QUEST ACHIEVES MAJOR MILESTONE

Transcription

QUEST ACHIEVES MAJOR MILESTONE
ALUMNINEWS
PUBLISHED FOR SHELL ALUMNI IN THE AMERICAS | WWW.SHELL.US/ALUMNI
MAJOR START-UP
IN GULF
OF MEXICO
Shell begins production
from Cardamom
development.
FOCUS
TO WIN
Shell delivers on
new Unconventionals
strategy.
DECEMBER 2014
NEW
DISCOVERY
WELLS
Refocused onshore strategy
sees sizable discovery
in Utica formation.
QUEST ACHIEVES
MAJOR MILESTONE
PAGE 3
SHELL NEWS
A WORD FROM
OUR EDITORS
CONTENTS
2
With the holidays fast approaching, it’s time
to get your wish list in order. That includes
your wish list for AlumniNews. What are
your favorites sections of the magazine?
Are we providing enough news on business
activities? Do you wish we’d provide more
information on certain subjects and less
on others?
ALUMNINEWS
AlumniNews is published for Shell US and Canada.
Editors:
Design:
Natalie Mazey and Jackie Panera
Production Centre of Excellence
Shell Communications
The Hague
Writer/copy editor:
Shell Human Resources:
Susan Diemont-Conwell
Susan Bialer Sullivan
Torma Communications
and Alicia Gomez
On the cover
Workers pose in front of the soon-to-be world’s first carbon capture
and storage project in Canada’s oil sands.
HIGHLIGHTS
03
Quest achieves major milestone
03
New discovery wells in Utica
While you’re looking through the magazine,
we hope you’ll check out important news
about our business, including the start-up
of our Cardamom development, a new
discovery in the Gulf of Mexico and a big
milestone for our first carbon capture and
storage project in Canada. Also in this
issue, we’ve included articles on a CNG
uploading station in British Columbia and
an update on our Unconventionals portfolio.
Plus, we have articles on two alumni who
are staying active in retirement. We also
hope you will check out the regional section
of the magazine for more news of interest,
as well as updates on alumni activities.
04
Major start-up in Gulf of Mexico
04
Giving new life to an old TLP
06
Reducing fuel costs
06
Major discovery in Gulf of Mexico
11
AlumniNews survey
As always, if you have a recent story idea
for our Alumni Features section of the
magazine, please drop us a line. Email
and address details can be found on the
back page. We look forward to hearing
from you!
13
Unconventionals business update
13
Third win in Nascar Series
14
Exercising physically, mentally
15
Out of the recliner, onto the course
Send us your wishes for AlumniNews by
taking a quick survey, found on our website
at www.shell.us/alumni. If you prefer to mail
us a copy, flip to our survey on page 11.
Natalie Mazey and Jackie Panera, Editors
AlumniNews magazine
Shell’s flagship carbon capture and storage project remains
on time, on budget.
Refocused onshore strategy sees sizable discovery in
Utica formation.
Shell begins production from Cardamom development.
Auger plays integral role in Cardamom development.
Groundbirch Wells team builds first ever CNG loading station
in Upstream Americas.
Rydberg offers huge resource potential.
Tell us what you think and help us customize the magazine.
Focus to Win strategy on track.
Shell, Penske Racing support strong product development.
Ballroom dance keeps alumnus moving.
Alumnus passes on love of the game to junior golfers.
YOU ASKED. WE DELIVERED.
Visit www.shell.us/alumni for
everything alumni.
Need forms? Want back issues of
AlumniNews magazine? Visit our Shell
alumni website for helpful links and phone
numbers and the latest news on Shell.
Also, connect with us by emailing
[email protected] to give us feedback
and tell us what you’d like to see on the site.
GO GREEN
Sign up to receive the newsletter electronically by visiting www.shell.us/
alumni. While you’re there, read the latest news and information about
Shell. Thank you to those who have already chosen to go green!
