據7月31日Energy Voice報道，殼牌重申了其對北海和設得蘭群島西部的“承諾”，稱該地區仍有“運營空間”。

在昨天公布的第二季度業績報告中，該能源巨頭談到了英國能源行業的前景，并正著手重塑其組織結構。

設得蘭群島西部擁有英國一些已被發現的最大的礦藏，現已成為油氣勘探的新前沿地區，殼牌持有英國石油在該地區運營的幾個油田的股份，包括Clair、Schiehallion和Alligin。

這家能源巨頭還收購了由Siccar Point運營的大型Cambo油田30%的股份。由于目前經濟低迷，審批被推遲。殼牌首席執行官范伯登(Ben van Beurden)解釋道，鑒于經濟低迷和公司重組計劃，殼牌正在重新評估全球某些項目，其中一些項目已被取消或推遲。

在一次投資者電話會議上，當被問及北海和設得蘭群島西部的情況時，他表示:“我們仍然非常致力于該地區的發展。將著眼于項目重塑，主要關注我們的核心資產和重點項目的地點。我們認為設得蘭群島西部地區仍有很大的運營潛力。我不想操之過急，但如果我們得出結論，未來這將不再是我們投資組合的一部分，我會感到驚訝。”

范伯登表示，作為成本節約計劃的一部分，殼牌將其全球勘探預算削減了6億美元，將今年計劃的油井數量從77個減少到22個。

其他節省成本的措施，包括自愿裁員和凍結工資，該公司有望在明年第一季度之前削減30億至40億美元的運營支出。

洪偉立 摘譯自 Energy Voice

原文如下：

Shell sees ‘running room’ in West of Shetland

Shell has reiterated its “commitment” to the North Sea and West of Shetland, saying there is still “running room” in the region.

Reporting on its second quarter results yesterday, the energy giant spoke of the outlook for the UK sector as it moves to reshape its organisation.

West of Shetland, which holds some of the UK’s largest discoveries, has emerged as a new frontier for oil and gas exploration,

Shell holds stakes in several fields there operated by BP, including Clair, Schiehallion and Alligin.

The energy giant also acquired a 30% stake of the giant Cambo field operated by Siccar Point, which has had its approval delayed due to the current downturn.

CEO Ben van Beurden explained how Shell is reassessing certain projects globally in light of the downturn and its restructuring plan, some of which have been cancelled or deferred.

Asked about the North Sea and West of Shetland on an investor call, he said: “We are still very much committed to that area.

“We will be looking at a project reshape, very much at where are our core assets? Where do we want to focus?

“We see a lot of potential still in the West of Shetland area. Clair, Schiehallion you mentioned, we see further running room there.

“I don’t want to get ahead of myself but I would be surprised if we concluded that wouldn’t be part of our portfolio going forward.”

As part of its cost saving plans, Shell has cut its global exploration budget by $600m, Mr van Beurden said, reducing the number of planned wells this year from 77 down to 22.

Alongside other cost saving measures, including voluntary severance to reduce the workforce and freezing salaries, the firm is “on track” to deliver a $3bn-$4bn cut in operating expenses by the first quarter of next year.