CAN YOU TRUST SHELL?

A CHRONOLOGY OF SELECTED ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC SAFETY INCIDENTS 1947-2002

These are just a sample of environmental and public safety incidents involving Shell between 1947-2002, taken from Riding the Dragon by Jack Doyle, 2002.

22 June 1947 Tanker ship blows up while loading fuel at Shel Oil Co. California, USA. 10 killed
21 Jan 1968 Chemical fire. Shell Pernis Terminal, Netherlands. 2 killed 85 injured. Damage up to 9.5miles away. over $100 million dollars damage
1968 Shell OIl tanker truck collides with train at March Point, Washington, huge fire destroys historic structure
22 Feb 1969 250 Barrels crude oil spilt by Shell Offshore Inc. Gulf of Mexico.
11 Apr 1969 100 Barrels crude oil spill by Shell Offshore Inc. Gulf of Mexico.
14 Dec 1969 Shell's Marpessa super tanker explodes on maiden voyage. 2 killed
29 Dec 1969 Shell's Mactra super tanker explodes. 2 killed
31 May 1970 50 Barrels crude oil leaks from pipeline into Gulf of mexico.
July 1970 Shell's Bomu II oil well blows out and flows over land. Ogoni, Nigeria
1 Dec 1970 Shell Offshore Inc, has well blow out, explosion and fire. US Gulf or Mexico. 53,000 barrels crude oil spilled. $25 million damage. 4 killed 36 injured.
Nov 1971 Shell compensats 15 families for alleged gas posioning and releases of hydrogen sulfide, Alberta, settlement $700,000.
27 Mar 1972 Underground leak of gasoline from Shell storage tank. New Jersey
3 Nov 1973 Fire at Shell Haven refinery, Essex England.
Dec 1978 Shell/BP storgae depot in Zimbabwe has massive 20 million gallon oil spill
1979 Shell refinery Washington, fire. 2 killed
July 1980 US Justice Dept sues 10 companies, including Shell for unsfe storage of toxic waste
15 Aug 1980 Fire at Shell/Chevron terminal, Hawaii. $3million damage. 2 killed. 6 injured
20 Apr1981 Shell refinery fire Rotterdam, Netherlands, millions in damage
20 Apr 1981 Shell refinery fire Singapore, millions in damage
29 May 1981 Shell refinery plant, Oakville, Canada, 11 injured from inhalation of hydrogen sulphide
23 Oct 1982 Shell Haven refinery leaks 16 tons of butane from pipeline. Essex UK
22 feb 1984 Shell Canada operated off shore gas well blows out. 76 evacuated. 1 dies of heart attack. Leaks of natural gas and condensate.
23 Jan 1985 Shell refinery explosion at lubricating unit, Illinois USA. 1 Killed. 17 injured including 6 with severe burns
16 Feb 1985 Shell built/operated pipeline leaks 320-370 barrels crude oil into US Gulf of Mexico
19 Apr 1985 Explosion & fire at Shell's Norco refinery Louisiana. 9 injured
30 May 1985 Small leak of oil & sour gas. Shell Canada gas oilfield Alberta. 2 killed
24 Jul 1985 Explosion & fire at Shell's Montreal, Canada refinery
30 Jan 1986 Shell pipeline leaks 3,000 barrels crude oil. Texas, USA.
April 1986 Shells' Martinez California refinery leaks 48,000 gallons waste water into river.
