .
on Feb 9th, 2017 at 21:10
Top Lady Cop aware of Shell statement falsification demands to save a CS called Gannon today moved closer to the door “abhorrent abuse of honest coppers” cited. She also failed to address the Shell police alcohol despite another CS confirming the alcohol as factual. Watch this space.
on Feb 7th, 2017 at 15:16
Other funds that did not go to the council direct distributed by Roadbridge and others with a “wink and a nod” for cooperation. 770 thousand euro spent on one woman’s house currently valued at 200 thousand – explain that Shell?
on Feb 6th, 2017 at 18:05
Just read that Shell wants to sell the share in the DUC (Dansk Underground Consortium for ca 1 billion dollars.)
It was a well kept secret that the DUC had a marvellous tax deal in Denmark, in the past Shell Denmark was often the number 3 or 4 cash earner for the group due to this tax deal. Only the NAM with the huge gasfields made far more money. (Norway was a lot harder on the oil companies and kept most of the proceeds themselves.)
Not sure whether the tax system has changed the last few years.
And if they can get a lot of money for it, it is a good time to leave the ship there, Maersk has little ideas how to go about milking the licence that was renewed a few years ago. They had mentally accepted the licence would come to an end when the old man Maersk McKinney Moller fixed an extension with the government. He died soon afterwards…
on Jan 28th, 2017 at 07:08
Shell block honest testimony in Dublin Court yesterday relating to senior Policeman on who’s behalf Shell executed a corrupt act (not the unresolved alcohol supplies)..much much deeper and very damaging for Shell according to A L Goodbody.
on Jan 13th, 2017 at 10:31
You are totally right Bill. Brinded may not have benefited directly but the real question is whether he and other managers were mercilessly cracking the whip and conveniently turning a blind eye. It is time that management are made accountable for their actions and to not allow them to ruthlessly pass responsibility to the foot soldiers.
on Jan 12th, 2017 at 11:42
OPL245
The latest blog on this website asks if there is any evidence that Brinded benefited personally from his role in the alleged fraudulent deal?
This we assume will come out in the wash if this affair ever gets to trial. He certainly would have indirectly benefitted if the 240 odd oil blocs increased the reserves significantly because this would have been one of his principal goals as Upstream Director now doubt contributing to bonus rewards etc.
But whether he benifited personally or not is not the key issue at this stage but rather whether he was aware that the monies paid over by Eni and Shell were being directed, all or in part, to the private bank accounts of corrupt officials, and if so he, if this can be established by legal process, would be an accessory to such corruption.
Bill
on Jan 10th, 2017 at 09:00
Is there any evidence that Malcolm benefited personally from his role in the OPL 245 deal?
on Dec 28th, 2016 at 17:59
Pearl’s gasifiers are crippled because of water-side corrosion on the syngas effluent cooler (SEC) tubes. The shells of all of Pearl’s SECs will have to be cut apart so the tubes can be replaced. Somebody made a massive design error.
on Dec 27th, 2016 at 13:34
What is this about food items and magazines? Nothing better and more important to worry about? Life must be great.
on Dec 18th, 2016 at 01:09
Can someone tell me when Shell turned into a lovable attention seeking charity by using potential dividends (for shareholders like me) to pay 100k + to charity. Next we will be told that OPL dirty $$ was a charitable donation to needy Nigerian ministers. I’m not a Scrooge but I hate this despicable way of trying to fool the public into liking it. Be more like Exon! We don’t get porn mags at US gas stations. I wouldnt be surprised if Trump forces Shell to sell em here too.
on Dec 17th, 2016 at 16:00
Ummmm…..can someone explain to me why Shell service stations in Netherlands and UK are selling hardcore porn mags? Tsk tsk tsk. Shame on you Shell! Clear hypocrisy in the face of D&I- Shell doesn’t give a toss. Merry Christmas everyone.
on Dec 17th, 2016 at 08:48
If asked Mr Donovan will confirm we had no hand in your current posting on Shell police corruption on the Corrib project …I would like however to correct a mistake, it was not a “Shell Manager” who demanded the falsification of an honest statement ..it was a Shell CEO called Terry Nolan who called in person on that “black day” accompanied by his senior local liaison officer John Cronin …another man who has lost his tongue causing much pain to former allies ….time to reflect Mr Cronin. #uknowthetruth
on Dec 16th, 2016 at 12:43
Interesting comment published in the Daily Mail today Friday, by City Editor Alex Brummer under the heading: “Shell game”: “EXTRAVAGANT praise by Shell chairman Charles Holliday for departing finance director Simon Henry only fuels suspicion the Anglo-Dutch oil major is not revealing all.”
on Dec 16th, 2016 at 01:34
You should be ashamed of your thinly veiled racist comments but we agree mankind never ceases to amaze me either.
on Dec 15th, 2016 at 20:16
All seems a bit coincidental. A fortnight ago Henry cashed in Shell shares to the tune of over £1 million quid perhaps taking advantage of insider knowledge over the OPEC deal? Did that play have any bearing on his unexpected premature departure?
on Dec 14th, 2016 at 19:38
Yes, lots of very knowledgeable and experienced people are being replaced by high potential, inexperienced “talent”. There has never been a more aggressive cull and many long term employees are leaving with a bitter taste in their mouths, wondering what happened to Shell’s core value of “respect for people”. Very sad times.
on Dec 11th, 2016 at 10:03
It reminds me of the ‘poh-boy’ shrimp sandwich in New Orleans. A colleague once told me I had to try at least one during my life. So we went from Shell Centre#1 to one of many lunchrooms in the various basements some blocks away. About 6-8 hugely fat black girls were frying up the shrimps. I got a plate with a full french loaf split open and I assume a kilo of fried garlic shrimps on top. I believe there was a leaf of lettuce too. Plus a pint of Coke. It tasted delicious but I managed less than half, still about 5000 calories… Had constipation for three days! There were hugely fat americans who ate two of these things per day. Mankind never ceases to impress me.
on Dec 10th, 2016 at 20:41
Can this be true? Kapsalon, the world’s most unhealthy concoction of some 6,000 calories is on the fast food menu at Shell HQ? Kapsalon is a Dutch food item consisting of fries, topped with döner or shawarma meat, grilled with a layer of Gouda cheese until melted and then subsequently covered with a layer of dressed salad greens. (Description from Wikipedia) Basically french fries with everything unhealthy you can imagine piled on top of it. Said to taste fine after an evening hard drinking….
on Dec 9th, 2016 at 05:37
Shell fired 5000 workers recently but kept government relations manager of Syria in Dubai without any tasks. Paid her salary and nobody know why!!!
She must have good connections somewhere!!!
Recently,she was promoted the title of government relations manager of Iran. She doesn’t know anything about Iran let alone its government. BUT she got the job!!!
An obvious case of breach of so called Shell General Business Principals and nepotism!!!
on Nov 16th, 2016 at 17:22
It is amazing that these “difficult choices” are all falling at the door of the lowest paid employees of Shell and yet the vastly inefficient and “fat” middle and upper level management just seems to keep on expanding. With such low activity levels due to the transition away from oil and gas, low oil price and smaller geographic focus of Shell one would have thought that these highly paid meeting organisers would face the chop rather than the people doing actual work. It is sad to say but it seems BvB has truly lost the plot after such a promising start and now tries to dig himself out of his own hubris after so many poor choices prime of which is the overpaying for BG.
on Nov 8th, 2016 at 22:20
Dear John,
I see you have already noted Engineers Ireland (EI) ‘gong to selves’ for what you rightly call ‘the deadly Corrib Gas Project’ (Shell to Sea remember the unnecessary death of Lars Wagner RIP, although EI appear to have wilfully forgotten it); it’s not surprising you consider it odd but I’m afraid that continues to be how things are done in Ireland – incompetence gets the gong, integrity gets the boot.
All the best, from Maura Harrington, Shell to Sea.
on Nov 7th, 2016 at 15:08
I was wondering what happened to the peak oil predictions of RDS and the collection of genius boffins Shell had working the problem. They have all apparently gone by the wayside, been retired, or met with some similar fate. Let’s here it for Shell’s crystal ball predictions by the best in the industry !!! Not.
on Nov 2nd, 2016 at 07:35
Van Beurden’s announcement yesterday did not mention anything on the thousands of staff who are leaving the company this year. A small thanks would have been nice for those folks, of whom many have worked 20 to 30 years for Shell. I would recommend Shell senior leaders to have a close look who are leaving the business. I have to agree with Daniel, I don’t see any powerpoint wizards leaving, just the ones with clear technical oil business competence.
on Oct 29th, 2016 at 15:30
I have an interesting factoid that your readers might be interested in reading. In 1980 proven US oil reserves were at about 37 billion blls. Today, depending upon who you reference, they are somewhere between 35 billion and 240 billion bbls thanks to the oil shale boom. However, during the time period 1980 – 2016 over 110 billion bbls of oil were produced in the US from various basin, both onshore and offshore. What is my point ? My point is that we are not ‘running out of oil’ by any stretch of the imagination.
on Oct 21st, 2016 at 10:28
A second Irish Police Commissioner next week faces the very real possibility of dismissal because of her inability to control corruption in her force (documented daily here). She has chosen to remain stum on the demands of Shell CEO Terry Nolan to vendor to falsify a freely given statement pertaining to a criminal act in which a senior cop and Nolan played key rolls. Silly Woman?
on Oct 18th, 2016 at 16:50
Its best to let go experienced technical staff. After all, its the manager with power point that add all the “value”. When oil price recovers Shell is going to be very exposed with a lack of expertise. They will have both slices of bread (Upper Management & Junior Staff) but meat, very very sad.
on Oct 16th, 2016 at 19:23
Peter Vosser must be wondering what happened to his Transition 2009 plans. Shell now has more SEG category staff (nearly 170) for 13 lines of business. This compares to just over 100 post transition 2009. The ratio of SEG to junior staff has got out of control with these highly paid executives pulling in nearly $150 million per annum surely now is the time to start pruning the top of the tree. I’m surprised Ben has let this top heavy organisation continue. I wonder who were making the decisions about which staff to let go, could it have been the SEG group?
on Oct 6th, 2016 at 20:31
@billcampbell
Sorry Bill but LTIF and TRCF are things of the past. We have moved on from those long time ago. Those were probably correct in your day but times change and we now use more meaningful indicators for both process and personal safety. These include leading indicators as well as lagging indicators. The TRCF and LTIF are still used for comparison purposes with other industry participants but they remain only a small part of performance measurement.
on Sep 22nd, 2016 at 14:04
When I first went to work for Shell many centuries ago ONE SHELL was the tallest building in Houston and Shell was a respected company. My,my, how things have changed. Shell’s retreat to the burbs is very symbolic.
on Sep 21st, 2016 at 19:45
@Bill Campbell. I applaud your bravery to stand up to the Shell bullies. I can’t recall anyone having the principles and courage to stand up to the bullies in that disgustingly rancid place. Where are all the people that stood for something? Now staff are treated like numbers (cattle) with the constant threat of the sack hanging over them. Guantanamo C16 has even announced that it will start charging inmates to use the gym facilities. Our prison comrades in Houston have had their cells taken away from them and condemned to home incarceration. Someone mentioned core values. I fear a ban on using those words is not far away. RDS RIP
on Sep 21st, 2016 at 02:49
So, its true. Camp Culpepper will now house the majority of the 3,500 staff from downtown. Thankfully the escape committee has been working on tunnels and a plan which involves “working from home”. Its going to be brutal, we will no longer have desks but will be dynamically sharing space. This whole treatment of staff is getting more like farm fed chickens every day. What on earth happened to the “respect” part of our core values.
on Sep 18th, 2016 at 16:39
RELATED ARTICLE: Shell safety chief urges industry not to get bogged down in KPIs.
Safety KPIs (re various comments on your website)
It is interesting that during the utter collapse of safety standards on the Brent field (TFA et al) they were able to demonstrate ‘improvement’ in safety by the misuse of the worst kPI known to man, that is lost time incident frequency.
I am reminded of the world of Deepwater Horizon prior to the incident. Transoceanic staff were patting each other on the back at the time of the explosion for their sustained good performance re safety represented by the metrics of this KPI. This despite the installation being flooded with gas on several occasions in the months prior to the incident, the fact that the medieval gas sensing system did not and could not take executive action, that the drill crew had never trained for a blowout type incident despite the previous drill kicks, and when it happened on the fateful day rather than maintaining well flow via the appropriate surge diverted sent it fatally to the mud treatment skid. Also that just before all hell broke loose that during the back flowing of the well and displacing the mud with water no one was monitoring the mud returns, a cardinal sin in the Drillers 101 course.
Here was an installation of inadequate design where none of the learnings from Piper A were ever considered worth incorporating but Transocean sold this installation and its own ‘world class services’ on the basis of a discredited KPI which if honestly recorded measures occupational risk levels at the shop floor at best but says nothing at all about the societal risks of all those persons living on the installation due to its intrinsic design shortcomings of the vessel and the incompetence of its crews, their supervisors and onshore management
Bill Campbell
on Sep 17th, 2016 at 09:43
Dutchdude I agree completely. And it should come as no surprise that this van Beelen talked some common sense. I worked with his father and the stupidities by the drilling community in Alaska would simply not have occurred when he was head of Drilling! Shell appears to follow the rest of the society that has decided to get all professionals bogged down in filling in metrics rather than doing their job. Only to allow the great many apparatchicks to write pompous reports and demand more monitoring! In the past society followed Shell, times have changed.
on Sep 17th, 2016 at 06:29
Recently in the corridors I heard one of those younger high flyers make a statement that the SVS is a great idea by Shell HR, to get rid of all deadwood and losers in the company. Very sad indeed, as I see this person as one of the KPI-tigers in the company. Never a solution just numbers and pictures…..BTW Excellent speech about KPIs, glad to see some senior Shell folks still know what the business is about.
on Sep 16th, 2016 at 15:12
The Saudi’s are in a race to expand their non-oil related asset base in order to prepare for the day when the majority of their income will come from investments other than oil. Their reserves are depleting and their population is increasing and they need to do as the Kuwaiti’s did years ago, invest in the economies of the Western Democracies to insure a stable long term income long after their oil depletes.
on Sep 14th, 2016 at 14:06
Read the article about safety ‘KPI’s’. Once again the mindless bureaucratic drones have taken over. It is a make work business to keep the trolls employed.
on Sep 12th, 2016 at 16:05
Trying to find out about TA plans of Shell Pernis for this autumn, does anybody know if they are going to shut FCC or any of their CDUs any time soon?
on Sep 2nd, 2016 at 15:15
Someone just referred to Shell as a ‘snakepit’. It has been that way for decades, and it gets progressively worse as time passes.
on Sep 2nd, 2016 at 13:44
John
I’m curious as to why there is so little in the press outside Nigeria on the subject of OPL 245.
I’m told that the OPL 245 issues are the biggest single concern within Shell in financial terms, and probably reputational terms, and have been for a couple of years. Corrib is not even close.
on Aug 30th, 2016 at 19:10
LondonLad how can you honestly make a comparison between badly treated staff and Greenpeace? And have you not checked how much dirty pollution by way of CO2 an oil company is responsible for? Or all the oil spills? Where the hell is the empathy? Good grief I’m relieved to be out of that snake pit. No doubt another HR or PR (or is it CX) person will write a reply protecting their masters!
on Aug 29th, 2016 at 18:52
Well “going out smoothly” it is indeed a “dirty job” at the coal face – it is also very dangerous. So I assume you are someone who has zero knowledge of the oil industry or its products?!?! Do you drive a car? do you ride a bicycle? do you fly to other countries? do you live in a house? do you own a pair of shoes? etc. etc. All of these and many many more things from our daily lives rely on the oil industry and their products. It is dick-heads like you and Greenpeace who have virtually no idea about the oil industry. Why even John Donovan made a fortune out of working with the oil industry until he fell out with Shell. Oh it’s great to be back and being able to comment on some idiot comments.
on Aug 28th, 2016 at 22:43
you guys are all crazy. its just a dirty job with a dirty company. Make your money and move on… treat them like they treat you – what have you done for me lately.
on Aug 25th, 2016 at 04:04
Academics have been stating over the last 30 years about the need to change careers 3 times in your lifetime. With respect to Oil, this is potentially twice. 1988 and 2014. Staff are pretty much the same as contractors these days; difference being that contractors carry most of the workload.
on Aug 23rd, 2016 at 14:22
Read the article about energy storage revolution. This will drive a stake in the heart of the US coal industry, except for certain used and export, and it will drive natural gas prices into the ground. It will also prove a boon to hybrid vehicle technology, which will help cap the demand for liquid hydrocarbons for motor fuel. Looks like the days of expensive oil maybe gone forever.
on Aug 23rd, 2016 at 04:44
Amused Non Expat – A bit surprised at your rationale. Because you perceive expats to be overpayed, it is ok for Shell HR to impose a new HYPOtax? Get the wording, this is not a tax, it does not go to a government, will not go to funds to build schools, housing, healthcare. No this hypotax goes to Shell general funds (who knows to pay the high dividends). I have been on both local and expat side, and agree Shell has been a good employer as a whole, I just have issues with unscrupulous HR staff who trod decency so easily. I know numerous staff who have been send to a location with certain promises, only to find out the reality is much less. If you work in HR, please do some self reflection on who in Shell actually earns your sandwich for you…
Sadly I do agree with Shareholder, that it appears this time around the smart people are cashing in on Shell, signs all around that the ship is aiming for big rocks.
on Aug 18th, 2016 at 19:43
To Amused non expat- am thinking you might know how much the redundancy payments are in cash terms to be able to comment….are you in HR? (probably has a high CEP and a Shell tattoo somewhere on your behind). Last time I checked, this is a forum for people to speak openly about ALL and ANY issues relating to Shell, whining or otherwise. Consider it cathartic for people to get it off their chest, and be included in conversation that creates a bit of camarardarie, lest it happen in the corridors of Shell.
on Aug 15th, 2016 at 16:52
Not gloating at all, nor envious so nothing to let go. Just pointing out reality which appears to have been overlooked by some folks. To the best of my knowledge I cannot recall anyone committing suicide over a redundancy but I may be wrong.
on Aug 14th, 2016 at 18:51
To amused non expat.. Envy of your fellow expats will eat away at you. Let it go. And i advise you to not gloat at those about to lose their jobs (expat or not). People have been known to commit suicide over such life changing moments. A bit of dignity please.
on Aug 14th, 2016 at 12:43
“Expat Staff” were you so innocent as to believe Shell promised you job for life. If Shell has really given you promises in contractual terms then you re very lucky. I did disagree however that you would have been better off as a contractor, whose life and work is always at the will of the employing company and can be changed at a moments notice. Expats were immune from that exposure and you should be grateful for that. As for Shell only having the “people who can’t cut it in the real life” to imply that is a totally ridiculous statement and belittles the many of us left. I would suggest it is the expat who doesn’t know what the ‘real life’ is all about and is just finding out.
on Aug 13th, 2016 at 16:15
I have worked for shell in over 12 international posting over my time. At present i am on garden leave waiting for the redundancy paper work, and have been told that i will not have any real option of securing a position in my home country. When i left on expat conditions some 27 years ago, there were lots of promises, and even more conditions expressed in contracts / agreements. One central theme to this is that the company would have my back and ensure that i would have a job when i came home. Part of the carrot associated with the sacrifice. Now, its just a numbers game. Tax equalization agreements in my contracts covered taxes while in overseas locations. I agree that the current approach could be considered fair and just, but not when the terms and conditions and HR staff always stated i would always have a job at home after my many years of service in remote locations. Anyone who worked in Nigeria, Oman, Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand, China for long periods of time much of it away from friends and family will understand. We have been shafted. It would have been better to be a contractor for hire over this period, as they have had been able to just walk away from assignments, work for Exxon or BP for a stint and come back to packages often better than staff. With the expectation that staff will be protected, contractors are just hire and fire. Heaven forbid you or a family member get sick… How many cancer deaths have left the families with extremely difficult repatriation, and much smaller sums than promised? I for one will now go back to being a contractor, lots of our suppliers and service companies will be paying top money when the pendulum swings, and shell will have only the people who can not cut in the real world left.
on Aug 13th, 2016 at 09:27
I find it amusing that we have highly (over) paid Expats now whining about having to pay tax on what will be considerable redundancy payments. This whole entitlement/greed attitude is one of the problems which has got Shell into this overstaffing situation. Just remember that a lot of the redundancy payments are WELL in excess of statutory minimums and are ex gratis payments and can be taken away at a moments notice. This whole expat ‘entitlement’ attitude is sickening and people should look in the mirror sometimes. Most of you have had a good ride on the gravy train but the train is about to hit the buffers. Time to step off and walk away.
on Aug 13th, 2016 at 03:48
Concerned about unscrupulous HR careerists being (again)in charge of the current downsizing operation. Do they understand (or do they care) when they are cutting too deep into the framework of technical expertise and loyalty that used to be the foundation of The Company and the envy of its competitors ? Do they really know for sure that the oil price will stay low for longer ? I sense that a lot of staff have had enough and are following the lead of Mr Van Burden (5.3mln EU salary + 9.7mln performance shares in 2015) and are now preoccupied filling their own bank accounts with as much voluntary severance pay as possible before the whole thing collapses. Sad story.
on Aug 10th, 2016 at 22:33
I am so sad to hear of the crappy treatment of former colleagues. So much for the Shell People Survey or safety culture. It looks like Shell’s greed has risen to the surface. I am relieved to have retired early. You Can Be Sure of Shell (screwing over their staff). Shame on you Shell. Looks like this rabble of attack dog lawyers, HR and their masters make Phil Watts look like a saint!!!!!
on Aug 10th, 2016 at 15:54
Former Shell: Most of my career with Shell I have worked in countries where no income tax is paid. Midway my career Shell introduced the hypotax. They claim this is for equal treatment. Well, had I worked in the Netherlands I would have build my AOW, I would have participated in tax free saving schemes, free house loans (try to get a mortgage as expat), etc. This equal treatment argument by Shell is just another way of getting half back of a bonus, reward, severance scheme, etc. Nothing fair about it. If you still work for Shell have a look at all the suddenly changed policies under HR (june/July), the world is changing. HR is charged, it seems, with getting rid of staff the most cheap way. Many expats are half the cost of regular Dutch staff to get rid off. Sad indeed. Who still looks at competence these days……
on Aug 9th, 2016 at 22:22
Count me in guys! I’ve also been treated disgracefully.
It’s times like this I wish we had a union to speak to. I’ve been given a date, told ive not options but to take the package and forget about the two decades i’ve devoted to the company. What happened to People Values? I don’t mind too much about leaving but being treated like dirt wasn’t part of the Employee Value Proposition. HR @ Shell are the biggest whores of all. No emotions. No principles, a bit like the hired guns of the wild west.
on Aug 9th, 2016 at 14:27
To Totallyhackedoff:
If you are looking for a good law firm to take a legitimate case pro-bono you might try the law firm of Mayer Brown. They have a London office. It is a good law firm and they do a fair amount of pro-bono work, but you need to have a good case.
on Aug 8th, 2016 at 22:40
On the whole Expat pay-offs and tax thing – pretty sure that with a few examples (UAE) etc, what’s now happening is that the tax bill that Shell has to pay when it makes the severance payment to the employee is just recovered by Shell.
Until then, basically what happened if you were made redundant in a host country, you could (in some cases) get payment tax free. Indeed, many many people were helped to move to those countries for “half an hour” before the decision was made. The reality is that there is still real money going through payroll, and so tax is really payable (with the exception of tax free countries) and Shell used to pay that for staff.
