Gulf Times: Shell loses appeal to restore LNG jetty approval: “The Royal Dutch Shell Plc-led venture on Russia’s Sakhalin Island may face delays on plans to sell liquefied natural gas to Asia after losing an appeal to reinstate an environmental approval”: “Talks with the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development about funding for the project stalled after the bank found environmental problems”: Sunday, 31 July, 2005: Read the article

The Sunday Times (UK): Mayo council ‘to get Shell windfall’: “Supporters of the Rossport Five — the local landowners who have spent the past month in jail — want Shell to move its operations offshore, but it has emerged that the council, which granted planning permission for an inland terminal, has a strong vested interest in keeping Shell on land.”: “The council will be paid €2m in rates… for downfall pipes, some of which will run through land owned by the Rossport Five.”: “…Mayo county secretary, confirmed last week that conditions laid down… in Shell’s planning permission will result in total payments to the council of about €6.5m from the firm.”: Sunday 31 July 2005: Read the article

The Sunday Times: And Finally ... If Shell is driven away who else will invest in Mayo? “THE people of Mayo know all about boycotts, having coined the word in 1880…”: “In all the fuss surrounding the jailing of the so-called Rossport Five it is easy to lose sight of the fact that Shell is acting entirely within the law.”: “With the world’s media picking up the efforts being made to prevent Shell proceeding with its legally approved project we can’t see the region’s fortunes improving any time soon.”: Sunday 31 July 2005: Read the article

The Sunday Times: Yuppies mark Rossport card: “A city-centre rally in support of the Rossport Five, the jailed Shell pipeline protesters, was heckled by a counter-demonstration staged by four young crusaders styling themselves as "pro-capitalists". “…the impertinent interlopers really seemed to annoy the various Green, Labour, Sinn Fein and independent TDs who have leapt aboard the Rossport bandwagon.”: Sunday 31 July 2005: Read the article

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: End of an Auto Sale: Exxon Mobil and Shell said earnings climbed more than 30% amid soaring oil prices, but both saw production decline; Sunday July 31, 2005: Read the article

The Observer: And they call this the silly season? “Corporate giants like Vodafone, Rolls-Royce, BP, Shell, and AstraZeneca all came out with results that were - with the exception of beleaguered Shell - rather better than the market had a right to expect.”: Sunday July 31, 2005: Read the article

The Observer: The marketing of Blairism: “You could be forgiven for thinking that think-tanks exert more influence on the Prime Minister than business and unions combined.”: “There is lingering suspicion that think-tanks are skewed by the financial backing of big business. The SMF has a business group that companies like pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline and oil major Shell pay over £10,000 to join.”: Sunday July 31, 2005: Read the article

The Independent on Sunday: The week that was: Investors get the jitters as lenders are hit by bad debts: “Meanwhile, Royal Dutch Shell unveiled half-year profits of £5.8bn, or £1.3m an hour. But it doesn't plan to stop there. Shell plans to increase the money spent on exploring for oilfields to £1bn both this year and next year. Investors had been concerned that Shell wasn't doing enough to replace its falling oil reserves.”: Sunday 31 July 2005 : Read the article

Daily Telegraph: The Sakhalin Island indicator to oil prices: Protest forces Shell delay: “Sakhalin is already 100pc over budget at $20billion and contractors are demanding more and more cash. Given that one of them was found stabbed in his apartment last week, they probably deserve it.” Saturday 30 July 2005: Read the article

Daily Telegraph: Fish protest forces Shell to delay oil terminal: “Shell ran into another obstacle on its Sakhalin project yesterday after a Russian court ruled against the construction of a quay on the island.”: “The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is mulling over whether to continue lending money to the project, in the face of furious environmentalists who have taken full-page newspaper advertisements to protest against Shell.”: Saturday 30 July 2005: Read the article

Irish Independent: Pipe protests are costing fuel giant 100,000 a day: “Last week, Minister Noel Dempsey said he believed that the company had breached the permissions it was granted and had asked Shell for an immediate response, which is currently being considered by the minister.”: Saturday July 30, 2005: Read the article

Irish Examiner: Shell axes 56 jobs as a result of pipe protests: “Mark Carrigy, operations manager for Shell EP Ireland, claimed protesters had been obstructing non-pipeline work and as a result the sub-contractors were forced to cut employee numbers.”: “The job losses come as five men jailed over their protests against the pipeline brothers Philip and Vincent McGrath, Micheal O'Seighin, Willie Corduff and Brendan Philbin were completing their fifth week behind bars.”: Saturday 30 July 2005: Read the article

RTE (Ireland): Shell announces 56 more Corrib lay-offs: “The company… blamed continuing protests at its sites in Mayo”: Posted Saturday 30 July 2005: Read the article

Daily Telegraph: A summary of this week's main business stories: “Shell declared a 27pc increase in first-half profits to $10.17billion (£5.8billion) but admitted that its oil and gas production had fallen by 129,000 barrels a day over the period.”: Saturday 30 July 2005: Read the article

Daily Telegraph: Not bad results this half but UK plc could do better: “… Jeroen van der Veer, chief executive of Shell, whose sums have given so much trouble recently, admitted: "It is clear we must improve our project management.": Saturday 30 July 2005: Read the article

The Times (UK): That was the week: “Further delays and soaring expenditure in big energy projects emerge at Royal Dutch Shell after the oil group admits that the start-up of Bonga, a giant offshore Nigerian oilfield, has been pushed back until late this year.”: Saturday 30 July 2005: Read the article

Daily Mirror (UK): GROTESQUE: Union blasts Shell's £372 a second profit: “SHELL sparked outrage yesterday by revealing profits of £372 a second.”: “Union Amicus called the profit "grotesque" and accused Shell of putting cash before staff safety. The company was fined £900,000 in April for health and safety lapses over the deaths of two Scottish workers in 2003. Keith Moncrieff, 45, and Sean McCue, 22, were overcome by gas on the Brent Bravo platform.”: Friday 29 July 2005: Read the article

The Wall Street Journal: Exxon, Shell Profits Climb Sharply: "The company, which earlier this month disclosed budget overruns and a half-year delay at its massive Sakhalin II gas project in Russia, said yesterday that production at its giant offshore oil field in Nigeria, Bonga, would be delayed once again, though just by a few months.": Friday 29 July 2005: Read the article

THE NEW YORK TIMES: High Energy Prices Boost 3 Oil Companies: “Repeated restatements of its oil reserves last year cost Shell, one of the world's largest oil producers with BP PLC and Exxon Mobil, almost $150 million in fines imposed by U.S. and British regulators and led to the dismissal of three senior executives.”: Friday 29 July 2005: Read the article

Financial Times: Shell's first results as a single group disappoint: “Shell, which this month united its Dutch and UK holding companies, is struggling to keep up. It lags behind competitors in production growth, faces lawsuits in the US over false reserves statements and announced a $10bn cost overrun at Sakhalin-2, the flagship Russian project. There was further bad news yesterday from Jeroen van der Veer, Shell chief executive, who said that Bonga, one of Shell's most important projects in Nigeria, would also be delayed.”: Friday 29 July 2005: Read the article

The Guardian (UK): Shell meets its match in the Rossport Five: “Suddenly, the issue became one of the biggest news stories of the year and, as the Irish Examiner called it, "a major public relations disaster for the Shell corporation".: "The "Rossport Five" were jailed at the specific request of the company, which had obtained compulsory purchase orders for the land in question - the first time in Irish history that such an order was granted to a private company. The five will remain in jail until they undertake not to obstruct the company.": "Shell officials misjudged the situation…”: “July has seen huge rallies in support of the men in Co Mayo and in Dublin, the picketing of Shell garages nationwide, and round-the-clock blockades of the refinery construction site.”: Friday 29 July 2005: Read the article

THE TIMES (UK): Shell's woes mount as it admits cost overruns and delays: “FURTHER delays and soaring expenditure in big energy projects emerged at Royal Dutch Shell yesterday when the company admitted that the start-up of Bonga, a giant offshore Nigerian oilfield, had been pushed back until late this year.“: “Bonga’s budget has already swelled from a $2.7 billion estimate in 2001 to about $4 billion (£2.3 billion).”: Friday 29 July 2005: Read the article

The Guardian (UK): Shell's big profits fail to impress City: “The City was less than impressed with yesterday's figures, which were below expectations. "Shell has a relatively weak competitive position, limited organic growth opportunities, poor reserve replacement record and its project management is poor," according to Barclays analyst Andrew Fisher.”: Friday July 29, 2005: Read the article

Daily Telegraph: Shell gushes to $10bn in face of Sakhalin costs: “Shell yesterday declared a 27pc increase in first-half profits to $10.17billion (£5.8billion) but admitted that its oil and gas production had fallen by 129,000 barrels a day over the period.”: “Shell's main problem in the second quarter was a huge cost overrun on its landmark Sakhalin project, which aims to tap four billion barrels of hydrocarbons in the frozen sea off the east coast of Russia. The company recently admitted that its costs had doubled to $20billion. Yesterday, Jeroen van der Veer, the chief executive, said: "It is clear we must improve our project management.": Friday 29 July 2005: Read the article

