Shell takes investment decision for Phase 3 Silvertip project in the US Gulf of Mexico

News provided by

Dec 12, 2024, 11:00 ET

HOUSTON, Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Shell Offshore Inc., a subsidiary of Shell plc (Shell), announced a Final Investment Decision (FID) on the Phase 3 Silvertip project, which will deliver two wells to boost production at the Shell-operated Perdido spar in the US Gulf of Mexico (GoM). These wells, located in the Silvertip Frio reservoir (Shell – 40%, operator; Chevron 60%), are expected to collectively produce up to 6,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) at peak rates. First production is expected in 2026.

"This investment at Perdido is another example of our focus on high margin, lower carbon intensity barrels," said Rich Howe, Shell's Executive Vice President for Deep Water. "As the largest operator in the US Gulf of Mexico, we prioritize opportunities nearby our existing assets in these advantaged corridors, where we are well-positioned to develop shorter-cycle, high value tieback opportunities."

The Phase 3 Silvertip project reinforces Shell's long-term commitment to the United States, in particular to the Gulf of Mexico, where production is essential to ensuring a reliable and secure supply of energy. Additionally, production in the US Gulf of Mexico has among the lowest greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity in the world for producing oil.

Notes to editors

Perdido is a production spar in the US Gulf of Mexico, located within Alaminos Canyon, approximately 200 miles offshore south of Galveston, Texas in about 8,000 feet of water.
Shell is operator of the Perdido Regional Host (PRH) and has 35% Working Interest (WI), with Chevron U.S.A. Inc. holding 37.5% WI, 3C Perdido Holdings 26.5% and BP 1% WI.
The development concept for Phase 3 Silvertip includes two wells, tied into existing subsea infrastructure.
The reference to our U.S. Gulf of Mexico production having among the lowest GHG intensity in the world is a comparison among other IOGP oil-and gas-producing members.
Current estimated recoverable resource volumes of Phase 3 Silvertip are 17 million boe. The estimate of resource volumes is currently classified as 2P under the Society of Petroleum Engineers' Resource Classification System.
The estimated peak production and current estimated recoverable resources presented above are 100% total gross figures.
The investment in Phase 3 Silvertip is expected to generate an internal rate of return (IRR) in excess of the hurdle rate for Shell's Upstream business.

Cautionary Note

The companies in which Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this media release, "Shell", "Shell Group" and "Group" are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" are also used to refer to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These terms are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular entity or entities. ''Subsidiaries'', "Shell subsidiaries" and "Shell companies" as used in this media release refer to entities over which Shell plc either directly or indirectly has control. Entities and unincorporated arrangements over which Shell has joint control are generally referred to as "joint ventures" and "joint operations", respectively. "Joint ventures" and "joint operations" are collectively referred to as "joint arrangements". Entities over which Shell has significant influence but neither control nor joint control are referred to as "associates". The term "Shell interest" is used for convenience to indicate the direct and/or indirect ownership interest held by Shell in an entity or unincorporated joint arrangement, after exclusion of all third-party interest.

Forward-Looking Statements

This media release contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Shell. All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management's current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements concerning the potential exposure of Shell to market risks and statements expressing management's expectations, beliefs, estimates, forecasts, projections and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as "aim", "ambition", ''anticipate'', ''believe'', ''could'', ''estimate'', ''expect'', ''goals'', ''intend'', ''may'', "milestones", ''objectives'', ''outlook'', ''plan'', ''probably'', ''project'', ''risks'', "schedule", ''seek'', ''should'', ''target'', ''will'' and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this media release, including (without limitation): (a) price fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas; (b) changes in demand for Shell's products; (c) currency fluctuations; (d) drilling and production results; (e) reserves estimates; (f) loss of market share and industry competition; (g) environmental and physical risks; (h) risks associated with the identification of suitable potential acquisition properties and targets, and successful negotiation and completion of such transactions; (i) the risk of doing business in developing countries and countries subject to international sanctions; (j) legislative, judicial, fiscal and regulatory developments including regulatory measures addressing climate change; (k) economic and financial market conditions in various countries and regions; (l) political risks, including the risks of expropriation and renegotiation of the terms of contracts with governmental entities, delays or advancements in the approval of projects and delays in the reimbursement for shared costs; (m) risks associated with the impact of pandemics, such as the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, regional conflicts, such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and a significant cybersecurity breach; and (n) changes in trading conditions. No assurance is provided that future dividend payments will match or exceed previous dividend payments. All forward-looking statements contained in this media release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risk factors that may affect future results are contained in Shell plc's Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2022 (available at www.shell.com/investors/news-and-filings/sec-filings.html and www.sec.gov). These risk factors also expressly qualify all forward-looking statements contained in this media release and should be considered by the reader. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this media release, December 12, 2024. Neither Shell plc nor any of its subsidiaries undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or other information. In light of these risks, results could differ materially from those stated, implied or inferred from the forward-looking statements contained in this media release.

Shell's net carbon intensity

Also, in this media release we may refer to Shell's "Net Carbon Intensity", which includes Shell's carbon emissions from the production of our energy products, our suppliers' carbon emissions in supplying energy for that production and our customers' carbon emissions associated with their use of the energy products we sell. Shell only controls its own emissions. The use of the term Shell's "Net Carbon Intensity" is for convenience only and not intended to suggest these emissions are those of Shell plc or its subsidiaries.

Shell's net-Zero Emissions Target

Shell's operating plan, outlook and budgets are forecasted for a ten-year period and are updated every year. They reflect the current economic environment and what we can reasonably expect to see over the next ten years. Accordingly, they reflect our Scope 1, Scope 2 and Net Carbon Intensity (NCI) targets over the next ten years. However, Shell's operating plans cannot reflect our 2050 net-zero emissions target and 2035 NCI target, as these targets are currently outside our planning period. In the future, as society moves towards net-zero emissions, we expect Shell's operating plans to reflect this movement. However, if society is not net zero in 2050, as of today, there would be significant risk that Shell may not meet this target.

Shell expects to publish its 2024 Energy Transition Strategy on March 14, 2024, which will include an update on Shell's energy transition strategy and set out Shell's climate targets and ambitions for the future.

Forward Looking Non-GAAP measures

This media release may contain certain forward-looking non-GAAP measures such as cash capital expenditure and divestments. We are unable to provide a reconciliation of these forward-looking Non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures because certain information needed to reconcile those Non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures is dependent on future events some of which are outside the control of Shell, such as oil and gas prices, interest rates and exchange rates. Moreover, estimating such GAAP measures with the required precision necessary to provide a meaningful reconciliation is extremely difficult and could not be accomplished without unreasonable effort. Non-GAAP measures in respect of future periods which cannot be reconciled to the most comparable GAAP financial measure are calculated in a manner which is consistent with the accounting policies applied in Shell plc's consolidated financial statements.

The contents of websites referred to in this media release do not form part of this media release.

We may have used certain terms, such as resources, in this media release that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the SEC. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our Form 20-F, File No 1-32575, available on the SEC website www.sec.gov.

SOURCE Shell Offshore Inc.