SHELL NEWS
3
QUEST ACHIEVES MAJOR MILESTONE
CCS project remains on time, on budget
the equivalent of taking 175,000 North
American cars off the road.
Shell Canada has fitted the 69th and final
module at its Quest oil sands carbon
capture and storage (CCS) project north
of Edmonton, Alberta. When complete,
this will be the world’s first commercialscale CCS project in the Canadian oil
sands and is expected to store over 1
million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per
year deep underground.
With the installation of the final module,
the facilities at the Scotford Upgrader are
70% complete. Construction on the Quest
project remains on time and on budget.
The project will begin injecting CO2 from
Shell’s oil sands operations 1.2 miles
(2 kilometers) under the Alberta prairie
in 2015.
The final module was constructed in
Edmonton, which is a growing center
for modularization construction
techniques that are bringing down
costs in the oil sands and providing
opportunities for Canadians. Now that
all the modules are in place, onsite
work continues to connect wires, pipe
and control systems.
The project is partly funded by the Alberta
provincial and Canadian federal
governments, and the technology
designed to make the project work will be
shared with the governments as part of
the funding agreement. Once operational, the Quest project will join a
handful of commercial-scale CCS projects
in operation worldwide. Construction on
the 37-mile (60-kilometer) underground
pipeline to three previously drilled
injection wells is largely complete and on
track for mechanical completion this fall.
The capture unit was designed using
Fluor’s 3rd Gen Modular ExecutionSM
innovative proprietary technology, which
significantly reduced the plot size of the
unit and improved safety by relocating
90% of the field hours to a module yard.
Quest CCS is being built by Shell
Canada, on behalf of its Athabasca
Oil Sands Project partners, Chevron
and Marathon, to capture over 1
million tons of CO2 each year from the
Scotford Upgrader and inject it deep
underground for permanent storage
under multiple impermeable rock
layers. The CO2 captured would
represent up to 35% of the direct
emissions from the upgrader, which is
Shell CCS projects include shares in an
operational facility in Norway that tests
capture technology, a gas-fired power
plant in the United Kingdom under
design and a natural gas liquefaction
project in Australia being constructed by
partner Chevron. A Shell subsidiary
based in Quebec, Cansolv, also provides
the capture technology to a CCS project
attached to a coal-fired power plant in
Saskatchewan, Canada. «
NEW DISCOVERY WELLS IN UTICA
Shell has announced new discovery
wells—Neal and Gee—within the Utica
formation in Tioga County, Pennsylvania. The wells were drilled to a total
measured depth of approximately
14,500 and 15,500 feet (4,420 and
4,724 meters) with lateral lengths of
3,100 feet (945 meters) at Gee and
4,200 feet (1,280 meters) at Neal,
respectively.
The results are comparable to the best
publically announced so far in the
emerging Southeast Ohio Utica dry gas
play. “This successful discovery is the
result of solid technical work in our
onshore business,” says Marvin Odum,
director of Upstream Americas.
The news underlines Shell’s refocused
strategy that involves divesting large
U.S. natural gas assets in some plays,
while adding assets in other plays to
its portfolio. Recently, Shell exited its
Pinedale and Haynesville onshore gas
assets in exchange for approximately
$2.1 billion of cash, adding acreage
in the Utica and Marcellus areas.
Extending the “sweet spot”
The Gee well was drilled over 100
miles to the northeast of the nearest
horizontal Utica producer, and had
an initial flowback rate of 11.2 million
cubic feet (Mmcf) of natural gas per
day. Gee has been on production for
nearly one year. Shell began production
of the Neal well in February, with
observed peak flowback rates of 26.5
Mmcf of natural gas per day.
The Gee and Neal discovery wells
extend the sweet spot of the Utica
formation beyond Southeast Ohio and
Western Pennsylvania, where previous
discoveries have been located, and into
an area where Shell holds a major
leasehold position of approximately
430,000 acres. «
4
SHELL NEWS
MAJOR START-UP IN GULF OF MEXICO
Shell begins production from Cardamom development
Production is now underway from the Cardamom
development, the second major deepwater facility Shell
has brought online in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) this year,
following the start-up of Mars B in February.