Lloyds List: Investment concern as Shell earnings soar: Capital expenditure figure for year of $15bn excludes cost overruns on Sakhalin II, writes Martyn Wingrove: “STRONG oil prices have sent unified Royal Dutch Shell's earnings into a 26% rise in the second quarter, but there are concerns over rises in capital investments on Russian projects.”: Friday July 29, 2005: Read the article

Lloyds List: LPG sale process gains momentum: “Shell is about to take a step forward in the oil major's efforts to sell its liquefied petroleum gas business, writes Tony Gray. The group will soon open a 'data room' to allow serious potential bidders access to all the information needed to assess the business' value.”: Friday July 29, 2005: Read the article

RedNova News: EBRD Raps Sakhalin 2 Gas, Oil Project Over Environmental Concerns: “The so-called Sakhalin 2 natural gas and oil development project involving Japanese trading houses has suffered a fresh setback after the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development said the project lacks environmental awareness.”: Posted Friday 29 July 2005: Read the article

London Evening Standard: Sky-high crude price propels Shell to within touching distance of BP: “Shell's profits surged by more than a third in the first half of the year, thanks to record oil prices.”:  “Shell is attempting to win back investor confidence following the scandal last year when it was found to have been grossly exaggerating the amount of oil it had in reserves, waiting to be pumped out of the ground.”: “But investors remain rattled about huge cost overruns at its flagship gas exploration project in Russia. Sakhalin II could end up costing double the expected $10 billion. "We have to say there are certain large projects which don't go well at all," said chief executive Jeroen van der Veer. He denied the blundered project was of lasting damage to the group's reputation.”: Thursday 28 July 2005: Read the article

Financial Times: Disappointment as Shell reveals weak results: “Shell, which this month united its Dutch and UK holding companies, is struggling to keep up. It lags behind competitors in production growth, faces lawsuits in the US over false reserves statements and announced a $10bn cost overrun at Sakhalin-2, the flagship Russian project.”: Thursday 28 July 2005: Read the article

The Independent: Shell reports £1.3m-an-hour profits: “The oil giant Royal Dutch Shell unveiled half-year profits of £5.84 billion today, as it posted its first results as a unified company.”: “The Anglo-Dutch group swept aside 100 years of history with its unification last week - a move designed to eliminate the failings that led to the reserves fiasco.”: Thursday 28 July 2005: Read the article

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Shell's Net Jumps 35% On High Oil Prices: “Shell, still recovering from a scandal over the downsizing of its oil reserves, also said it will boost spending on exploration to an annual $1.8 billion in 2005 and 2006.”: Thursday 28 July 2005: Read the article

THE TIMES (UK): Bumper spending knocks Shell: “It said its spending programme would also reflect its involvement in Sakhalin II, the Siberian gas project where the budget has now doubled to $20 billion.”: Thursday 28 July 2005: Read the article

Financial Times: Shell sets deadline for LPG bidders: Thursday 28 July 2005: Read the article

Irish Independent: A lack of information: “The debacle surrounding the Corrib gas project is a monument to miscommunication, misinformation and misrepresentation, whether intentional or not”: Thursday July 28, 2005: Read the article

Irish Times: Mayo gas pipeline controversy: “Shell now tells us it has been meticulous in observing environmental regulations. Would this be the same Shell oil giant which has removed billions of dollars worth of oil from the Niger delta while flouting environmental regulations for decades?: Thursday, July 28, 2005: Read the article

AFX Europe (Focus): Shell makes 2 finds in Nigeria's 'Big Cat' prospects: Thursday July 28, 2005: Read the article

AFX Asia (Focus): Shell says asset swap with Gazprom to proceed despite Sakhalin cost overruns: “Van der Veer told reporters in a conference call that Shell and Gazprom are currently engaged in "detailed negotiations" on the terms of the swap following the signing of a framework agreement on July 7.”: “He was commenting on newspaper reports that Gazprom felt short-changed with the exchange, given that the cost overruns and delays at Sakhalin have effectively reduced the value of the asset.”: Thursday July 28, 2005: Read the article

ShellNews.net: NOT ALL BAD NEWS FOR SHELL: 15.45: Thursday, 28 July 2005: Read the article

Financial Times: Case of ex-Shell chief could make life complicated for FSA: “Sir Philip's beef stems from the FSA's decision to fine Royal Dutch Shell £17m last August for overstating its oil and gas reserves between 1998 and 2003, when he served in several senior executive roles.”: Thursday 28 July 2005: Read the article

BLOOMBERG: Shell 2nd-Qtr Profit Misses Estimates as Output Falls (Update4): “Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Europe's second- biggest oil company, posted lower-than-expected profit for the second quarter as production fell.”: “Shell Chief Executive Officer Jeroen van der Veer's goal this year is to stem production declines as competitors forge ahead with increases in output. He said today that an offshore project at Bonga, Nigeria, was further delayed after saying July 14 that costs to develop the Sakhalin venture in Russia, the world's largest oil and gas project, may double to $20 billion.”: “Shell shares last year lagged behind its competitors after the company said in January 2004 that it had misled investors on the size of its reserves.”: Thursday 28 July 2005: Read the article

The Guardian: Shell announces £5.8bn profits:  “Last year, Shell was hit by a reserves scandal which saw it forced to downgrade its oil reserves by around one fifth. The extra injection of cash for exploration is designed to allay investor concern that the oil giant is struggling to replace its reserves. Two weeks ago, Shell announced that its exploration and production unit had suffered a new setback when it revealed that its flagship Sakhalin II gas project was likely to cost $20bn - twice its original budget.”: Thursday 28 July 2005: Read the article

MosNews (Russia): Sakhalin-2 LNG Project Under Fire From Environmentalists, Lenders: “Sakhalin Energy, the operator of the Sakhalin-2 oil and gas project, was compelled to suspend the construction of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant because of strong protests from environmentalists.”: “The court’s decision could lead to a revision of not only the investment component of the project, but also of the timeline for the pipeline’s commencement, with 2008 being the deadline. Such a situation cannot satisfy the investors…”: “Kyodo News reported on Thursday, July 28, that the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has decided against giving Sakhalin Energy a loan…”: Thursday 28 July 2005: Read the article

Reuter: Royal Dutch Shell profits soar on high oil: “Royal Dutch Shell the world's third-largest oil firm by market capitalisation, reported a more than 20 percent jump in second quarter profits on Thursday on the back of high oil prices.”: Thursday 28 July 2005: Read the article

BBC TV NEWS: Shell rides on soaring oil prices: “The Anglo-Dutch group was finally unified last week in a bid to rebuild investor confidence after last year's oil reserves debacle. Previously the company had been co-owned by British and Dutch holding firms.”: Thursday 28 July 2005: Read the article

Chicago Daily Herald, IL: Shell settles suit over tainted landfill soil:  “Shell Pipeline Co. LP has agreed to pay $155,000 worth of fines — including $50,000 to go to a Kane County recycling program — as a penalty for dumping benzene-tainted soil…”: Thursday 28 July 2005: Read the article

KWQC.com: Company to pay fine for dumping contaminated soil: “Houston-based Shell Pipeline has agreed to pay a 105-thousand dollar civil penalty and donate 50-thousand dollars to a recycling program for dumping contaminated soil…”: Thursday 28 July 2005: Read the article

Reuters: Iran: Door open to foreign investors: “Legislators have accused oil giant Royal Dutch Shell, which operates Iran's 200,000 barrels per day offshore Soroush and Nowruz oilfields, of "cultural imperialism".”: Posted Thursday 28 July 2005: Read the article

Irish Times: Court rules out challenge to Shell planning permission: Posted Thursday 28 July 2005: Read the article

Eurasia Daily Monitor: SAKHALIN ENERGY PROJECTS FACE REALITY CHECK: Costs skyrocket for off-shore Sakhalin energy projects: “Royal Dutch/Shell has raised cost estimates for Sakhalin-2 and postponed the first LNG shipment from the end of 2007 to summer 2008. Shell CEO Jeroen van der Veer has conceded an "absolutely staggering" $10 billion cost overrun on Sakhalin-2.”: “Moreover, Russia's gas giant Gazprom has agreed to swap a 50% stake in its Siberian Zapolyarnoye gas field for a 25% stake in Sakhalin-2. But earlier this month, Gazprom indicated that it now considered Royal Dutch/Shell's assets on Sakhalin to be worth less after Shell raised the project's cost estimates.”: Wednesday 27 July 2005: Read the article

London Evening Standard: CITY SPY: “STRANGE and sinister story in Real IR magazine. It seems Shell may have found an innovative way of curbing difficult questions at investor meetings.” Posted Wednesday 27 July 2005: Read the article