I kind of get why they don’t want to do this anymore…
on Aug 8th, 2016 at 19:55
John Donovan- do you know any lawyers who are willing to do any pro-bono work for the issues we are all raising here regarding taxes, dodgy reorganisations, unethical practices? Do get the feeling that Shell has shown its Achilles heel and needs to be exploited whilst the issues at stake are fresh and forefront of affected employees.
on Aug 8th, 2016 at 19:48
Do note that you can appoint your own tax representative to file your tax returns rather than Deloitte, making Shell chase you for payments rather than the otherway around. It’s a risk to do this of course, but possession is always 9/10ths of the law as they say Take a look at the tax policy….
on Aug 8th, 2016 at 19:36
Surely there MUST be something we can do about this? Aside from thieving of government taxes, I heard that the reorg in Rijswijk had hit a wall after a group of Employees got it halted on grounds of it not following the established process. Can anyone who is in that group extend the investigation so as to cover all Shell companies and JV’s in the Netherlands? I’m sure they would love to hear some of the stories that have been flying around! Somebody ought to be having a field day regarding the legality of this reorg- it defies belief. I feel sorry for the people who will be left working for this monster. GET OUT however, whenever you can. There is life outside Shell by the way 🙂
on Aug 8th, 2016 at 08:44
Police Alcohol and Extraordinary gifting on Corrib. Michiel Brandjes gave OSSL tea and buns and a hearty congratulations on achieving a one on one resolution meeting with BVB …still waiting for the meeting …men of integrity?
on Aug 7th, 2016 at 14:48
Cesar …the pimps don’t pay the whores (so I’m told) but BVB and Brandjes throw the false arm of resolution round the victim before slipping the Micky in …and doing the dirty deed ..some decent Shell and soon to be ex Shell disgusted by Shells actions here.
on Aug 5th, 2016 at 21:09
Amen to that Regular Browser. I’ve seen very decent and talented colleagues being treated like ladies of the night ie first the deplorable act against them and then being paid off at the end of it by the HR pimps. I hate to say it but the show is about to come to an end for this arrogant dinosaur. It’s one thing that they bully people like you Mr Donovan, but when they turn on their own staff, these are sure signs of the beginning of the end.
on Aug 5th, 2016 at 19:19
Unfortunately Dutchdude both the UK and Dutch governments are so deep in the pocket of Shell that nothing would happen. It would take extraordinary publicity and public pressure to get anyone to pay attention and given that these payoffs even with the tax theft are out of the realm of possibility for most of the populace there is likely to be little sympathy. It is not the first time and won’t be the last that ‘creative’ HR types have found ways to screw the worker out of monies. They have done it with ‘Local’ terms for people who are clearly expats, LNN terms, the Dutch 30% ruling, Expat assignments for home country staff, mandatory offshore banking for a number of territories and assignments and the list goes on. Even Deloitte is culpable in the way it prepares tax returns to benefit Shell. My personal view is that although sad the ones that can get out with any kind of payment are probably better off outside of what is clearly becoming a sinking behemoth that will realise too late the value that many of those it is shedding bring to the company – all of whom have largely been sacrificed on the vanity project that is the overpriced BG acquisition and the reluctance to accept that the days of high oil price (at least stable and sustained) are over.
on Aug 5th, 2016 at 15:03
A few weeks ago there were some posts about Shell pocketing the tax relief of those taking the severance package. I had expected a bit more comments on this? Is the principle of tax not that it goes to the government? Since when do we allow companies to impose their own tax? Apart from the unfairness to the employees who worked for this and made sacrifices, it feels incorrect and arrogant. Tax should go to the government and tax relief to the person who is entitled to it. It should not be allowed to be taken away by unscrupulous HR staff. If there is a reader here who works for the government tax department please raise this with your employer (UK, Holland, …). I bet that each severance employee rather pays tax to his government than to Shell.
on Jul 29th, 2016 at 15:47
BVB please note three top irish bankers sent to jail today for corporate corruption, will the unfinished business of Shells CEO Nolan demanding lies and statement falsification to obstruct justice put policemen in jail as well?
on Jul 29th, 2016 at 09:00
BvB is definitely not an idiot. He should though stay away from gambling after making a spectacularly bad bet on BG. The consequences of his ill-fated gamble caused distress to the many thousands who have paid for the bad bet with their jobs. BvB will still earn millions despite his miscalculation over the controversial deal. Further proof that he is not an idiot.
on Jul 28th, 2016 at 20:14
Peter Robins, do you actually work for Shell or just looking from the outside as some of your facts are so wrong its laughable. As for calling BvB a “dutch idiot” you could not be further from the truth. BvB is far from an idiot, he is managing one of the worlds largest companies in a period of low oil prices whilst balancing a mega takeover. In my opinion, and many others opinions, he is doing a great job considering.
on Jul 28th, 2016 at 14:27
I got a kick out of the photo with the Shell oil logo giving the world the middle finger. Someone has a sense of humor.
on Jul 22nd, 2016 at 04:46
Re. The “suspicious drowning” – there is absolutely no cover up. This incident is very regularly referred to by senior management in global talks to staff at the same level of detail as other serious incidents that happen. I think someone is trying to see conspiracy where there is none…
on Jul 19th, 2016 at 19:49
Salute North Sea workers and support fully their strike against the repressive Shell management’s discrimination in deciding the job cut target and distribution of severance pay benefit. Teach these leaders a lesson.
on Jul 13th, 2016 at 18:36
Peter Robins – severance formulae are based on years of service and it certainly does vary by country – but “minimum 3 years salary” is simply not true. Having got that wrong, the rest of what you say loses credibility. Get the facts straight, please.
on Jul 13th, 2016 at 14:51
Read the article about RDS looking for gravity waves. Shell should look into the joint NASA/DoD/BAE project called ‘Greenglow’. It too was focused on the hunt for gravity waves.
on Jul 13th, 2016 at 13:33
Shell not only greedy but discriminate racially between Asian and European works with respect to severance pay. When in Netherlands it is offered minimum 3 years salary, in Asia it is only a months pay per year of service. Since in Asia Shell has started business in some countries only a decade ago, this severance pay comes only a few months salary for staffs of those countries.
Time has come Shell should start cut jobs from top which is not done till date. By cutting a few lower rank jobs company will not benefit as saving will not be substantial. Only if EC, EC-1, EC-2 jobs are cut as well as the pay and benefit of remaining members of these bodies are cut substantial amount can be saved. But since this will involve the pay of the CEO, he will never agree with this and continue his drive from bottom. Even as racial overtures, highly paid expats are not being touched only local employees are being targeted in Asia where severance package is also poor compared with Europe.
ALSO COMMENT ON THE ARTICLE: SHELL NORTH SEA STRIKE: WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR
This was inevitable after discrimination and rigid attitude of Shell management of only targeting lower rank staffs and their benefits without touching senior staffs. Discrimination between region to region in severance pay is making staffs boil and other staffs will also go to strike after North sea.
on Jul 10th, 2016 at 02:07
Ah! RDS is stealing from its laid off employees. How nice. That is so much how RDS operates. What an ethical crew. What a great company to work for. Let’s have a bid cheer for RDS. What? All I hear is raspberries. Oh, my.
on Jul 8th, 2016 at 11:41
The leaked confidential Shell PowerPoints Presentation covering severance pay can be viewed in its entirety via this link: http://royaldutchshellplc.com/2016/07/07/greedy-shell-takes-redundant-employees-tax-breaks/
on Jul 8th, 2016 at 11:20
As if its not bad enough to endure the indignity of being made redundant after many years as a loyal employee – human sacrifice for the sake of the ill-fated BG Group takeover – Shell top is is now intent of robbing us of tax breaks. How low can you get? Totally unscrupulous.
on Jul 8th, 2016 at 11:16
The respect I once had for BvB has completely evaporated after this disgusting machination on tax breaks meant for innocent victims of his power play for BG Group. A disgrace.
on Jul 5th, 2016 at 22:35
Peter Robins it somewhat diminishes your argument to refer to BvB as a ‘Dutch idiot’. Whilst you and I might agree on the fallacy of some of the choices made he is not an idiot and is responding on the counsel of his EC. We might also agree on the unfairness in relation to the packages being offered but like it or not Shell like anyone else is a business it does not exist to be charitable. Part of the reason the Dutch terms are so generous is due to the lobbying of the staff unions – something which could also be done in other locations if there was the energy and commitment to do so. I would point out that many locations are being offered much more than what the law requires which, for all its faults, is a credit to the company as it is going beyond what its legal requirements are. I would also point out the axe is falling disproportionately to the BG employees, so whilst anyone losing their job is a tragedy (particularly in this environment) some people are feeling more pain than others. The unfortunate fact is that the majority of the EC and higher management are wedded to a world of higher rents which oil and gas affords them. The business is not structured culturally to accept the much lower returns that other avenues offer. It is regrettable that the company does not have the vision to see past short term operating goals but the blame there also lies with the institutional shareholders whose indifference contributes to the impasse. The BG deal, whilst hideously overpriced, is the right strategy in the very near term to shore up that high rent behaviour but I will agree that over the long term it will seem like a less sensible decision.
on Jul 5th, 2016 at 20:31
van Beurden is a Dutch idiot who knows nothing outside fossil fuel when the need of the hour if renewable. Five years down the line, the decision of van Beurden to take over BG will be considered as blunder by his predecessors like he is doing now. Job cuts due to company’s benefit is understandable. But hi is ot doing it in company’s interest, then why no top level EC, EC-1 jobs have been cut? Why expats are not losing jobs inspite of non-productive and costly. It is Dutch bluffing to investors in the name of BG integration, taking benefit for their own countrymen of 3 years salary for every Dutch retiring whereas offering a few months pay for other countries.
on Jul 4th, 2016 at 19:53
Shell job cuts till now are only cosmetic one targeting only lower rank low cost employees leaving the higher rank high cost non-productive expats and job group A, B and 1 ranks. The powerful EC and EC-1, EC-2 rank employees is done their best to retain their jobs untouched and made fool the investors through job cut numbers without divulging the exact saving due to these cuts. But in 2009 transition the situation was different under stewardship of then CEO Peter Voser. He ensured to cut jobs from higher rank targeting the costly employees of costly countries and ring fenced cheap country staffs. But this Shell management is too busy to save their own jobs than thinking of company benefit. This management also doing racial discrimination in paying severance package among employees of Europe and Asia. Let us see how long these management can save their jobs through such corrupt exercise.
on Jul 3rd, 2016 at 16:34
Shell is always a company doing discrimination although they write “an equal opportunity company” as their policy. The recent example of such discrimination is their severance package offer for their Netherlands staffs and Indian staffs. Governed by strict Govt. rule, presence of staff council and CEO is a Dutchman Shell has declared severance package for their Dutch staffs with three years pay, although the pay package Dutch staffs receive among highest in the world. But the same company has offering one month salary for each completed year of service for Shell’s Indian permanent staffs taking advantage of corrupt Govt., no staff council and native staffs at receiving end of this discrimination. Shell has history of more than 100 years of such discrimination and racism in this modern world although their management team bit the drum of equality, inclusiveness and fair treatment. Join our drive to denounce such hegemony by an international company of civilized world.
on Jun 23rd, 2016 at 15:01
Comment on the article: Royal Dutch Shell Set to sink?
With poor management, rampant corruption and racism this is inevitable within short time. The situation of low crude price is being handled by Shell management shabbily. They are trying to show the shareholders action by cutting jobs in thousands, but actually the job cuts are not being done without any rational or transparent manner to reduce cost and enhance efficiency. When costly expat employees are being retained due to their skin colour, cheap and efficient local employees are being targeted. With such poor management the fate of the company is known to world.
on Jun 20th, 2016 at 22:03
The oil and share price are both rising. I’m hoping that this doesnt stop the company from getting rid of the poor performers and half of the US workforce (who are busy sitting around moaning about the Hague).
on Jun 17th, 2016 at 15:10
The more things change the more they stay the same. Back in the ‘bad old days’ RDS was in bed with Hitler and his gang of goons. Now RDS has decided to get in bed with Putin and his gang of goons. At least RDS management is consistent in its policy of who it will deal with in the ‘foreign’ markets.
on Jun 17th, 2016 at 14:49
Affected Shell employees going to challenge job cut decision to Indian court.
The 250 odd employees of Shell India who received letters from management saying their position is affected have decided to challenge Shell in Indian court against the letter issued to them. As per them it is illegal in India to cut job because of less work.
(COMMENT ALSO POSTED ON TWO RELATED ARTICLES)
on Jun 10th, 2016 at 17:34
In the late 1950’s world oil consumption was just shy of about 20 million bbl/day. Today we consume close to 90 million bbl/day. Anyone want to guess why we have a CO2 induced climate change problem ???
on Jun 9th, 2016 at 05:31
Relieved, with so much emphasis put on self serving careerist moves and ensuring their high CEP there is no time for forward planning or thinking. Part of managements problem is it has a very short memory and has been corrupted by ‘group think’. The model for progression does not allow for dissenting views – something not unique to Shell amongst big oil. As a result any semblance of commercial savvy is lost on folks who are only interested in making an impact in the 2-4 years before they get rewarded for sycophancy. It does an enormous amount of discredit to the competent and smart people working to make the company better but they certainly do not have the management and executives they deserve. Personally I see it as a direct consequence of the choices and ‘advice’ that was embraced from the 90’s onwards, BvB would do well to sweep the deck if he wants to cut the fat but we know that will never happen so the great con continues, a shame really.
on Jun 8th, 2016 at 14:25
Has anyone in Shell management ever heard the old adage ‘buy low and sell high’? Shell plans to dump assets at a time when the price it will get for those assets will be quite low. So much for management foresight.
on Jun 7th, 2016 at 09:44
Grotemol, Yes, you’re right. It has been Shell’s global; policy to go Open Plan with offices only for SEGs for the last 10 years or so. So finally the US staff are falling in line. I don’t like Open Plan but I dislike exceptions even more
on Jun 3rd, 2016 at 09:08
Boardroom Blunder is a massive miscalculation on Shells part. CEO who demanded the lies to save a top cops bacon departed as the youngest retiree from a Shell Directorship ever. Cover up continues but is fast unraveling for both the Police Commissioner (coat on shakey nail) and Shell
on Jun 2nd, 2016 at 13:28
Latest talk around WCK is that we will all be ‘hot desking’ when the two downtown and NOLA offices close. Bruce and his SEG buddies will be fine sitting in their 400 sq. ft office while the rest of us have to hot desk a 30 sq.ft cube. No wonder so many of us work from home. How can we attract the bright young stars if all you offer them is half a desk if they get to work early?
on Jun 2nd, 2016 at 07:56
Visit BIGGEST BOARDROOM BLUNDER EVER ..@osslsafety on Twitter
on Jun 1st, 2016 at 22:46
My Shell friends, despair not. Ye who have little faith. The real job cuts are to come. This is the calm before the storm and then the HR mafia will target the pay heavy workers. But dont expect the HR net to catch the rubbish workers. They always slip thru the net due to friends in the right places (and long tongues). Sack the lot of them Benny van Beurden and watch the shareprice rise as fast as a butt kissers CEP. Oh happy days 🙁
on May 29th, 2016 at 13:46
The job cuts in Shell India means only for lower rank staffs. All JG-2 and above staffs or the expats are not touched. It is cosmetic with respect to cost reduction as local staffs are the cheapest among all other regions and country. In India there is no protection from their corrupt Govt. nor there is any social security. India base country staffs are cheapest among whole Shell with respect to salary and benefit thanks to low Indian Rupee exchange rate with dollar. Still only 10% of lower rank local staffs have been targeted without touching the high cost expats or JG2 and above. This shows Shell’s dishonesty and insincerity to cut cost. In face for India it is naked racism is being followed for job cut.
on May 29th, 2016 at 03:54
Join Facebook community Retrenched Shell Employee to exchange your opinion
on May 29th, 2016 at 03:53
Unlike 2009 transition when down sizing was done in transparent manner first targeting the expat and higher salaries employees, this time lower rank staffs are targeted first when EC, EC-1, EC-2 staffs was untouched. The reason given of BG integration or lower for longer oil price is a fake eye wash. Why EC, EC-1 managers salary and benefit is not cut before going for job cut?
on May 28th, 2016 at 17:41
Forget the hogwash about renewables, my guess is that the dividend is definitely going to get cut.
on May 26th, 2016 at 15:31
The cat is now out of the bag !! Renewable energy sources mean the end to BIG OIL. Well, almost the end. That is Shell’s judgement. Forgive me if I don’t weep crocodile tears. Apparently RDS finds climate warming, and its consequences the only acceptable option. I mean, what would the world do without BIG OIL and the corruption it breeds ???
on May 25th, 2016 at 21:12
Paul Goodfellow is a pure genius. I mean who else could come up with this brilliant strategy !!
“We need to reduce our cost base, improve production efficiency and have an organization that best fits our combined portfolio and business plans, ” Mr. Goodfellow said.
How much is he paid?
on May 22nd, 2016 at 13:44
Incompetent American managers (Houston based) such as J. Ledbetter, L. Hayes, B. Stoyko are in the process of destroying Shell Canada.
on May 21st, 2016 at 14:46
…….and “relieved” we never learn. Our news boss, Culpepper, is the ex head of HR in the USA who has already shown his ineptitude by spending large amounts of money on putting workers into cubes which most of us hate. Everyone now tries to “work from home” !!
on May 21st, 2016 at 09:46
Relieved: spot on! When he arrived in SIEP he told us that Shell had the best resourcing system in the world. And he was right. Next thing he did was to destroy that model completely by importing a bunch of no-good americans (there also are some very good americans…), pushed the remuneration of the top to extreme levels and then was parked as ‘president’ in the USA. He loves travelling in style and surrounding himself with sycophants. Plenty of those in the US of A, the land of the ‘free’ and the weasels. He left a ‘Me First, screw the rest’ attitude throughout and the results speak for themselves. He reminded me most of the evangelist Billy Graham, with the difference that Hofmeister was a complete windbag claiming to be an Amish. An insult to the Amish!
on May 20th, 2016 at 15:39
Read the article on Hofmeister. The man is a self-promoting weasel/slime ball. And he clearly doesn’t understand the oil industry very well. But then he did not grow up in the oil industry. Before his stint at Shell USA he was a Human Resources professional in the aerospace industry. He should have stayed there.
on May 19th, 2016 at 23:19
The Dutch have always been protected by their ‘Staff Council’ which is a trade union by any other name. The staff hide behind this and have been immune to cuts and redundancy despite being grossly over staffed with high job group people. This will hopefully come home to roost soon as they start to fight amongst themselves to make the savings in the centre as there is nothing else left. Those of us left count ourselves lucky we still have a job but the workload just went up 5 fold !!
Oh yes, that article by Prabhat Sakhya is probably one of the best examples of lazy journalism I have seen for a long time. His prediction of the demise of Shell and BP is laughable as it is based on just two consecutive periods when the oil prices has floundered. Of course it does come from the aptly named Motley Fool.
on May 19th, 2016 at 03:32
We all know what kind of management RDS has. This is no secret and RDS employees live with this fact everyday. So, in light of this knowledge does anyone serious expect RDS management to be ‘fair’ and ‘generous’ when it comes to disposing of excess staff ??? Come on people. Staff is a disposable asset to be managed in the most profitable manner possible. All RDS employees are expendable, it is simply a matter of who goes first.
on May 16th, 2016 at 05:09
Frustratedatshell
And your point being?
NL staff get much more employment protection than UK staff, hence UK staff get laid off first. It would be interesting to see the figures from the 2010 cull of which nationalities suffered most.
Don’t worry, it will all be in Bangalore soon – then God help us.
on May 15th, 2016 at 17:24
Interested to know if any current Shell employees have picked up on the unfair approach to the current reorganisation. Management in Netherlands are seeking RFA’s and operating to a different timeline to the UK and Australia, with Australia being able to steam ahead with their reorg plans as they do not have the same constraints. So much so, that impacted employees are being asked to second guess whether they need to apply for jobs in their base countries or to stick tight and see out the brutal and unfair approach to reducing staff numbers in their current host countries. What gets me is the fact that Shell talks about being a global organisation yet works very much to a local agenda- presumably because of the various employment laws which are stronger in the westernised world contrasting with the slacker legislation in others which make it cheaper in the long run to fire staff. I wonder how long it took the bean counters to work that one out?
on May 10th, 2016 at 14:41
Shell gave up its Arctic leases in the late 1980’s because of the lack of economic viability of the hydrocarbons the discovered in that early drilling program. Well, management changed and guess what? Someone sold new senior management a bill of goods and here Shell is once again, i.e., at the same place as it was in the late 1980’s. Anyone want to try this a third time around ? Maybe spending another $7+ billion will prove to be the charm.
on May 8th, 2016 at 21:59
In 2007 we were informed we had to pay back 128 million out of our pension because the UA 488 out of Edmonton lost it on a bad investment but when you do the math and run the numbers it doesn’t make sense. Every member, travel card and permit sacrifice their pension for 4 years to pay it back and from what I been told were still paying back their loss to date.I talk to retired members and soon to retire member that are still waiting on their pension and a total of their funds.If they don’t have our pension and spent it we want them to pay the tax on it.
Say in 2007
20,000 members working full time
$24,000 a year for each member
Turns into $480,000,000 a year.
And that’s just half of your members.
Where did all the money go? And that’s 20000 men and they had what 70000 men working in 2007.Your union had Suncor, Syncrude, Albion, Scottsford, Kearl, Firebag, cnrl, Dow Chemical, and Petro. So where did 1,680,000,000 go?
Our working dues is 128$ x 70,0000 men x 12 = $107,520,00. Now what did your union do with everyone’s money and that goes for your members money? How can they loose government-regulated pension and if they spent it, shouldn’t they pay taxes on it bc it tax-free money they spent.
10 percent of that is a lot of tax money.
on May 8th, 2016 at 20:44
To Regular Browser:
I have a friend who owns a 2008 Toyota Prius that gets about 65 miles to the gallon on the highway when driven at slightly less than 65 mph. It averages about 45 mpg. I have driven the darned thing and this ain’t no bull. These cars cost less the $25K now. You do the math. I am not impressed by Shell’s new vehicle.
on Apr 29th, 2016 at 17:52
come now Relieved, for once Mr Donovan should be praising Shell for philanthropy. It is very clear that almost everyone on Earth would prefer to walk than to get into that glorified Fisher Price car. I find it ludicrous that with all the brainpower in Amsterdam and Rijswijk focussed on such a product the best they could come up with was, as you put it the glorified Smart Car (with a fisher price paint job) that still for some flabbergasting reason runs on Petrol despite the fact that there is no city on Earth pushing for this type of car that is not anything other than electric. Shell is in total denial about the disruptions it is facing, I think the axe should be swung higher up the food chain than the poor folks in The Hague, Rijswijk, Reading, London, Aberdeen, Houston, Calgary and Perth who are currently facing an uncertain future.
on Apr 28th, 2016 at 16:19
I find Shell’s ‘bug eyed’ creation interesting but most probably doomed to failure. Battery technology is advancing so fast now that Shell’s glorified version of the of the ‘Smart’ car is probably to face a similar fate.
on Apr 14th, 2016 at 18:42
Really? That was a pure rant against the Nigerian government from what I can tell. Could we persuade you to be shorter or give us a link to your blog? Did you mention Shell at all?
on Apr 12th, 2016 at 12:13
ON GAS DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA – WHAT PRESIDENT BUHARI NEEDS TO DO
With the prevailing harsh economic realities facing the Nigerian economy due to the free fall of oil price in the global market, which has practically affected every sector of the country, there is need for more attention to be diverted to the development of other energy sources to revitalize the energy industry. This is where the development of Nigeria’s abundant natural gas reserves comes into play. Unfortunately, not much has been witnessed in this direction in terms of developing it to what it should be.
As an environmentally friendly and efficient “energy source”, natural gas is today considered the cleanest-burning conventional fuel, producing lower levels of greenhouse gas emissions than heavier hydrocarbon fuels such as coal and crude oil. Natural gas fuels power stations for electricity supply, heats buildings and is used as a raw material in many consumer products, such as those made of traditional plastics. But despite its importance, the Nigerian Government over the years has not been given natural gas development in the country the rightful attention it deserves. With a proven reserve of more than 260 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, Nigeria’s gas reserve is triple the nation’s crude oil resources as at 2013. Hitherto, Associated Gas encountered during the normal course of oil production has been largely ‘flared’. Nigeria is reputed to be the largest gas-flaring country in the world. By not fully harnessing its gas resources, Nigeria loses an estimated 18.2 million U.S. dollars daily according to some reports.
It is in the light of these, obviously unfavorable prevailing circumstances in the industry that we strongly believe there is need for the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to first have some caliber of people who have the relevant expertise, proven integrity and credibility in ‘the development of gas’, and they should be strategically placed in sensitive government positions in the Presidency, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources to support the ongoing good efforts of the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director (GMD) of the NNPC. The truth is that, for the President Buhari government to turn around the Gas industry, “it would depend on the caliber of people who will be working with the government”, their credibility would be what would be working for them. To this end, the Federal Government should make use of ‘technocrats’, especially those that have been active (or retired), in Multinational Oil and Gas Companies like Shell (SPDC), to deliver as many of their programmes in the industry as possible. They promised to put in these basic criteria on how they are going to operate and they would expect everybody who is working for them to operate in a transparent, ethical manner.
The truth is that there are indeed ‘exceptional experts’ within the organized private sector whom the present government needs to bring on board to turn things around in the nation’s Gas development objectives. The Federal Government as led by President Buhari cannot do it alone. As we have observed with Alhaji Abdulahi Bukar, an expert in Oil and Gas facilities development, who, after retirement, joined what was then called Goge Joint Venture with Frontier 1, which is one of the marginal Oil Fields from the marginal Oil forum from 2003. And with his Team, they have commenced looking at the development of Fuko Marginal Oil Field in Akwa Ibom State, which everybody thought it was Oil but it turned out to be Gas. That was the key seed that started the 7 Energy Frontier Joint Venture partnerships, which is producing gas, the Aku Gas Pipelines that are all over the South East, Nigeria, with approximately 227kms of Pipelines. The Uquo Gas processing Plant and Gas Sale Contract is said to serve five customers, the main customer being the Ibom and Calabar IPP Generation Stations belonging to NDPHC, as well as Unichem Cement Factory of Lafarge, and Notore Fertilizer Plant in Rivers State. The Uquo Gas Field will help to generate an additional 1000MW of Power supply for Nigeria by the end of 2015, helping to increase Nigeria’s grid Power Generation by more than 20%. The project has been hailed as a success story of the FGN’s marginal Field Programme by Federal and State Governments.