23 Apr 1986 Shell Western E&P natural gas plant, explsoion & fire, 1 killed, 4 injured inlc. 3 critically
16 Jun 1986 Fire in crude oil storage tank at Shell's Martinez refinery, California
30 Aug 1986 Shell Oil agrees to pay $77500 fine plus local compensation for leak of 580,000 pounds ethylene in May '86, Louisiana
1 Feb 1987 Shell Oil spills 345 barrels crude oil, California
11 Feb 1987 Shell oil spills 400 barrels crude oil, California
27 Feb 1987 Shell canada pleads guilty to 10 environmental offenses in unlawful disposal & spilling of wastes
12 May 1987 Shell co-pay for $700,000 study into water and land pollution study after townships water supply is contaminated. Shell owned gas station near by. New Jersey
2 June 1987 Fire at Shell depot, Lyon, France. 2 missing, 14 injured
15 Jun 1987 Shell pipe line leaks 9,092 barrels crude oil, Texas
2 Dec 1987 450 Barrels crude oil spilled from pipeline, California
April 1988 Shell refinery spills 400,000 gallons crude oil into San Franciso Bay
5 May 1988 Shell oil refinery explodes. Louisiana. 7 killed, several thousand locals evacuated, property damage for miles around.
14 July 1988 Shell Oil leaks 150 barrels crude oil from tank farm, California
Dec 1988 Shell pipeline leak spills 840,000 gallons crude oil into Mississippi rivers
6 Jan 1989 Gas leak on Shells platform, North Sea
9 Jan 1989 Fire at Shell Refinery Texas
4 Mar 1989 Shell pipe leaks 2150 barrels natural gas liquid, Texas
22 Mar 1989 Shell pipeline leak/ spill 10,500 gallons of kerosene, Indiana, USA
4 Apr 1989 Shell leaks 50,000 gallons drilling muds in North Sea.
16 apr 1989 Fitting blown off high pressure hose, North Sea. 1 killed
25 Apr 1989 Gas blow out at Shell well. Fire burns for 2 weeks
26 Apr 1989 Shell/Esso gas processing plant closed after cracks found in main units, St. Fergus, UK
5 Sept 1989 Explosion & major fire at Shell's Martinez refinery, California
Oct 1989 Shell pay $380,000 for water pllution, Illinois USA
21 Oct 1989 Shell pipeline leaks 1,500 gallons jet fuel into river, Indiana, USA
26 Oct 1989 Shell pipeline leaks 11,000 gallons production oil, California
1Dec 1989 Shell pipeline leaks 1890 gallons jet fuel, Indiana
9 Dec 1989 Shell pipeline leaks 31,500 gallons jet fuel, Texas
26 Jan 1990 Shell Oil pays $94,000 in settlement over discharge of 20,000 pounds of monochloropropenene to Missippippi
14 Feb 1990 Shell fined $25,000 for air pollution in Australia
19 Feb 1990 Shellpipeline leaks 672,000 gallons of crude oil. Illinois USA
Mar 1990 Shell fined $34,000 for pollution emissions
16 Mar 1990 Explosion & fire at Shell refinery, California. 2 injured
20 Jun 1990 Explosion at Shell Offshore, Lousianna, closes gas plant for several weeks
10 Aug 1990 Shell is sued and admits its role (other companies also involved)in contaminating drinking water supplies of 65,000 New Jersey residents
23 Aug 1990 Explosion & fire at Shell refinery, Texas. 2 Injured
11 Oct 1990 Fire at Shell chemical plant Louisiana
30 Oct 1990 Shell pipeline leaks 62,000 gallons crude oil
Nov 1990 Shell fined for emission violations, California
17 Dec 1990 Shell pipeline large gasoline leak into ground water, Ohio USA
20 Jan 1991 Shell pipeline spills 19,000 gallons of crude oil, California
18 Feb 1991 Shell Western pipeline spills 13,000 gallons crude oil
March 1991 Shell gas station leaks 4,800 gallons gasoline into ground water, California
March 1991 Shell gas station leaks 4,000 gallons of gasoline into ground water, California
14 Apr 1991 Shell pipeline leaks 17,000 gallons crude oil, New Mexico
Apr 1991 Shell gas station leaks 1500 gallons gasoline into ground, California
9 May 1991 Shell storage tank leaks 2,100 gallons jet fuel, Ohio
28 May 1991 Shell pipeline leaks 29,000 gallons of oil water mix.
30 May 1991 Explosion in Shell refinery, France. 1 injured
July 1991 Shell gas station leaks 8,800 gallons gasoline, California
7 Aug 1991 Explosions at Shell offshore platform. Plant shut down. 3 injured
2 Sep 1991 Shell ordered (with other companies) to clean up underground fuel leak estimated between 4 million and 40 million gallons.