Daily Express (UK): Boss in Shell scandal starts legal fightback: “… Watts' counsel, David Pannick, claimed Watts could be easily identified by any "reasonable reader". This was because the notice referred to Shell's annual report, signed off by Watts, which contained false reserves statements, and to a Shell-commissioned report into the scandal, naming him among others. This had led to "contemptuous press coverage".: Posted Wednesday 27 July 2005: Read the article

ShellNews.net: Former Shell PR veteran, Paddy Briggs, traces the firm's reputational demise: “the reputation of Shell has been destroyed by hypocrisy, mendacity and deceit.": 09.25: Wednesday 27 July 2005: Read the article

Financial Times: BP result hit by costs of US incidents: “Anyone can make money with oil at $60 a barrel but the question is who can make the most hay in today's sunshine. Compared to Shell, its closest European rival, the answer is BP.”: Wednesday 27 July 2005: Read the article

Ulster TV: Compound linked to Mayo pipeline closed: “Shell To Sea, a group which opposes the building of the pressure pipeline, said the closure of the compound at Glengad, Erris, Co Mayo, was a tribute to the struggle of hundreds of people who had campaigned against the pipeline.”: Wednesday 27 July 2005: Read the article

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Wasted Energy: “LATELY there has been much grandstanding about the dangers of the bid by a government-backed Chinese oil company, Cnooc, for Unocal.”: ““In August 1934, Walter Teagle of Standard Oil and Henri Deterding of Royal Dutch Shell lobbied Washington to frighten Japan into moderation by hinting at a cutoff of American oil exports. The State Department demurred, but mutual tension over oil supplies escalated into paranoia and contributed to the build-up to World War II.”: Wednesday 27 July 2005: Read the article

BBC Russian Service (Western Siberia): Siberian oil far from politics : “Like all the other oil majors, Shell can hardly put Russia, which accounts for almost 10% of the world's oil, aside - no matter how harsh the weather in Siberia or in Moscow's high offices.”: Posted Wednesday 27 July 2005: Read the article

RTE Ireland: Shell blames protests for lay-offs: “Shell has announced that it is to lay off 35 workers at the Corrib gas pipeline in County Mayo. The company said the decision was made as a result of the continuing protests taking place at its sites in Mayo.” Posted Wednesday 27 July 2005: Read the article

ShellNews.net: An Expert Assessment of Shell’s Reputation: "On occasion, a company's activities can acquire so much bad publicity that the brand is damaged beyond repair.": 18.28. Tuesday 26 July 2005: Read the article

RTE NEWS (Ireland): Shell to respond to allegations: “On Saturday the Minister for Natural Resources, Noel Dempsey, said he believed that the company has breached the permissions it was granted and had asked the company for an immediate response.”: Tuesday 26 July 2005: Read the article

IrelandOn-Line: Shell chairman: Protestors can end dispute: “As the men began their fifth week behind bars Andy Pyle, Shell Ireland chairman, said it was difficult to see a way forward unless they purged their contempt. “We have looked at all the alternatives that could make a breakthrough here, as I say it was very clear in court yesterday that nothing could be done until the five landowners purge their contempt,” Mr Pyle said. “I think the case is clearly in their hands.”: Tuesday 26 July 2005: Read the article

The Age (Australia): Shell-Todd `Pohokura' row goes to trial: “Energy heavyweights Shell New Zealand and Todd Petroleum will take a row over who develops and operates the gas field Pohokura to a full trial - a fresh sign their 50-year relationship is falling apart.”: Tuesday 26 July 2005: Read the article

From the pages of today's WALL STREET JOURNAL: Oil Profits May Be Peaking: "Shell recently announced that its giant gas development in Sakhalin, Russia, could cost as much as $20 billion, twice the original estimate.": TUESDAY 26 JULY 2005: Read the article

Daily Telegraph: FSA says that reserves report targeted corporate personality, not individuals: FSA dismisses claim as nonsense: Tuesday 26 July 2005: Read the article

THE LONDON TIMES: Need to know: “The Financial Services Authority has dismissed as “nonsense” an appeal before the Financial Services and Markets Tribunal by Sir Philip Watts, the former Royal Dutch Shell boss, that the regulator’s report into Shell’s reserves scandal unfairly damaged his reputation.”: Tuesday 26 July 2005: Read the article

The Guardian (UK): Ex-Shell chief seeks to clear his name: “…his legal team argue that the Financial Services Authority had damaged his reputation when it fined Shell a record £17m a year ago for "unprecedented misconduct". The fine followed the admission by the Anglo-Dutch group that it had over reported its reserves by almost a quarter.”: “For the FSA, Lord Grabiner said that Sir Philip was using the tribunal to "take on the media" which used the Shell fine to identify him.”: Tuesday July 26, 2005: Read the article

The Independent (UK): Former Shell chairman accuses FSA of prejudice: “Representing the FSA, Anthony Grabiner QC dismissed Mr Pannick's claims, insisting that Sir Philip was not identified or prejudiced by its announcement of the fine. 'This is all nonsense,' he said.”: Tuesday July 26, 2005: Read the article

Financial Times: Former Shell boss challenges the FSA to launch proceedings: “Yesterday's one-day hearing was Sir Philip's first legal move since he was forced to resign from Shell in March 2004, following the company's admission that it had incorrectly booked nearly 4bn barrels of oil and gas.”: Tuesday 26 July 2005: Read the article

Financial Times: Watts new? Hardly: “He was even still wearing the shell-shaped ring that had always seemed to be a token of his corporate loyalty. It turns out to have been his wedding ring.”: Tuesday 26 July 2005: Read the article

Financial Times: Sir Philip Watts and the Markets Tribunal: “Beware of what you boast. When the Financial Services Authority fined Royal Dutch Shell £17m last summer for market abuse, the regulator pointedly referred to the "speedy resolution" of the case…”: Tuesday 26 July 2005: Read the article

BLOOMBERG: Watts Accuses U.K.'s FSA of `Mischief' in Shell Reserves Probe: “The regulator, which didn't mention Watts's name in the penalty notice, rejected the accusations and said it's still probing Watts.”: “The watchdog's imposed a record 17 million-pound ($30 million) fine on Shell last year amid investor lawsuits, the loss of the company's top-tier credit rating and the departure of Watts and two other executives. Clearing his name may provide Watts with ammunition for a defense in any class-action suits against him.”: Posted Tuesday 26 July 2005: Read the article

Irish Times: Controversy over Mayo gas pipeline: “This giveaway agreement was presided over by a government led by CJ Haughey, and the terms were arranged by the then Minister who dealt with such affairs, Ray Burke. This man has since been investigated and found to have engaged in a mass of corrupt and illegal dealings, and has served a jail term.”: Tuesday July 26, 2005: Read the article

Irish Times: Minister will not interfere in Shell High Court case: “Commenting after yesterday's High Court hearing, a spokeswoman for the Minister said this position was "absolute" and was not influenced by the fact that Shell E&P Ireland has been found to be in breach of ministerial consents.”: Tuesday July 26, 2005: Read the article

Irish Independent: Back to jail after 'Rossport 5' again fail to purge contempt: “Earlier, Mr Rogers described as "an audacious suggestion" the terms of a letter from Shell which was opened in court and stated by the company as maybe providing an opportunity for the protesters to purge their contempt.”: Tuesday 26 July 2005: Read the article

London Evening Standard: Ex-Shell boss in showdown with FSA: “The case is crucial for Watts as the US Department of Justice is 'still evaluating' criminal action against Shell directors.”: “Watts is named in US class action lawsuits seeking 'unspecified damages' from present and former directors.”: Monday 25 July 2005: Read the article

ShellNews.net: Why has Ex-Shell Boss Watts brought proceedings against the FSA who did not name him in their Shell reserves scandal report but not against publishers and broadcasters who have named him in connection with the debacle?: 00.10 Tuesday 26 July 2005: Read the article

London Evening Standard: Ex-Shell boss aims 'to put record straight': “Watts is accusing the Financial Services Authority of blackening his name by association in its report into the oil giant's disastrous over-reporting of how much oil it had in its reserves.”: Monday 25 July 2005: Read the article

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Venezuela Hits Oil Firm With Back-Tax Bill, Fine: “Last week, Royal Dutch Shell was the first foreign oil company to receive a tax bill and fine from the Seniat.”: Monday July 25, 2005; Page A13: Read the article

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: The Leapfrog Strategy: Monday 25 July 2005: Read the article

Daily Telegraph: After the oil furore Shell and BP need to impress: “The merger of Shell's two operating subsidiaries to form one company has already focused attention on the group. In addition, Shell's former chairman Sir Philip Watts will appear at a preliminary hearing today over whether the Financial Services Authority should have given him a chance to respond before publishing its report into Shell's overstatement of its reserves last year.”: Monday 25 July 2005: Read the article