We believe that for any elected Government, just like we have in Nigeria at the Federal level, there are two things to note. That Government has to take care of the majority that elected them into office, but they also have to take care of the minority, who may not have agreed with them, but they are still part and parcel of the country and we believe their needs must be addressed. We also believe this Government under President Buhari has the wherewithal, vision and resolve to actually address ‘knotty issues’ on Power Generation, on Gas supply; not only for Power Generation but also for industrial use, on the liquid/fuel issues that have been bedeviling this country for the last 20 to 30 years, and also to see to our reawakening of values, discipline; to make sure we become our brothers’ keepers in order to create an environment that would allow a large number of Nigerians currently unemployed to be brought back into the economy in productive employment and delivery.
Agreed that the nation’s Oil and Gas industry is very vast and there are so many areas and issues that are begging for attention to be addressed, but we strongly advise that, having assembled a formidable force of technocrats as experts in Gas Development within and around the Presidency, the next line of action is for the Government to sit with these ‘experts’ and together; agree on what exactly is achievable within the shortest possible time limit, as well as long term goals.
As rightly noted by Alhaji Engr. Bukar, “we have suffered major deterioration in the energy sector for a number of years. There are some highlights, but then if you notice, there has been an appreciable lack of investments in exploration and operations, so our reserves are going down.” So there is need for these experts in Gas Development so appointed by the Presidency, to set the targets that we should address as a nation. They should call all the key investors, that is, the key stakeholders and make sure that the message is understood and their confidence is restored and then, they should establish a new platform as to how they can work together with these investors/stakeholders and also ensure that; not only do they agree with the people who are going to be the key players, but they also agree with all other stakeholders at various levels in the country, including those at the host community levels. This is to ensure that everybody understands that there is something in it for them, and you need to be able to address the various issues in a multi-faceted way.
Still in this direction, Alhaji Engr, Bukar noted that “a lot is happening in terms of what everybody can see along the roads, now let me take you a little back into history. People forget that the President was the Minister of Petroleum in Nigeria when the Kaduna and Warri Refineries were built, and all these Depots, including the Atlas Cove were built. He was there as Minister when the product delivery pipelines, including the Gas line from Ode to Ajaokuta were built. In 1984, when he became Head of State, it was under him that Bonny LNG was revived. So you are talking to someone who is relatively conversant with the energy industry and I believe it will not be difficult to convince him on what needs to be done, how it can be put in place and how it can be measured.” He also strongly advised that “You need to mobilize huge amount of resources in terms of Nigerian manpower and investment money both from inside Nigeria and from outside Nigeria. So you need to give a clear transparent system that would allow that money to move, you need to have credible and bankable projects. You can address the gas and the Gas infrastructure to bridge Nigeria’s needs for Power supply by allowing access to reserves, by allowing bankable Power Projects and by allowing bankable Power infrastructure to be put in place for the length of those projects which would allow people to work painlessly, without too much headache.”
When asked how can Nigeria under the present government address the problem of power supply in the country? Alhaji Engr. Bukar stated in his words that “Nigeria now generates between 4,000 and 5,000 megawatts of electricity and it is actually a great shame. I don’t know if you remember the late Bola Ige who was the first minister of power in Obasanjo’s cabinet. Bola Ige was very obsessed with getting it right, but in the 3rd quarter of 1999, there was a power system collapse. So he said by March 2001, he would be able to repair everything and get power supply back to 4,000 megawatts. By the grace of God, he did it. Yes he did, you can go back and see the advert on March 2001, telling you that we have now achieved our target, let’s plan the way forward. Regrettably, he was no longer there to articulate and move on the plans. So new actors came and they moved from where he left and started putting in power stations that were created. Unfortunately, we got bogged down in what I call lack of the institution that I have mentioned, lack of clarity and all those things I mentioned earlier.
“Yes we talked about building power stations, but when we started to dictate where the gas would come from, that became a problem. Because we are not funding the JVs who are supposed to deliver the gas for what they are asking, we were never able to deliver the gas correctly at the right time to meet demands for the power stations and other industrial needs. So when we had built the power stations, we suddenly realized that we did not have enough gas supply to feed it, we also suddenly realized that we did not have the transmission system on the ground to take power out of that generating station to the public and we put in a lot of money and others and because of dislocation, dare I say some unethical practices, they were never delivered according to agreed plans. So that lack of consequence management caused great harm and actually led to corruption. A lot of people took money and never delivered anything, it is true. So what we should do is that whenever we are building the next set of power plants, we should carefully plan to address all the needs and make sure that resources are not only budgeted, but they are allocated to cover what would bring those systems into production in time. Nigeria is going to grow from 5,000 megawatts now to 40,000 megawatts.”
Bukar’s counsel to President Buhari on how to constitute his cabinet and his advice for Nigerians concerning their involvement in the administration is that: “the President has got an extremely huge and onerous responsibility. The 174 million Nigerians expect a very huge amount of efforts and change from him and he requires the services of able, competent Nigerians to deliver that as well as the understanding, cooperation and patience of the populace to understand what is going on in order to ensure that he delivers his dream to the people. The people need to recognize that you cannot make all the changes everybody wants with the flip of a switch. It takes time, it takes efforts, and it takes constant invigoration for people to understand. Yes, this is what you said you would do and this is what you are doing. Anything that is outside it, we should come back to the true path we have set for ourselves. People would have to also realize that those who are there now are Nigerians. So my advice is that Buhari should put in place people who have wisdom and conviction; they should be technocrats who can deliver things on the field and can run the processes efficiently, ethically and in a balanced manner, making sure that we have got an all-inclusive environment for all Nigerians to feel that the government represents them and is delivering on their behalf. This is a very crucial point.”
Nigeria’s gas flaring re-emphasizes the aphorism that “we are rich in energy resources but poor in energy supply.” The Associated Gas Re-Injection Act was made as an Act to compel every company producing oil and gas in Nigeria to submit preliminary programmes for gas re-injection and detailed plans for implementation of gas re-injection. It made it illegal after January 1, 1984 to flare gas without the permission of the Minister of Petroleum. The targets to stop gas flares have since then moved from 1984 to 2008 and 2011. But gas is still being flared up to date. Quoting Mr. Emeka Okwuosa, Group Managing Director Oilserv Ltd, Nigeria flares about 1.2 billion cubic feet of gas a day (bcf/d), which could fuel about 7000MW of efficient thermal electric power, over 1,400 agro-processing facilities, 350 textile plants, 70 fertilizer plants with opportunities for creating over one million jobs. This amount of gas flare represents 12.5 per cent of all global flared gas.
Seriously, these figures and estimates of what Nigeria is loosing as a result of the gas being flared daily and not utilized, is more than enough to make any purpose-driven government to promptly take proactive steps to reverse and address the situation in the interest of the Nigerian common citizenry.
In a recent publication by Techno Oil in their “Going Green Revolution”, it was noted that Nigeria with a population of over 160 million only consumes 0.5kg per capita; Ghana with a population of 24.34 million consumes 3.0kg per capita; Cameroon with a population of 20.55 million consumes 1.9kg per capita; South Africa with a population of 53.3million consumes 5.5kg per capita and Morocco with a population of 33.24 million consumes 44.4kg per capita. We can imagine the disparity. No wonder relevant stakeholders within and outside the country has often referred to Nigeria as “the gassy country with no gas”. This is hinged on the obvious; that Nigeria is funding below her weight in the domestic gas market.
In 2014, Nigeria lost about $1billion as oil companies operating in the country flared a large proportion of the gas produced from January to September 2014. According to data from the NNPC, about 295 billion standard cubic feet (scf) of natural gas was flared in the nine-month period. International Oil Companies (IOCs) and indigenous players burnt a total of 43.7billion scf in January, 50.1 billion scf in February and 38.3 billion scf in March. In April, 22.3 billion scf of gas was flared; 19.7 billion scf in May and 23 billion scf was wasted in June. In July, 29.1 billion scf was flared; 39.1 billion scf in August; 29.5 billion in September; and 44.37 billion in November. According to the NNPC’s Monthly Petroleum Information, in December 2014, Nigeria lost $133.716 million, which is about N26.743 billion to gas flaring, as oil and gas companies in the country flared 20.11 per cent of their total gas production. Specifically, companies produced 221.634 billion scf of gas, utilised 183.78 billion scf and flared 44.573 billion scf.
The Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) put the average price of gas at $3 per unit of 1,000 scf, translating, to $133.716 million for 44.573 billion scf flared, and $551.346 million for 183.783 billion scf utilised. If 1.2 billion scf flared per day (According to Mr. Emeka) has the potential to generate up to 7000MW of electricity, the aggregate gas flared in 2014; about 376.41billion scf can translate into 21.97GW, in addition to its inputs in agro processing, textile plants, fertiliser plants, and the number of jobs created from the multiplier effect. Despite the penalties, oil and gas operators have continued to flare gas and regulators seem to have looked away. While there is need to interrogate the positions of penalty payments considering the joint venture/ arrangements, there is also the need to revisit the issues of gas pricing and availability of gas infrastructure; else the question will be the relative cheapness to flare gas than monetise gas. To this end, efforts should be made to harmonize and reconcile domestic gas pricing across markets in Nigeria while seeking ways to attract and sustain foreign investments and funding for gas infrastructure especially for the improvement of gas to power in Nigeria.
Though, Nigeria is the second largest producer of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in Africa, and the sixth largest producer in the world with over 3million metric tons annually. However, current per capita consumption of the gas in Nigeria is about 0.8kg/annum. This is the lowest in Sub-Saharan Africa; lower than those of Nigeria’s West Africa neighbours who do not produce the product. Annual LPG consumption in Nigeria in 2010, was put at 120,000MT, whereas, in Lagos alone, there is a potential market for 1,000,000MT annually. Yet, stakeholders in the industry are daily crying shortage of gas supply for domestic, industrial and power generation usage. How can we be crying shortage of what the country has in abundance in reserve? The problem squarely lies with the country not giving gas development and utilization the rightful attention it needs.
The International Energy Agency predicts that the demand for natural gas will grow by approximately 44 percent through 2035. Perhaps, this explains why International Oil Companies (IOCs) like Shell are investing more in natural gas as they are divesting from their crude oil assets in Nigeria and other countries. This also explains Shell’s huge gas investments in Russia, for example the Shell Sakhalin Natural Gas Plant in Russia is one of the world leading gas projects. Shell also has the largest Gas-To-Liquids Plant in the world in Ras Laffan Industrial City, 80km North of Doha, Qatar. Apart from producing diesel, petrol, and kerosene, the Plant produces base oils for top-tier lubricants, which is a chemical feedstock called naphtha used in making plastics and normal paraffin; also used in making detergents.
The Federal Government of Nigeria can, for instance, replicate all of this and even more in the country if strategic natural gas development projects like the New Utorogu Gas Plant (aka Utorogu NAG 2 Project) in Ughelli South LGA, Delta State, as well as the Utorogu NAG-2 Condensate Tank Farm, are given the needed attention. There is need for instance, for the Federal Government to make this gas development projects a “top priority” by giving them the needed funding and attention. The New Utorogu Gas Plant, which is currently being handled by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) after Shell (SPDC) Divestment in Delta State, seriously needs all the funding it can get from the Federal Government so that NPDC and its contractor MAKON Engineering & Technical Services Ltd can finish the project strong, as well as the said Condensate Tank Farm.
The importance of Gas development cannot be overemphasized. As environmentally friendly and efficient energy source, natural gas is lighter than air, colorless, odorless and tasteless. For this reason, odorant is added to the gas to make it noticeable and objectionable for safety reasons. Natural gas can be compressed and, therefore, transmitted in large quantities through relatively small pipe diameters when under high pressure. Nigeria cannot afford to continue flaring gas and complain about inadequate gas supply; whereas the country is blessed with abundant gas reserve/deposits that are begging to be developed and utilized, hence, the need for the Federal Government and industry investors to adequately fund the operations of the NPDC and its gas development activities in Utorogu areas of OML 34.
Aside export purposes, Natural Gas can also be used to satisfy the following in Nigeria: Domestic Gas demands since natural gas dispensed from a simple stovetop can generate heat in excess of 2000°F (1093°C) making it a powerful domestic cooking and heating fuel; produce Hydrogen, which is a primary feedstock for the chemical industry and an important commodity (hydrogen agent) for oil refineries, and the fuel source in hydrogen vehicles; natural gas can be used for transportation, including Aviation fuel, as compressed natural gas is a cleaner alternative to other automobile fuels such as petrol and diesel; Natural gas is a major feedstock for theproduction of ammonia, via the Haber process, for use in fertilizer production; and most importantly, Natural gas is a major source of electricity generation through the use of gas turbines and steam turbines. Most grid peaking Power Plants and some off-grid engine-generators use natural gas. Natural gas burns more cleanly than other Hydrocarbon fuels, such as oil and coal, and produces less carbon dioxide per unit of energy released. Natural gas is also used in the manufacture of fabrics, glass, steel, plastics, paint, and other products. We can imagine the enormous employment opportunities available in this sector if given the proper attention.
With all of this at the back of our mind, we can therefore understand the need for the Federal Government to focus more attention towards gas development in the country. As a matter of fact, with appropriate funding, the above stated gas projects in Utorogu OML 34 and others across the country can ‘energize’ the whole of Nigeria if given the needed attention. Utorogu can become Nigeria’s “energy source centre” that can provide all the nation’s gas supply demands and for export purposes.
Without a doubt, special attention should be given and sustained in the Oil and Gas sector (which is still Nigeria’s mainstay), and the Joint Venture (JV) funding. There is a need for President Buhari to greatly improve on this, particularly in the area of Gas Development and Production. This is the surest and quickest way to redeem us from the present ‘economic hardship’ we are facing in the country. The Presidency just has to keep ‘servicing’ the Oil and Gas sector for things to ‘normalize.’ The funding of the JV has to be made a priority to develop gas as Nigeria has a lot of gas potentials. But let us bear in mind that the increase in the production of crude oil means there will be an increase in the production of Associated Gas (AG) as well. As we know, crude oil comes with gas, hence it is called Associated Gas. The gas is actually in two forms: Associated Gas (AG), which is either dissolved in and is involuntarily produced with oil, or lying on top of oil in a combined oil and gas reservoir. The other is Non-Associated Gas (NAG), which comes from reservoirs containing gas only. But increase in the production of NAG, means there will be increase in the production of Condensate. On the average, about 1000 standard cubic feet (scf) of gas is produced in Nigeria with every barrel of oil. Therefore, with oil production of some 2.2 million barrels per day (bpd), for instance, about 2.2 billion scf of AG is produced every day. The question has been how Nigeria should utilize the AG currently being flared.
On gas flaring, there were some major efforts by IOCs like Shell (SPDC) to reduce gas flaring in the country to the barest minimum, as you cannot really eliminate gas flaring completely. Some of these options for Associated Gas utilization as planned by Shell, for instance include the Re-Injection into reservoirs, fuel for industries, fuel for power generation, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for vehicular and other uses, Extraction and bottling of LPG constituents for commercial consumption, Feedstock for Industry, Liquefied Natural Gas for export, etc. In fact, part of the concrete efforts made by Shell (SPDC) in this regard was to initiate the present Utorogu Gas Plant Phase 2 (aka Utorogu NAG 2) Project in OML 34, Delta State, which is meant to gather AG from the surrounding oil fields to address the gas being flared around the said areas. But that gas Project, which is near completion and has been taken over by NPDC/NNPC after Shell Divestment in Delta State, is today being neglected and suffering due to lack of funding by the Federal Government and other JV partners. One would have thought that such a sensitive gas project like the Utorogu NAG 2 Project would be made a priority by the relevant stakeholders as part of efforts to address this problem. But that remains to be seen.
This is why many like us believe that the Federal Government has not been sincere in addressing this problem of gas flaring/gathering and the development of gas in the country because of politics and vested interests, which has made the continued existence of the Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) as a complete bottleneck in addressing these problems. How can the country continue to have a gas company that does not produce gas, but is only good at Piping, Metering and Marketing the gas produced by others like Shell (SPDC), Chevron, Texaco, Mobil, Seplat, and Nigeria’s NPDC, etc. In other words, the NGC is just there as a ‘middleman’ waiting for gas produced by others to distribute. This makes the NGC’s existence in the industry ‘irrelevant and needless’, hence, the NGC should be done away with. It simply does not make sense. In fact, one is forced to ask what the NGC is doing as a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), in the development of natural gas in the country. We can see that the NGC, as a subsidiary of the NNPC, obviously constitutes as a bottleneck to the nation’s aspirations of utilizing its abundant gas resources for the Power sector and industrialization sector. Despite their inactiveness in gas development and transportation, the same crops of leaders in the NGC are still allowed to remain for several decades now.
On several occasion, we have advocated for the complete scrapping of the NGC and the liberalization of the gas sector to allow investors to come in. The Federal Government must completely scrap the NGC in order to improve in the development of gas and its utilization in the country. The NGC can be done away with because they are just a Marketing Company that sells the gas produced by IOCs and the NPDC. There is need for the Federal Government to allow IOCs and other oil and gas companies producing the gas to sell same directly to the end users. NGC does not play any role in the production of the natural gas produced in the country. The IOCs and JV partners have the capacity and capability to build gas infrastructures for this purpose.
Experts in the industry have revealed that some of the impediments to Gas development in Nigeria include the: Inadequate Gas Supply Infrastructure; inappropriate/unrealistic pricing of gas, especially for domestic use; Absence of institutional and regulatory framework; Low level of industrialization and inadequate consumptive capacities. And for these to the addressed, there is need for the government to create an enabling environment for investment in the gas sector; ensure a comprehensive, integrated power-gas approach; development of gas infrastructure; ensure appropriate regulatory framework and energy market reforms.
The crux of the matter is that there is need for the government to put in more effort and focus in the development of natural gas for domestic and export purposes. For instance, the seeming low level of utilization of cooking gas across the nation can be effectively addressed with the formulation of a policy by the Federal Government that will serve as road map for the next five years. According to the Managing Director of Nipco, Venkataraman Venkatapathy, he noted some few years ago that the forward path which will dovetail into effective promotion of LPG as veritable substitute to kerosene as household cooking fuel can save the Federal Government foreign exchange to the tune of 245billion naira ($1.25bn). He maintained that with the abundant natural gas resources in the country the nation should become one of the highest users of LPGs as cooking fuel with all its attendant benefits.
Conclusively, for the way forward, we believe it is expedient for the Federal Government to “liberalize the natural gas sector” just the same way it has done with the crude oil sector. In other words, apart from the already existing Joint Venture (JV) partners the Federal Government has with IOCs like Shell (SPDC), Chevron-Texaco, Mobil, Agip etc, they should ‘open up’ the gas sector with investor-friendly policies agreements and conducive environment for interested private investors in the Organized Private Sector to come in to harness, develop and distribute gas for the country’s domestic demands and for export purposes. Foreign and indigenous private companies should be given ‘free hand’ and necessary operating license under required Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) signed with the Federal Government for the development and proper utilization of the country’s abundant natural gas resource. This should be done the same way the Federal Government has a PSC signed agreement with the Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO) in the crude oil sector. So that the investors in the gas sector, will have the leverage to harness, develop and distribute gas for both Power utilization and industries in terms that will benefit them and all-and-sundry.
It is high time the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari takes concrete steps in the gas sector that would promote gas utilization in Nigeria as a cheaper, more reliable and cleaner fuel alternative and feedstock. A complete overhaul of relevant policies, and most especially the NNPC and its subsidiary-NGC, is eminent if we are to achieve this vision where natural gas will overtake liquid fuel as the fuel of “first choice” for Nigeria’s Power utilization and industries. There is need for the President Buhari administration to take the bull by the horn and make things happen for the benefit of all as regards the country’s abundant gas reserves. We ask that the right things should be done.
Zik Gbemre, JP.
National Coordinator
Niger Delta Peace Coalition (NDPC)
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes as if Those Were Our Causes
on Apr 12th, 2016 at 02:23
I find comments about the gas industry’s competitiveness relative to coal interesting giving all the major coal companies in the US are in bankruptcy or approaching bankruptcy because of their inability to compete with coal. Even large exports to China aren’t going to pull these companies out of their financial difficulties.
on Apr 12th, 2016 at 00:38
Let us all call the LNG processing prototype what it really is – a ‘mega-barge’. And a very dangerous mega-barge.
on Apr 11th, 2016 at 14:57
With regard to the Siemens, RD Shell, et al, corruption article – I do believe the old saying ‘Birds of a feather flock together’. Is quite applicable in this case. Are any of us really surprised at all of this ???
on Apr 9th, 2016 at 05:25
Chief,
It is pay cheque, not pay check.
Brun ? You mean burn.
The word is Posse
Mole – big deal. Come into the real world son. You clearly don’t understand the size of Royal Dutch Shell.
This is an Anglo Dutch Company, you should respect its roots and heritage, it is not North American.
on Apr 7th, 2016 at 01:05
The blind….leading the blind at RDS these days.
on Apr 6th, 2016 at 16:50
It is unfortunate that Royal Dutch Shell is now led by TEAM “B”. All the good folks have been pushed aside.
on Apr 3rd, 2016 at 22:29
Shell Canada has lost all control and decision powers to the incompetent folks in Houston. Houston is led by a POSSY of folks like LE HAYES and LEBETTER that are no more than incompetent managers looking to collect a PAY CHECK. In the meantime they slash and brun smart CANADIAN employees and move jobs to incompetent USA staff that just happen to be their friends and former Military supporters. What a Shame!!!!
on Apr 1st, 2016 at 13:29
Shell is closing the Calgary Lube&Grease plant in 2016. More layoffs in Canada.
on Mar 31st, 2016 at 11:43
Shell the target of a corruption probe? NO! Say it is not so! What is this world coming to! Santa Claus is dead. Oh! The inhumanity of it all!
on Mar 31st, 2016 at 07:30
Contrary to what today’s newspaper reports might suggest, Shell wasn’t “dragged” into the long-running OPL 245 scandal – Shell was involved in orchestrating it from the very start. Since expenditure at this level must have required the approval of the EC it will be interesting to see whether Shell will let us know which members of the EC were responsible for approving the scam.
on Mar 26th, 2016 at 16:11
Shell Canada is in final talks with potential suitors for its Retail Gas Stations. Sources say that 7/11 will pickup Ontario sites while Couche-Tard gets the rest of Canada.
on Mar 25th, 2016 at 00:44
Relaxed: there are not many unconventional fields that are “profitable” at $50-$60/bbl, and most unconventional wells need to be redrilled every 1-2 years. Deep water wells are expected to produce far longer without intervention, and are generally very profitable at $50 – provided only that the host governments don’t get too greedy. So the GoM will survive at low oïl prices, whereas Brazil and Angola might not.
on Mar 24th, 2016 at 22:55
Would like to add to the good post from relieved. I feel going forward that the biggest technical obstacle limiting the high side of oil prices may well be oil fracking. At $50 or$60 a barrel huge state sized fields are profitable in the U S with huge reserves. It’s hard for me to understand how long term prices can break thru that ceiling when hundreds of rigs then show up and start flooding the market a few months later. It really makes me wonder if deep water, especial offshore Brazil, projects aren’t really going to be hurt with limited long term prices and only short term upsides.
on Mar 24th, 2016 at 10:04
Presumably Shell and Inpex were hoping to offload the Prelude vessel onto the Indonesians. The announcement of the indefinite delay to the Browse FLNG development was apparently delayed until Shell and Inpex were sure that the Indonesians would not take the Prelude vessel… I wonder if there are any other unsuspecting countries who would be interested in buying an unfinished prototype “cyclone proof” FLNG barge. Madagascar? Egypt? Nigeria? Israel? Namibia? There’s no shortage of stranded gas out there.
on Mar 21st, 2016 at 15:17
I almost don’t care what the latest rise in the price of oil may be. The industry is beginning to face the inevitable consequences of the advance in new technologies and those are inevitably going to have a very large impact on the long term future of the oil industry. Hybrid vehicle sales are continuing to climb even when gasoline sells below $2/gallon US. We have not yet reached the time when oil and coal are no longer the economic kings that fuel our economies, but we are getting there, and at a rapidly increasing pace.
on Mar 16th, 2016 at 07:55
Talking up the market is obviously a cheap strategy. But it is also a dangerous one that could potentially backfire on Russia and OPEC if it doesn t lead to actual changes in supply.
on Mar 13th, 2016 at 16:35
Seem a lot of people have “inside” views. Well from the outside it looks like Marvin was moved on. The Hague got control back and Upstream Americas (as was) is confined to the history books. I would expect to see more job losses in the rest of Shell now as the BG merger takes hold with more and more central management from the Dutch staff who are all high performers of course.
on Mar 13th, 2016 at 16:31
Your posts are far too long to read especially in the column format. Please give us the shorter version and you may get more support.
on Mar 10th, 2016 at 03:52
Not surprising. And the fact that they moved oil sands into downstream packages up that business nicely.
on Mar 9th, 2016 at 13:35
ON NIGERIA OIL WORKERS SHUT DOWN OF NNPC OVER ‘UNBUNDLING’ – NOT IN THE INTEREST OF THE NIGERIAN COMMON MASSES
We strongly condemn the recent shut down of all offices and facilities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), by its oil workers, in protest of the recent splitting/restructuring of the nation’s oil company into Seven Independent Units by the Federal Government. If the restructuring of the NNPC into several units is intended by the Federal Government to make it more effective, efficient and to drastically reduce the bureaucratic bottlenecks evident in the NNPC as the independent units will be made to ‘manage their own resources and workforce’, then we do not see anything wrong with this. Hence, we do not see the reason for the so called shut down of operations by its workers.