Dec 1991 Shell gas station leaks 2,400 gallons gasoline, California
Jan 1992 Shell gas station leaked 9,800 gallons gasoline, California
Jan 1992 Shell gas station contaminates nearby wells with waste product. California
Feb 1992 Shell has at least 50 stations with underground leaks, Washington USA
1 Feb 1992 Shell pipeline leaks 25,000 gallons crude oil, Louisiana
9 Feb 1992 Shell tanker sinks leaking 20,000 barrels of oil. 15x9mile slick
19 Feb 1992 Shell pipeline spills 10,500 gallons crude oil, California
21 Feb 1992 Shell pipeline leaks 48,300 gallons crude oil, Texas
18 Mar 1992 Leak of 4,370 barrels of oil from Shell tank farm, Texas
Jun 1992 Damages against Shell of $450,000 for hydrocarbon seepage by Shell gas station, Rhode Island USA
8 June1992 Pipeline leak of gasoline, contamination to ground and water
Aug 1992 Shell fined for air emission violations
28 Nov 1992 Shell pipeline ruptures 357,000 gallons oil water mix spilled, Texas
Mar 1993 Fire at Shell refinery, Netherlands, closes polypropylene plant for 3 months
19 Jul 1993 Oil spill by Shell into Sydney harbour of 10 tens crude oil
20 Oct 1993 U.S. Judge approves $172 million settlement agreement covering property damage claims of 17,00 people from '88 explosion Louisiana
22 Dec 1993 Shell found guilty of illegally discharging selenium in San Franciso Bay
Jan 1994 Shell Oil fined for air emission violations, California
3 Jan 1994 71,000 gallons gasoline spilled, contained in dike at Shell refinery California
20 Jan 1994 Fire at Shell oil refinery, Netherlands
Aug 1994 Shell fined for unlawful emissions to the air
18 Aug 1994 Fire & explosion at Shell chemical plant, Louisiana. Fined $201,000
25 Aug 1994 Shell pay $337,703 to settle charges of illegal emissions of VOCs
13 Jan 1995 Fire at refinery closes part of plant, Australia
3 Mar 95 Shell fined $101,500 for dumping sewage , oil & grease waste from offshore platform, Alaska
27 Jul 2005 Shell pays $500,000 to settle permit violations at refinery California
18 Oct 1995 Shell Offshore fined for safety & environmental violations, Gulf of Mexico
4 Nov 1995 Shell Canada fined $372,000 for pollution, Canada
1 Dec 1995 Explosion & fire at Shell tank farm, Texas. 2 killed 3 injured
3 Feb 1995 Explosion at plant owned by Shell, workers evacuated, 2 injured
26 Feb 1996 Shell Offshore fined for safety violations, Gulf of Mexico
1 Apr 1996 Explosion & fire at Shell refinery, California
3 Apr 1996 Fire at Shell refinery, Netherlands
17 Jul 1996 Sulfur trioxide gas leak, Northern England, 10 people hospitalized, residents advised to stay indoors
31 Jul 1996 Shell fined for safety violations, offshore, Gulf of Mexico
31 Dec 1996 62 Barrels leak of hydraulic fluid spilled, Gulf of Mexico by Shell off shore operations
24 Feb 1997 Fire at Shell storage depot, Manilla, Philippines
24 Jun 1997 Shell fined for safety violations, USA
11 Jul 1997 Shell fined for safety violations. USA
13 Aug 1997 Fire shuts Shell refinery for a week, Texas
2 Sep 1997 Leak of silica dust & sulfur dioxide into air by Shell, Texas
31 Oct 1997 Fire at Shell storage depot, Philippines