Financial Times: Ex-Shell chief to challenge FSA ruling: “Sir Philip Watts, former chairman of Royal Dutch/Shell, is due to challenge the Financial Services Authority at the Financial Services and Markets Tribunal today.”: “He claimed he had been "identified and prejudiced" when the regulator fined Shell £17m in August 2004 for misleading the market by overstating its oil and gas reserves between 1998 and 2003.”: Monday 25 July 2005: Read the article

The Guardian (UK): Ousted Shell chairman begins fight against regulator: “A year ago, the regulator decided to fine the company after discovering "unprecedented misconduct". Sir Philip is not named in the report, but he argues that he could be identified because he was running the company at the time.”: “He left Shell in March 2004 after it had admitted overstating reserves by almost a quarter. The company has been trying to put the episode behind it…”: Monday July 25, 2005: Read the article

BLOOMBERG: Exxon, Shell, BP Profits Probably Surged Amid Record Oil Prices: “Finding new reserves and raising production is increasingly difficult. Two-thirds of Shell's most prospective wells in 2004 were dry holes…”: “Shell, based in The Hague, said July 14 that costs to develop its Sakhalin field in Russia, the world's largest oil and gas project, may double to $20 billion…” Monday 25 July 2005: Read the article

Irish Times: Dempsey sets up body to monitor gas project: “The development comes as Shell E&P Ireland is under pressure to lift its injunction imposed on north Mayo residents who are opposed to the pipeline, following its admission of a "technical breach" of ministerial consents. Five local men have been in prison for a month over their breach of the injunction.”: “More than 2,000 people rallied in support of the five men in Dublin on Saturday.”: Monday July 25, 2005: Read the article

Irish Independent: Shell pushed to set Rossport protesters free: “Oil company welded together 3km of pipeline without State's consent”: “Labour party leader Pat Rabbitte said yesterday that Shell's admission that it breached regulations provided a window of opportunity to end the dispute which saw the Mayo men jailed for contempt.”: Monday 25 July 2005: Read the article

BizWorld: Govt asks Shell to explain new work: “Government inspectors have confirmed that Shell carried out unauthorised works on its controversial pipeline at Rossport in Co Mayo.”: “The inspections have confirmed allegations by supporters of the five local men imprisoned for protests against the pipeline.”: “The Department has now written to Shell chairman Andy Pyle, telling him that the work was unauthorised and seeking an explanation.”: Monday, July 25 2005: Read the article

IrelandOn-Line: Rabbitte calls on shell to free ‘Rossport Five’: “Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte today called Shell on to waive the injunction against the ‘Rossport Five’ by lifting a High Court injunction against them.”: Sunday 24 July 2005: Read the article

THE BUSINESS: BP overtakes Shell on profits: “Jonathan Wright at Citigroup said: "We look for BP to be the star performer of the results season while Royal Dutch Shell causes us concerns with the risk of further project delays." : Sunday July 24, 2005: Read the article

The Business: Shell field off Nigeria risks more delays: “Royal Dutch Shell's flagship $2.7bn (£1.5bn, €2.2bn) Bonga project off Nigeria is believed to be suffering damaging delays, just a week after the company stunned investors by doubling the costs of its Sakhalin gas project to $20bn.”: Sunday July 24, 2005: Read the article

The Business: From Madagascar to the Faroes, oil companies seek out the last frontier: “…Royal Dutch Shell has appointed 80 staff to a new exploration division centred on exploring the waters around the Faroes. That is ten times what it should need to manage its one exploration licence, pointing at a push in the region.”: Sunday July 24, 2005: Read the article

The Business: Warlords in Nigeria fall out over who has oil riches: “… Shell is the most vulnerable to unrest in the Delta. Its joint venture with Nigeria's state oil company turns out 1m barrels per day, making it the second largest oil producer in the Shell Group worldwide. Approaching 30% of all oil reserves controlled by Shell are found in Nigeria. Asari is aware of the company's vulnerability - his last round of attacks forced Shell briefly to evacuate 254 staff from the Delta.”: Sunday July 24, 2005: Read the article

THE NEWARK STAR-LEDGER: Hearing in Newark could determine fate of Shell lawsuit: “…securities fraud case against the world's third-largest oil company. The hearing before U.S. District Chief Judge John Bissell gets to the heart of the case against Royal Dutch/Shell Group.”: “It isn't clear how many people were affected by the alleged fraud. But the case is regarded as one of the most significant securities fraud actions because of the size of the company and the length of the class period, which is roughly five years. It is being closely watched by regulators and lawyers around the world.”: Posted Sunday 24 July 2005: Read the article

ShellNews.net: Shell still under heavy fire in US Courts: Latest on US Class Action hearing against Royal Dutch/Shell: Updated 11am Sunday 24 July 2005: Read the article

ShellNews.net: Newark Star-Ledger report on the multi-billion dollar US Class Action reserves scandal lawsuit against Royal Dutch/Shell and named former and current directors, including Royal Dutch Shell CEO Jeroen van der Veer and Shell E & P Executive Director, Malcolm Brinded: 1.40am: Sunday 24 July 2005: Read the article

THE SUNDAY TIMES (UK): Shell ‘breached’ pipeline consent: “THE government has ordered Shell to explain why the oil company appears to have breached the terms of permission it was given to carry out work on the controversial Corrib gas pipeline in Mayo.”: The Department of the Marine made another embarrassing climbdown concerning the project last month, when it emerged that an “independent” risk assessment of the pipeline was being carried out by a company jointly owned by Shell and BP.”: Sunday 24 July 2005: Read the article

The Observer: Shell's cracks still showing: “…with exquisitely appalling timing - a week before the unification - Shell announced that one such scheme, its much-vaunted Sakhalin-2 liquefied natural gas project, was $10 billion over budget and well behind schedule.”: “Not only will this hurt the return Shell can make on the project, but it also hurts its credibility…”: “Now there are mutterings about further management heads rolling, with the focus on exploration and production head Malcolm Brinded.”: The new company has not had a harmonious birth and still looks a long way from finding its feet, let alone catching up with the likes of Exxon and BP on fundamentals.”: Sunday July 24, 2005: Read the article

THE SUNDAY BUSINESS POST (IRELAND): Rossmore Five: Party loyalties split in battle over pipeline: “The ‘Free the Rossport Five' campaign offers considerable scope for broadsides on the government's policy towards Shell - from the safety of the pipeline to tax reliefs and their exemption from paying royalties to the state.”: Sunday 24 July 2005: Read the article

THE SUNDAY TIMES: Anti-gas group is right to raise fears: “THE effect of your editorial (Five have had their say, last week) is either completely to misunderstand the nature of the Corrib pipeline dispute or to misrepresent it.”: Sunday 24 July 2005: Read the article

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Money to burn: “If BP and Shell were to gear up to about 30 per cent of capital employed, Citigroup reckons their yields would be pushed well into double digits, from around 7 per cent now. That prospect is another good reason to own oil.”: Sunday 24 July 2005: Read the article

The Observer: Oil prices fuel record profits for BP and Shell: “Shell chief executive Jeroen van der Veer is under pressure from investors following revelations of $10bn cost overruns on its Sakhalin-2 project off the east coast of Russia. Analysts are concerned about any further slips on major projects. One broker said: 'Several of our clients have expressed their doubts about Shell's performance. They are looking for no surprises on Thursday.”: Sunday 24 July 2005: Read the article

The Observer: The high price of investing in oil's future: Sunday 24 July 2005: Read the article

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Shell says it faces sanctions in Iran: “Royal Dutch Shell PLC disclosed in a filing this week that it faces risks of U.S. sanctions in Iran.”: Posted Saturday 23 July 2005: Read the article

The Independent (UK): Shell's game of two halves comes to an end: “Shell has also created a single board, after blaming its dual-nationality structure for the disasters of recent years. It had been overstating its reserves of oil, and had to fess up last year. But only last week the company revealed the development of its Sakhalin natural gas field in Russia was 100 per cent over budget, a whopping extra cost of $10bn (pounds 5.8bn) which had not even been hinted at when Shell sold part of the field earlier this month.”: "You wouldn't bet there aren't other unpleasant discoveries still to be made and for new investors, BP is a better bet.": Saturday 23 July 2005: Read the article

ShellNews.net: Yet another PR disaster for Shell after Nigeria, Brent Spar, the reserves debacle and the $10 billion cost overrun on the Sakhalin-2 project: now the Corrib Irish pipeline "cause célèbre": 16.45pm: Saturday 23 July 2005: Read the article

IrelandOn-Line: Shell accused of breaching terms of Corrib construction: “Noel Dempsey, the Natural Resources Minister, has accused the company behind the controversial gas pipeline in Co Mayo of breaching the consents given to it to carry out work…”: “Mr Dempsey says the breaches are “very serious” and has called on Shell to respond immediately.”: Saturday 23 July 2005: Read the article