Oil from the Cardamom subsea development (100% Shell)
is piped through Shell’s Auger platform. When at full
production of 50,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day
(boe/d), Auger’s total production capacity will increase to
130,000 boe/d.
“Cardamom is a high-value addition to Shell’s production at
the Auger platform and is another example of our excellence
in deepwater project delivery,” says Marvin Odum, director
of Upstream Americas. “The work to extend the production
life of our first deepwater tension-leg platform is impressive
and involved advanced exploration and development
technology. Our additional opportunities in deepwater mean
that this will remain an important, high-return growth area
for Shell.”
The Cardamom reservoir sits beneath thick layers of salt in
rock more than four miles (6.4 kilometers) below the sea
floor and went undetected by conventional seismic surveys.
Shell used the latest advancements in seismic technology to
discover Cardamom in 2010. The Cardamom field is 225
miles (362 kilometers) southwest of New Orleans, Louisiana,
in water more than 2,700 feet (820 meters) deep.
Other deepwater GOM growth for Shell includes the Mars B
(Shell 71.5%) development, which continues to ramp up
Even as Shell’s oldest tension-leg platform, Auger still plays a key role in
the company’s deepwater Gulf of Mexico program. Cardamom is Auger’s
seventh subsea development.
production; the ultra-deepwater Stones (Shell 100%,
50,000 boe/d) project, which is under construction; the
Appomattox (Shell 80%) project, where front-end
engineering and design is progressing; and, in a recent
exploration success, a major discovery at its Rydberg (Shell
57.2%) well in the Norphlet play. Shell also discovered oil
at its Kaikias (Shell 100%) well in the Mars basin, which will
require further appraisal in 2015.
Last month, Shell also started oil production from its Bonga
North West (Shell 55%, 40,000 boe/d) deepwater
development off the coast of Nigeria and recently
announced a natural gas discovery at its Marjoram-1 (Shell
85%) deepwater well in Malaysia, where the GumusutKakap (Shell 33%) deepwater platform is also on track for
production this year. «
GIVING NEW LIFE TO AN OLD TLP
Auger plays integral role in Cardamom development
Tonya Williams has seen the Auger
tension-leg platform (TLP) come full circle
during her career—from the cutting-edge
development that led the industry into
deepwater exploration in the Gulf of
Mexico (GOM) 20 years ago to today,
when first oil from the Cardamom
development will make the TLP Shell’s top
producer in the GOM.
In 1993, two years after she joined the
company as a facilities engineer,
Williams took part in commissioning
activities aboard Auger. When she
joined the Auger development team last
year as area development lead to ready
the platform for Cardamom first oil,
Williams admits to being a little
disoriented when she stepped on the
deck for the first time since 1995, when
she worked on the platform as one of its
first field engineers.
“From the air, as you’re flying to it, the
platform looks the same, but when you
get aboard, it doesn’t look anything like
before. We’ve added things I never
imagined to bring on other subsea fields.
Today, Auger is a major processing hub
for Shell and our partners to get
production to the beach,” she says.
Auger’s history
Cardamom is the seventh subsea tieback
to Auger since the TLP began production
in 1994. At the time, Auger was
heralded as a “gutsy move” for Shell
because it expanded exploration far
deeper than ever before—at the time,
more than twice the depth of the
company’s Bullwinkle development of
1,350 feet (411 meters).
Floating in 2,720 feet (829 meters) of
water, Auger was built to reach reserves
originally estimated at 220 million
barrels of oil equivalent (boe). Only a
year after first production, it drilled the
SHELL NEWS
discovery well for the Cardamom field,
adding another 35 million boe in
reserves.
Auger is credited for leading Shell—and
the industry—into deepwater operations
in the GOM. At the time, Shell had
discovered more than 10 deepwater
fields. Proving to Shell management that
the team could finish Auger on time and
within budget allowed the company to
move ahead with other projects.
