Shell walks from UK North Sea greenfield project
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- With North Sea oil prices (CO1:COM) recently hitting an 8-year high, and European natural gas prices at record levels, Shell (RDS.A) has elected to walk away from controversial UK North Sea oil project Cambo
- The project has come under scrutiny from environmental groups, namely Friends of the Earth Scotland, who believe that fossil fuels must be left in the ground
- Shell has indicated the project simply doesn't pencil economically and shown no signs of caving to activist pressure
- Given that the Company is walking away, rather than selling to another oil producer, it would seem that in fact the project economics are marginal
- Peers Equinor (EQNR) and BP (BP) are currently appraising UK North Sea oil developments Rosebank and Clair South; with local industry flagging and record fuel prices, UK oilfield workers and consumers likely hoping these two projects can make the economic math pencil