19 Nov 1997 Shell Offshore pipeline leaks 72 barrels of methanol in US Gulf of Mexico
16 Dec 1997 Fire at Shell Chemicals plant, unit shut down for weeks, Louisiana
17 Dec 1997 Fire at Shell Chemical plant, Netherland
30 Mar 1998 Shell pipeline leaks over 20,000 barrels, Nigeria
0 April 1998 Shell tank farm leaks 748,000 gallons crude oil, Louisiana
19 May 1998 Fire & explosion at Sapref oil refinery, (owned by Shell & BP) also resulted in 5 tons hydrogen fluoride being released
2 Jun 1998 Explosion at refinery, Netherlands 1 killed
29 Jun 1998 85 barrels of ethylene glycol leaked into US Gulf of Mexico from Shell wellhead
Aug 1998 140 tons oil leaked from Shell refinery into Ellesmere Port, UK
2 Oct 1998 Equilon Pipeline Co. (owned by Shell and Texaco) crude oil spill, unknown quantity in to Adams Bay, Louisiana. $150,000 property damage.
6 Oct 1998 Fire at Shell refinery, France, losses estimated at $22million
6 Nov 1998 Equilon Pipeline Co. spills 160bbls of diesel fuel due to ''malfunction of equipment''
25 Nov 1998 Explosion at refinery Seattle, operated by Equilon. 6 killed.
22 Dec 1998 Equilon Pipeline tank farm spills 415 barrels of crude oil, Texas.
25 Dec 1998 Explosion and fire at Shell plant, Malaysia.
31 Dec 1998 Equilon pipeline leaks crude oil into Wolf River, Louisiana. $2 million in property damage.
2 Jan 1999 Fire at Shell Offshore, Gulf of Mexico.
15 Jan 1999 Fire at Shell Offshore, Gulf of Mexico
7 Feb 1999 Fire at Shell Offshore, Gulf of Mexico. Resulted in 1 injury. Condensate gas released uncontrolled into the atmosphere.
23 Feb 1999 Fire at Shell refinery, Louisiana. Shuts down operation for several months.
23 March 1999 Equilon Pipeline spills 200 barrels of crude oil, California.
1 June 1999 Equilon Pipeline spills 300 barrels of crude oil from tank farm, Oklahoma.
8 June 1999 42 workers evacuated from Shell oil and gas platform after gas leak. Gas field shut down, North Sea, Scotland.
3 July 1999 2 injured on Offshore platform, Gulf of Mexico.
20 July 1999 Equilon leaks 618 barrels of crude oil from tank farm, Texas.
23 July 1999 Equilon owned pipeline leaks 3200 barrels of crude oil in Gulf of Mexico.
Aug 1999 Tanker docked at Shell terminal spills 300,000 litres of crude oil, Australia.
12 Aug 1999 Fire at Shell refinery, Louisiana.
30 Sept 1999 Equilon Pipeline spills 1360 barrels of gasoline, Texas.
5 Oct 1999 Equilon Pipeline leaks 350 barrels of diesel fuel from pipeline, Texas. $200,000 in property damage.
31 Oct 1999 Equilon Pipeline spills 4917 barrels of crude oil, California. $100,000 in property damage.
Nov 1999 Shell fined for safety violations, Louisiana.
5 Dec 1999 Equilon Pipeline leaks 90 barrels of crude oil, Tennessee. $1.665 million in property damage.
13 Dec 1999 Shell fined for environmental violations, Alberta.
21 Jan 2000 Equilon Pipeline spills 2240 barrels of crude oil from pipeline, Gulf of Mexico.
2 Feb 2000 Equilon Pipeline leaks 18 barrels of crude oil from pipeline, Texas. $75,000 in property damage.
March 2000 Local manager of Shell's Durban joint venture refinery SAPREF admits the refinery has been under- reporting sulfur dioxide emissions by as much as 25% over the last 5 years.
