U.S. GoM Producers not Expecting Storm Impact
Gulf of Mexico offshore oil producer Shell Oil Co said on Sunday Tropical Storm Colin was forecast to miss the company's production platforms before striking Florida on Monday. The U.S. National Hurricane Center forecasts Colin, which became a tropical storm on Sunday afternoon, will strike the Gulf Coast of Florida on Monday night. "Based on the current forecast there is no impact expected for our offshore assets, but we will continue to monitor and will make decisions accordingly," said Ray Fisher, spokesman for Shell Oil, the U.S. unit of Royal Dutch Shell Plc.
Shell Arctic Vessels, Capping Stack Inspected
Shell Oil Co. marine vessels Noble Discoverer and the semisubmersible drilling unit Transocean Polar Pioneer were inspected by two Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) personnel in Dutch Harbor, Alaska July 7-12, BSEE announced. BSEE said its inspectors were on board the vessels to review drilling equipment, assess overall readiness and test key safety devices, also verifying BOEM lease stipulations, environmental mitigation measures and air quality equipment, as well as Environmental Protection Agency National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit requirements.
Union Chief: U.S. Refinery Strike Could Spread
The largest U.S. refinery strike in 35 years could spread if talks over improved safety conditions do not resume soon, United Steelworkers union (USW) International President Leo Gerard said on Tuesday. A total of 6,550 USW members are on strike at 15 plants, including 12 refineries accounting for one-fifth of U.S. capacity. Union members work at more than 200 oil terminals, pipelines, refineries and chemical plants in the U.S. The USW has said it is seeking to retain safety provisions from previous contracts and tighten fatigue standards for workers…
Union Chief: US Refinery Strike Could Spread
The largest U.S. refinery strike in 35 years could spread if talks over improved safety conditions do not resume soon, United Steelworkers union (USW) International President Leo Gerard said on Tuesday. A total of 6,550 USW members are on strike at 15 plants, including 12 refineries accounting for one-fifth of U.S. capacity. Union members work at more than 200 oil terminals, pipelines, refineries and chemical plants in the U.S. The USW has said it is seeking to retain safety provisions from previous contracts and tighten fatigue standards for workers…
Refinery Strike Talks Unlikely This Week
Talks to end the largest U.S. refinery strike in 35 years are not expected to resume this week, sources familiar with the negotiations said on Monday after the number of plants hit by walkouts increased over the weekend. Face-to-face meetings between the United Steelworkers union (USW) and lead refinery owner representative Shell Oil Co, the U.S. arm of Royal Dutch Shell Plc, might remain on hold until the second week of March, the sources said. The halt in talks comes after the USW pulled workers from…
Refinery Strike Affects One-Fifth of U.S. Capacity
The largest U.S. refinery strike in 35 years entered its fourth week on Sunday as workers at 12 refineries accounting for one-fifth of national production capacity were walking picket lines. Sources familiar with the negotiations said talks may resume by mid-week to end the walkout by 6,550 members of the United Steelworkers union (USW) at 15 plants, including the 12 refineries. Representatives of both sides said no date has been set to restart negotiations, however. The strike comes as U.S. workers seek more pay in a strengthening economy. Wal-Mart Stores Inc has said its U.S.
U.S. Refinery Strike Widens, includes Largest Plant
The U.S. refinery strike widened as workers at the nation's largest refinery walked off their jobs at 12 a.m. CST (0600 GMT) on Saturday, according to the United Steelworkers union (USW). Shortly after talks between union and oil company representatives ended on Friday night, the union notified Motiva Enterprises of a strike by its members at the company's 600,250 barrel per day (bpd) refinery in Port Arthur, Texas. The USW also gave notices on Friday of strikes to begin in 24 hours at Motiva's 235,000 bpd Convent…
Union, Refinery Owners to Resume Contract Negotiations
The United Steelworkers union (USW) and refinery owners were set to resume contract negotiations next week as the largest U.S. refinery strike since 1980 reached its 13th day on Friday. About 5,400 workers at 11 plants, including nine refineries accounting for 13 percent of U.S. production capacity, were on strike with no signs of an immediate end. "We're still fulfilling the information request from the USW and looking forward to resuming negotiations next week," said Ray Fisher, spokesman for Shell Oil Co, the U.S. arm of Royal Dutch Shell Plc, the lead company negotiator. Talks are scheduled to resume on Wednesday.
US Court Revives Oil Co. WWII Site Cleanup Lawsuit
A divided U.S. appeals court on Monday revived efforts by oil companies to force the federal government to cover their costs to clean up a southern California site where they had dumped toxic sludge during World War Two. By a 2-1 vote, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit reversed the dismissal of claims by BP Plc, Chevron Corp and Royal Dutch Shell Plc in a now 23-year-old case that their wartime contracts to produce gas to fuel military aircraft entitled them to reimbursement. The appeals court returned the case to Judge Thomas Wheeler of the U.S.