When Auger began producing on April
15, 1994, its production rates of 10,000
barrels per day caught the attention of
the entire energy industry.
“Those of us working on the Auger TLP at
the time didn’t realize how significant it
would be to the industry,” says Charles
Tauzin, facilities engineer. “It opened up
the industry to understand that deepwater
was a horizon that could be successful
and profitable.”
A blueprint for deepwater
Auger set the stage for Shell’s other
deepwater developments. Every TLP after
Auger was designed as a hub in which
Shell could leverage existing infrastructure
to access additional opportunities and
reduce its environmental footprint.
The platform also has served as a training
ground for development at Shell for all the
other assets that have since been brought
online. “On just about every other TLP,
you meet someone who got their
grounding on Auger,” says Jack Hisaw,
systems focal point with the Operational
Readiness Group.
day the topsides were mated to the hull,
the day of Auger’s first oil, when we
brought on the first well in the GOM to
produce over 30,000 barrels of oil per
day, the day we produced 104,000
barrels of oil and the day we produced
400 million cubic feet of gas,” Whiddon
answers.
But as typical in the life of a field,
production rates peak and then decline,
and Auger found itself on the downside of
its 30-year life expectancy. “Over time,
Auger peaked at 90,000 barrels per day,
added six subsea tiebacks, then declined
to around 25,000 barrels per day.
Cardamom was an opportunity to breathe
life into this historic asset and ramp it
back to peak rates,” says Kurt
Shallenberger, former Cardamom project
manager and now delivery manager for
Project Engineering.
The Cardamom development team began
looking at ways to improve the basic
facility infrastructure on the aging
platform. “It’s like restoring an older car
that is eight to 10 years old,” says Brian
Huber, Cardamom project manager.
“You don’t take it all completely apart.
You make sure you do the maintenance
and updates on the car to keep it running.
We added infrastructure, upgraded
instrumentation systems and provided
additional capability for operators.
We also updated facilities to improve the
quality of life for people on the platform.”
The one constant on Auger
One thing that hasn’t changed on Auger
is the close-knit culture. “It’s always been
like a family. We look out for each other.
I always felt that from the very
beginning,” Williams says.
As one of the first women offshore 20
years ago, Williams was also one of the
youngest on the initial Auger project
team. “The most experienced and
brightest people in Shell were supporting
Auger, and it was a privilege to work
around people with 20 years experience.
“Today, our team ranges from people
who joined the project six months ago to
those who have been supporting Auger
for 25 to 30 years. The diversity of the
team is also very visible. You see many
women in the organization and on deck.
There are seven different nationalities
represented on the team. The power of
bringing so many people from diverse
cultures and backgrounds makes it
incredibly interesting to work here. We
are united in achieving a common goal.
“In general, when we talk about the
success of Cardamom, you have to
include the Auger story. This project has
touched everything we do in UAD. The
success is not because of any one person
but because a whole team cutting across
organizational boundaries has worked in
an integrated way for the greater good of
the project,” Williams adds. «
From the beginning, Auger has always
been in construction mode. Shortly after
the TLP began producing, it was clear the
original facilities needed to be expanded
to handle higher-than-anticipated
production. Over the past two decades,
routine debottlenecking projects and
expansion projects have added new
production to the platform. When the
team ran out of space on the original
deck, it started hanging equipment off the
side on skids on cantilevered decks.
“Change is the normal state for Auger,”
says retiree Joe Whiddon, who came to
Auger as a mechanic in 1991 and spent
23 of his 33-year Shell career on the
platform. What are some of the highlights
of the platform’s 20-year history? “The
5
Auger has served as a training ground for employees over the years and is credited with leading
Shell—and the industry—into deepwater operations in the GOM.