RTE NEWS (IRELAND): Dempsey concerned over Shell pipeline: The Minister said Dept officials had carried out an inspection at the site earlier this week and subject to further legal advice, it was his view that a breach of the consents given to Shell in relation to the pipeline had occurred. He said a letter had been written to the company asking them to respond to this and he was regarding the matter as 'very serious'.”: “Meanwhile, up to 2,000 people have gathered in Dublin to protest at the jailing of five Co Mayo landowners who were sent to prison four weeks ago for breaching a High Court order.”: Saturday 23 July 2005: Read the article

Ulster TV: Shell rejects Mayo pipeline claims: “Shell has rejected claims that it has breached the consents it got from the Irish Department of Natural Resources to begin preparations for its controversial gas pipeline in County Mayo.”: Saturday 23 July 2005: Read the article

IrelandOn-Line: Shell responds to Minister's letter: “Shell also acknowledged there may have been a "technical breach" of the consent and said it would work to ensure "no possible departures from the terms of the Minister's consent occur in the future".: Saturday 23 July 2005: Read the article

Financial Times: Shell seeks targets on fuel from plants: “Royal Dutch Shell has called for compulsory targets on the amount of transport fuel to come from plants, an environmentally friendly energy source known as biofuel.”: Saturday 23 July 2005: Read the article

Financial Times: Bid talk and Shell shake-up help Footsie: “While Royal Dutch Shell now trades as a single entity, accounting for about 8.2 per cent of the FTSE All Share, it somewhat confusingly has two shares quoted on the London Stock Exchange. Shares in the Dutch company were converted into 'A' shares while 'B' shares were derived from Shell Transport & Trading, the UK business.”: Saturday 23 July 2005: Read the article

The Guardian (UK): Coke is still world's most valuable brand: “Coca-Cola was yesterday named the world's most valuable brand for the seventh successive year in an annual ranking of the top 100.”: “Shell… 90th: Saturday 23 July 2005: Read the article

DAILY TELEGRAPH UK: New Shell formulation will take time to settle down: SATURDAY 23 JULY 2005: Read the article

Daily Telegraph (UK): Former Shell chairman to challenge FSA findings: “Sir Philip's law firm Herbert Smith has claimed the FSA published its findings in undue haste. The FSA fined Shell £17m for market abuse and breaching the listing rules.”: “Shell yesterday sought to distance itself from comments made by its interim chairman Aad Jacobs to the Financial Times.”: Saturday 23 July 2005: Read the article

Irish Times: Labour urges Dail recall over Dublin Port and Shell issues: “…a day of protest was held at Shell and Statoil outlets by the Shell to Sea campaign over the imprisonment of Rossport residents…”: Saturday 23 July 2005: Read the article

Financial Times: Jacobs hints at succession concerns within Shell: “Aad Jacobs, Royal Dutch Shell's interim chairman, said the company was seeking a successor for him who was neither British nor Dutch to avoid upsetting the power balance within the oil major.”: “His comments contradicted earlier statements by Shell executives that nationality would not be a factor in the succession.”: “…Sakhalin-2, Shell's flagship Russian gas project, is running months behind schedule and is presently $10bn (£5.7bn) over budget. The shock announcement threw into question a key asset swap that Shell had signed with Gazprom just one week previously.”: Friday 22 July 2005: Read the article

Daily Telegraph (UK): Shell shares slide on second day of training: Friday 22 July 2005: Read the article

Irish Independent: No u-turn on pipeline – Dempsey: “COMMUNICATIONS, Marine and Natural Resources Minister Noel Dempsey has insisted there will be no renegotiation of the lease between the Irish Government and Shell which has led to the controversial Shell Corrib gas pipeline.”: Friday July 22, 2005: Read the article

Waterford News: Trade union movement urged to take lead in fighting Shell: The refusal of Shell to abandon the gas pipeline, which is being built not far from people’s houses — a situation that even Minister for the Marine Noel Dempsey has admitted is unprecedented — and the continued imprisonment of the Rossport 5, demands that the campaign be stepped up.”: Friday, July 22, 2005: Read the article

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Cnooc's Ambitions Stunted: "Cnooc could face stiff competition from other bidders if it tried to grab Woodside, which is 34%-owned by Royal Dutch Shell PLC.": Friday 22 July 2005: Read the article

SocialFunds.com: Shell Doubles Cost Projections of Sakhalin II, Project Critics Redouble Opposition: “Last year, Shell rocked the business world when it revised its proven oil reserves by 20 percent, later revealing that top executives had foreknowledge of mistakes in reserve statements. Last week, Shell again sent out shock waves when it revised cost projections twofold for its Sakhalin II project, upping estimations from $10 billion to "the order of $20 billion": “Is there a connection between these two revisions?”: “Shell is saying we should trust them, but increasing evidence demonstrates exactly the opposite conclusion--that they can't be trusted." Friday 22 July 2005: Read the article

SHELLNEWS.NET: WHY WE CAN’T BE SURE OF SHELL: SocialFunds.com article identifies a common denominator between the reserves scandal and Sakhalin-2 cost overrun debacle: the issue of trust: 9.52am Friday 22 July 2005: Read the article

Ireland On-Line: Protestors seek boycott of Shell and Statoil stations: “Supporters of the so-called Rossport 5 are calling on the public to boycott Shell and Statoil filling stations today.”: “Five of the residents have been in jail for more than three weeks for breaching an injunction ordering them not to obstruct work on the pipeline, which is being laid on their land.”: Friday 22 July 2005 Read the article

Western People: No sign of resolution to Rossport impasse: “Shell E&P Ireland (SEPIL) is in ongoing negotiations to try to get the personnel involved in the Corrib gas project back to work. In the region of 350 workers employed in various aspects of the project have not been working since supporters of the Rossport 5 mounted a protest at Bellanaboy on Monday, July 4 last.”: Posted Friday 22 July 2005: Read the article

Globe and Mail ( Canada): Shell's latest fiasco rooted in critical skills shortage: “Royal Dutch Shell had its debut on the London Stock Exchange this week but trading in the shiny new merged shares was overshadowed by yet another management fiasco…”: “It's another blow to the company's reputation, shredded in last year's reserves scandal…”: Posted Friday 22 July 2005: Read the article

EXTRACTS FROM WOOD MACKENZIE JULY 2005 REPORT: Upstream Insights: Has Gazprom finally got a share of Sakhalin-2 LNG? (PUBLISHED BEFORE SHELL'S SHOCK $10 BILLION OVERRUN ANNOUNCEMENT) Posted 22 July 2005: Read the report

BLOOMBERG: Shell Canada 2nd-Qtr Profit Rises to Record C$526 Mln (Update3): Read the article

ShellNews.net: ANOTHER BAD NEWS DAY FOR SHELL: LONDON TIMES ARTICLE IMPLIES THAT SHELL ISSUED A FALSE PROSPECTIVE FOR ITS MERGER: THE INDEPENDENT SAYS THAT SHELL IS “RUDDERLESS”: FT CLAIMS THAT INVESTORS DUMPED THE NEW UNIFIED SHELL SHARES ON THEIR DEBUT DAY AND REVIVES DESIRABLE PROSPECT OF TOTAL/SHELL MEGA-MERGER: 9am: Thursday 21 July 2005: Read the article

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Shell's Unified Stock Declines In First Day of London Trading: “Until yesterday, the Anglo-Dutch oil group had been controlled by two separate, listed companies: Amsterdam-listed Royal Dutch Petroleum Co., which owned 60%, and London-listed Shell Transport & Trading Co., which owned 40%.: Thursday 21 July 2005: Read the article

THE TIMES (UK): Shell failed to disclose spiralling costs in merger prospectus: “SHELL failed to disclose in its merger prospectus the massive cost overruns at Sakhalin II, the Siberian gas project whose budget has doubled to $20 billion (£11.5 billion).”: “Last week Shell revealed that Sakhalin costs would be “of the order of $20 billion”. However, the listing particulars published on May 19 stated: “Overall investment in the Sakhalin II project is expected to be over $10 billion.”: “The Financial Services Authority would not comment on Shell’s listing particulars yesterday but said: “We expect figures to be accurate; that is the responsibility of the issuer.”: Thursday 21 July 2005: Read the article

The Independent: Rudderless Shell still worth backing: “The company has also created a single board, after blaming its double-headed, dual-nationality structure for the disasters of recent years. Shell had been overstating its reserves of oil, and had to fess up last year, cutting the number by one-third. But only last week the company revealed the development of its Sakhalin natural gas field in Russia was 100 per cent over budget, a whopping extra cost of $10bn (£5.8bn) that had not even been hinted when Shell sold part of the field earlier this month.”: “If you wanted to be harsh, you would describe BP as a growth company and Shell as a shrinking one.”: “A rising tide lifts all boats, even the rudderless ones.”: Thursday 21 July 2005: Read the article