Firstly, let us correct the impression already created by the media that what the Federal Government has done is an “unbundling of the NNPC into different parts”, which many (especially NNPC) has thought might adversely affect/reduce the workforce. But what we believe the Federal Government has done is a “restructuring” of the NNPC to make it more functional, effective and efficient in their services. There is a difference between the two terms ‘unbundling’ and ‘restructuring’.
This was also highlighted by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and GMD NNPC, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, when he announced the restructuring of the NNPC into seven independent units, namely Upstream, Downstream, Gas & Power Marketing, Refineries and Ventures, Corporate Planning & Services and Finance and Accounts. Each of the Units would be headed by Chief Executive Officers, namely Bello Rabiu for Upstream; Henry Ikem-Onih (Downstream); Saudu Mohammed (Gas & Power Marketing); Anibor Kragha (Refineries); while Babatunde Adeniran would be in charge of Ventures. The CEO in charge of Finance & Services would be Ishiaka Abdulrazaq, while the Executive Head, Corporate Services will be Isa Inuwa.
On the workers’ obvious fears, the Minister clearly said the exercise has “zero sum in terms of job loss. The principle of restructuring approved by the President is that nobody losses work. I do not have everyone gets busy, unless for reasons of bad staff performance and fraud. There is no mass attempt to let people go.”
He said the decision to embark on the ‘restructuring’ followed an analysis of the number of staff, which revealed that the corporation was overstaffed, and therefore the need for them to be meaningfully engaged. The only way to realize that objective, the Minister said, was to create jobs for everybody in the system to enable him has something doing. In his words: “We don’t want people coming to the office to read newspapers. We want everybody to get busy and earn money. If we do that we will realize that there would be adequate staff to man the different units, and that we don’t really have the problem of over-staff after all.”
With this understanding, it is plainly seen that what the Federal Government want is to do in the NNPC with this restructuring, is to make more effective, proactive, efficient and functional. So we do not understand why there appears to be so much discontent amongst workers of the oil corporation.
As far as we are concerned, all those kicking against the restructuring of the NNPC as planned by the Federal Government, are doing so for their own selfish interests and not in the interests of the plebeians (common masses) and the Nigerian economy. This includes the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), and the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), who are the two major unions in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria. For PENGASSAN, they have argued that the union was not carried along in the decision to split the company. While for NUPENG, they said the union would not accept the decision without knowing how the manpower that would operate in the restructured units would be managed. We believe these are flimsy excuses used by these unions to justify their strike action. With the explanations given by the Presidency about its plans for engaging in the said NNPC restructuring in the first place, any sane industry player in sector should back the government efforts and not make things worse with a strike action. Also, must these unions use strike actions to communicate their grievances towards the government? What happens to a round table dialogue/discussion or other corporate means to address issues?
The nation’s oil and gas sector is already heated-up and under pressure for a while now over the downward trend of oil price, depleting foreign reserves and pressure on the Naira; why should the NNPC workers make things worse with their ill-advise strike action? If they really mean well for the nation’s economy, then they would realize what the Presidency is trying to achieve with its planned restructuring and they would give the President the needed support.But like we said, it is obvious that some few persons in the circles of country’s oil company are ‘massively benefitting/gaining’ from the status quo and the NNPC as an “umbrella corporation” where Executive decisions are tied to some individuals. Hence, these set of people are using the NNPC workers to frustrate the plans of the President who is trying to address the loopholes in the industry. This group of persons and the said NNPC workers that are currently on strike are obviously ‘anti-people’ and ‘anti-government well-intended objectives’. We strongly condemn their industrial actions, which is not in the interest of the nation’s economy but for their selfish gain.We therefore urge that they promptly call off their strike and support the good intentions of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Zik Gbemre, JP.
National Coordinator
Niger Delta Peace Coalition (NDPC)
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes as if Those Were Our Causes
on Mar 5th, 2016 at 16:44
Shell Canada is working with a third party to sell all downstream assets in 2017 (Retail, Terminals, Refineries)
on Mar 4th, 2016 at 13:40
Relieved – the senior manager retirement age is still 60 in Shell, so that is not why Odum left. It was a long time coming for him now, however I would think he struck a rather nice deal for himself and receives his full pension when leaving the company. Shell usually does that with top brass who are nearing retirement age.
on Mar 1st, 2016 at 03:27
Relieved – have you read the reports? They state he is 57. So I think your theory is flawed. If you look at the facts of his tenure then he should have been brought to task years ago. Maybe his links to the White House kept him in power but the Americas were out of control with their spending.
on Feb 29th, 2016 at 20:55
You could argue that Relieved were he not 57. No, Marvin FINALLY got called out for his incompetence. His presiding over the disasters in the Arctic and in the $40 billion shale misadventure finally caught up with him as all those who took the fall earlier had gone and BvB finally saw him as the liability he was. That was why he was ‘moved’ into the departure lounge position in the first place. I cannot think of a single executive offhand who willingly got off the gravy train before their time regardless of what Corporates press writers spin. The interesting thing will be to see how many of his equally culpable lieutenants (particularly in commercial) follow him to the exit as the BG merger progresses.
on Feb 27th, 2016 at 16:38
It is my guess that Marvin Odum is retiring because he has reached a mandatory retirement age for senior managers. When I worked for Shell that age was 60, although the board could extend the retirement age under special circumstances. As far as I can tell Marvin is retiring because the corporate rules say he must retire, not because he was ‘booted’ out.
on Feb 26th, 2016 at 04:15
At last, a CEO that has the balls and guts to make decisions.
Looks like US is going to get a long overdue shake up and clean out under AB.
Should have been sacked after the Kulluk incident. Wasted billions of dollars and should be hauled before the shareholders to explain where the money went. Apart from sponsoring sporting events in the US. of course !
on Feb 25th, 2016 at 00:47
Marvin has finally “left Shell”. The result of this is that The Hague finally gets to control the Americas operations under Andy Brown, something it has been trying to do ever since Voser gave it away.
Strange move to put a farmer from Alabama in as Country Chair, he has a hard act to follow with Marvin and Hoffmeister both were polished and impressive in public. Bruce is more like the Borat version, just hope he polishes those cowboy boots.
on Feb 23rd, 2016 at 16:23
Shell are seeking a clear picture from the old guard on Corrib regarding the OSSL claims of police alcohol. For their part senior police are now asking serious questions of the remaining named policemen (guards) implicated in the alcohol accusations. More to follow.
on Feb 20th, 2016 at 17:54
RDS is looking at selling off Canadian downstream assets (retail, distribution terminals) in order to fund the BG takeover cash crunch. A secret group is currently working on this initiative and expect more news by end of Q2.
on Feb 13th, 2016 at 10:58
It’s not lost here in Mayo that Media got plied with booze by Shell but we are to believe that policemen and policewoman braving the wind, rain and freezing conditions on land and at sea ( Liam Grimes ) got no under the counter benefits for their efforts.
WE KNOW THEY DID.
on Feb 9th, 2016 at 12:48
Texvette, Marvin may have been closed down but it didn’t stop him wasting millions on the 2017 Superbowl, presumably he will have a ticket in exchange for the millions while his ex staff will be serving him cold beers. I just don’t get it, UA is short of money and we waste money on a super rich sport.
on Feb 1st, 2016 at 19:07
Looks like Marvin Odum was stripped of key responsibilities and placed in a lame Role. Ironically he will have to clean up the messes he left in Alaska and Unconventionals. A bit of Karma, but he should no longer be on the payroll after all his major mistakes.
on Feb 1st, 2016 at 17:31
The merger of Shell T&T and Royal Dutch in 2004 resulted in a major loss to the UK exchequer, as the taxes previously paid by Shell T&T went to the Dutch government instead. Presumably the taxes previously paid by BG will now go to the Dutch government too?
on Feb 1st, 2016 at 15:41
The sale of US natural gas to Europe is all about sticking it the eye of Mr. Putin. Putin has had a bad habit of using gas supplies to extort the EU into giving him what he wants. However, this exportation of US gas will not last forever and the EU needs to get off the dead rear ends and develop their own resources.
on Feb 1st, 2016 at 12:42
I have worked for Shell for more that 10 years and have always defended our business principles even in Nigeria where it is tough not to submit to temptation to move things along easier. The Shell Business principles have always been a cornerstone of the principles by which we work and now we find Ben and his cohorts have not paid any Corporation tax in the UK. Simon Henry, as a British citizen you must be ashamed if this is just slightly true, if not get the lawyers to issue statements and put the Sunday Times in its place.
on Feb 1st, 2016 at 04:10
SHELL CANADA employees are being forced to take a pay cut and shed vacation days while colleges in the USA keep on rolling with no change. Once again CANADIAN employees are treated like second class slaves by the USA masters. It is about time that Shell CANADA separate from the USA and chart its own destiny. Shell USA are a bunch of racist pigs!
on Jan 28th, 2016 at 15:06
London Lad ….Corrib has had five CEOs …that signed letters as Managing Director. The man sacked on January 1st who vilified OSSL in a need for cover up of alcohol gifting to the Irish police was a Director: his name is John Egan.
on Jan 27th, 2016 at 21:34
Dear Sir/Madam,
Two contrasting views on Corrib Gas published by your paper makes interesting reading:
Corrib gas a ‘template’ for ‘how not to undertake a development’
British engineers’ group say more democratic approach could have avoided cost overruns.
and
Brendan Cafferky’s opinion of the Corrib Gas Project – “This project is, in my opinion, an example of how to protect the environment” is the expression of his decade long unstinting support of Shell.
The Pro Gas Mayo group has three or four members, none of them living in the vicinity to the terminal or gas pipeline which may explain why safety issues did not arise for them. Mr. Cafferty seems not to be aware that Corrib Gas Partners can sell their share of gas to whomever they wish but not the Irish Nation. Once Corrib gas is pumped into the Bord Gais gas network it can be sold by way of sale, gas swap and virtual trading – even outside of Ireland. Just because the terminal is in Ireland does not guarantee security of gas supply to Irish customers. It’s a free market.
Mr. Cafferty is not very good on Norwegian history.
Norway’s policies on oil and gas were decided at a time when Norway was told that the nation will never be an oil and gas rich nation, luckily for the Norwegian people they decided to stay in control of their resources just in case. That was in the early 70th and by now they can afford to reduce royalties and tax.
Unfortunately, the Irish decision makers decided in the late 1990 to change fiscal terms and hand all Irish natural resources to the industry, lock, stock and barrel. Time will tell how much Ireland will have lost.
I rather agree with the British Engineers – Corrib Gas is a story of how not to undertake a development. If it is left to Mr. Cafferty = I guess he would do it all again, in the same way.
Regards,
Monica
on Jan 27th, 2016 at 18:47
I have no doubt “Corrib CEO’s” that there has been (at least) three Shell Corrib CEO’s. However, they are not MD’s of Shell (i.e. not Shell Group MD’s which I got the distinct impression that Siggins was possibly attempting to infer). As far as I remember from my days in Shell and MD was not a CEO. Bottom line remains that thankfully for the vast majority of local (and no doubt national) folk the project has gone ahead for the benefit of all.
on Jan 27th, 2016 at 16:50
The real reason behind the Shell-BG merger is that it is cheaper for Shell to go exploring for oil and gas on Wall Street than it is to explore in the ‘natural world’. Witness the Alaska debacle. In the long run this merger may prove to be quite profitable. Time will tell.
on Jan 27th, 2016 at 11:04
Lorna Siggins is accurate three CEOs on Shell Corrib announced in print “mistakes were made on Corrib” Pyle (Rip), Nolan, and Crothers. Corrib has had five CEOs. A statement in itself, London Lad.
on Jan 26th, 2016 at 19:37
Me thinks that Lorna Siggins of the Oirish Times needs to name the actual “several Shell managing directors who have acknowledged mistakes” over the Corrib project. I didn’t think Shell had that many Group Managing Directors!! It remains the case that it is the few NIMBY’s who did not want this project to go ahead for the benefit of the country who continue to cause trouble. Just look at the picture posted on this website – far less than 50 people seem to be demonstrating about the project. These people need to get into the real world for the sake of their children and grandchildren. Maybe they want to run the country on potato fuel as the green alternative?
on Jan 26th, 2016 at 11:08
Corrib was acquired by Shell as a result of Shell’s takeover of Enterprise Oil. Many of the problems which have been documented on this site highlight the shortcomings inherited from Enterprise. Hopefully the integration of BG’s assets into Shell will be more successful.
on Jan 21st, 2016 at 22:20
January 29, 2016 UPDATE
Forces, whom I believed aligned with lawbreaker, SHELL, and the Supreme Court of the Philippines whose inaction to prosecute and/or discipline SHELL , Te, Lapitan et al, evidently proved to be their protector, were successful in their effort to stop me from posting to my personal blog by invoking violation of User Content and Conduct Policy. Though this restriction could give a major debacle in my effort to expose SHELL and the SCP symbiotic relationship, this incident in fact gave me a major victory in the sense that my campaign had yielded a remarkable psychological advantage. It got my needed media attention. I hope the Supreme Court move quick not to lock me up but to institute the much needed reform to effectively rid out inefficiency, incompetence, gross inexcusable negligence and corruption in the judiciary and the whole government machinery that the Filipino people dreamed of in a long time.
on Jan 21st, 2016 at 09:14
Shell Oil must cut all Contractors from WIPRO, ACCENTURE AND IBM since these contractors are all under performers and these Wipro, Accenture and IBM Contractors are not having relevant experience but they bring all freshers/ Zero experienced people to work on IT projects and claim huge hourly rate that is equal to be paid for highly experienced people. These WIPRO, ACCENTURE AND IBM companies including its PMO staff must be fired immediately to save future investments on business improvements. The work/task that can be completed in one day will be completed in 10 days by these Contractors since they get paid for all these days and Looks like Shell Oil is paying for under performed employees that needs to be paid for highly performed employees. Shell must have job cuts with immediate affect by giving Pink slips to all Contractors of Wipro, IBM and Accenture including all PMO Staff.
on Jan 20th, 2016 at 12:16
As one of the many let go by Shell in the recent cull in November I was not impressed by the way senior leaders clung to their jobs. This is now going to get even worse in my opinion as Shell announces more job losses. Even the inmates will be turning on each other as there is nobody left in the asylum and yet strangely the senior leaders still remain in place. The same senior leaders who got us into this mess seem to think they are the best to get Shell out of it. Good luck boys, its great watching from the outside for a change. Oh yes and don’t expect New Orleans to survive as Andy Brown’s boys come to town.
on Jan 19th, 2016 at 19:36
Wow I am once again in agreement with my old mucker “Relieved”. This low oil price is yet another blip in the oscillation of oil price. In R.T. this basically still shows a gentle increase as shown in numerous websites : http://inflationdata.com/Inflation/Inflation_Rate/Historical_Oil_Prices_Table.asp
I am sure that these sort of charts have been used by the various “planners” of RDS for the BG bid. Mind you, when working for RDS I never really trusted some of the scenarios used by these Central Office “boffins”. As far as I am concerned the purchase of BG remains a good deal. Exxon next purchase for Mr. van B??!!
on Jan 19th, 2016 at 16:20
RE:Drum Major – Whilst crazy days may indeed be ahead of us this whiplash (and it will be a whiplash) in the price of oil is not good for anyone. The shakeout will prove to be interesting.
on Jan 18th, 2016 at 15:43
Strange that Shell pulls out of a ADNOC gasproject but continues with the BG deal (if the shareholders allow it). Project costs must be at an all time low now and over 30 years this should be a good deal with the same arguments as used for the BG deal! More gas, more reserves, growing market, prices will increase, shift towards gas, etc etc.
And with Prelude coming along, I worry that in this depressed market there will be tremendous costcutting. This is always good as long as it does not involve cutting corners. But who can guarantee this??
The pressure on the top of Shell must be significant judging from their forced smiles!
on Jan 17th, 2016 at 11:33
So Relieved, whilst not as useful an empty steel oil drum is worth as much as a full one. Crazy days ahead, oil shares should be sold now.
on Jan 16th, 2016 at 19:10
RE:Steel barrel price ? The current list price for 55 gallon steel drums appears to be around US$60. Steel is not cheap anymore. Try the web for better listings.
on Jan 14th, 2016 at 10:07
John Donovan, perhaps readers in the know could tell us how much does a steel barrel for oil cost and at what point will the barrel be worth more than the oil? My guess is 12 or 13 US dollars. Thanks for your great site.
on Jan 11th, 2016 at 19:59
To Old EP Hand: Yes, conventional oil and gas will be here for a good long time. It is a matter of economics.
on Jan 11th, 2016 at 18:13
It’s curious that, according to press reports, global production of oil is increasing to record levels, and the surplus is being stored offshore in increasing numbers of tankers. The price can supposedly only go down. It is strange to hear first hand reports from the field that suggest the opposite: production supposedly collapsing due to a lack of well maintenance and field development. Oil price rises may be much nearer than some of the traders are assuming…
on Jan 11th, 2016 at 16:22
Hello Relieved,
Just check out this presentation on Ted talks.
https://www.ted.com/talks/david_mackay_a_reality_check_on_renewables?
The green maffia is trying to scare everyone into paying more taxes so they can have more green conferences in nice places and pontificate.
But these facts stand in the way so they are being ignored by this same mafia, most liberal media and other fast talking moviestars or politicians. Oil and gas is precious and we should not squander it. But it will be around for a considerable time!
on Jan 11th, 2016 at 16:01
The number of hydbrid gasoline/electric vehicles in the US is expanding dramatically.This is happening simply because of economics – its pays to buy one of these vehicles even when the retail price of gasoline is at US2.00/gal or less. Mileage improvements for passenger vehicles are dramatic, depending upon make and model, but are on the order of 80%. For heavy commercial vehicle it is on the order of 50%. So, not only does the oil industry face a glut of supply it faces the advance of technology that is radically improving consumption efficiency. That translates into lower demand or, in the near term, declining demand for crude. I don’t know as if I would trust Shell crystal ball regarding the increase in crude prices. It will increase, no doubt, but the rate and the degree of increase may not be what Shell wishes it to be.
on Jan 9th, 2016 at 10:01
The author of this comment is Fegalo Nsuke, publicity Secretary of The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP).
The situation in Ogoni is very pathetic. Pain, anger, frustration, sicknesses, malnutrition and poverty are dominant with no signs of relief. The memories of state-sponsored persecution live with us and successive governments continue to prosecute the agenda of hatred against the Ogoni.
The people have been underestimated, considered to be small and weak and adjudged incapable of any negative impact on the economy. This contemplation has empowered our tormentors to unleash the most inhuman treatment on the Ogoni.
In a supposed federation of 36 states, the Ogoni do not have a state of their own. The right to self-determination enjoyed by the majority ethnic groups in Nigeria is denied the Ogoni. The revenue generated from Ogoni, is more those of 20 states in Nigeria, yet the Ogoni, a distinct people with unique language and culture are not allowed to determine their future in their own state. Ogoni is not cared for, denied every thing enjoyed by the majority ethnic groups in Nigeria and subjected to the most inhuman conditions that assure them of no future. Death is for Nigeria, the sure end of the Ogoni.
In seeking to reclaim their rights, Ogoni leaders in 1990 came up with a historic document, The Ogoni Bill of Rights, which spells out their demands on the Nigerian federation. Nigeria did nothing to address the issues and a series of protests from the Ogoni were to follow.
The protests were targeted at Shell’s racist business practices in Ogoni. Shell’s usual response was to invite the Nigerian security forces whose ruthlessness left the Ogoni with an unending pain. Thousands killed, women raped, children killed and abused, thousands imprisoned and living conditions only get worse. Ogonis had been’ battered by a government that should have protected them. The climax was the November 10, 1995 hanging of nine of our leaders including Dr. Barinem Kiobel, Rev. John Kpuinen, Ken Saro-Wia and 6 others.
Convicted by their conscience, the Nigerian government ordered an environmental audit of Ogoniland and on August 4, 2011, the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) released the audit report on Ogoni environment.
The UNEP report represented the first major success for the Ogoni as a scientific study by an independent body justifying the complaints of environmental damage leveled against The Shell Petroleum Company. Shell had operated in Ogoni for over 50 years and left nothing other than a completely devastated land. The U.N report said the pollution of Ogoniland would take 30 years to cleanup. Prior to this report, Shell had persistently claimed innocence of any wrongdoing in Ogoni.
Over four years later, the Nigerian government is yet to implement the report. The non-implementation of the UNEP report on Ogoniland points the fact that the Nigerian government is indeed committed to the systematic destruction of Ogoni. The government has taken over 30billion dollars worth of oil between 1958 and 1990 and have left oil spills to damage the area without any positive response.
The 30 day ultimatum issued by The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) on January 4, 2016 in Bori, calling for urgent action to implement the Ogoni environmental audit report or face series of mass action has come at the right time. MOSOP has spoken the minds of the Ogoni people. A people with no other alternative but to march against genocide and confront a seemingly insensitive Nigerian government. Ogonis cannot wait to see everyone die before they move to save and secure their future. We have a responsibility to stop the genocide!
With two refineries, two seaports and two power plants in Ogoniland, I am sure the government cannot risk an “occupy campaign” from Ogoni. Ogonis will consider occupying the oil and gas free zone, seaports and refineries endlessly until we are heard. We will come out with our foodstuffs, cloths and take over these territories to force the Nigerian government to act now.
The time to act is now. The Nigerian government has to address the Ogoni problem, beginning with the cleanup of the environment.
Author: Fegalo Nsuke is publicity Secretary of The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP).
on Jan 7th, 2016 at 08:47
JANUARY 7, 2016 UPDATE_SHELL Follow the Law or get out….
Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation (SHELL) greed and unlawful endeavor extend even to the point of robbing employee retirement pay by circumventing the Retirement Pay Law. I have called the attention of the Supreme Court of the Philippines through Atty. Theodore Te, the PIO Chief, since September 2015 about this matter, but up to this time January 2016, the good PIO Chief refused to give my complaint against SHELL due course. I even tweeted the honorables CJ Sereno and Justice Leonen about my plight that SHELL ROBBED MY RETIREMENT PAY but after a couple of days their tweeter accounts disappeared and as I feel it, both justices gone into hiding, perhaps to deny knowledge of my predicament and consequently, escape blame for their inaction. With these experiences dealing with SHELL and the Supreme Court I have reasons to believe that SHELL will not be bold enough to disregard the law without the protectors in the Supreme Court and this protection, of course is not free. However, these “honorable” people though have learned to transfer shame from their faces to the soles of their feet, could not withstand the mounting pressure for reform from the enlightened citizenry.
on Jan 7th, 2016 at 01:02
COMMENT IN RESPONSE TO ARTICLE: “Chris Blackhurst: Shell and BG’s £47 billion merger could really pay dividends”
Yes, Lloyd’s amalgamated with HBOS to produce one big bad bank. And so why did the Lloyd’s shareholders vote it through by 90%? Well maybe it was because the majority were also HBOS shareholders, much like this case where many institutions hold both Shell and BG shares. Do you really think they’ll vote NO and risk a collapse in the BG share price and resignation of the Shell BOD? You think Shell won’t be tempted to cut the dividend if the deal collapses and oil stays this low? Are the media so incapable of joined up thinking? Exxon would just love a NO vote, in fact they’re probably IMO, sponsoring a lot of the negative media stories over the past 12 months.
on Jan 4th, 2016 at 14:17
Ben’s luck could be about to change with a flare-up in the middle east rather than in Ireland. The oil price will soon react if Saudi-Iran hostilities spiral.
on Jan 4th, 2016 at 13:31
Bad luck in offshore Alaska. Dry well after Ben van Beurden approved another ill-fated attempt at Arctic drilling.