6
SHELL NEWS
REDUCING FUEL COSTS
First ever CNG loading station in Upstream Americas
When it comes to fueling drilling,
hydraulic fracturing and completions
operations, it pays to conserve. That’s
why Shell Canada is offsetting its diesel
fuel use—what cost the Groundbirch
Wells group $40,000 per day in
2013—with natural gas extracted from
the company’s Groundbirch asset in
British Columbia.
The gas extracted from the Montney
formation in Groundbirch is ideal for
use as a fuel because its composition
includes a high percentage of methane.
To make the natural gas workable as a
fuel for engine use, it has to be
liquefied or compressed. Based on
available infrastructure and installation
costs, Shell Canada opted for
compressed natural gas (CNG).
To create CNG, field gas is first
processed at the plant site to remove
moisture. The resulting process gas is
then piped to the CanGas compressor
The project team poses at the completed CNG Loading Station at Sunset 05-03 in Groundbirch.
at the plant site and loaded onto trailers
designed with long tubes to hold the
CNG. The trailers of CNG are hauled
to drilling rigs or completions sites
where the CNG is used to displace
diesel fuel in engines and boilers.
The pilot project went live in late 2013,
making it the first CNG loading station
in Shell Upstream Americas. At full
usage, the station will replace over six
gallons (24,000 liters) of diesel per day
with CNG. While it remains a pilot
project for now, the CNG compressor
capacity can easily be increased to
meet the fuel needs of other
Groundbirch teams like Operations
and Logistics. «
MAJOR DISCOVERY IN GULF OF MEXICO
Rydberg offers huge resource potential
Shell has announced its third major
discovery in the Norphlet play in the
deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico
(GOM). Located 75 miles (120
kilo­meters) offshore in 7,479 feet
(2,280 meters) of water, the Rydberg
well was drilled to a total depth of
26,371 feet (8,038 meters) and
encountered more than 400 feet
(122 meters) of net oil pay.
While Shell is still completing the full
evaluation of the well results, it
expects the resource base to be
approximately 100 million barrels
of oil equivalent.
“The Rydberg discovery builds on
our leadership position in the Eastern
GOM, and its proximity to our other
discoveries in the area make Rydberg
particularly exciting,” says Mark
Shuster, executive vice president, Shell
Upstream Americas Exploration.
Untapped waters
In the late 1990s, Shell geologists
asked themselves this question:
Could the prolific onshore Norphlet
play extend into the deep waters of
the GOM?
In 2001, Shell acquired its first
lease-hold in the region, and now,
after more than 10 years of exploration
activities, Shell continues to lead the
industry in exploring the Norphlet.
The drillship Noble Globetrotter I drilled the
Rydberg well and is currently repositioning to
drill the nearby Gettysburg exploratory well.
In recent years, Shell has made a
series of major discoveries in this
emerging deepwater play. Together,
with the Appomattox and Vicksburg
discoveries, Rydberg brings the total
potential Norphlet discoveries to over
700 million barrels of oil equivalent.
Rydberg is the first discovery for the
partnership of Shell (operator, interest
57.2%), Ecopetrol America Inc.
(28.5%) and Nexen (14.3%), a
wholly-owned affiliate of CNOOC
Limited. The discovery is within 10
miles (16 kilo­meters) of the planned
Appomattox development and the
2013 Vicksburg discovery (Shell,
operator, 75% and Nexen, 25%).
Shell and Nexen are following up the
Rydberg discovery with an exploratory
well at Gettysburg, located in Desoto
Canyon Block 398, which is also
within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of the
planned Appomattox Development. «
LE POINT RÉGIONAL Canada
7
SHELL CANADA CONTRIBUE À LA
DÉCOUVERTE D’UNE ÉPAVE
Deux employés de Shell ont participé à l’expédition du détroit
de Victoria au cours de laquelle fut découverte l’une des
épaves de l’expédition arctique britannique de 1845-1848
menée par Sir John Franklin. Robert Blaauw, directeur –
thème et principes, Arctique et Darrell Martindale, directeur –
occasions, technologie de l’environnement étaient à bord du
One Ocean Voyager, navire à la recherche du HMS Erebus
et du HMS Terror. Deux étudiants commandités par Shell
Canada étaient aussi du voyage.
l’expédition, sur la recherche des navires de Franklin et sur
l’histoire du Canada en Arctique.