Financial Times: Shell's rush for Russia dampens stock debut: “Investors yesterday were queuing to buy shares in Russian gas company Novatek and to dump the new unified Royal Dutch Shell on their London market debuts.”: “The reason behind this odd reversal of roles is that Shell must still convince the markets it can resolve its reserve problems, along with the $10bn additional hit it is taking on its flagship Russian gas project.”: “If these difficulties persist, they are likely to revive talk of a Total-Shell mega-merger as the best way forward.”: Thursday 21 July 2005: Read the article

Financial Times: Unified Shell fails to fire investors on LSE debut: “Shell shocked the market last week by disclosing that its Russian gas project, Sakhalin-2, was at least eight months behind schedule and $10bn (£5.75bn) over budget.”: ”Gazprom, Russia's state-controlled gas monopoly, recently indicated that it was seeking to improve the terms of an asset swap agreed with Shell this month, under which it would take a 25 per cent stake in Sakhalin-2.”: Thursday 21 July 2005: Read the article

Financial Times: Losing the plot: “No wonder Shell had a problem keeping track of its reserves.”: Thursday 21 July 2005: Read the article

The Guardian (UK): Coin clipping: “Rather than simplifying Shell's life on the markets, the oil group's move to consolidate both its board and shareholder structure - consummated on Tuesday - has had the opposite effect.”: Thursday 21 July 2005: Read the article

The Age.com (Australia): Royal Dutch Shell shares fall on debut: Thursday July 21, 2005 - 7:54AM: Read the article

Daily Mail (UK): Pound's fall blamed on Shell: “SHELL celebrated the historic unification of its two companies by pushing the pound to an 8-month low, a startling sign of its huge clout in the markets.”: Thursday Posted 21 July 2005: Read the article

Irish Independent: Wall of euro notes: “I feel sure that when Shell builds a protective barrier of large denomination euro notes around their offending pipeline, all worry about danger will evaporate.”: Thursday 21 July 2005: Read the article

Irish Times: Protesters Seek Enquiry Into State Deals With Shell Oil And Statoil: “The protesters, who include relatives of the five men jailed for contempt of a court order banning them from blocking Shell access to their land, also want the dealings of the Petroleum Affairs Division (PAD) of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to be investigated.”: Posted Thursday 21 July 2005: Read the article

ITN Channel 4 News: 'New Shell' shares slump: "Shares in newly unified oil giant Royal Dutch Shell suffered a stock market pasting on their first day of trading.": Wednesday 20 July 2005: Read the article

Reuters: Shell declares fuel oil force majeure from Pernis-trade: "Oil major Royal Dutch Shell has declared force majeure on all fuel oil barge contract supplies from its 418,000-barrels-per-day Pernis refinery in Rotterdam, northwest European fuel oil traders said on Wednesday.": 20 July 2005: Read the article

AFX News Limited: Royal Dutch Shell ratings outlook kept at negative by Moody's: "It recalled that RDS recently announced that cost overruns on Phase 2 of the Sakhalin II liquefied natural gas project could potentially double the original total project costs to 20 bln usd through 2014.": Wednesday 20 July 2005: Read the article

Reuters: FTSE up as GUS charges, but Shell shows cracks: SHELL TROUBLED: “Royal Dutch Shell was the main drag on the market as the restructuring of the oil titan took effect but its two lines of stock both fell as tracker fund buying tapered off [nL20439638] and attention shifted back to more fundamental issues such as replacing its reserves and problems at its massive Russian Sakhalin-2 project.” Wed Jul 20, 2005 5:09 PM BST: Read the article

Reuters: Shell Oman Marketing H1 net profit up 68 pct: Wed Jul 20, 2005: Read the article

BLOOMBERG: French Employee at Shell's Russian Venture Is Killed (Update1): “A French expatriate working at a Royal Dutch Shell Plc-led oil and gas venture off Russia's Pacific coast was killed at his apartment in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, on the southern end of Sakhalin Island.”: “Sakhalin Energy and Starstroi are investigating the murder, in part ``to learn how to improve safety and security'' for other employees…”: Wednesday 20 July 2005: Read the article

The Herald (Scotland): U-turn on Brent oil deaths inquiry: “Keith Moncrieff and Sean McCue died when they were exposed to hydrocarbon gases on the Brent Bravo platform on September 11, 2003. At Stonehaven Sheriff Court in March, Shell, the oil company, admitted three safety breaches which led to their deaths.”: Posted Wednesday 20 July 2005: Read the article

The Scotsman: Families welcome inquiry into North Sea gas leak: “Mr Moncrieff, 45, a mechanical technician, and Mr McCue, 22, a trainee operations technician, died when they were engulfed in a gas escape inside the platform's utility leg. Last April, at Stonehaven Sheriff Court, Shell was fined a record £900,000 for safety failings on the platform.”: Posted Wednesday 20 July 2005: Read the article

BBC NEWS: Law chief orders rig deaths probe: “  The Lord Advocate said it would be in the "wider public interest" for an inquiry into the deaths of Keith Moncrieff and Sean McCue. They were killed on Shell's Brent Bravo platform in the North Sea in September 2003. Shell was later fined £900,000.”: "Shell admitted a series of health and safety breaches and was fined a record amount on a company following a North Sea accident.": Posted Wednesday 20 July 2005: Read the article

Daily Record (Scotland): OIL RIG DEATHS PROBE U-TURN: “In April, Shell were fined a record £900,000 after admitting blunders leading to the deaths of Mr Moncrieff, of Invergowrie, Dundee, and Mr McCue, of Kennoway, Fife.”: Posted Wednesday 20 July 2005: Read the article

Grampian TV (Scotland): FAI to be held into oil platform deaths: “Earlier this year Shell was fined a record nine hundred thousand pounds after admitting health and safety breaches. The Sheriff who heard the case said there had been a "substantial catalogue" of errors.”: Posted Wednesday 20 July 2005: Read the article

Glasgow Evening News: Inquiry into rig workers' deaths: “After the tragedy, operators Shell revised safety procedures and maintenance issues, admitting there were shortcomings.”: Posted 20 July 2005: Read the article

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Shell Turns a Stock Page but Has Chapters to Go: “A year and a half after a reserve scandal that sank Shell's stock, ended its reputation as a conservative company and forced the ouster of three of its top executives, the company is still remaking itself, analysts and investors say.”: “Shell deflated investor confidence again last week, when it said that costs at the Sakhalin II project, which it is leading, could double to $20 billion, and that the project might be delayed for half a year.”: "Where are the project-management skills Shell said they were going to demonstrate last fall?" Mr. McMahon said. "There is not enough in terms of pushing this company into a new place, and they're not going to get anywhere fast.": Wednesday 20 July 2005: Read the article

The Guardian (UK): New Shell shares start trading: “The merger is one of a number of measures implemented after last year's damaging reserves overbooking scandal which dented investor confidence.”: “Under the terms of the merger the new company will be listed in London and will have its headquarters in the Netherlands.”: Wednesday 20 July 2005: Read the article

The Times (UK): “The High Court in London has approved the landmark proposal to unify the dual- listed structure of Royal Dutch Shell, the Anglo-Dutch oil and gas group.”: Wednesday 20 July 2005: Read the article

Daily Telegraph: Shell ready to go to court over rump shareholding: “More than 8pc of investors in Royal Dutch Petroleum have failed to accept the terms of the merger with Shell Transport and Trading to create a £100billion oil and gas giant called Royal Dutch Shell.”: Wednesday 20 July 2005: Read the article

Financial Times: COMPANIES UK: Van der Veer's vision for a unified Shell: “Jeroen van der Veer, the first chief executive of the newly restructured Royal Dutch Shell, is used to skating on thin ice.”: “The company was already struggling with its reserves figures before it had to cut them five times last year.”: Wednesday 20 July 2005: Read the article

Financial Times: Royal Dutch Shell starts trading as single company: "For the first time in its 98-year history, Royal Dutch Shell will trade today as a single, unified company in London...": Wednesday 20 July 2005: Read the article

Irish Times: Mayo deputies dispute alleged 'intimidation' of Shell workers: “The five residents who are still in prison over their opposition to the high pressure gas pipeline are due back in the High Court next Monday.”: Wednesday 20 July 2005: Read the article

Reuters: Shell says Irish workers threatened in dispute: “Workers on a Shell gas project in western Ireland have received threats of violence in an escalating row over the construction of a gas pipeline, the company said on Tuesday.”: Posted Tuesday 19 July 2005: Read the article

New York Times: Court Approves Unification of Shell Group:“The restructuring came amid a scandal over Shell's restatement of its oil and gas reserves. In February the company announced the fifth restatement in just over a year. In all, reserves have been cut by 6.85 billion barrels to 11.9 billion barrels at the end of 2004.”: Tuesday 19 July 2005: Read the article

Reuters: UPDATE 2-Royal Dutch/Shell merger declared unconditional: “The merger is aimed at restoring confidence in Shell, after a damaging reserves-overbooking scandal last year…”: Tuesday 19 July 2005: Read the article

