Groups derail Shell refinery plan

Groups derail Shell refinery plan

Feb 24th, 2015 

by John Donovan. 

No comments yet

Article by Gary Chittim published 23 February 23, 2015 by King5.com under the headline:

Groups derail Shell refinery plan

Seattle – Six environmental groups successfully challenged approval for a rail expansion that would bring oil trains directly to the Shell Oil Refinery in Anacortes.

The project was initially moved along by Skagit County through a Mitigated Determination of Non-Significance.

The groups Earth Justice, Sustainable Communities, Friends of the San Juans, ForestEthics, Washington Environmental Council, Friends of the Earth, and Evergreen Islands appealed that decision to the Skagit County Examiner.

The Examiner agreed a complete environmental review is needed before the project can proceed.

The groups used recent explosions and leaks in Ontario and West Virginia as examples of how common and dangerous accidents can be.

Shell General Manager Tom Rizzo released the following statement:

We are disappointed by the decision not to uphold the County’s Determination of Non-Significance for our proposed East Gate Rail Project. This project is critical for the refinery, and we strongly believe that the County’s environmental analysis was thorough and based on sound science and evidence.

Shell is committed to safe and modern rail operations and to the communities of Skagit County with whom we have enjoyed a long and close relationship. This project will reflect the high standards of these communities by utilizing only rail cars with enhanced safety features, along with the facility’s state-of-the-art environmental protections.

For over two years, we have been going through an exhaustive planning and regulatory process in an effort to procure each of the various permits required for this facility. We respect the Hearing Examiner’s decision and are determined to stay the course in this process in order to achieve a win/win for Shell and the community. We are still going through the details of the ruling, and it is too early at this point to comment on specific next steps.

Earth Justice’s complete statement can be found athttp://earthjustice.org/

SOURCE

RELATED ARTICLES

Shell’s Washington rail project faces lengthy delay: Reuters 23 Feb 2015

Extracts

(Reuters) – Royal Dutch Shell’s proposed crude-by-rail project in Washington state has been put on hold pending environmental review, just days after a pair of oil train derailments caused huge fires in Canada and West Virginia.

A Skagit County Office of Land Use Hearings examiner ruled Shell’s proposal must undergo a full environmental review, which can take a year or more.

Hearing examiner says Shell oil project needs full review: Associated Press 23 Feb 2015

Share this:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Email
• Print

Like this:

Loading...

Posted in: Environment, Oil, Royal Dutch Shell Plc, United States.
Tagged: Oil · Royal Dutch Shell Plc · Shell Oil Refinery Anacortes

The TRUTH will set you FREE.

Why Shell Withdrew Application For Pierre River Oil Sands Project

Why Shell Withdrew Application For Pierre River Oil Sands Project

Feb 24th, 2015 

by John Donovan. 

No comments yet

By: MICHEAL KAUFMAN

Published: Feb 24, 2015 at 7:48 am EST

Royal Dutch Shell plc (ADR) (NYSE:RDS.A) indicated on Monday that it has withdrawn the application to develop Pierre River Oil Sands in northern Alberta. The oil sands mine was first proposed by Shell Canada in 2007.

The Pierre River oil sands are estimated to produce around 200,000 barrels of oil per day. The company had earlier expected to finish the project’s construction by 2010 and production was expected to initiate by 2018. Last year, Shell specified that it had to reassess the development timeline of the project and asked the regulatory authorities to halt the review for the time being.

President of Shell Canada Lorraine Mitchelmore has indicated that the Pierre River project continues to remain a long-term opportunity for the company. She also indicated that the project is currently not the main priority of the company. Ms. Mitchelmore said: “Our current focus is on making our heavy oil business as economically and environmentally competitive as possible.”

According to the Wall Street Journal, Ms. Mitchelmore in August last year had indicated that the Canadian oil sands businesses could only be profitable when Brent crude was trading above $70 per barrel. However, Brent crude during the pre-market hours today, as of 5:23AM EST, was trading at $58.83 per barrel.

Crude oil price since the last six months has fallen more than 50%. The Canadian oil sands regions are considered as one of the costliest regions of the world. The lower crude oil price has forced the company to shy away from the project.