« L’aventure, l’exploration et le progrès scientifique ont joué
un rôle important dans le succès de Shell pendant plus de
cent ans, et nous sommes fiers de soutenir le matériel éducatif
conçu par la SGRC; matériel qui insufflera le sens de
l’aventure et de l’accomplissement aux élèves du Canada. » «
La découverte a été confirmée par le véhicule sous-marin
télécommandé récemment acquis par Parcs Canada. « Nous
sommes ravis de participer à la recherche des navires HMS
Erebus et HMS Terror, et nous sommes conscients de leur
importance pour l’histoire canadienne », affirme Lorraine
Mitchelmore, présidente de Shell au Canada.
Shell Canada soutient la création de matériel éducatif par la
Société géographique royale du Canada (SGRC). Cette
association allait de soi puisque Shell Canada collabore déjà
avec Canadian Geographic à un programme éducatif : le
Défi scolaire Régime énergétique. La SGRC créera un site
Web interactif qui comprendra des cartes et des
renseignements sur tous les partenaires et les défis logistiques.
Elle tirera parti de son programme éducatif national, le CG
Éducation, qui regroupe plus de 11 000 éducateurs. En
outre, la SGRC concevra du matériel éducatif et des activités
en classe trilingues (anglais, français et inuktitut) sur
Robert Blaauw et Darrell Martindale de chez Shell, troisième et quatrième
à partir de la gauche, entourés de Caitlyn Baikie et Tyee Fellows,
universitaires commandités par Shell.
SHELL ET WORLEYPARSONS GAGNENT UN PRIX
L’engagement de Shell et de WorleyParsons envers
l’environnement a été souligné. Le prix Environmental
Management de la catégorie de la restauration et de la
remise en état leur a été décerné par l’Environmental
Managers Association of British Columbia. Ce prix saluait
le travail accompli dans le cadre d’une étude pilote novatrice
sur les pratiques durables de remise en état à un puits de
gaz abandonné.
« Shell est au cœur de la remise en état durable au RoyaumeUni depuis plusieurs années. Récemment, nous avons dû
remettre en état un ancien bassin de boue de forage en
Alberta en raison de règlements. Nous voulions y appliquer
des principes de remise en état durable afin de savoir si cela
influencerait nos décisions dans ce domaine », explique
Carol Elliot, surintendante de l’équipe désaffectation,
abandon et remise en état chez Shell Canada.
L’entreprise a engagé WorleyParsons, qui a utilisé son
processus d’évaluation EcoNomicsmc pour poursuivre les
travaux d’évaluation environnementale des lieux et de
l’incidence sur la santé humaine et l’environnement déjà
réalisées lors des phases I et II. « L’évaluation EcoNomics
nous a permis de tenir compte des communautés touchées par
le passage des quelque 1 000 camions lourds qui iraient au
site d’enfouissement. Sans oublier les ouvrages de
franchissement de cours d’eau et les effets sur la faune »,
ajoute-t-elle.
L’évaluation a aussi aidé à établir un dialogue positif avec de
nombreux intervenants clés, dont les organismes de
réglementation, les groupes communautaires locaux et les
pairs du secteur. « C’est la première fois que nous
démontrons que l’on peut concilier la diminution des risques
(et des dommages) sociaux et environnementaux et la
conformité réglementaire, observe Carol Elliot. Cela ne se
limite pas aux puits et aux installations. Dans certains cas, nos
efforts de remise en état sont plus risqués que bien des
solutions sur place. Le processus d’évaluation EcoNomics de
WorleyParsons est un outil supplémentaire pour nous aider à
prendre des décisions éclairées qui tiennent compte des
besoins des intervenants internes et externes. » «
8
REGIONAL
LE POINT RÉGIONAL
FOCUS United
Canada
States
SHELL COMMANDITE UN
ÉVÉNEMENT DE LA FIERTÉ
SARNIA ACCUEILLE SA
NOUVELLE DIRECTRICE
GÉNÉRALE
Karen Miller
Des employés de Shell Canada et leurs familles ont montré leur soutien lors de la parade de la
Fierté de Calgary.
