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Shell provides update on operational impact of Hurricane Katrina


WEBWIRE

09 Sep 2005

Upstream Operations: Production is now flowing and ramping up from all Shell-operated assets in the Western Gulf of Mexico (GoM) that were shut in because of Hurricane Katrina. Production has resumed at Auger, Brutus, Bullwinkle, Cougar, Enchilada, North Padre Island and West Cameron 565. In the Eastern GoM, our Fairway asset and Yellowhammer Gas Processing Plant near Mobile Bay are operating normally.

Shell’s net GoM production from Shell-operated and outside-operated fields for the first half of 2005 averaged around 450 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day (kboe/d). Currently, Shell’s net GoM production has returned to approximately 160 kboe/d. Significant efforts continue as we make a comprehensive assessment of our hurricane-impacted assets (Mars, Ursa, Cognac, and West Delta 143) as well as of pipelines and other related onshore processing/handling facilities that transport and receive our production.

Pending full assessment and evaluation of infrastructure and assets, it is expected that about 60% of total production will be restored to pre-hurricane levels within Q4, 2005. The situation with respect to the remaining production, mainly from the Mars and Ursa area, Mensa, and Cognac, is still being assessed, but production from these facilities may not be feasible during the fourth quarter, depending on options available for recovery.

Downstream Operations:

Refineries

Shell and Motiva operate 7 refineries in the US with overall crude throughput of approximately 1 million barrels per day (bbl/d). Two Motiva refineries, Motiva Convent and Motiva Norco, representing about 27% of Shell’s US refining capacity (net) were impacted by Hurricane Katrina. These refineries normally supply retail and other customers mainly in the PADD III Gulf Coast area.

The Motiva Convent refinery has completed repairs and initiated its restart sequence. It is expected that the refinery will be brought back towards full production over several days. Full production rates are expected to be achieved by the end of next week. The Motiva Convent refinery has a capacity of 235 thousand bbl/d of crude throughput (Shell share 50% = 117.5 thousand bbl/d).

Repair work continues at the Motiva Norco refinery and restart of operations could begin the middle of next week. The Motiva Norco plant has a capacity of 220 thousand bbl/d of crude throughput (110 thousand bbl/d = Shell share 50%).

Other Gulf Coast Shell refineries in Deer Park (334 thousand bbl/d = Shell share 50%) and Port Arthur (275 thousand bbl/d = Shell share 50%) are not affected.

Chemicals

Shell Chemical LP is continuing to make progress in restoring operations. The Geismar, Louisiana chemicals plant is operating at 60 % of its capacity, limited by offsite logistics issues. Geismar (Shell share 100%) produces first line derivative products. Full capacity is expected as logistics become available.

The Mobile facility in Alabama is in its final start-up phase. Mobile (Shell share 100%) produces base chemical feedstocks and fuels.

Norco (Shell share 100%) produces base chemicals and other products. More definitive information on start-up dates will be available in the coming days as start-up plans are developed jointly with the refinery.

Terminals and Retail

Terminal operations are nearly up and running across the affected area. Movement of product into our retail stations continues to be a significant challenge.

Work is in progress assessing the full impact of the storm on our network, and great efforts are being made to keep product flowing. Motiva has taken specific actions to help control prices in the affected areas and is also taking strict measures against price gouging by any of our branded locations.

The Hague, September 9, 2005

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This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risk factors associated with the oil and gas business. It is believed that the expectations reflected in these statements are reasonable, but may be affected by a variety of variables which could cause actual results, trends or reserves replacement to differ materially, including, but not limited to: price fluctuations, actual demand, currency fluctuations, drilling and production results, reserve estimates, loss of market, industry competition, environmental risks, physical risks, the successful negotiation and consummation of transactions, the risk of doing business in certain countries, legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments including potential litigation and regulatory effects, economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions, political risks, project delay or advancement, approvals and cost estimates.

Please refer to the Annual Report on Form 20-F/A (amendment no. 1) for the year ended December 31, 2004 for a description of certain important factors, risks and uncertainties that may affect the Companies’ businesses. Neither of the Companies undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements, whether to reflect new information, future events or otherwise.

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Cautionary Note to US Investors:

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (’SEC’) permits oil and gas companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only proved reserves that a company has demonstrated by actual production or conclusive formation tests to be economically and legally producible under existing economic and operating conditions. We use the term “recoverable resource” in this release that the SEC’s guidelines strictly prohibit us from including in filings with the SEC.



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