Misfortune in the Dutch courts with a precedent-setting decision that Shell can be sued in the Netherlands for alleged pollution and human rights claims arising in other countries. In the case in question, Nigeria. Was the unexpected decision a consequence of Ben firing Shell’s top lawyer Peter Rees two years ago? The court decision could cost Shell many billions.
More bad luck with the collapse in oil prices after Ben made a takeover bid for BG Group.
Would he have made today the deal he offered last April with the oil price factored in at $67 per barrel? I think we all know the answer.
Why is he not attempting to renegotiate?
Boldest Shell leader for many years but dogged by miscalculation and misfortune.
on Dec 27th, 2015 at 18:45
RDS sees its long term future as primarily a gas company. That has been clear for some time. It sees a ‘big’ future for gas in its corporate crystal ball and in that context the BG deal makes some long term sense. Time will tell.
on Dec 22nd, 2015 at 15:16
Saw the article entitled ‘Your Company is Evil’. Well, that is a matter of perception. However, there is no question that Shell’s management is totally amoral. And that goes for most mega-corporations. Get used to it.
on Dec 21st, 2015 at 19:58
Say Relieved, what tax is applied to petrol (gasoline to you over the pond) compared to Coca Cola?? My view has always been that the US does NOT tax fuel (gas/petrol) enough compared to most modern societies. HOWEVER, as a person who does not believe in the crap that the likes of Greenpeace et. al. pontificate about long may the Yanks lower tax on fuel!! Happy Christmas to all.
on Dec 21st, 2015 at 15:47
If anyone is interested, retail gasoline prices throughout most of the U.S. are now below US$2.00 per gallon. Instead of a merger with BG, maybe Shell should consider a hostile takeover of the Coca Cola Company. The retail price of Coke is around US$4.00 per gallon.
on Dec 20th, 2015 at 07:18
December 19, 2015 UPDATE
My close family relative who now lives in my home address in the Philippines reported to me that at least on four occasions this past month of November 2015 men coming to interview them guised as LPG inspectors, census surveyors or my old friends and asking questions seemingly far beyond they supposed to be asking like personal information about the members of my family and place where they can be found and about myself…when I will be coming back home. My close relative felt something is not going right. As SHELL being portrayed from several of John Donovan’s article like the case of Ken Saro-Wiwa, it is not far that what happened to Ken Saro-Wiwa, could be done best in the Philippines given the culture of impunity they enjoyed, as I experienced and being observed, under the protection of the Supreme Court of the Philippines.
on Dec 14th, 2015 at 07:11
December 14, 2015 UPDATE
Up to this time the Supreme Court of the Philippines PIO Chief, refused to respond on my inquiries and worse I feared that my messages are not reaching Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. So I searched for her tweeter account and I found it together with another, for Associate Justice Marvin Leonen tweeter account , where I tweeted them both my article “SHELL ROBBED EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT PAY”, a couple of days ago. But now that I am about to tweet them again, I could not find their tweeter accounts anymore. I have a suspicion that both Supreme Court Justices hides to avoid answering complaint against SHELL and the PIO Chief.
on Dec 13th, 2015 at 19:35
Say “Bogey Boy” did Mike Napier (never heard of him but I assume he is / was your boss / ex-boss) fire you and that is therefore your main gripe? You are correct about Shell wanting to make money – surely all companies want to do this (and are required to do this by their shareholders)? That said, all companies must adhere to the law of the land in doing so. Global warming? …. too much time spent on this subject, seems to be an easy excuse by government representatives, show-biz people and media reporters to go on a jolly trip around the world to pontificate and burn up the planet by flying there!!
on Dec 12th, 2015 at 19:46
RDS is looking to exit the downstream markets in Canada, Argentina, New Zealand, South Africa, and Germany
on Dec 12th, 2015 at 09:58
I cant wait to see what rubbish shell say about climate change now. Shell appear like a lost lost sheep. The dull rancid stale corpse VP Mike Napier of communications will order more lies to make it look like shell stand for something. they only care about making the dollar. Most of the worker know this too. Shell is abomination. Comment ends. Photo of Mike Napier immediately below.
on Dec 10th, 2015 at 22:00
Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation misappropriated my retirement pay for their obligation for the payment of separation pay. This is against the Retirement Pay Law in the Philippines. Now that I am retired I started claiming my retirement pay from Shell but Shell refused to honor the company’s obligation under the law. I filed petition to the Philippine Supreme Court but the high ranking personnel, the PiO Chief is delaying and/or preventing the petition due course.
on Dec 9th, 2015 at 16:20
Any hope of knocking US shale production out of the global markets long term is futile. While there may some short term success, that oil isn’t going anywhere and as soon as oil prices recover so will shale oil production. The one effect excess production will have is to bankrupt the Russians, which probably is not a bad thing.
on Dec 6th, 2015 at 10:32
If you don’t want that sort of excitement on this blog Outsider then don’t post it. Clearly a serious accident but nothing to do with Shell in this instance.
on Dec 5th, 2015 at 19:37
There we go, as soon as I post about those NIMBY Oorish over Corrib we get the blog going. So Donovan 4 (yes four!!) initiated a legal challenge against Shell – just goes to show what the sensible folk of Mayo want from a project that will bring money and jobs to the area. However, the likes of the Harrington’s appear to be stuck in the 19th century.
on Dec 5th, 2015 at 18:22
For those craving more excitement on this site, see: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35016461
I for one would prefer to have less excitement. 30+ fatalities, 30+ families bereaved.
on Dec 3rd, 2015 at 19:57
Have to agree “Cowboy” – it’s for that reason I sometimes put some end-of-the-week postings to stir some input!! So here goes …. (1) Has all this Corrib NIBY (not in my back yard) stuff stopped progress in Ireland? – same sort of people that you see objecting to bombing ISIL etc. (2) the RDS buying of BG has gone ahead despite all the gloom merchants, (3) what about my old mucker in Malaysia who tried to take SSB/SSPC to court? Jeez, and we are still 3rd in the Premiership!!
on Dec 2nd, 2015 at 14:14
Site is getting stale and boring. Anything new. Seems only a bunch of losers are commenting here.
on Nov 20th, 2015 at 16:31
Lorraine Mitchelmore is really leaving because Shell is disgusted with MARVIN’s strategy to gut Shell CANADA. Shell CANADA is now but a mere shadow of the strong company it was prior to the RDS takeover. RDS has systematically dismantled and reduced Shell CANADA to a small player in Canada to the point where it has dropped to number 3 or number 4 in Canada. This is a JOKE and will only get worse as MARVIN and the other global clowns prepare to further weaken and destroy Shell CANADA. That is the true story.
on Nov 13th, 2015 at 00:53
You can add Pickard to your list of Marvin rejects, he is rapidly running out of people to blame ! In the last 4 years the senior leaders ‘discarded’ by Marvin has been awesome. Someone should buy him a mirror .
on Nov 12th, 2015 at 08:10
And again Shell Moerdijk failed to start up due to a fire in the compressor room. The guestion is how long will the delay be this time?
on Nov 9th, 2015 at 15:55
I suspect the Saudis have multiple objectives in mind by keeping up their production, not the least of which is to stick it to the Russians. By boosting production in the early to mid-1980’s and causing a collapse in the price of oil the Kingdom effectively bankrupted the old Soviet Empire which doomed to to collapse. The Saudis are no friend of Putin or his cronies.
on Nov 7th, 2015 at 04:10
Marvin has now fired Shell Canada country chair (Lorraine Mitchelmore). Once again the Americans are messing things up here in Canada!
on Nov 1st, 2015 at 10:03
The articles about the BG takeover are focussed on the short term prices of oïl and gas, but the oïl and gas development projects that Shell and BG undertake have a time horizon of 20 years or more.
While the analysts and journalists are focussed on quarterly results, the companies that they analyse are looking a little further into the future. There is no question that the prices of oïl and gas will rise again as the current lack of investment causes production to fall, whilst demand is steadily rising. Whether it is in six months or two years nobody can tell.
Any major upstream development investment decision made within an oil company is based on the net present value (NPV) of a project, even when the cash flow of the project may be negative for several years after approval. On this basis, even the most pessimistic current estimates of future oil and gas prices will result in a positive NPV for the BG deal.
on Oct 29th, 2015 at 11:33
What terrible lazy journalism by Neilan. In claiming Shell shares have “tumbled” whereas in fact they only went down by 2%. Thats hardly a ‘tumble’ in anyones eyes. It sounded like it was a shock to her that Shell made a loss. Where has she been the last 9 months? What will her next article be? “Germany Invades Poland”
on Oct 29th, 2015 at 02:02
Carmon Creek, Alaska, Eagle Ford ….. Would someone PLEASE tell me something Marvin has done right? If Ben keeps him on, his new title should be CFO (cluster f**k officer).
on Oct 23rd, 2015 at 07:25
maybe somebody should tell the BIDNESS article has the BP logo on it not the BG one. Ifpeople wish to write such stuff v it makes one wonder how informed they really are?
REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN:
Yes, it was a Bidness.com howler that I should have noticed. Now rectified.
on Oct 18th, 2015 at 15:10
The Saudis have chosen Poland for a reason. With Poland’s total oil imports a bit above 24 million tons per year, with 20 million tons coming from Russia, this is a historic opportunity to not only shake off its energy dependence from Russia, but also to become an major Saudi oil hub in Europe.
Poland’s Northern Port in Gdansk can receive up to 35 million tons of oil per year with a possibility to increase this capacity by at least 25%, i.e. to some 44 to 45 million tons per year, what leaves some 20 million tons per year of excess capacity.
As the most recent reports state, the Saudis extended an offer to Poland to co-finance the construction of oil storage facilities and pipelines redirecting the oil to the Baltic States, Ukraine and the Visegrad Group member states. This alone would reduce Russia’s oil exports to Europe by a whopping 13%, thus reducing its annual export revenue by $12 billion (at $30 per barrel) to close to $20 billion (at $50 per barrel).
Poland, of course, will be more than happy to throw as much sand into the Russian financial gears as possible, since it’s the main driving force behind the creation of the European energy union and stripping Russia of its all monopoly pricing power on the EU energy markets. Germany and France, as well as the Scandinavians will likely comply.
on Oct 14th, 2015 at 20:12
INTERESTING ARTICLES
Petroleum News: Burger delivers: MMS reappraises Chukchi well; may be largest hydrocarbon find on Alaska OCS
MINERALS MANAGEMENT SERVICE: Summary of Economic Study of the Burger Gas Discovery, Chukchi Shelf, Northwest Alaska
From these two articles it is clear that the big problem for Shell was the lack of oil and the now low prices for both gas and oil. This prospect contains a huge amount of gas and gas condensate but it is not economic to develop at current commodity prices. Shell’s hope (if it ever existed) of finding oil was probably futile wishful thinking and doomed from the outset. If this prospect were located onshore it would probably be economic to develop, even if the gas were re-injected and only the condensate was produced. This field falls into the category of a ‘super giant’ field.
Given all that is and was known about this prospect, it would appear someone at Shell really goofed in deciding to commit the kind of financial resources that were committed to this project. From an economic standpoint this was a very high risk project from the beginning.
The big problem for Shell is that the accumulation is mostly gas and gas condensate, with little or no oil. Given current gas prices in the US and the low price of oil there is simply no way that Shell could make development of this prospect pay off, no mattter what the politicians in Alaska might claim.
on Oct 14th, 2015 at 14:48
Read the post about Sullivan’s comments. He is a classic political hack who is completely ignorant of basic econimics. It Shell had found significant volumes of oil (and not gas) then they would be planning to move forward. The bottom line is always the bottom line.
on Oct 13th, 2015 at 00:13
LondonLad and Dononvan, you are correct – there are credible articles linked on the website. This one article was so misleading and so wrong that I had to react to it.
on Oct 11th, 2015 at 13:50
Oct 11,2015 – Sullivan Reacts to Shell Arctic OCS Announcement
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) released the following statement after Shell’s announcement that it is abandoning its Arctic drilling program, citing high costs and the “challenging and unpredictable federal regulatory environment.”
Senator Sullivan said: “Shell’s announcement is being cheered by environmental groups, but it’s a very sad day for Alaska and for working Alaskans and Americans across the country. From the beginning, through unprecedented regulatory hurdles and delays, the Obama administration and its environmental allies have created the conditions for Shell to abandon its Arctic drilling program. And they succeeded. Shell spent seven years and $7 billion trying to drill a single well in America’s Arctic, where hundreds of exploratory wells have been successfully drilled. Under such circumstances it would be extremely difficult for any company to move forward.
“Now, countless jobs will be lost, American’s energy security will be diminished, and the Arctic environment will be degraded with the least environmentally responsible countries leading development. Make no mistake: Countries like Russia and China will continue to develop the Arctic’s natural resources, but will do so with little regard for the environment.
“The Obama administration hit the trifecta: killing jobs, undermining energy security, and degrading the environment. Now more than ever we must work to create an efficient, timely and certain regulatory regime for the United States that helps create jobs, energy, and infrastructure, and promotes partnership with the private sector to grow the economy. As Alaskans, we must start weighing each and every regulatory and policy decision as if our economic future depends on it – because it does.”
on Oct 7th, 2015 at 18:32
Just love the recent article on The Nigerian Alison-Madueke by Sahara Reporters in which, quote “ …… southern government officials and leaders try to outdo each other when it comes to corruption”. If true, how come this greedy corrupt bitch could afford such expensive property in London (and elsewhere) based on her Nigerian ministerial salary plus her Shell pension!! It is a cancerous problem in Nigeria and TO A DEGREE in SPDC / SNEPCO / NLNG etc. Seen it and heard about it first hand whilst working there.
on Oct 6th, 2015 at 15:36
The Arctic fiasco seems to suggest that incompetence extends all the way from the operations people back to the explorationists themselves… Lawrence was sacrificed to shield Odum last time, but the number of “dry” holes that have been drilled over the past few years appears to be considerably in excess of the industry average… I wonder if Odum has the connections to save himself now?
on Sep 30th, 2015 at 17:47
I hardly think that Greenpeace “news sources” can be deemed as reliable. They are very well known for their manipulation of numbers / statistics etc. Others, such as the Guardian newspaper and the BBC are so left wing biased that even Jeremy Corbyn must wonder at their reliability 😉 But adding to Tom Prudential (surname close to reality??) I totally agree about the SOCPF twaddle mentioned in this sites bullshit advertisement, as I mentioned before. However, Tom I have to agree with Donovan for once that not all articles / commentaries on this website are unreliable / untrustworthy.
on Sep 30th, 2015 at 15:49
Well, Shell’s abrupt departure from the Arctic is rather puzzling given all their bravado about the potential of the Burger prospect. While they have said very little about the drilling results, from what has been said I would guess they got bit by a reservoir quality/ development issue, i.e, poor reservoir development and not enough oil to justify going ahead with what would obviously have been a very expensive, technically and politically challenging project. There is never a ‘sure thing’ in the exploration business and maybe those YoYo’s in Houston have learned a valuable lesson – Don’t bet the farm on a ‘sure thing’. Given Shell’s expenditure on this project someone clearly oversold the potential to upper level management. And upper level management wasn’t savvy enough technically to see through the smoke and mirrors (Peter Vosser, et al). If Shell is going to be an ‘upstream company’ then the bean counters cannot be the ones who run the operation.
on Sep 29th, 2015 at 21:11
The article about Shell pension being underfunded is totally incorrect. They may be talking about a small subset of the Shell pensioners, but the US and Dutch funds are overfunded. Geez, cant trust anything on this site.
REPLY BY JOHN DONOVAN
A sweeping and obviously unfair condemnation bearing in mind that the vast majority of articles published here are from the most respected news sources in the world. Are you referring to this article or a related comment posted on the Shell Blog?
on Sep 29th, 2015 at 09:54
The justification (such as it is) for the payment of obscene remuneration to Shell’s head honchos (24.2m Euros to the CEO last year) is that we buy wisdom, competence and knowledge. When they blow 9bn Euros in The Arctic in this way the whole pack of cards collapses. van Beurden should go and return his bonuses immediately. Don’t hold your breath.
on Sep 28th, 2015 at 15:58
It must have been an interesting conversation between Ben and Marvin. “What do you mean there is no oil? You wasted 7 billion? Oh dear another nail in Marvins coffin.
on Sep 25th, 2015 at 14:41
Pretty much correct Relieved it is all about $$$ (or in “our” case £££). RDS is correct to adhere to most (yes most) of the shareholders who require a healthy return on capital employed together with a good dividend. Sure there are objections from NIMBEY’s and Greenpeace etc. but at the end of the day we have to advance society and at the moment this cannot be done with renewables.
on Sep 25th, 2015 at 11:40
We MUST (?) drill in the Arctic because Shell missed out on the huge oil shale bonanza in the lower 48. North Dakota now produces 1.2 million barrels of sweet crude a day and is going to do so for a long time to come. That is almost 1/2 billion barrels of oil a year. And that oil isn’t going anywhere even if the Saudi’s manage to depress oil prices and shale oil production for a few years. Estimates for oil reserves in the Wiliston basin of North Dakotan, Montana and Alberta are on the order of 40 billion barrels recoverable out of somewhere around 1 trillion barrels of oil in place. There is no other country in the world that offers the profit potential that the Alaskan offshore offers. That is why Shell MUST drill in the Arctic. It is about $$$ for Shell, not about the long term need for oil. And Shell would no doubt want to export Alaskan oil to obtain the higher international price. So, the notion that drilling in Alaska is about American oil independence is a fraud as well. Shell’s only motivation is $$$. The bottom line here is the bottom line.
on Sep 24th, 2015 at 11:45
Strange to say the least. According to the latest Shell Overseas Contributory Pension Fund newsletter it states the following : Value of the fund is £3.83 billion with a funding level of 102%, with an overall investment return of 7.2%. There is also a comment from the Actuary stating “The recently introduced Contribution Reserve Account will help to provide security for members’ benefits while reducing the risk of over-funding in the long term”. This would appear to show that the (advert) commentary by Lisa Smith of iExpats is way off the mark in terms of her stated numbers for SOCPF and her “fear factor” is merely there to promote business?
on Sep 22nd, 2015 at 17:50
Aaagh glad to be back in Blighty and able to regularly read some of the nonsense written about Shell / Corrib. Well Maura Harrington I for one will NOT be signing such a petition. Thus far Shell has NOT been found guilty of anything (apart from trying to advance the lives of Irish people). You NIMBEY’s need to wake up and smell the coffee. This project is NOT of global significance (and hardly national I would suspect) – apart from this biased website and the likes of the left-wing Guardian newspaper I have NOT seen this project mentioned. I would suggest that you need to accept that nations progress with some sacrifices and with the benefit for their children and grandchildren. Stone Age thinking does not work in the modern world.
on Sep 20th, 2015 at 12:04
NAM earthquake topic.
Mr Spong is one of Netherlands top earning lawyers, and with no doubt his team will make a nice dime out of this one. I may sound biased, but the compensation that NAM has been paying for many has been generous and quite significant for the houses at stake. A court also ruled that people living here need to be further compensated for loss of value of house. Even if no damage has been suffered! I live outside this range and my house has lost at least 30% value the past 8 years! As for Mr Spong, better read up on your terminology or else your case will be dismissed quite quickly. The drilling is doing no damage nor is it putting people’s lives at risk.
on Sep 7th, 2015 at 10:12
Good to see in today’s Myanmar Times newspaper that She’ll plans to start seismic in all 3 of their deep water blocks in October. With a commitment of 1.2 billion U.S. dollars let’s hope there is are a number of economic discoveries to be made for Shell and Myanmar.
on Sep 6th, 2015 at 11:35
Hopefully the “masters” of NAM are also stuck with bill for earthquakes allegedly caused by the Groningen field gas production DSM are as guilty (or innocent ) as NAM their contractor.
on Sep 5th, 2015 at 15:37
The new Upstream Americas HSE org charts have been released without many surprises. More managers less staff while the safety performance under the current VP HSE has been slowly getting worse and still the worst in Shell. Will the last workers in Shell to leave show the managers how to turn the lights off?
on Aug 30th, 2015 at 12:01
Hello Relieved, who says we should go back to large scale indisciminate use of insecticides? Dogmatic opposition to DDT meant NO DDT at all. By using knowledge and applying DDT minimally and where one gets the biggest bang for the buck is something else.
Similar for the use of the most safe and clean power generation, greenpeace remains dead set against all use of nuclear power. This alone has a high chance of creating a power shortage in the world in about a generation from now since nuclear power is IMHO an inevitable in between phase between today and the future of completely sustainable energy supply, predominantly solar power.
And please don’t start mentioning Chernobyl and read up on the facts. Terrible disaster but the nuclear bombs set off in the 50s and 60s in the atmosphere created a very well-documented fall-out that was the equivalent of 2 Chernobyls per week for a year. And the world has only improved since then…
on Aug 29th, 2015 at 15:18
I am never surprised by hard core oil and chemical industry types. Why don’t we bring back all those banned pesticides because the clearly ‘save lives’, not to mention enrich those who manufacture them. You would be amazed and the number of genetic deformities that show up in wildlife in the Brazos River Valley in Texas that are directly attributable to the heavy and widespread use of herbicides and pesticides. These people have failed to learn the lesson of nature that little birdies know by instinct, and that is: ‘It is fatal to sh*t in your own nest.’
on Aug 29th, 2015 at 14:28
LondonLad, well said. Completely agree. You did not mention it but is was in the link you supplied. Greenpeace is responsible for millions of malaria deaths due to their dogmatic opposition of DDT. This is very well documented. I dare not take the word murderers in my mouth…
They are a professional marketing organisation that terrorises many companies, governments and individuals into doing the wrong thing. There is no accountability. And in the netherlands it is a stepping stone for making political careers after the photogenetic attraction of young activists wears off. In another generation from now it will become clear they have been responsible for forcing governments and companies into destroying wealth and creating hunger as well as energy shortages.
By that time they (and the politicians with a greenpeace background) will explain in the media that they have been misunderstood, misinterpreted and with the knowledge of today ‘we might have done things slightly differently’. Perhaps a small ‘sorry’. They, as few others, know the strength of manipulating the large number of ‘useful idiots’ in our society, thereby raking in a lot of money.
on Aug 28th, 2015 at 16:07
Found the following on Greenpeace and their usual dubious antics (much more on them in the article at :
https://www.activistfacts.com/organizations/131-greenpeace/
Greenpeace is the largest environmental organization in the world, with an international membership of over 3 million and offices in over 40 countries. Forbes magazine once described it as “a skillfully managed business” with full command of “the tools of direct mail and image manipulation — and tactics that would bring instant condemnation if practiced by a for-profit corporation.” But Greenpeace has escaped public censure by hiding behind the mask of its “non-profit” status and its U.S. tax exemption. In other countries, however, Greenpeace has not been as lucky: Both Canada and New Zealand have revoked the organization’s non-profit status, noting that the group’s overly politicized agenda no longer has any “public benefit.”
Greenpeace was originally the brainchild of the radical “Don’t Make a Wave Committee,” a group of American draft-dodgers who fled to Vancouver in 1969 and, supported by money from anti-war Quaker organizations, got into the business of forcibly blocking American nuclear tests. Over the years the group has loudly made its feelings known on a variety of issues (nuclear testing, whaling, and global warming, for instance), and its Amsterdam-based activist moguls pull the strings on what is estimated to be a $360 million global empire.
In the United States, however, Greenpeace is a relatively modest activist group, spending about $10 million per year. And the lion’s share of that budget in recent years has gone to outrageous attempts to smear agricultural biotech products, consumer electronics, and the logging and fishing industries.
• Greenpeace campaigns against all forms of energy production except for wind and solar. Unfortunately, a whopping 98 percent of the world’s energy supply comes from sources other than wind and solar, This is not likely to change anytime soon due to the cost, both in dollars and in raw materials, required to produce wind turbines and photovoltaic arrays.
• Greenpeace claims to be dedicated to saving the whales. They are happy to exploit the emotional impact of the slaughter of these noble creatures to raise funds and recruit members, but less interested in acting to end the practice of whaling worldwide. In principle, Greenpeace is not even opposed to whaling.
• Greenpeace is against the use of numerous chemical substances including, but not limited to, elemental chlorine, one of the building blocks of life on our planet. Considering that chlorine is responsible for providing much of the world with clean drinking water, and the Earth’s population with some 85 percent of all pharmaceuticals and vitamins, this hard-line stance is must be considered both uninformed and inhumane.