27 April 2000 Gas pipeline explosion. 2 houses destroyed, 2 damaged, 100s of people forced to abandon homes, Brunei.
8 June 2000 Motiva, (now Shell joint venture) pays fines of $90,000 for air pollution violations, California.
8 July 2000 Shell refinery, Singapore. 1 killed, 2 injured.
18 Aug 2000 Explosion at Motiva refinery, LA, USA. 9 injured.
10 Jan 2001 Shell underground pipeline oil leak, Brunei.
23 March 2001 Shell's SAPREF refinery in Durban, South Africa. Leak of 25 tonnes of Tetra ethyl, some travels in to residential area.
14 May 2001 Shell fined $240,000 for discharging pollutants in to environment, Ontario, Canada.
23 May 2001 Gas explosion at partially Shell owned rig (46%) in North Sea. 2 injured.
July 2001 SAPREF refinery in Durban, South Africa, confirms leak of nearly 1 million litres of petrol near and beneath residential area and nature reserve. 5 families forced to leave their homes.
Aug 2001 SAPREF refinery in Durban, South Africa, has leak in fuel pipelines.
7 Aug 2001 Well blow out and fire. 34% owned by Shell. Fire burnt for 12 days, Oman.
23 Sept 2001 Fire at Shell refinery, Netherlands.
14 Oct 2001 Oil spill at SAPREF terminal in Durban, South Africa. 2000 litres of oil.
30 Sept 2001 Oil spill at SAPREF terminal in Durban, South Africa. 15,000 litres of oil.
11 Jan 2002 Motiva plant releases 3669 pounds of sulfur dioxide, Texas.
11 Jan 2002 Leak of diesel and gasoline from Shell pipeline, Alabama.
14 Jan 2002 3000 litres of oil spills inside SAPREF terminal, Durban, South Africa.
16 Jan 2002 Gas leak from Shell rig in North Sea. 100 workers evacuated.
21 Jan 2002 500 pounds of Sulfur dioxide released at Motiva's Texas plant.
22 Jan 2002 'Contained explosion' and fire at Motiva Delaware refinery, USA.
12 Feb 2002 Explosion and fire at Shell chemical plant, Louisiana. 1 killed, 1 injured.
3 April 2002 Fire at Shell's Texas storage plant.
23 April 2002 Caustic release from Motiva's refinery, California . Residents forced to be evacuated.
May 2002 Motiva's Texas plant released approx. 614 pounds of nitrogen oxides, 4345 pounds of carbon monoxide, 61324 pounds of sulfur dioxide, 12 pounds of benzene, 55 pounds of nitrogen dioxide, 817 pounds of hydrogen sulfides, 2746 pounds of ethylene, 1576 pounds of propylene, 205 pounds of butene, 1906 pounds of butanes/ isobutanes, 805 pounds of pentanes/ isopentanes, 378 pounds of propanes, 42 pounds of methane and 32 pounds of ethane.
13 May 2002 Fire at Shell's chemical plant, Texas. Residents ordered to shelter-in-place.
11 June 2002 Shell-chartered oil tanker spills 450 tonnes of oil in to port waters, Singapore.
28 June 2002 Shell refinery has an 'upset', causing additional flaring to burn off hydrocarbons, Texas.
8 July 2002 Shell pipeline leaks, Oklahoma.
24 July 2002 Fire at Motiva's refinery, Texas.
18 Aug 2002 Storage tank containing 30,000 barrels of fuel oil explodes at Huston Fuel Oil Terminal Co. ( a 50% Shell owned venture.) Explosion and fire resulted in property damage est. in millions.
Oct 2002 Shell Motiva refinery, Louisiana,spews oily substance over residential area.