FORBES: Court Expected to OK Unification of Shell: “A British court was expected Tuesday to approve the unification of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Cos. into one corporation in time for the start of trading a day later.”: Tuesday 19 July 2005: Read the article

ShellNews.net: A new company - Royal Dutch Shell plc is born tomorrow - but it will forever have a SECOND-HAND Internet URL if Shell wins domain name battle: 15.15pm: Tuesday 19 July 2005: Read the article

NewRatings.com: Royal Dutch/Shell "underperform": “…total capital investment in its Sakhalin II phase 2 project is now projected at $20 billion… nearly double the amount estimated when the project was approved in 2003. Royal Dutch/Shell has also indicated that the increased project costs are partly on account of… miscalculations in the budgeting process. The development has raised further concerns regarding the reliability and transparency of the company's upstream projects…”: Tuesday 19 July 2005: Read the article

Moscow Times: Gazprom Rethinks Value of Sakhalin-2: “Earlier this month, Gazprom agreed to swap a 50 percent stake in its Siberian Zapolyarnoye gas field for a 25 percent stake in the Shell-led Sakhalin-2 liquefied natural gas project in the Far East.”: "Most observers had assumed that Gazprom would be paying Shell, not the other way around," UFG brokerage wrote in a note on Friday, adding that Shell's higher cost estimates were now making this assumption less evident.”: "I fully realize it has had an impact on our reputation," van der Veer said in an interview published Saturday. "I'm concerned it will carry over to other things that we do.": Tuesday 19 July 2005: Read the article

Irish Independent: Adding fuel to the fire: “Shouldn't we backward Irish be grateful for the opportunistic exploitation of Shell and the likes of them?”: “What's a few miserly Irish lives… “: “Actually, I think this whole enterprise is such a good idea that I would like to ask Shell to build another one of those refineries close to the residence of any High Court judge. I'm sure they'd love this.”: Tuesday 19 July 2005: Read the article

Irish Times: Council fails to adopt motion on Shell:” The only agreed motion from last night's meeting on the gas issue is that Mayo county councillors have called for an urgent meeting with the Taoiseach and other government Ministers and representatives of Shell to discuss all possible options to secure the immediate release of the Rossport Five.”: Tuesday 19 July 2005: Read the article

Irish Independent: Council uproar over gas pipe motion: “IN a dramatic twist at the end of a marathon Mayo Co Council meeting last night, the Cathaoirleach, Henry Kenny of Fine Gael overturned an earlier, unopposed motion calling on Shell to process the gas from the Corrib field offshore.”: Tuesday 19 July 2005: Read the article

Daily Express: Shell pays £52m to help settle reserves actions: The Anglo-Dutch oil giant has agreed to pay, subject to court approval, $90 million (£52 million) to a clutch of pension funds run for its US staff.”: “Shell has applied to have a second class action brought by a group of shareholders dismissed and is negotiating settlement of a third. Meanwhile, the company is still being probed by the owner of the Amsterdam stock exchange, Euronext, the Dutch financial watchdog, and regulator the Californian Department of Corporations.”: Posted Tuesday 19 July 2005: Read the article

Lloyds List: Rising level of drilling in UK North Sea leads to new oil finds: “Drilling this year has led to new oil discoveries, including Amerada Hess' Melville in the northern sector and Shell finding oil at Phoenix near the Nelson platform.”: Tuesday 19 July 2005: Read the article

ShellNews.net: THE SHELL SAKHALIN-2 DEBACLE: Creditability concerns over Royal Dutch/Shell Executives, Jeroen van der Veer and Malcolm Brinded following the Salhalin2 $10 billion cost overrun scandal.: "The only thing which has saved the hangover management at Shell is the one element over which they have no influence - the high oil price. In every other respect they are an unmitigated disaster. They should be sent packing.": Monday 18 July 2005: Read the article

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Shell: “Royal Dutch/Shell Group has been hit again by the "Watts effect.": “It didn't just over-egg reserves; it also under-egged the costs of developing the giant Sakhalin gas project in Russia. Shell reckons it will now cost $20 billion, or about €16.5 billion, to develop the field”: “This does little to improve Shell's image with investors. Oil-development costs are rising everywhere, but not by this much. It will also annoy the Russian government -- and President Vladimir Putin has taken a pretty severe view lately of oil men who don't get their sums right.”: “So has Shell managed to stiff the Russian state?”: Monday 18 July 2005: Read the article

AFX Europe (Focus): Gazprom wants Shell to re-negotiate Sakhalin-2 asset swap terms: “Gazprom now demands that the deal is renegotiated after Shell was forced to admit last week that the cost of the Sakhalin-2 gas field project had overrun by an estimated 10 bln usd and could now cost 20 bln.”: Posted Monday 18 July 2005: Read the article

THE TIMES (UK): Need to Know: “Royal Dutch Shell, the Anglo-Dutch group, is being pressed to revalue its assets by Gazprom, the Russian group with whom it has agreed an asset swap, after soaring costs at Shell’s Sakhalin-2 flagship project.”: Monday 18 July 2005: Read the article

Financial Times: Oil giants count cost of seeking out new frontiers: “…Royal Dutch/Shell said its giant Sakhalin-2 liquefied natural gas project was at least eight months behind schedule and would cost $20bn - twice the original price.”: “Gazprom, Russia's state-controlled gas monopoly, is seeking to improve the terms of a swap deal signed earlier this month with Shell.”: Monday 18 July 2005: Read the article

Daily Telegraph: Former adviser slams watchdog's 'closed mind' ahead of review: “The regulator is expected to face further scrutiny of its procedures next week when the tribunal holds a preliminary hearing on whether the FSA should have given Sir Philip Watts, former chairman of oil giant Shell, an opportunity to respond before it published its damning findings into Shell's oil reserves scandal last year. Shell was fined £17m.”: Monday 18 July 2005: Read the article

NEW YORK TIMES: Crude Oil Futures Open Week Higher: “Shell Oil Co. abandoned three offshore facilities, suspending output of around 1,000 barrels daily and halting 20 million cubic feet of gas production.”: Monday 18 July 2005: Read the article

NEW YORK TIMES: Shell Cuts U.S. Gulf Output Ahead of Emily: “Shell said daily production of about 20 million cubic feet (MMCF) and 1,000 barrels of oil was shut and its North Padre, Brazos and West Cameron operations in the far western Gulf were completely evacuated, according to a statement.”: Posted Monday 18 July 2005: Read the article

The Guardian (UK): Jailing of Irish villagers sparks anger as farmers defy Shell in Battle of the Bog: Support swells for opponents of gas pipeline imprisoned for contempt of court: “It began as a hopeless mismatch: a handful of villagers in remote north-west Mayo taking on the multinational Shell. But the Battle of the Bog has turned into one of the biggest protests against Shell in Europe…”: “Thousands of people have gathered at demonstrations… Hundreds more have picketed garages, signed petitions and urged a petrol boycott.”: Monday 18 July 2005: Read the article

Irish Examiner.com: Gardaí probe death threats to Shell workers in dispute: “A SINISTER turn to the controversy surrounding the Shell Corrib gasfield pipeline row is being investigated by gardaí, it emerged yesterday.”: Monday 18 July 2005: Read the article

Irish Times: Protest rally told Burke deal to blame for imprisonments: “It was clear "the wrong people are in jail", Mr Garavan said, to applause.”: Monday 18 July 2005: Read the article

RTE News (Ireland): Calls for probe into exploration licences: “Up to 1,000 people gathered in Castlebar yesterday in support of the five men jailed for contempt of court in their dispute with Shell E&P Ireland.”: Sunday 17 July 2005: read the article

Irish Times: Work on Corrib gas pipeline already started: “Shell and the Department of Marine and Natural Resources have declined to comment on apparent evidence that construction work has already started on the controversial onshore section of the Corrib gas pipeline.”: “Ms McGarry believes that last Monday's proposal by lawyers for Shell in the High Court could be interpreted as an admission that it has violated its own order.”: Monday 18 July 2005: Read the article

Sunday Business Post (Ireland): Shell deal marks Ion's arrival: “The deal sees Topaz take over a business with turnover of more than €1 billion. It comprises Shell's six oil importation facilities, 35 local distribution depots, 55 retail service stations and the supply of products to 105 independently-owned service stations.”: Sunday 17 July 2005: Read the article

Mail on Sunday: Oil rules Footsie as Shell tie-up looms: “Shell, which admitted last week that the cost of its giant project on the Russian island of Sakhalin had doubled to £11bn, has now run into problems with a much-delayed £650 million gas project in western Ireland, writes Tom McGhie. The largest infrastructure project in Irish history is being held up by the Mayo Five - a retired teacher, a singer and three farmers - who are refusing to allow Shell to build a pipeline across their land. They are in jail for breaching a High Court injunction preventing them from blocking Shell trucks.”: Sunday 17 July 2005: Read the article

