Shell

Royal Dutch Shell plc’s second quarter profits plunged from a year ago to their lowest level in 11 years, slammed by lower commodity prices, weak refining margins and stumbling production. And the outlook for liquefied natural gas (LNG), considered a primary motivation to merge with BG Group plc, is so poor that the Lake Charles, LA export project has been tabled — the second North American project canned this month.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf visited Pittsburgh on Friday to meet with lawmakers, business leaders and other stakeholders, as his administration begins to escalate its role in helping to fortify the economic development that’s expected to stem from Royal Dutch Shell plc’s decision to build a multi-billion dollar ethane cracker in the state.

Royal Dutch Shell plc and its Asian partners late Monday said they are delaying their decision to commit the billions needed for a massive liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project planned for the west coast of Canada.

A unit of Royal Dutch Shell plc decided to proceed with a multi-billion dollar ethane cracker in Western Pennsylvania for three primary reasons: cost-advantaged feedstock, market proximity and strong local support, one of the project’s leading executives said Tuesday.

Royal Dutch Shell plc’s decision Tuesday to pull the trigger on a massive ethane cracker northwest of Pittsburgh is part of a revamp for the oil major, which for now will focus on “cash engines,” fueled by petrochemicals and the deepwater, CEO Ben van Beurden said.

Shell Chemical Appalachia LLC’s decision to build a multi-billion dollar ethane cracker in Western Pennsylvania marks the first time in more than 20 years that such a facility has been built in the United States outside of the Gulf Coast.

A unit of Royal Dutch Shell plc has pulled the trigger to build an ethane cracker northwest of Pittsburgh, designed to rely on natural gas supply from the Marcellus and Utica shales to produce 1.6 million metric tons/year (mmty) of polyethylene.

Natural gas and unconventionals are taking a backseat at Royal Dutch Shell plc in the near term as it turns its focus to “cash engines,” driven by deepwater and petrochemicals opportunities, the global producer said Tuesday.

Royal Dutch Shell plc plans to reduce its workforce by 2,200 more people, bringing global layoffs since the start of 2015 to about 12,500, the company confirmed this week.