Shell, currently from its oil sands in Canada produces around 255,000 barrels of oil per day. The oil giant seeks to reduce costs and focus primarily on its existing operations in the country. Shell has indicated that it has the regulatory approval to double its existing oil sands production. Shell, along with Marathon Petroleum Corp (NYSE:MPC) and Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) owns stakes in the Jackpine and Muskeg River surface mines. Shell owns a 60% stake, while the remaining stake is held by Chevron and Marathon, respectively.

Last month, Shell applied 300 job cuts at its oil sands operations. Shell is amongst the first companies to shed off workers after the more than 50% decline in crude oil price since the last six months. Ms. Mitchelmore has indicated that Shell CEO Ben van Beurden believes on maintaining adequate liquidity by cutting costs, capital spending, and by increasing productivity.

Since the decline of the crude oil price, many other energy companies have reduced their workforce and have taken a toll on their oil sands projects. Companies like Total SA (ADR) (NYSE:TOT), Cenovus Energy Inc (USA) (NYSE:CV), and Statoil ASA(ADR) (NYSE:STO) have all postponed spending in the Canadian oil sands regions.

Shell’s decision to back out from the Pierre River project is considered to be a huge blow to the Canadian oil sands industry. As reported by Reuters, the Government of Alberta expects a C$7 billion decline in revenue this year. However, the government remains optimistic over the production, believing it to grow at a much slower pace. The government believes that it is still viable to produce considering the lower oil price and Shell’s move being “a business decision”.

SOURCE

Share this:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Email
• Print

Like this:

Loading...

Posted in: Ben van Beurden, Bidness Etc, Canada, Chevron, Oil Prices, Oil Sands, Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Shell Job Cuts.
Tagged: Ben van Beurden · Chevron · Oil · Royal Dutch Shell Plc · Shell

The TRUTH will set you FREE.

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS' PHOTOS 24FEB15

The TRUTH will set you FREE.

Shell Canada withdraws oilsands mine application as a cost-cutting measure

Shell Canada withdraws oilsands mine application as a cost-cutting measure

Feb 23rd, 2015 

by John Donovan. 

No comments yet

By Dan Healing of the Calgary Herald

Extracts

The Pierre River oilsands mine proposed by Shell Canada in 2007, split out of a joint application in 2009 and delayed indefinitely last year has been withdrawn entirely from the regulatory approval process.

“The Pierre River mine remains a very long-term opportunity for us but it’s not currently a priority,” said Lorraine Mitchelmore, president of Calgary-based Shell Canada, in a news release on Monday.

“Our current focus is on making our heavy oil business as economically and environmentally competitive as possible. We will continue to hold the leases and can reapply in the future when the time is right.”

Shell said it has existing regulatory approval and scope to potentially more than double its current 255,000 bpd oilsands production without the northern Alberta Pierre River mine.

Spokesman Jeff Mann said the decision was not made as a cost-cutting measure.

FULL ARTICLE

Shell pulls plug on long-delayed oil sands mine 

JEFF LEWIS: CALGARY — The Globe and Mail: Published Monday, Feb. 23 2015, 1:24 PM EST

Royal Dutch Shell PLC has scrapped plans for a long-delayed oil sands mine, pulling the plug as oil prices skid to multi-year lows.

The European oil major said Monday that it is withdrawing its application with federal regulators for its 200,000 barrel-a-day Pierre River mine north of Fort McMurray, calling the project a “very long-term opportunity” that is not currently a priority.

The collapse in crude prices has prompted layoffs and deep spending cuts across the industry, hitting profits at large companies such as Suncor Energy Inc. and Cenovus Energy Inc.

Shell in January cut as many as 300 jobs at its Albian Sands bitumen project as part of efforts to improve the project’s economics. Shell holds 60 per cent of that project with Chevron Corp. and Marathon Oil Corp., who each hold a 20-per-cent stake.

FULL ARTICLE

FROM A RELATED PRESS RELEASE MADE ON BEHALF OF SHELL

CALGARY, Feb. 23, 2015 /CNW/ – Shell announced today it is withdrawing its regulatory application for the proposed Pierre River Mine north of Fort McMurray, Alberta to focus attention on its existing oil sands operations.