• Greenpeace is unwavering in its conviction that the “unforeseen” health and environmental consequences of planting genetically engineered crops that can grow in hostile environments will forever outweigh any potential humanitarian benefits. While they mount protests aimed at ripping these mutant “Frankenfoods” from the soil and the supermarket shelves, impoverished populations around the globe suffer from the preventable pandemic of malnutrition.
• Greenpeace remains bent on destroying aquaculture industry while they continue to raise alarm about the status of wild fish stocks. Using the apocalyptic image of oceans picked clean of all aquatic organisms, Greenpeace keeps raking in the donations while battling against an industry that is already taking great pains to ensure its sustainability.
Instead of working hand-in-hand with business owners to forge a path towards a sustainable future like other less myopic environmental organizations, Greenpeace’s dogmatic adherence to the precautionary principle causes them to overlook the fatal flaws inherent in their own radical policies.
on Aug 24th, 2015 at 17:51
I have received a couple of formal emails today from OSSL complaining about the comments made by the person claiming to be Jerry Fletcher from Mayo.
This is the content of their second request today:
STARTS
Mr Donovan,
May we respectfully request that recent postings on you website that relate to OSSL in the matters of taxation, lies, corruption and false invoicing, in our business transactions with
Shell E&P Ireland be remove from the site.
We at OSSL refute completely all aspects of these postings attributed to a “Jerry Fletcher,” and trust you will act immediately to comply with our request.
Thank you,
OSSL.
ENDS
With regards to taxation, I am not sure if that is a reference to VAT on the invoice OSSL issued to Shell requesting payment for alcohol OSSL distributed to the Irish Police on behalf of Shell, or to some other taxation matters.
As to corruption, OSSL has admitted distributing gifts to various parties on behalf of Shell including the free alcohol to the cops. All designed to smooth the path of the controversial Corrib Gas project in Ireland.
Have to agree with Jerry that OSSL has not produced any financial transaction records to support their various claims. OSSL says that the reason is because Shell insisted on being given all such information so that no trace was left of the corruption scheme.
As to false invoicing, I assume that this is what OSSL has described in hundreds of emails as disguised invoices passed through Roadbridge, a main contractor.
The alcohol was transported across the Irish border by OSSL. What was that all about?
Where was it purchased?
One thing for sure. OSSL directors cannot be described as angels.
They had the goods on Shell and decided to blow the whistle.
I described their actions as blackmail against Shell, but no one seemed bothered.
I reported that matter to the Irish Police but no action was taken.
The bombardment of OSSL emails against Shell has continued for years.
OSSL advised me that the Irish police are engaged in a criminal investigation against them over alleged harassment, presumably by email. Do not know the status of the case.
on Aug 22nd, 2015 at 15:23
There is an excellent chance that Hilary Clinton will be elected President during the next election cycle. This does not bode well for Shell or any of the other majors seeking to exploit the offshore US Arctic oil reserves. While Shell may indeed prove up the reserves in their Burger prospect, getting the permits to produce and build pipelines is another matter. Count on long legal battles.
on Aug 22nd, 2015 at 09:23
Forgot to mention, it is Mr. Jerry Fletcher a Mayo resident. As for the guards, have some balls and arrest the OSSL Directors.
COMMENT BY JOHN DONOVAN:
Jerry, you and I are now in total agreement. The Irish police have ample legitimate grounds on which to take action against OSSL for an array of offences. It does not make sense why they have not done so unless they know that action would open a can of worms.
on Aug 21st, 2015 at 17:36
THIS POSTING BY JERRY FLETCHER SUSPENDED.
Mr Jerry Fletcher, you are invited to supply me within 14 days verifiable evidence to support your serious allegations against OSSL, which OSSL insist are unfounded and defamatory. Please also supply your Mayo address including postcode. Your address will not be published. Please send required information to john@shellnews.net. Your posting is suspended until the expiration of the 14 day period, when in the light of any information supplied by you, I will decide whether to repost your comments.Contact me on the same email address if you want copies of the relevant postings.
John Donovan for royaldutchshellplc.com: 25 August 2015
on Aug 21st, 2015 at 07:25
Mr or Mrs Jerry , you are wrong on all fronts, senior
Counsel states that the veracity of Ossls delivery of factual honest evidence on the top police man’s demands for statement falsification by OSSL and the delivery of alcohol by Shell gave “enormous weight” in the unanimous acquittal of Shells pipeline neighbours. On the matter of evidence, you would do well to follow @osslsafety on Twitter and Facebook and watch the police and Shell being completely hampered by the truth.
on Aug 20th, 2015 at 15:30
REPLY TO JERRY THE TROLL: You clearly have no knowledge about the educational background of Maura Harrington, or you would not accuse her of being stupid. Maura is far from being stupid. As for your allegation that OSSL directors lied in court if that is the case why have the Irish authorities not taken action against them for perjury? As for corruption, OSSL directors freely admit to distributing bribes on behalf of their then client, Shell EP Ireland. I named the recipients years ago, including senior Irish police officers. No one sued me for defamation.
on Aug 19th, 2015 at 23:23
THIS POSTING BY JERRY FLETCHER SUSPENDED.
Mr Jerry Fletcher, you are invited to supply me within 14 days verifiable evidence to support your serious allegations against OSSL, which OSSL insist are unfounded and defamatory. Please also supply your Mayo address including postcode. Your address will not be published. Please send required information to john@shellnews.net. Your posting is suspended until the expiration of the 14 day period, when in the light of any information supplied by you, I will decide whether to repost your comments. Contact me on the same email address if you want copies of the relevant postings.
John Donovan for royaldutchshellplc.com: 25 August 2015
on Aug 19th, 2015 at 05:00
About a week ago, Shell’s Deer Park refinery had a massive release of almost 200 tonnes of liquid butadiene. This material is similar in nature to the chemicals released at the BP Texas City refinery in 2005 (killing 15 and injuring over 170). The amount of material released was so great; the cloud passed through the refinery and was detected by ambient air monitors over 10 miles away. Why haven’t people heard about this?
on Aug 12th, 2015 at 08:10
Big thanks for all your work, love the site. Thought you might be interested in this: http://chukchiwatch.blogspot.com/2015/08/drilling-in-chukchi-sea-is-shallow-safer.html
on Aug 10th, 2015 at 11:43
geruchtenmolen you are correct in your assumptions except some functional areas will lose 40% and not before time. Costs up 60% and FTE’s up 40% under Hollowed. That’s a lot of Aggies he brought in ! The old boy network if finally crumbling. I winder when the Ice Queen will take over Marvin’s role?
on Aug 10th, 2015 at 08:31
Subject: Hero to zero…. how Shell crush once willing allies …no voice ..until now.
Who were OSSL? Is anybody listening in Shell?
On Christmas Eve 2007 ….Shell telephoned Neil Rooney he was at home for the Christmas holiday …Shell informed Rooney that a lady near Shells landfall site had a visit from Shell that morning the visitor a Shell local liaison officer learned that the lady’s television was broken.
Shell requested of Rooney that he act immediately to rectify the broken television.
Rooney got into his car drove five hours via Enniskillen where he purchased a new model television and drove to the lady’s house in Glengad.
Rooney fitted ..tuned in ..and demonstrated the television to the obviously delighted lady.
For good measure (given it was Christmas ) he also gave the lady a box of biscuits and a bottle of brandy.
The lady requested that he remove the old television which he did ,he then drove five hours back to his home in Northern Ireland.
On the second of August 2012 in a room in Dublin two Shell people, one Head of Legal and one CEO, were asked by Rooney for a simple recommendation on paper that he had served the Shell Corrib project well ……..his request was refused.
Mr Paul Walsh of Shell was signatory to and distributor of a document stating that Neil Rooney is a convicted criminal ……..the document is a falsehood designed to discredit Rooney and OSSL.
If you are Shell and reading this …..it’s a factual account and corroboration is available but who cares?
Somebody cares but we haven’t found them yet …..for AGM 2016…
OSSL
on Aug 7th, 2015 at 13:00
Looks like Ann Pickard is ready for a role in Game of Thrones
on Aug 7th, 2015 at 06:58
21 days to cap a well ?
Shell Corrib residents told in court last week that they have THIRTY SECONDS
to evacuate their homes in event of a rupture of the Corrib Pipe ( 4 occurrences in the last year ) I ask your readers is this enough time ?
on Aug 6th, 2015 at 18:58
Looks like your latest picture Mr. D of Ann Pickard appears to show she’s picked up a few pounds since I last saw her!! 😉
on Aug 6th, 2015 at 18:31
Why is it Muara Harrington that my defence (but not always) of Shell is seen as being an internet Troll? It would appear to me that this term is used too often by people such as yourself because your case against Shell has NOT withstood the courts. Having worked for 30 years with Shell I can see many faults with the company but FAR more positives. Fact is that NIMBY’s such as yourself have a problem with progress and will come up with all sorts of nonsense to attempt to support your objections. Perhaps it is you that is an anti-Shell Troll? As I have stated in an earlier posting the likes of Greenpeace are prime examples of this (aka Brent Spa). FACT is nothing has been proven in court against Shell. I suggest O’harrington that you attempt to get into the 20th century and advance your society better.
on Aug 6th, 2015 at 14:16
12-21 days to cap a oil well blowout ??? Hmmm. And where would a good deal of that oil find a resting place given the prevailing ocean currents ?? How about the NE coast of the US. I think Shell might want to rethink their plan. Making a mess of the NE US coast would most probably cost them Alaska.
on Aug 6th, 2015 at 13:19
Interesting – but not unusual for a troll – London Lad has gone silent on ‘Booze for Cops’ since the two OSSL men gave their sworn testimony at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court. The sworn testimony stated that Shell DID provide booze to cops and, equally deadly, a police superintendent DID state his intention to use a digger to ‘drive the f****** into the sea’.
I would be of the, admittedly layperson’s view, that, in the absence of recourse to legal redress by either Shell or its vassal Irish government, the sworn testimony of these men – now a matter of public record – can be taken as FACT.
For Shell, its vassal Irish state, its apologist trolls such as London Lad, it’s put up or shut up time …
on Aug 6th, 2015 at 01:26
So reality is beginning to sink in to the folks in Upstream Americas.
A massively bloated organization has is finally making some cuts, although by my account it is probably half of what it needs to be.
In addition to some Shell staff reductions in the 15-30% range, they announced the closing of the Pittsburgh office (about time!).
Maybe Shell will finally wise up and close down the New Orleans office as well.
on Aug 2nd, 2015 at 18:08
For those, like myself, who are forever fed up with the lies that are stated by Greenpeace, NIMBY’s and other denier’s (aka The Guardian) I suggest they see some truths by reading an article in today’s Sunday Telegraph (2nd August) by Christopher Booker entitled “The real ‘deniers’ here are the warmists” (page 22).
on Aug 2nd, 2015 at 08:00
Mr D, RPS Shells leading Protect Team on Corrib, inform Shell that all “crossing land agreements” used near the terminal are invalid because “agreements plus” we’re used to satisfy some landowners and not others. The people on the basic package of compensation want answers. Shell are viewing the situation as deeply damaging and are seeking answers from the Corrib team and RPS, coupled to the police corruption confirmed in court here last week this is potentially a project stopper.
on Jul 31st, 2015 at 00:20
RDS needs to stop and review how large military organizations have dealt with guerrilla wars. I think they will find that such wars a very expensive and rarely won, regardless of the assets that a well equipped military organization has at its disposal. Shell is facing a guerrilla war with the environmental movement in Alaska and elsewhere, and they are not doing well. It is costing them a great deal of lost time and money. They are also loosing the PR battle.
on Jul 18th, 2015 at 22:34
REGARDING YOUR ARTICLE: Here’s How Shell Can Restart Its Tar Sands Projects In Canada:
This is the way Shell would re-start the project of Carmen Creek Oil Sands Project.
Shell is engaging two engineering companies to competitively bid against each other to lower the capital cost. Lowering cost will include tactics of reducing safety and health & safety safeguarding provisions.
The Shell project organization and engineering organizations within the company are in charge of lowering SAFETY standards, and are rewarded to take short cuts, to get the project going.
on Jul 18th, 2015 at 22:33
ARTICLE: Following Explosion, Shell Moerdijk Criticised by Dutch Safety Board
A bit surprised at the constant reference to security, I think in the UK we are all aware of what security means, Do no understand why the reference to the failure to follow procedures etc, unawareness of potential for chemicals reacting into explosive mixture to be failures in health and safety rather than our common understanding of security, it may just be a language thing, maybe London Lad and Relieved may clarify.
on Jul 18th, 2015 at 22:32
ARTICLE: Shell awards contracts for its $40bn Browse project
If I were Technip (Browse etc) who quote their expertise in leading FLNG since inception I would be a little more muted after all this plane (live and operational FLNG offshore installation) has not yet left the Tarmac.
on Jul 17th, 2015 at 11:04
Yesterday in a court-room in Mayo, the state and Shell, and a highly regarded Judge heard clear confirmation of collusion between the police and Shell CEO Terry Nolan in matters of a criminal nature regarding statement falsification and corrupt gifting to the police by Shell. The state prosecutor responded to the submission by asking two questions of OSSL. Did you see the Celtic game last night? And do you watch Gaelic football? No other response to the testimony was made by Shell or the state or the police.
on Jul 3rd, 2015 at 18:34
Here we are again on a Friday night and looking back on some of the blog comments I notice that “Alan Poole” has NOT lived up to his promise as yet!! Quote : “I will be revealing truths about people I’ve worked for and with” – It appears that you are slower than two mating tortoises in posting your promises.
on Jul 2nd, 2015 at 10:18
Update to last posting. Two questions asked by Shell. How long have we known this? …..since 2009. Any witnesses? to Nolans visit / demands to lie? Yes. 4 witnesses all available to you .
on Jul 2nd, 2015 at 08:40
To Corrib Watcher, I was the only Shell witness at the Pollathomish Police Beatings. I gave an exacting account of Gannons actions and words. I was visited by the CEO of Shell in person and instructed to change my account of what happened. When I refused I assume that the CEO decided it would be best if there was no witness rather than an honest one… my statement has never been found by police, Shell or GSOC, in perverted move to protect Gannon …Shell CEO Nolan cost himself his job, but not before Shell assured me I would never work in the Oil &Gas industry again.
on Jul 1st, 2015 at 18:54
Jeeeeez Corrib Watcher, I have absolutely no idea what you are trying to say – is it my English Tea that is blurring my vision or is it your Irish Nimby Alcohol that is making your postings unreadable?!?! Ease off on the free Shell booze then post your comment.
on Jul 1st, 2015 at 12:13
John, lessons to be learned for all on Corrib; just one question from me… Why was the only non protester present when SUPERINTENDANT GANNON declared I will drive these ####### into the sea at Polothomish Pier incident (see youtube video) not asked for his clear precise and honest account of Gannons actions on that “black day” for Irish policing, why?
on Jun 19th, 2015 at 18:03
Well Wayne you’ve still not answered my question as to why you think that Shell has not been prosecuted for all these booze / OSSL accusations. Is it perhaps all the local Oirish Nimby’s who don’t want progress at any cost viz Corrib?
on Jun 12th, 2015 at 03:33
There is public outrage when the US government spends $9million a day fighting ISIS. I bet Ben is furious Upstream America is losing similar amount per day. Meanwhile Bruce celebrates by announcing what a success his $700 million office block is. It may be for you Bruce sitting up there on the 12th floor, try living on the 6th floor where there are 150 men sharing one restroom. Life in the cubes is terrible that’s why so many people walk around campus !
on Jun 9th, 2015 at 05:46
Mr. Rooney – Any guess as to why I use the pen name ‘Relieved’. I enjoy bathroom humor on occasion as well.
on Jun 5th, 2015 at 09:22
Hi London Lad, you have my name and you use for attempt at humour; you on the other hand hide your identity – akin to writing on the toilet door – says it all really.
on Jun 4th, 2015 at 18:53
Begosh & Begorrah OSSL & Rooney (keep to your daytime job of football) you still try and convince the world that Shell is sooooo wrong – so why is it that the legal courts say otherwise?? And, as I have said so many times on this blog, this global warming issue that the greenies always attempt to raise – why is it so bloody cold here in Blighty at the start of June??
on May 29th, 2015 at 15:03
Toxic waste and silent CEO … It’s now up to Shell to show beyond doubt that OSSL had toxic waste and not police alcohol in the van ..BVB you have been misled …where did the toxic waste lie originate ?
on May 28th, 2015 at 08:15
Mr Donovan …may we request that this Question is asked of BVB on your Shell Blog.
We asked him at the AGM but he did not answer.
Mr van Beurden if OSSL are indeed telling the truth that they were never involved in the dumping of toxic waste as per a document “distributed” by Shell ….and Shell know the document is false ,….then how does he feel about it being used to discredit the key witness in the Shell police alcohol claims made by OSSL?
Shell Ireland know the document is false there was no toxic waste ..there was alcohol.
An answer please Mr Van Beurden …you have the proof in your hand.
OSSL
on May 27th, 2015 at 11:32
I noticed the comment by Shell leadership that the world ‘desperately’ needed Arctic oil. Hmmm. The total consumption of crude these days approaches 30 billion bbls annually. With total Arctic oil reserves estimated to be around 90 billion bbls, that means there is roughly three (3) years worth of consumption to be had in the Arctic, with about one third to be found in US waters. A whopping three (3) years, and one (1) years worth of consumption respectively. It seems to me that US Arctic oil is needed by Shell far more than the world needs it.
on May 23rd, 2015 at 13:44
I have read the blog for a number of years and have become increasingly irritated by the negative postings. I have now retired from Shell after 32 years service, including the North Sea, Kazakhstan, Abu Dhabi. I will be making further postings revealing a few home truths about some of the people I have worked with and for, in these various locations.
on May 20th, 2015 at 15:28
The revelation that the Omani gov’t was/is spying on Shell should not come as any big shock. The revelation that Shell has its agents imbedded in foreign governmental agencies should also come as no big shock. It is the nature of the international oil business, and just a cost of doing business internationally. It is also common knowledge that RDS regularly spies on its own employees. There is nothing new here.
on May 17th, 2015 at 09:16
…..Senior Irish Police officer Superintendent Gannon informs OSSL that the demand for lies about his actions against the people of Erris whilst assisting Shell to progress the Corrib Gas Development …is a matter between them (OSSL) and Shell …remarkably the Superintendent claims he had no knowledge of the resulting “demand for lies” by Shell following the Pollathomais Pier incident recorded on U Tube, the demand was delivered personally by a Shell CEO claiming to be acting on Gannons behalf …… the plot thickens …..OSSL
on May 15th, 2015 at 17:34
Obama is a boob. He wouldn’t know a good ‘standard’ if it bit him in the backside. And neither would DoI. The USG is managed by fools and charlatans.
on May 15th, 2015 at 08:30
Relieved: Unfortunately the rigs now in use are OLDER than the rigs that were previously deployed. The Polar Pioneer is from 1985 while the Noble Discoverer is the same vessel, built in the early 1960’s as a log carrier, that was used previously.
on May 14th, 2015 at 15:42
I find RDS’s ‘new’ drilling rig for the Alaskan Arctic to be a considerable improvement over their past choices. It is also probably a far more expensive rig to lease. However, if RDS had made this choice years ago, instead of running with its fleet of aging rust buckets they might have completed a well or two and probably would not be facing the opposition they have today. Shell has shown that its management is notorious for making bad decisions that in turn produce serious liabilities. Maybe they have gained a little wisdom, but don’t count on it. Odum is still running the show.
on May 6th, 2015 at 11:34
Some of the other stuff in the FT article about Shell BG is really interesting. Such as who will bear the brunt of job cuts.
QUOTE
And Chris Wheaton, fund manager at Allianz Global Investors, plays down the idea that it will be BG staff who will bear the brunt of the cuts. He argues Mr van Beurden “has identified the Shell culture needs changing, that you can’t just have a bunch of really clever people sitting round a table in a room talking about stuff”.
“Sometimes you’ve got to be nimbler, act like you’re smaller. This will inject a whole new set of DNA into Shell,” he says.
UNQUOTE
on May 3rd, 2015 at 09:18
Happy birthday with the domain name! And may your site be a pebble is the shoes of the high and mighty in Shell for many years to come!
on Apr 29th, 2015 at 14:59
Oil price fixing conspiracy by BIG OIL, including RDS ??? Say it is not so !!! RDS is a good corporate citizen. We know this because their propoganda organs tell us so. My, My, My. This must be a conspiracy on the part of evil, greedy governments and incompetent bureaucrats.
on Apr 26th, 2015 at 20:42
McKinsey are allegedly making solid progress in Upstream Americas according to ‘inside sources’ with reports of up to 30% surplus in some areas. Meanwhile HR are trying to persuade people there are no packages coming while quietly offering their own staff hundreds of thousands of dollars in compensation to leave early. I wish I worked for Bruce !
on Apr 26th, 2015 at 07:31
John, Shell / Garda alcohol story, quite amazing the cops are harassing the vendor with threats of imprisonment just ahead of the AGM, the dogs in the street know what happened here Shell are bully boys and they do use the cops like puppets it’s actually quite frightening.
on Apr 21st, 2015 at 20:26
ABRUPT EXIT OF SHELL TREASURER ANDY LONGDEN
I believe that high profile gaps in Andy’s broad scope of his roles & responsibilities (R&R), 12 years in the same role, (too long for a senior executive), loss of key sponsor(s), and the perceived need for a game changer that
delivers on Ben’s strategy, new operational approach, and heavier (Treasury, M&A, Pensions, and governance) Finance footprint, might have been key in his departure.
Also, remember that Andy and Ben Van Burden come from very different backgrounds. Ben is a Shell homegrown senior leader (with 30+ years), while Andy is an experienced hire. Common knowledge is that the retention history for experienced hires senior leaders is poor at Shell. Why? My understanding is that because Shell is a relationship company, many experienced hires are unable to adequately fit in and build the mentor/sponsor /other relationships that are critical for success in the company.
As to high profile gaps in Andy’s scope of R&R, any could have been used as a justification for a change such as:
1) Pension costs ($2 billion increase in pension funding is projected for 2015 (see Shell Annual report note 17 – Retirement benefits), Also, there was noise around Shell realizing over $600 million USD in pension losses in the highly publicized Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme, uncovered in 2008,
2) UAU M&A and billions in write downs,
3). Ongoing governance issues, (flawed decisions and/or absence of appropriate actions or interventions because of management tension to achieve targets, inadequate oversight/asset integrity),
4).Other Treasury activities, (such as financial performance, cash management, investor relations, sub-optimum share based compensation delivery schemes, poor
capital discipline, to name a few.)
on Apr 21st, 2015 at 10:50
So will Total play the White Knight to assist BP in avoiding a hostile takeover? Total are also a potential takeover target, so they may have good reason to help BP out.
on Apr 17th, 2015 at 15:16
John,
Thanks for the advice you posted for those who may be considering bringing suit against Shell. It was quite interesting. I am certain potential litigants will find it informative and helpful.
on Apr 17th, 2015 at 12:44
According to figures published on this site, Shell replaced just 26% of the reserves that it produced in 2014. The Groningen field represents a significant fraction of Shell’s remaining reserves. If Groningen production is halted to reduce the risk of earthquakes, the impact on Shell’s remaining reserves will be significant.
on Apr 10th, 2015 at 15:45
Very bold of Ben van Beurden. Most courageous Shell leader for many a year. Still many pitfalls, as can be seen in some of the most recent articles about the BG takeover. Not least the fluctuating oil price. Good luck to him.
on Apr 8th, 2015 at 15:19
Now that BG is off the table the question is who will pick up BP ??? It won’t be RDS but it could be Exxon/Esso.
on Apr 8th, 2015 at 07:26
Shell have bought BG for GBP47bn
on Apr 7th, 2015 at 23:09
Interesting that former MD of SPDC and Country Chair Mutui Summonu now has an advisory with a company that purchased assets from SPDC.
on Apr 6th, 2015 at 15:47
Just read the article about why we should care about the Pemex oil production platform explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. It would be instructive to recall that befores BP’s recent problems the largest oil spill to occur in the Gulf was the Shell Oil production platform disaster at Bay Marchand Oil field in 1970, and about which you published an article. That disaster occurred as a result of sloppy engineering and work practices. The sloppiness resulted from Shell management’s efforts to cut costs and maximize production. This sort of this could easily happen in the Arctic as well given Shell’s past and current ‘TFA’ attitude toward platform safety, etc.
on Apr 5th, 2015 at 14:09
EXTRACT FROM EMAIL SENT BY DESMOND KANE OF OSSL TO PAUL GOODFELLOW OF SHELL ON 4 APRIL 2015.
Mr Goodfellow …..a senior engineer in your employ sent me in a vehicle to meet with a senior police officer from the sub Aqua division of the Irish police.
My task was to hand over Christmas Alcohol to be shared with the police operatives who had assisted Shell at sea in Mayo in progressing the Corrib Project.