Daily Mail (UK): Shell pays staff £51m in row over reserves: “Staff at Shell Oil in the US who contributed to a company savings plan -similar to a pension fund -filed the class action suit with the District Court in New Jersey in July last year. They claimed former and existing Shell directors and officers breached their fiduciary duties to the employees.”: Posted Sunday 17 July 2005: Read the article

Financial Mail on Sunday: Shell Mix: In an exclusive interview with Financial Mail, chief executive Jeroen van der Veer reveals how with the upcoming merger of the oil giant he will lay to rest the reserves scandal and put the £100 billion firm at the head of the industry: “In the open. Jeroen van der Veer has led a move to transparency”: “The scandal was seismic…”: “Nearly all Shell people understand that we have a reputation problem…” (ADMISSION BY VAN DER VEER): Posted Sunday 17 July 2005: Read the article

London Evening Standard: Venezuela hits Shell with £74m bill for back tax: “The Venezuelan authorities said Shell now faces a 15-day deadline for handing over the funds said to be owed. If it pays up within that period, interest on the sum allegedly owed will be charged at 10%. If not, the rate will rise to 250%.”: Posted Sunday 17 July 2005: Read the article

Daily Mail: Watts is on to a winner despite Russian setback: “SHELL'S remarkable share price rise since last year's reserves scandal has given ousted chairman Sir Philip Watts a £3m gain in the value of his share options.”: “The oil giant is making so much from sky-high energy prices that its shares shrugged off the shock news that costs of its Sakhalin-2 gas project in Russia have doubled in two years to $20bn(£11.4bn). This hits the terms of Shell's agreement with Russian gas giant Gazprom last week to swap 25pc of Sakhalin for half of a Gazprom field in Siberia.”: Sunday 17 July 2005: Read the article

Daily Mail: Sakhalin shock: “THE way in which the stock market shrugged off the disclosure by Shell of a $10bn cost overrun at its Sakhalin-2 gas project in Russia is astonishing. If a national government were to admit an error on such a scale the finance minister would almost certainly pay with their job.”: “Shareholders need to be assured that the oil giant is husbanding its resources well and is not squandering its oil price windfall. The Sakhalin experience does not suggest that the present management is any more skilled than its predecessor at this.”: Posted Sunday 17 July 2005: Read the article

THE BUSINESS: Bidders vie for Shell LPG shortlist: “ROYAL Dutch/Shell will this week launch the $3bn (£1.7bn, €2.5bn) sale of its global Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) business, putting in motion the last major element of its $ 15bn asset sale program after five months of delay.”: Sunday 17 July 2005: Read the article

THE BUSINESS: Lopsided rig exposes oil's soft underbelly: “Royal Dutch/Shell… revealed on Thursday that costs had doubled at its Sakhalin II gas project to $20bn “…Citigroup argues the cost increase halves the returns from the project from 22% to a lacklustre 11%. But more serious is its effect on Shell's reputation…”: Sunday 17 July 2005: Read the article

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Gazprom leans on Shell to renegotiate: “Gazprom, the Russian gas giant, is demanding that Royal Dutch/Shell, the Anglo-Dutch oil major, renegotiates the terms of a planned asset swap because of the soaring costs of Sakhalin-2, a flagship project.”: “…Shell was forced to admit last week that the cost of the Sakhalin-2 gas field project had overrun by an estimated $10bn and could now cost a staggering $20bn.”: Sunday 17 July 2005: Read the article

The Independent On Sunday: 'Elephants' are a gamble, especially when there are hurricanes around: “Any schadenfreude felt privately at Shell over BP's discomfort will have been erased on Thursday after it admitted that a flagship of its own had run into trouble. Costs for Sakhalin Energy, a huge gas project in Siberia, had doubled to $20bn…”: Sunday 17 July 2005: Read the article

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Showdown looms in Watts's fight with FSA: “The FSA's notice, published in August, explained why it had decided to fine Shell £17m over the affair. Watts, who was ousted from Shell in March 2004 following the scandal, first complained to the tribunal last September. He claimed that although the FSA report did not refer to him by name, he was effectively identified and prejudiced.”: Sunday 17 July 2005: Read the article

THE SUNDAY TIMES (UK): Five have had their say: “Having initially won popular sympathy over their willingness to go to prison for their principles, the so-called Rossport Five now threaten to alienate public opinion over their apparent determination to stay there.”: Sunday 17 July 2005: Read the article

Indymedia: Sunday Independent trying to decide Shell spin: “The two working titles show an indecision as to whether or not the IRA should be implicated directly in alleged threats against Shell/Statoil or not.”: Sunday 17 July 2005: Read the article

Indymedia: What can the pipeline protestors expect? Will Shell be honest and open or ruthless and underhand?: Sunday 17 July 2005: Read the article

Forbes: Royal Dutch/Shell Hurt By 'Credibility Issues': “…Royal Dutch/Shell Group announced that total capital investment for the Sakhalin II phase 2 project is now estimated at $20 billion, about double the figure given when the project was sanctioned in 2003.”: “Bear Stearns said, "The announcement raises additional concerns about the transparency and reliability of upstream projects and financial returns on future growth. In addition, we believe upside from current levels is limited by lack of oil and gas production growth, and management credibility issues.": Posted Sunday 17 July 2005: Read the article

Ireland OnLine: More than 1,000 gather to protest jailing of 'Rossport Five': “The demonstrators are calling for an investigation into deals made between the Government and the gas company, Shell.": Saturday 16 July 2005: Read the article

Financial Times: Shell admits impact of Sakhalin-2 overruns: “Jeroen van der Veer, Royal Dutch/Shell chief executive, admitted that the "absolutely staggering" $10bn (£5.7bn) cost overrun on Sakhalin-2, its flagship Russian gas project, was another blow to the group's standing after last year's reserves accounting scandal.”: Saturday 16 July 2005: Read the article

Financial Times: Shell chief keeps faith in 'elephant' projects: "I fully realise it has an impact on our reputation - certainly for this project and then of course I'm concerned it will carry over to other things that we do," Mr Van der Veer said in an interview with the Financial Times.”: “Shell has come through a difficult period after being forced to slash its oil and gas reserves five times last year. The scandal rocked the company, leading to a management purge, a shake-up of its century-old corporate structure and about $240m in legal payments.”: Saturday 16 July 2005: Read the article

MosNews (Russia): Gazprom Says Will Re-Evaluate Shell’s Sakhalin Assets as Project Price Soars: “Most observers had assumed that Gazprom would be paying Shell, not the other way around,” UFG brokerage wrote in a note on Friday adding that Shell’s higher cost estimates were now making this assumption less evident.”: “Shell Chief Executive Jeroen van der Veer said he only learned of the Sakhalin setback on Wednesday and informed Gazprom on Thursday.” Posted Saturday 16 July 2005: Read the article

THE TIMES: Cracking down on the law breakers: “Shell was fined a record £17 million last August for repeatedly misleading investors over the level of its oil and gas reserves. The failing was seen as particularly serious because of warnings and indications going back to 2000 that Shell had got its estimates wrong.”: Posted Saturday 16 July 2005: Read the article

The Independent: Market Report: Market falls as investors make room for Shell: “Meanwhile, Shell and BP had both fallen more than 1 per cent by the close, as investors' reacted to Thursday evening's 4 per cent dive in oil futures. Shell, down 8p to 541p, was hit harder than its larger rival BP… following Thursday's news that the cost of its Sakhalin II project is set to come in about two-thirds higher than originally anticipated. The note said the news casts significant doubts over the economies of the project.”: Saturday 16 July 2005: Read the article

Financial Times: The Week: “And there's been another setback for RoyalDutch/Shell. Its huge liquefied natural gas project, Sakhalin-2, off the east coast of Russia, has been hit by the rising cost of raw materials, Russian inflation and environmental concerns, and will be delayed by at least eight months. Its cost has doubled to $20bn.”: Saturday 16 July 2005: Read the article

In from the Irish Times: Labour wants wider Corrib review: “The five men, who are due back in court on July 25th, have rejected Mr Dempsey's initiative. They have said a direction to Shell and partners Statoil and Marathon to build an offshore terminal is the only solution in terms of safety. Shell E&P Ireland has said it does not wish the current situation to continue and will continue "efforts to facilitate a resolution".: Saturday 16 July 2005: Read the article

MarketWatch: Gazprom: Sakhalin cost overrun hits shell asset swap plan: “Russian state gas monopoly OAO Gazprom said Friday it will revise downward its valuation of a 25% stake it intends to acquire in the Royal Dutch/Shell-led Sakhalin-2 project, in light of cost overruns announced Thursday.”: Posted 16 July 2005: Read the article

BLOOMBERG: Shell Stock Headed for Worst Week Since January 2004: “The shares of Royal Dutch/Shell Group fell in London, heading for their worst week since the January 2004 disclosure that the company's oil and gas reserves had been overstated for years. The reason now: soaring costs and project delays from Russia to Nigeria. Shell, Euro