“The Pierre River Mine (PRM) remains a very long term opportunity for us but it’s not currently a priority,” said Lorraine Mitchelmore, Shell Canada President and Executive Vice President of Heavy Oil. “Our current focus is on making our heavy oil business as economically and environmentally competitive as possible. We will continue to hold the leases and can reapply in the future when the time is right.”

Shell has existing regulatory approval and scope to potentially more than double its oil sands production from its current level of 255,000 bpd.

Given the preliminary nature of the Pierre River Mine project, employment impacts will be very limited.

NOTES TO EDITORS

Pierre River Mine background:

• The Pierre River Mine (PRM) application outlined a proposal for a new 200,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) heavy oil mine north of Fort McMurray, Alberta.
• Shell originally submitted a joint application for PRM and the Jackpine Mine Expansion (JPME), a 100,000 bpd expansion to the Jackpine Mine, to the federal regulator in 2007 on behalf of the Athabasca Oil Sands Project (AOSP). The AOSP is a joint venture operated by Shell and owned among Shell Canada Energy (60%), Chevron Canada Corporation (20%) and Marathon Oil Sands LP (20%).
• Shell separated the PRM and JPME applications in 2009.
• A regulatory hearing on JPME took place in 2012. The Joint Review Panel for JPME issued its Decision Report in July 2013, recommending it for approval. CEAA issued its Decision Statement in December 2013 deeming the project to be in the public’s interest.
• In February 2014, Shell informed the joint-review panel for PRM that it would update the development timeline for PRM.

Shell Canada Ltd
Shell has been operating in Canada since 1911 and employs approximately 8,000 people across the country. A leading manufacturer, distributor and marketer of refined petroleum products, Shell produces natural gas, natural gas liquids and bitumen, and is Canada’s largest producer of sulphur. Shell is one of Canada’s oil sands developers and operates the Athabasca Oil Sands Project on behalf of the joint venture partners.

For further information: Shell Canada Media Relations +1 877 850 5023 or media-desk@shell.com; Shell US Media Relations +1 713 241 4544; Shell International Media Relations +44 20 7934 5550

SOURCE PRESS RELEASE

RELATED ARTICLES

Shell shelves 200,000-bpd Pierre River oil sands mining project: Reuters 23 Feb 2015

Shell Withdraws Pierre River Oil-Sands Regulatory Application: Bloomberg.com

Shell shelves plan for tar sands project in face of low oil prices: The Guardian

Share this:

• Facebook
• Twitter1
• Email
• Print

Like this:

Loading...

Posted in: Canada, Chevron, Environment, Oil, Oil Prices, Oil Sands, Royal Dutch Shell Plc.
Tagged: Canada · Oil · Oil Sands · Royal Dutch Shell Plc

The TRUTH will set you FREE.

Professionalism

Professionalism

Feb 23rd, 2015 

by John Donovan. 

No comments yet

Email received 23 Feb 2015 – presumably meant for Shell

Subject: Professionalism 

Hey.

Can you please ask your subcontractor, Mike Gordon from Inverness, who is working for you guys offshore Gabon on board the Stingray to please refrain from posting updates on Facebook about the issues we have had onboard with welding.

He is starting to upset a few people.

Thanks

N Van Oord

FOUND ON THE MIKE GORDON FACEBOOK PAGE

RELATED INFORMATION

Rotterdam, the Netherlands, 10 november 2014 – Van Oord has been awarded the EPC contract for the replacement of a dual 10 km long oil export line. The client is Shell Gabon. The execution period runs from November 2014 to the summer of 2015. The export line runs from the Gamba terminal, 200 NM south of Port of Gentil, to a pipeline end manifold (PLEM). The existing 30 inch line will be replaced by a looped dual 22 inch sea line system with pigging facilities allowing for inspection and cleaning. Van Oord will deploy shallow water pipe lay bargeStingray. The project contributes to Gabon’s export of energy and is important for the economic development in the region. – See more

Share this:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Email
• Print

Like this:

Loading...

Posted in: Royal Dutch Shell Plc.

The TRUTH will set you FREE.