What I’ve just written is a fact ….however I’m challenged by Mr van Beurden whom I met on this matter last May to bring him further evidence of this claim …both your man and the policeman have failed to confirm ( or so I’m told ) their arrangement on that day making it difficult but not impossible for me to satisfy Mr Van Beurden.
Can you help ?…….I have no problem with what Shell instructed me to do on that day I do however have a massive problem with the obscene subsequent cover up by Shell and the police.
Regards
Desmond Kane
on Mar 30th, 2015 at 12:44
There is no shortage of gas fields offshore Australia, but there are very few customers willing to pay the price of Australian LNG. Delaying exploration of the Browse basin would seem to be perfectly logical in the current environment. Gorgon was discovered in 1981, but in the absence of customers, development did not start until 2009, and first production was at the end of 2014.
on Mar 27th, 2015 at 13:48
POSTING BY “THE CHRONICLE”
Wonderful town hall from Marvin yesterday telling us how we must all look for cost savings and ask ourselves what we have saved in the last two weeks. He then got into his private 24/7 limo and headed off to the airport to board his private jet! I wonder if that is included in the multi million travel budget?
on Mar 26th, 2015 at 09:55
Dear Mr Donovan,
It would appear you are not aware that the Minister and the Police Commissioner together with past and present CEOs of Shell Ireland are stifling the passing of the key information that proves beyond a doubt that the alcohol was sent by Shell and received by named police officers.
At a five hour meeting in a Dublin hotel requested by the Irish Police Superintendent Thomas Murphy demanded that OSSL furnish him with the following information …..
………who instructed a Garda called Liam Grimes to meet with the OSSL vehicle on the by pass in Athlone to offload the alcohol?
………OSSL’s participation at the meeting was instructed by Connor Byrne senior manager on the Corrib Project but OSSL did not have any part in ensuring that Liam Grimes would be on the bypass to accept Shells alcohol.
In order to satisfy Superintendant Murphy OSSL set about obtaining this key piece of information several dozen requests were made in writing to Shell …the Commissioner ..and the Minister given that it was a police/Shell arrangement both those parties must have the ability to access the answer.
Both Shell and the police have refused to release the answer demanded by Superintendent Murphy .
OSSL also wrote to Liam Grimes via the Minister and Commissioner but he has refused to respond also.
Murphy was very clear on this matter ” get this answer ” he stated and you get the required proof.
Unfortunately we were unable to break the silence .
Best regards,
OSSL
on Mar 23rd, 2015 at 09:21
POSTING BY OSSL
Shell Corrib teams actions towards OSSL and makes them palatable at AGM with offers….of meetings with the vendor ……meetings that never materialise.
….ample proof of what OSSL are claiming exists but OSSL’s offer of a transparent “walk through”….of the facts is declined by senior Shell people who could act to protect Shell integrity if there was a willingness to do so.
The Irish police …Shells partners in alcohol gifting in 2007 and especially Chief Superintendent John Gilligan think that the code of silence will prevail in dismissing OSSL ‘s factual account of the alcohol deliveries made by Shell.
The “obscene to palatable “actions of Jacinta Healy who demanded (and got) tennis courts at her home part paid by Shell …then denied their existence when questioned by a Shell CEO…despite photographic evidence …..is a further endorsement of this abhorrent treatment of a small willing ally of Shells who fulfilled Shells instruction to the letter in satisfying local demands for covert gifting.
How did Jacinta convince Shell there were no tennis courts built at her home ?….when she stands in the queue at the local Spar shop with the men who built the courts and the people who change the nets …because she claimed the original nets were poor quality …..what does she tell them?
How do Shell.. Police and ..local landowners when in receipt of what they know to be the truth sit so comfortably with each other?
Perhaps this years AGM will bring some answers .
OSSL
on Mar 19th, 2015 at 10:47
(BOX CAN BE DRAGGED TO READ ALL OF THE ABOVE TEXT)
POSTING BY NEIL ROONEY OF OSSL
Shell party tonight marking the completion of Corrib. The stink of unfinished local matters will be all that’s left when they exit the area ,not a single Corrib Shell man or woman could look OSSL in the eye and explain their despicable actions in the treatment of decent people.
on Mar 18th, 2015 at 16:44
John, You do have a good sense of humor. Cheers.
on Mar 17th, 2015 at 15:44
Happy St. Patty’s day to one and all.
FROM “RELIEVED”
on Mar 14th, 2015 at 07:13
$17 million, really? The stock price is at a 5 year low and redundancies are around the corner. I hope you sleep well at night, Ben.
on Mar 13th, 2015 at 14:01
If BvB manages to put an end to activities such as those inspired by his predecessor Watts (above), the unconventionals debacle, and OPL 245 he will have earned his salary many times over
on Mar 10th, 2015 at 15:13
Bribery, extortion, intimidation by Shell
What is this latest news ?? Bribery, extortion, intimidation by Shell and its hireling goons ??? Please say it is not so. My Oh My, what is this world coming to ??? SOP on the part of Shell, regardless of their PR campaigns claiming otherwise.
on Mar 10th, 2015 at 11:34
LOOKS LIKE MARVIN ODUM (ABOVE) FINALLY WOKE UP
Looks like Marvin finally woke up and is appointing a non American to cut down his massive overhead. Malcolm Mayes, the ex Exxon Ozzie is well placed to see through the plan to cut $1B off the budget.Two strong ego’s advising Marvin now in Culpepper and Mayes, wonder who will ‘win’?
on Mar 7th, 2015 at 11:21
OGONI OIL AND GAS STRATEGY – THE WAY FORWARD
With regards to the much reported Ogoni crises and the recent ‘re-awakening’ of the possibility this crises by the Shell/Belema Oil Ltd deceptive plot concerning the Divestment of Ogoni oil fields, we consider it necessary to reiterate previous stands and make this clarion to all well-meaning Niger Deltan.
Let us all work together to save Ogoni from economic slavery. Let Ogoni people take control and remain stooges to other people. We should support and work with a company owned by, or with significant interest by Ogoni people. If there is none, form a Hydrocarbon Prospecting and Management Company to be the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to present for the oil block divestment bid. This is the best option for Ogoni, to ensure the following minimum expectations are delivered.
READ FULL POSTING BY ZIK GBEMRE HERE
on Mar 7th, 2015 at 09:52
The contrast between the media attention given to Petrobras’ corruption scandals and those of Shell and ENI in Nigeria is curious. Perhaps Shell and ENI have better PR departments? Or perhaps it’s simply that corruption involving Shell, ENI and Nigerian politicians is not considered newsworthy?
on Mar 6th, 2015 at 13:56
RE: SHELL CONFIRMS OIL LEAK FROM UNDERWATER FACILITY IN BAYELSA STATE
With the recent confirmation by Shell of an underwater leak/discharging of crude into Ogboinbiri River in Bayelsa State, which was first reported over a month ago (23/01/2015), we find it really appalling that Shell is often in the habit of dragging its feet in addressing reported oil/condensate spills in its operation areas in the Niger Delta region.
We condemn Shell for dragging and dilly-dallying too long to act on addressing the said spill which started gradually until it spread across the stated River in Bayelsa State. Why should Shell wait until there was so much noise and outcry from the locals and stakeholders before the company decided to act? Why Should Shell toil with the life-sustenance of its host community locals in their bid to sustain oil and gas exploration and production in the Niger Delta region? They sit in their cozy air-conditioned offices enjoying themselves while the locals that bear the brunt of the extractive industry are left to wallow in pain and misery? Would it have taken anything for Shell (SPDC) to address the said spill immediately it was first reported? Obviously not! Then why wait for things to go really bad before acting?
The said River in Bayelsa State is the ‘major’ economic life-line of the host community locals, both in drinking, domestic use and fishing.
But now, it has been grossly polluted by the said oil leak from the underwater facility operated by Shell (SPDC). This is rather unfortunate and highly condemnable.
Zik Gbemre, JP
National Coordinator
Niger Delta Peace Coalition (NDPC)
on Mar 6th, 2015 at 12:45
Well said Londonlad, completely agree. Nigerians seem to have forgotten their vicious civil war. With the Biafra war already 43 years behind us, it means that probably 75% of the population (or more) was born after this terrible episode. Another civil war could happen overnight again. And the fittest and most vicious will win and kill the weaker ones.
I usually agree with your views except when you start to be disrespectful towards John Donovan. You and I most likely have been colleagues and you have to admit that the great transformation from the mid 90s onwards has wiped out the ‘old’ Shell that was more or less a decent company outperforming all the others in the period 1975-1995. And John merely likes to point out that the senior management is very often not walking their talk! Rattling the Shell cage is a good thing, it keeps those inside on their toes. And you know as well as I do that gorillas breed gorillas and with the introduction of people with the wrong attitude (me first, screw the rest and all packaged in wonderful words) the gorillas have taken over. Because of Watts and his cronies Shell (EP) missed the chance to correct itself after the Overpromise/Underdelivery presentation in 1999. Thank god I still see some decent and very clever moving up so there is a glimmer of hope. But the transformation back to a decent company will be extremely difficult.
on Mar 5th, 2015 at 19:47
Say Zik what do you think about the latest atrocities committed by those Nigerian animals calling themselves “Boko Haram”? Oh no, of course, they won’t provide you and your Delta thieves with any money will they. Be warned Zik, you and your greedy little compatriots will come completely undone unless you face up to your problems in the NE of Nigeria. Shell and all your attempts to bleed SPDC dry will come to nought if these Islamic nutters come to power in Nigeria. Stop trying to stuff your Swiss bank accounts with money and try and stop this band of killers from destroying your country.
on Mar 4th, 2015 at 19:12
Question for you Donovan – were you in bed with Shell (i.e. selling your game at the Shell petrol stations to make personal profit, and of course nothing wrong with that) during the time of the apartheid in South Africa?
REPLY BY JOHN
If we had been asked to supply our services to Shell in South Africa during the Apartheid era, I guess we would have tried to find out more about what was going on. The truth is that the situation never arose. 35 years later I cannot recall if we even knew about the involvement of Shell. It only became apparent to me after obtaining “A History of Royal Dutch Shell” published in 2007 and a book published in 2012, “Secret Manoeuvres in the Dark: Corporate and Police Spying on Activists.” As to adding one of your comments to an article, just request that at the time and it will be done. As you know, you also have a standing invitation to supply Shell related articles for publication on an unedited basis. Regarding Zik, I will find a way to accommodate his contributions without taking up excessive space on this forum.
on Mar 4th, 2015 at 19:02
Agree that most of the bloggers on this site are ex-Shell staff with a gripe or have worked for / with them then felt screwed by them so start a complaint column / website. Zik is no different. Donovan at least allows people the chance to minge & whinge but I certainly would suggest a little “box” somewhere on this site where Zik’s very lengthy stories can be parked for those who have difficulty sleeping. Not much of a defence from me I’m afraid, but, I thought my response to those moronic green students from Stockholm (bleating on about climate change) would have been stuck below their “pleeing” article and not in the blog. No influence over the editor of this site I’m afraid.
on Mar 4th, 2015 at 05:14
Looking at Zik’s long winded story, he sounds like an ex Shell disgruntled staff groaning and morning. Wonder what he has done when he was in Shell services.
on Mar 3rd, 2015 at 19:39
John – Zik has a right to his views and expressing them on your site. However, in my opinion, your site is being “hijacked” by Zik. I find I am visiting the site much less since it has become Zik’s Personal Forum.
on Mar 3rd, 2015 at 17:34
John, can you please give this Zik another platform? He hogs your Shell Blog with all his verbal diarrhea. And remember this is Nigerian diarrhea, very powerful stuff. Methinks he downs 4 bottles of STAR before fouling up your blog. Even the Londonlad got infected. Him done gone bush-oh. Eeh, his headengine gone crazy and he now also put de verbal diarrhea in de blog-oh. But he make more sense.
on Mar 3rd, 2015 at 15:25
RE: NEW SHELL MD IN NIGERIA
According to the subject report, the assumption that Nigerian Politicians are “honest and straightforward” is absolutely false. If they were, Nigeria with its ‘enormous oil and gas wealth’ would have become the “Dubia Of Africa” like we have in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). And like the Nigerian Politicians, the person of Mr. Osagie Okunbor, who has resumed as the new MD/Country of Shell (SPDC). Mr. Osagie Okunbor, is the exact opposite of such words like “honesty, integrity and straightforwardness”; hence we do not see him as the right replacement to take over the ‘good works’ left behind by Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu in Shell Companies in Nigeria.
The above report has claimed that Mr. Osagie Okunbor worked very hard and attained different levels of leadership positions in Shell (SPDC), but this is baseless because we know that it was the Edo State connections in Shell (SPDC) that projected Mr. Osagie Okunbor to the position of the VP Human Resources which he was occupying before this recent appointment as MD/Country Chair. He did not attain to that position on merit or hard work, as they are trying to make us believe.
The Mr. Osagie Okunbor we know, is an “Edo State tribalist bigot” who does not have what it takes to be MD/Country Chair of Shell (SPDC) Nigeria neither can he project Shell and its operations in Nigeria in good light. The Mr. Osagie Okunbor we know cannot manage/relate with host community stakeholders in the volatile Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
There is an element of ‘god-fatherism’ playing out in the selection/appointment of Mr. Osagie Okunbor as MD/Country Chair of Shell (SPDC). From what we can deduce, it is obvious that Mr. Osagie Okunbor was projected for the position of Shell (SPDC) MD/Country Chair for ‘selfish’ interests of a cabal in the Shell system. Out of the three past Nigerian MD and Country Chair of Shell (SPDC), two of them are from Edo State. Whereas, there are other ethnic groups like the Isokos, Ogonis, Urhobos, Ijaws, Itsekiris etc that are from the ‘core Niger Delta States. What happens to these other ethnic groups? Are there no qualified Nigerians outside Edo State that can fit in far better as MD/Country Chair of Shell (SPDC).
To put it bluntly, Mr. Osagie Okunbor, like most Nigerian Politicians, does not have the “leadership qualities” to even be considered for the position of the MD/Country Chair of Shell (SPDC) Nigeria. He does not have the capacity to carry relevant stakeholders along or manage Shell (SPDC) operations in Nigeria. He was only put there to serve the interest of a cabal. This is no exaggeration, but we are stating the bitter truth and the undeniable fact as we see it.
Zik Gbemre,JP.
National Coordinator
Niger Delta Peace Coalition (NDPC)
No.28, Opi Street Ugboroke Layout, Effurun-Warri,
P.O. Box 2254, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria.
Tel: +2348026428271
+2348061524210
+2348052106013
Website: http://www.ndpc-zik.org
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes as if Those Were Our Causes
on Feb 23rd, 2015 at 13:42
RE OGONI PEOPLE REJECT BELEMA OIL, EXPRESS FEAR OF STATE REPRESSION
We express our support to the enlarged Congress of the MOSOP Kingdom Coordinators and Chapter Leaders Forum that recently overwhelmingly rejected the takeover of Ogoni oilfields in the Niger Delta by Belema oil Ltd. This is hinged on the fact that Shell is said to be the one behind the Belema Oil Ltd Company that is currently instigating some Ogoni locals and Chiefs against the educated class, elites and Opinion Leaders of Ogoni land.
We are highly disappointed with, not only the Nigerian Government for not giving this issue the attention it deserves, but also Shell as an oil giant that has decided to sponsor Belema Oil Ltd to resurrect and instigate crises in Ogoni land. Shell has, through Belema Oil Ltd, fraudulently collected signatories as consent from selected Ogoni locals and Chiefs after inducing them with money and cow gifts, just to have their way in Ogoni oil fields. And like we said, this is typical of Shell’s style of operating in everywhere they are, especially in this part of the world; where they always project “Profit first before and above the lives and wellbeing of the locals that own the resources.”
Shell and Belema Oil Ltd should have known that the money and cow gifts given to selected Ogoni Chiefs and locals (for the oil giant to have their way in Ogoni land), will ONLY POSTPONE THE EVIL DAY.
Shell’s ‘thirst for drilling oil and gas’ in Ogoni land without the implementation of the UN recommendations on Ogoni land Clean Up and other issues, has completely blinded the oil giant to have warranted their choice of using an oil company (Belema Oil Ltd) that has no known track record to operate the Ogoni oil fields. And we are still finding it hard to understand what Shell (SPDC) will gain as a company if Ogoni land starts to ‘burn again’ with crises that would lead to the loss of lives, particularly the lives of the Ogoni elites and educated class and Opinion Leaders. What will Shell gain if human blood starts to flow again in Ogoni land just for ‘selfish interest of Shell and Belema Oil Ltd?
The same things we witnessed in the past that led to the death of Ken Saro-wiwa and eight others is gradually but steadily playing out in Ogoni land again with this “Shell/Belema Oil Ltd deceptive plot.”
Similar to what we have been hammering on for the past few weeks on this same issue, “the MOSOP chapter leaders noted that resuming any kind of activities at the Ogoni oilfields without resolving the issues of state creation for the Ogoni people as a distinct group within the Nigerian state, a proper clean-up of Ogoniland, and adequate compensation for the destruction of the environment will lead to another era of state repression and human rights violations in Ogoniland.” As reported in the link: http://www.ogoninews.com/ogoni/297-ogoni-people-reject-belema-oil-express-fear-of-state-repression.
The crux of the matter is this: ENOUGH OF THE SHELL-INSTIAGTED CRISES IN OGONI LAND THAT LEADS TO BLOODSHED OF INNOCENT OGONI PEOPLE.
Zik Gbemre, JP
National Coordinator
Niger Delta Peace Coalition (NDPC)
No.28, Opi Street Ugboroke Layout, Effurun-Warri,
P.O. Box 2254, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria.
Tel: +2348026428271
+2348061524210
+2348052106013
Website: http://www.ndpc-zik.org
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes as if Those Were Our Causes
on Feb 22nd, 2015 at 09:33
Both Londonlad and the students of Stockholm International School might find it useful to read Bjørn Lomborg’s books on both climate change and misuse of statistics.
on Feb 21st, 2015 at 19:53
Plea to idiot Stokholm students – wake up and smell the coffee (see attached). That said, why doesn’t Zik use some of the hot air he produces to heat peoples homes in the winter. Attached from a recent daily Telegraph.
The fiddling with temperature data is the biggest science scandal ever
When future generations look back on the global-warming scare of the past 30 years, nothing will shock them more than the extent to which the official temperature records – on which the entire panic ultimately rested – were systematically “adjusted” to show the Earth as having warmed much more than the actual data justified.
Two weeks ago, under the headline “How we are being tricked by flawed data on global warming”, I wrote about Paul Homewood, who, on his Notalotofpeopleknowthat blog, had checked the published temperature graphs for three weather stations in Paraguay against the temperatures that had originally been recorded. In each instance, the actual trend of 60 years of data had been dramatically reversed, so that a cooling trend was changed to one that showed a marked warming.
This was only the latest of many examples of a practice long recognised by expert observers around the world – one that raises an ever larger question mark over the entire official surface-temperature record.
Following my last article, Homewood checked a swathe of other South American weather stations around the original three. In each case he found the same suspicious one-way “adjustments”. First these were made by the US government’s Global Historical Climate Network (GHCN). They were then amplified by two of the main official surface records, the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (Giss) and the National Climate Data Center (NCDC), which use the warming trends to estimate temperatures across the vast regions of the Earth where no measurements are taken. Yet these are the very records on which scientists and politicians rely for their belief in “global warming”.
Homewood has now turned his attention to the weather stations across much of the Arctic, between Canada (51 degrees W) and the heart of Siberia (87 degrees E). Again, in nearly every case, the same one-way adjustments have been made, to show warming up to 1 degree C or more higher than was indicated by the data that was actually recorded. This has surprised no one more than Traust Jonsson, who was long in charge of climate research for the Iceland met office (and with whom Homewood has been in touch). Jonsson was amazed to see how the new version completely “disappears” Iceland’s “sea ice years” around 1970, when a period of extreme cooling almost devastated his country’s economy.
One of the first examples of these “adjustments” was exposed in 2007 by the statistician Steve McIntyre, when he discovered a paper published in 1987 by James Hansen, the scientist (later turned fanatical climate activist) who for many years ran Giss. Hansen’s original graph showed temperatures in the Arctic as having been much higher around 1940 than at any time since. But as Homewood reveals in his blog post, “Temperature adjustments transform Arctic history”, Giss has turned this upside down. Arctic temperatures from that time have been lowered so much that that they are now dwarfed by those of the past 20 years.
Homewood’s interest in the Arctic is partly because the “vanishing” of its polar ice (and the polar bears) has become such a poster-child for those trying to persuade us that we are threatened by runaway warming. But he chose that particular stretch of the Arctic because it is where ice is affected by warmer water brought in by cyclical shifts in a major Atlantic current – this last peaked at just the time 75 years ago when Arctic ice retreated even further than it has done recently. The ice-melt is not caused by rising global temperatures at all.
Of much more serious significance, however, is the way this wholesale manipulation of the official temperature record – for reasons GHCN and Giss have never plausibly explained – has become the real elephant in the room of the greatest and most costly scare the world has known. This really does begin to look like one of the greatest scientific scandals of all time.
By Christopher Booker, Daily Telegraph, 9th February 2015
on Feb 21st, 2015 at 15:08
SHELL IS AT IT AGAIN INSTIGATING CRISES IN OGONI
We are still finding it hard to understand what Shell (SPDC) will gain as a company if Ogoni land in the Niger Delta starts to ‘burn again’ with crises that would lead to the loss of lives, particularly the lives of the Ogoni elites and educated class. The same thing we witnessed in the past that led to the death of Ken Saro-wiwa and eight others is gradually but steadily playing out in Ogoni land again with this “Shell/Belema Oil Ltd deceptive plot.”
Shell is said to be the one behind the Belema Oil Ltd Company that is currently instigating some Ogoni locals and Chiefs against the educated class and elites of Ogoni land. They have even gone to the extent of blackmailing and arm-twisting the Ogoni elites just to have their way in Ogoni land.
As far as we and many other relevant stakeholders in the Niger Delta region are concerned, this ‘Shell/Belema Oil Ltd business’ in Ogoni land is a complete fraud shrouded in secrecy and deception. If it is not, why is Shell through Belema Oil Ltd tactfully avoiding the Ogoni educated class and elites that have better understanding of the Ogoni Issue in the divestment of Ogoni oil fields? Why put the lives of these Ogoni elites on the line by making them be at loggerheads with their brothers and sisters they have succeeded in buying off? They fraudulently collected signatories from selected Ogoni locals and Chiefs after inducing them with money and cow gifts, just to have their way in Ogoni oil fields.
Perhaps, this is typical of Shell in everywhere they operate, especially in this part of the world; where they always project “Profit first before and above the lives and wellbeing of those concerned.”
Let it be known to all that the OGONI ISSUE HAS REMAINED UNRESOLVED. Shell has not played its part in the addressing all the atrocities and environmental degradation they have committed in Ogoni land. We simply cannot understand why Shell has not complied and completed the recommendations in the UN Report in addressing the Ogoni crises before they decided to divest Ogoni oil fields? Why all the haste? Why all the clandestine activities with Belema Oil Ltd in Ogoni land? Why is Shell fond of ‘using the backdoor’ to pursue and actualize their ‘profit-oriented’ objectives in their E&P activities, especially in this part of the world? When will this stop?
Shell seriously needs to ‘retrace’ its steps and holistically and transparently carry every Ogoni (both the educated class, elites and locals) along in whatever they want to do in Ogoni land; either through Belema Oil Ltd or any other oil company for that matter. Like we noted before, IF THIS IS NOT DONE, THE OIL BLOCK MAY BE SOLD, BUT IT WILL NOT BE OPERATED. The Ogoni people want to participate as ‘Partners’ in whatever Shell wants to do in their land. They want ‘full Inclusiveness in operations of the oil block’ and proper Engagements carried out across all social strata of the nation. Anything short of this will be futile and counterproductive.
Zik Gbemre, JP
National Coordinator
Niger Delta Peace Coalition (NDPC)
No.28, Opi Street Ugboroke Layout, Effurun-Warri,
P.O. Box 2254, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria.
Tel: +2348026428271
+2348061524210
+2348052106013
Website: http://www.ndpc-zik.org
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes as if Those Were Our Causes
on Feb 20th, 2015 at 15:58
ON SHELL’S ALLEGED DECEPTION IN OGONI – WHY THE HASTE IN THE DIVESTMENT OF OGONI OIL FIELDS?
With more (investigated) revelations coming in as regards the subject matter, we are greatly appalled to find out that it is actually true that Shell (SPDC) is said to be the main brain behind the push for Belema Oil Ltd to buy over and operate the Ogoni oil fields. That means in the midst of all the ‘noise and controversies’ being made as a result of this, Belema Oil Ltd is just a ‘front’ of Shell (SPDC) put in place by the oil giant to protect its interests in Niger Delta of Ogoni land in Nigeria which have been shut down for over 22 years following the mass protest by the people and civil disturbance in the area (which led to the murder of human rights activist Ken Saro-wiwa and eight others), occasioned by the total neglect and injustice on the people by the Nigerian government and the Shell Petroleum Development Company-SPDC.
As had reported in our past write ups, Shell is said to have sold its oil blocks in Ogoni land to Belema Oil Ltd, and drilling is set to commence as the company has reached agreement with some community chiefs who are said to being used to collate signatures endorsing the sale of the oil and gas in Ogoniland. Some top Shell officials are believed to, not only have strong links with the company, but are also the ones behind every of its moves in Ogoni land.
As we speak, Shell (SPDC) is using its usual deceptive strategy of “divide and rule” in Ogoni Land to actualize its objectives. At the moment, Shell is said to be the one behind Belema Oil Ltd that is buying and delivering cows and ‘gifts’ to selected locals and community Chiefs/leaders in Ogoni land. And in doing this, Shell is cleverly trying to boycott and bypass the educated class, elites and opinion leaders of Ogoni. In fact, right now, Shell is said to be using Belema Oil Ltd to instigate some of the Ogoni locals and Chiefs against the Ogoni elites – teaming them as “city-based” elites of Ogoni indigenes.
Shell seems to have forgotten that without the ‘active’ inputs, participation, contribution and being-carried-along of the Ogoni elites, educated class and opinion leaders, no oil company will succeed in operating any Ogoni oil field. Why should Shell want to bypass these educated (elites) relevant stakeholders of Ogoni people? Have they forgotten that it was the same educated class and elites like Ken Saro-wiwa that brought the ‘Ogoni Issue and Crises’ to lime light and international attention? So why boycott them with this deceptive strategy using Belema Oil Ltd as a front?
As we noted in one of our last write up, community sources revealed that that some Ogoni community leaders were recently flown to Lagos to hold secret meetings on the oil block sale and may have been compromised after which they received documents with which to collect signatures from the Ogoni people as consent to the sale of Ogoni Oil.
The same strategy they have been known for using in different parts of the Niger Delta region to cheat and defraud the locals from having ‘ample opportunities’ to become “partners” in owing and benefitting from their God-given resources, that is exactly what Shell is repeating again in Ogoni land.
For an oil company that has no known track record and history of operating any oil fields, one begins to wonder why Shell, with its enormous global repute in oil and gas E&P, should decide to use Belema Oil Ltd to operate in the very sensitive Ogoni land. More so, why all the haste in the divestment of the oil fields in Ogoni land without first addressing the accumulated years of environmental degradation and pressing issues affecting the Ogoni people. Why the hurry? It is obvious that those concerned are too much in hurry to divest the said oil bloc without first addressing the problems of the Ogoni host community or even carry all relevant stakeholders along in the entire process. It is as if the oil company, Belema Oil Ltd, is being forced down the throat of the Ogoni people.
Like we repeatedly said before, the elites and educated class and opinion leaders of Ogoni have detailed a breakdown of what they expect to drive any agreements to herald resumption of oil and gas activities in Ogoni. And we strongly believe that whichever oil company that wants to partake in the Shell Divestment in Ogoni OML 11, such company must carry these group of persons along.
Zik Gbemre, JP
National Coordinator
Niger Delta Peace Coalition (NDPC)
No.28, Opi Street Ugboroke Layout, Effurun-Warri,
P.O. Box 2254, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria.
Tel: +2348026428271
+2348061524210
+2348052106013
Website: http://www.ndpc-zik.org
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes as if Those Were Our Causes
on Feb 18th, 2015 at 17:24
A DETAILED FOLLOW-UP ON THE ALLEGED SHELL DECEPTION IN OGONI
The above subject matter has in the past few days, generated quite a storm as more details regarding the issue raised have started flooding in from different concerned stakeholders who completely agreed with us that indeed, there is a deception in the whole game plan. As regards this issue, many have noted, it is a calculated conspiracy to deny Ogoni people their rights to participation in E&P activities and access to means to end the many years of economic deprivation. The truth of the matter is that there are some greedy political powers behind this, and it is the trademark of the corruption in the industry. It is doubtful if any true Ogoni person will just sit and allow a single company with no track record or corporate structure to take over oil fields without addressing pertinent issues that resulted from the many years of crises.
Every social group is free to express their views, and so the Ogoni Chiefs and youths have indicated what they want. But there are other social groups who show more concern for Ogoni problems and have better understanding of the complex issues. Their voices and views will also be heard.
To this end, below here is a (sourced) detailed breakdown of what the elites and educated class and opinion leaders expect to drive any agreements to herald resumption of oil and gas activities in Ogoni. Also below here is a list of promises by the said Belema Oil Ltd. And looking at it carefully, it does not take an Einstein to see that they are all UNACHIEVABLE; BUT JUST A WISH LIST AIMED AT DECEIVING POOR AND ILL-INFORMED MEMBERS OF THE HOST COMMUNITIES (LOCALS).
POSITION OF OGONI LEADERSHIP FORUM ON PROPOSED DIVESTMENT OF OIL FIELDS IN OGONI (OML 11) BY SHELL PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT COMPANY
The Ogoni Leadership Forum is made of senior Ogoni indigenes, elites and opinion leaders with diverse experience spanning business, engineering, politics, law, academics and corporate leadership. The group has met severally on issues concerning the sociopolitical and economic development of Ogoni, and has shown interest in the proposed divestment of Shell (SPDC) from OML 11. Their primary goal is protection of Ogoni interest and ensuring that the best deal is structured for sustainable economic development of Ogoni people, and protection of the environment. The Forum has held meetings with Shell and prospective investor interested in purchasing the 45% JV divestible equity in OML 11, and is open to meet with others with similar interests that affect development of the hydrocarbon resources within Ogoni, so that they can guide the decision making process and advise Ogoni nation appropriately.
The following were presented as minimum expectations, or terms and conditions to be considered to secure the support of Ogoni:
1. Engagement of all the major community social groups and organizations (Chiefs, Youths, Women, Elites, MOSOP, KAGOTE, etc) is necessary to secure the Social License (LTO) to guarantee freedom to operate on completion of the Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA).
2. Investor to make an unequivocal commitment to support and work with all stakeholders, to ensure full implementation of the UNEP report.
3. Accept the model of PARTNERSHIP for Ogoni in a Joint Venture arrangement, giving equity stake of at least 20% in the operating company. This partnership is to be formed through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), a company with significant ownership by Ogoni people as investors. They will be listed on the CAC documents and hold the equity as Trustees on behalf of Ogoni.
4. The profit sharing model is not acceptable, as declaration of profits is subjective and is at the discretion of the operator who has the sole right. In such situations, operators will deduct operating expenses, taxes and royalties, interest on borrowed money, and declare what cannot be verified or audited. The communities end up with nothing.
5. Ogoni to be represented by their nominees on the board of the operating company or the company that takes over from Shell.
6. The top management of the company to have members from Ogoni in key positions of decision making.
7. In line with Nigerian Content Act of 2010, Ogoni people should be given first preference in contracts to be awarded. This is the sure way to spread the dividends and ensure spread of wealth across Ogoni.
8. Qualified youths and skilled persons from Ogoni to be fully employed. Those who desire work but lack the skills should be given the training to develop their skills and competences to improve their level of capabilities to function effectively in the oil industry. In addition to this, run a scholarship scheme targeted at development of management level and senior professional personnel from Ogoni.
9. Establish the main operational office with decision making authority within an Ogoni oil producing community, or preferably in Bori, the traditional headquarters of Ogoni.
10. Follow-up successful exploration and production with establishment of gas based and petrochemical industries for employment and wealth generation; and IPP for power generation to stimulate growth of SMEs. The Ogoni environment is precious and sacred, and must be protected. Consequently, only companies with sound Technical capability, financial strength and good operating track record should be supported and given the social license. Our goal is to end poverty and economic slavery in Ogoni. This is possible if we participate fully in the business of oil and gas exploration, development and production of Ogoni oil fields.
It is imperative for the Ogoni people to just remain calm and ask questions. No need for the Ogoni people to rush into agreements that will impoverish and enslave them for decades to come. Shell should be encouraged to pursue the divestment process in a ‘transparent manner’ as a respected professional corporate organization. Due process should be followed and Ogoni people carried along to avoid future problems, and not some ‘selected’ Ogoni leaders who might not have the entire mandate of the people to go into such an agreement.
More so, there are many other qualified companies out there who have shown interest and they should be welcome to discuss with Ogoni people openly. The best investor will sail through, and will be welcome by the entire Ogoni people. IF THIS IS NOT DONE, THE OIL BLOCK MAY BE SOLD, BUT IT WILL NOT BE OPERATED. No one should take Ogoni people for a ride. Ogoni people want their fair share of the bread directly (Partnership, Inclusiveness, Engagement), and not through SURROGATES. Ogoni people want to participate as Partners, they want full Inclusiveness in operations of the block and proper Engagements carried out across all social strata of the nation.
On the promises made by the Belema Oil Ltd, a concerned stakeholder asked: “Does Belema oil claim to have resources to achieve the list of promises in this document? What an excellent deception for the ignorant. These intentions are fake. People who parade themselves like this can only thrive in a lawless environment.” Below is the document.
THE BELEMAOIL PRODUCING MODEL
Belema oil shall create an industrial hub in Ogoniland through setting up of the following ventures as a strategic human capacity development and strong regional empowerment medium.
1. Setting up Belema oil Producing asset in such a manner that will create technical/non technical labour employment, high/low risk contracting and support services where Ogonis will participate through partnership with competent ventures.
2. Setting up of Belema Refinery that will refine various petroleum products and services to create employment and supply services to better the people.
3. Petrochemical Limited as major employment spinner to create over 500 employment window and empowerment as a result of the chain.
4. Build a cryogenic gas plant and processing of gas for flared gas reduction and environmental pollution.
5. Methanol plant set up and production of other associated gases for commercialization and wealth creation for both communities and company.
6. Building of automobile industry.
7. Building of personnel base and game village for recreation.
8. Building of Belema Training Centre.
9. Setting up of Belema Technology University.
10. Award of scholarship to all indigent sons and daughters of Ogoniland that wants to acquire western education at home and overseas.
11. Provide support to widows, the aged, orphans, less privileged and physically challenged in Ogoniland as key economic players and contributors.
12. Support light and light-medium scale businesses with training and financial aide to grow better and be able to compete and create more wealth.
13. Assist by encouraging Ogoni’s companies interested in specialized type of work to partner with competent organizations and jointly go into such specialities as to build capacity and immediate wealth creation.
14. Set up community business offices in safe and most conducive part in order to bring Belema to us and us to Belema.
15. Belema will be an agent of multi-motional wealth creation for us, the people of the land and shall be available to hold one-on-one strategy meeting to better improve all oil bearing communities, covering OML 11 communities, e.t.c.
From the above, we can see that even the Belema Oil Ltd did not follow the ‘Position’ of the Ogoni leaders as regards any company that wants to partake in the Shell Divestment of OML 11 in Ogoni land. Though, Belama Oil Ltd listed so many things, which we know they will never be able to put in place, it is worthy to note that “no time frame” or realistic projections were given by the company to assure the Ogoni people that all the ‘promises’ made will see the light of day. The said ‘promises’ are just good on paper without any time frame. For being the principal actor in all of this, Shell will be held responsible of any lapses or hiccups that might emanate from the whole thing with Belema Oil Ltd. Like we said before, this ‘Ogoni story’ and how it is being handled by Shell, has the propensity to ‘resurrect’ the Ogoni crises, and Shell will be blamed for everything.
From the look of things, it is obvious that Shell, Belema Oil Ltd and those relevant stakeholders were too much in hurry to divest the said oil bloc without first addressing the problems of the Ogoni host communities or even carry the locals of the communities along in the entire divestment process. It is as if the oil company, Belema Oil Ltd, is being forced down the throat of the Ogoni people. But whatever the case may be, we strongly believe that whichever oil company that wants to partake in the Shell Divestment in Ogoni OML 11, such company must follow and adhere to ALL the positions stated above by the Ogoni Leadership Forum. Anything short of this should be seen as fraud, and rejected.
Zik Gbemre, JP
National Coordinator
Niger Delta Peace Coalition (NDPC)
No 28, Opi Street Ugboroke Layout,Effurun-warri,
P.O. Box 2254, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria.
Tel: +2348026428271
+2348061524210
+2348052106013
Website: http://www.ndpc-zik.org
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes as if Those Were Our Causes
on Feb 16th, 2015 at 18:38
A FOLLOW-UP ON THE ALLEGED SHELL DECEPTION IN OGONI
We consider it necessary to categorically state here that the essence of our earlier write up on the subject issue was to draw the attention of relevant stakeholders in Shell and for them not to take this ‘Ogoni story’ (as reported here: http://www.dailytimes.com.ng/article/shell-belema-oil-deal-affront-ogoni-struggle-%E2%80%93-erafoen), for granted but give it the necessary attention. This is because the said story was exactly some of the circumstances that had led to the infamous Ogoni Crises which led to the death of the “Ogoni 9” and greatly affected the global image of Shell.
The said ‘Ogoni story’ are not speculations as others might want us to believe, but they are facts. Relevant stakeholders would agree that “there is no smoke without fire” and for situations like this one, there is always an ‘element of truth’. More so, Shell does not know it all, hence, concerned stakeholders like us will always raise a ‘red flag’ when we see things trying to repeat itself. That is why we are asking that Shell should not downplay this issue like they always do with many similar issues and try to justify their every action.
What we expected Shell to do as regarding the subject story was investigate, ask relevant questions and make amends where necessary. For instance, is there a company by the name Belewa Oil Ltd? If there is, what is their relationship with Shell and the Ogoni people? If there was an alleged signed pact between some leaders of the Ogoni community and the said company with Shell, does the community leaders concerned have ‘the complete mandate’ of its people to do so? Even the community leaders that were alleged that their signatories were collected concerning the deal; the question is do they have the complete mandate of the Ogoni people?
These and many more are the questions. This is important because, considering the fact that community leadership changes from time to time, the said oil company and Shell might be dealing with the ‘wrong set of community persons’. Again, it was this sort of ‘confusion’ that contributed greatly to the Ogoni crises that led to the death of human rights activist Ken Saro-wiwa and the eight others. More so, how can Shell be divesting a place where it has problems that have not been resolved with the host community? The fact that Shell did this in their Western Operations in the Niger Delta and ran to the East, also in the Niger Delta, that does not mean it will also work in Ogoni, where more environmental atrocities have been committed by the oil giant.
The cross of the matter is that Shell is not sincere in holistically addressing the Ogoni Issue, otherwise, the above Ogoni story will not have come up in the first place. Let us reiterate here that the above Ogoni story and how it is being handled by Shell, has the propensity to ‘resurrect’ the Ogoni crises.
Zik Gbemre, JP
National Coordinator
Niger Delta Peace Coalition(NDPC)
No.28, Opi Street Ugboroke Layout, Effurun-Warri,
P.O. Box 2254, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria.
Tel: +2348026428271
+2348061524210
+2348052106013
Website: http://www.ndpc-zik.org
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes as if Those Were Our Causes
on Feb 15th, 2015 at 14:30
An Exxon acquisition of BP would leave it in virtual control of Alaska’s North Slope and leave Shell in the precarious position of having to pay high transport fares for use of the Trans-Alaska pipeline.
on Feb 14th, 2015 at 16:04
I have not posted a comment by Zik Gbemre submitted for the Shell Blog under the headline “A LOOK AT PRAYER-SEEKING POLITICIANS AND NIGERIAN PASTORS” because it is about Nigerian political and church matters, not about Shell.
on Feb 14th, 2015 at 10:26
ANOTHER ALLEGED DECEPTION – SHELL IS AT IT AGAIN IN OGONI
Despite the fact there are strong indications that full oil production activities will soon resume in the Niger Delta Ogoni land in Nigeria after being shut down for over 22 years following the mass protest by the people and civil disturbance in the area (which led to the murder of human rights activist Ken Saro-wiwa and eight others), occasioned by the total neglect and injustice on the people by the Nigerian government and the Shell Petroleum Development Company-SPDC (the operators of the oil fields), it appears all is not yet well with the way Shell is handling the situations regarding the Ogoni dilemma.
Our attention was drawn to a recent development in which the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has raised alarm following reports that Shell may be attempting to thwart the recommended cleanup of Ogoniland through a deal with a local company called Belema Oil Ltd.
Shell is said to have sold its oil blocks in Ogoniland to Belema oil Ltd, and drilling is set to commence as the company has reached agreement with some community chiefs who are said to be being used to collate signatures endorsing the sale of the oil in Ogoniland. Some top Shell officials are believed to have strong links with the company.
Community sources revealed that that some Ogoni community leaders were recently flown to Lagos to hold secret meetings on the oil block sale and may have been compromised after which they received documents with which to collect signatures from the Ogoni people as consent to the sale of Ogoni Oil.
ERA/FoEN Executive Director, Godwin Uyi Ojo said: “This is another deception coming from the stable of Shell. This divisive experiment is a serious affront on the peaceful Ogoni struggle for environmental justice and targeted at causing confusion so as to create a window of escape for Shell to evade its responsibilities in the clean-up of Ogoniland. We totally oppose this. Belema Oil is Shell’s new ploy to betray the Ogoni cause. It is intended to stymie the communities’ collective bargaining power. We align with Movement for Solidarity for the Ogoni People (MOSOP) and other Ogoni groups that believe that only an Ogoni Congress can speak for the people who are yet to fully recover from the years of untold hardship visited on them by Shell and the federal government of Nigeria”.
The crux of the matter is that Shell must be held accountable and responsible for the decades of its environmental degradation and human rights abuses in Ogoni and the entire Niger Delta. Aside the need to halt this backdoor deal, there is also the need for Shell officials that are said to have a stake in Belema Oil Ltd to be investigated so as to determine how much they have done to frustrate the implementation of the UNEP report through their Shell-run oil company that “seeks to put potential profit first before people and the environment.” The Nigerian Government and relevant authorities should not fold their hands and allow this perceived ‘deception’ said to being perpetrated by Shell to go on.
Zik Gbemre, JP
National Coordinator
Niger Delta Peace Coalition(NDPC)
No.28, Opi Street Ugboroke Layout, Effurun-Warri,
P.O. Box 2254, Warri, Delta State, Nigeria.
Tel: +2348026428271
+2348061524210
+2348052106013
Website: http://www.ndpc-zik.org
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes as if Those Were Our Causes
on Feb 12th, 2015 at 02:20
Lot of talk in the US that Goodfellow’s job in the UK is just a temporary and he will returning to The States in 12-18 months time. Good God! What job would the EC be foolish enough to give him? Most bets are Deepwater EVP but some folks think he could be replacing Marvin! Either one should cause a significant drop in share price (eventually — when a debacle like the reserves crisis happens, and it will).
on Feb 10th, 2015 at 20:34
John,
Congratulations on your PR victory. You have done a good thing although I do believe you have made a new enemy. Oh, well. The Crow Indians of Montana say that a warrior’s greatness is determined by the greatness of his enemies. It is just an old American Indian saying. You have a great many admirers as well. Again, congratulations.
on Feb 10th, 2015 at 16:12
John, you forgot to mention Justin Welby, the head honcho of the anglican church! Here from wikipedia: Welby worked for 11 years in the oil industry, five of them for the French oil company Elf Aquitaine based in Paris. In 1984 he became treasurer of the oil exploration group Enterprise Oil PLC in London, where he was mainly concerned with West African and North Sea oil projects. He retired from his executive position in 1989 and said that he sensed a calling from God to be ordained. He has worked for ELF (not the most honest company in the world) and was handling the treasury for Enterprise. He must have seen so many bad things he is now repenting I assume? When will we see lord Browne ordained?
on Feb 9th, 2015 at 20:44
John, you seem to have a knack for spoiling Shell’s grand plans. Ruined the celebrations when you stole the domain name of the about to be unified company, cost Shell its majority stake in Sakhalin and have now tarnished the announcement of our North Sea platform decommissioning project by undermining confidence in Allseas judgement and sentiment towards that equally hapless ship, before it has even started work for Shell. Probably like many other regulars thought you were going well over the top publishing one article after another but your determination paid off. I doubt anyone who has anything to do with the vessel will ever forget that it was christened with a Nazi name.
on Feb 9th, 2015 at 20:17
Every seaman knows that changing a ship’s name brings bad luck. Especially if you do not purge all the references to the former name. Not even Pieter Schelte can stay on any documents. However Allseas with their admiration for the Nazi Pieter Schelte Heerema has chosen to rename their Nazi ship into Pioneering Spirit. Which is still a reference to the evil SS-man and even retains the P and S of Pieter Schelte. No sane minded seaman will take the risk to sail on this ship. Evil reigns there. Beware of the bad spirits!
on Feb 8th, 2015 at 19:18
Reserves should fall with the oil price – the amount of technically (and economically) recoverable oil from a given field depends on how much a company is willing to pay to extract it. And that will be a function of the price of oil at the time the oil is expected to be produced…
on Feb 7th, 2015 at 12:52
Great job. We picked up the story from your amazing website. It was only days ago that Shell was claiming the name had nothing to do with them.
STV ARTICLE 3 FEBRUARY HEADLINED Energy giant criticised over ship named after Nazi war criminal
QUOTE
“Shell has awarded a contract to Excalibur Marine Contractors, part of the Allseas Group, to provide for the lift and transportation to shore of the topsides of the Brent Alpha, Bravo and Delta. Shell cannot comment on the name of the vessel, which is entirely a matter for Allseas.”
UNQUOTE
Shell soon changed its tune and piled pressure on Allseas to cave in.
on Feb 7th, 2015 at 10:20
Really impressed. Shows what can be achieved when someone is fearless and relentless. Noticed that Shell kept insisting that the name was a matter for Allseas until the heat got too hot to handle. I signed your petition and congratulate you on the outcome.
on Feb 6th, 2015 at 20:10
John,
Well done, your tenacious reporting on the name of the Heerema vessel has paid off. It came quicker than I thought, but they obviously weghed the pros and cons and decided to chuck it in. I am telling you that Edward Heerema will be very angry. People like that hate to lose. And he may forgive you for now, he will never forget you so be careful!
Great stuff, chapeau!
on Feb 4th, 2015 at 19:20
People should recall that the Swiss were Nazi Germany’s largest arms supplier during WWII. They were supposedly neutral, but in fact collaborated extensively to keep their ‘neutrality’ and independence intact. Let us also not forget about all that Jewish money stashed in Swiss banks that has ‘disappeared’ somehow. It should not surprise anyone that it is a Swiss company that has created this public relations disaster. The Swiss have always looked the other way at deviant behavior so long as there was money to be made.
on Feb 4th, 2015 at 06:14
I have a proposal for renaming the ‘Pieter Schelte’ that should not offend anyone. Why not call it the ‘Simon Wiesenthal’ ??? Wiesenthal is well known for bringing wayward Nazi war criminals to justice. Does anyone have any objections ?? It is just an idea, but a good deal better than naming it after a Nazi war criminal.
on Feb 2nd, 2015 at 18:20
Interesting speculation regarding a takeover, especially since BP publish their own 4Q and annual report tomorrow
on Jan 30th, 2015 at 18:21
During the past three years the OPL 245 story was revealed in court hearings in London, was investigated by the Italian police, resulted in the arrest of members of ENI’s senior management and in spite of the enormous sums involved, nobody seems to bear any responsibility. The losers in all this are clearly the shareholders of Shell and ENI. What happened to the fiduciary duties of directors, such as those required by the Companies Act (2006)? Or does an internal army of 1000 lawyers mean that Shell and its directors are above the law?
on Jan 28th, 2015 at 17:22
My guess is that the acreage set aside in the Arctic Ocean is of little interest for oil and gas companies and will therefore have little impact on Big Oil’s exploration plans for that area.
on Jan 28th, 2015 at 13:01
So we are within 24 hours of RDS results and only a few more for CVX and XOM. I have not seen any comments about book losses on fields due to low oil prices. Do analysts understand basic book keeping and mark to market? We’ll find out on Thursday, I guess
on Jan 28th, 2015 at 09:12
It appears that Shell will be alone in operating offshore Alaska. In the absence of the economies of scale that would have been provided by the presence of other operators in the region, Shell will now have to pay 100% of the costs of the required infrastructure. In conjunction with a $45 oil price, and an understanding of the realities of operating in the region, I suspect that the economics of the Alaskan adventure are now looking rather poor. Time for a $6 billion write off?
on Jan 27th, 2015 at 16:59
This Nazi fellow whose name graces this largest of all ships fled to S. America to eventually become an immensely wealthy shipping magnate. I am curious. Where did this dude get his investment capita