L’acceptation, la visibilité et l’inclusion
sont importantes chez Shell. C’est
pourquoi l’entreprise a décidé de
commanditer la 24e parade de la Fierté
de Calgary l’été dernier. Shell Canada
était la première société d’énergie à
commanditer l’événement cette année.
« Il y a 24 ans, les gens assistaient à
l’événement la tête recouverte d’un
sac de papier, car ils avaient peur d’être
reconnus et congédiés », raconte
Jenneice Larsen, coprésidente du réseau
des lesbiennes, gais, bisexuels et
transgenres de Shell. L’événement a pris
de l’ampleur, et maintenant 45 000
personnes y assistent.
« Nos employés sont essentiels à notre
succès, affirme Tim Grant, vice-président
ressources humaines, exploitation
Canada. Pour qu’un milieu de travail soit
positif et productif, nous devons reconnaître, respecter et comprendre la valeur
que la diversité ajoute au personnel afin
que les gens donnent le meilleur
d’eux-mêmes. Promouvoir la diversité et
l’inclusion est non seulement bon pour
l’entreprise, mais rend le travail de
chacun plus agréable. »
En tant que commanditaire officiel,
Shell avait son kiosque. Parmi les
bénévoles se trouvaient des employés du
service du recrutement de Shell.
Les visiteurs pouvaient gagner des
prix et recevaient de l’information
sur les emplois chez Shell. «
REMERCIER NOS CLIENTS
Les clients de stations-service Shell à
Surrey, en Colombie-Britannique, et à
Winnipeg, au Manitoba, ont récemment
reçu une surprise quand l’entreprise y
a offert de l’essence gratuite pendant
90 minutes.
Cette promotion faisait partie de la
journée de reconnaissance des clients.
Les clients étaient invités à suivre Shell
sur Facebook et Twitter afin de savoir
dans quelles villes et à quelles stations
l’essence serait gratuite. « C’est
important de remercier nos clients,
affirme Sydney Kimball, directrice
générale – détail. Nous croyons que les
clients qui se sentent appréciés sont plus
susceptibles de revenir chez Shell. Non
seulement cette approche permet à la
marque Shell de rayonner, mais elle a
un impact direct sur nos bénéfices. » «
Le Centre de fabrication de Sarnia
(CFS) a récemment accueilli sa nouvelle
directrice générale, Karen Miller. Avant
d’être affectée au CFS, Karen Miller
était directrice – production à Geismar.
Les progrès importants accomplis à
Geismar ces trois dernières années lui
sont dus : elle y a intégré des processus
de travail et a amélioré l’efficacité du
travail. Avant d’entrer au service de
Shell il y a six ans, Karen Miller a
occupé plusieurs postes de direction,
notamment celui de DG de la raffinerie
de Valero, à Houston. «
NOUVEAUX
PARTENAIRES À
SHELBURNE
En juin 2014, ConocoPhillips et
Suncor Énergie se sont joints à
Shell Canada comme partenaires
en coentreprise dans le cadre de
son projet d’exploration dans le
bassin Shelburne. Shell gardera
une participation de 50 % dans le
projet et en restera l’exploitant.
ConocoPhillips et Suncor ont fait
l’acquisition d’une participation
sans exploitation de 30 % et de
20 %, respectivement. Sous
réserve de l’approbation des
organismes de réglementation,
Shell Canada prévoit commencer
à forer deux puits au second
semestre de 2015. «
LE POINT RÉGIONAL Canada
9
FÉLICITATIONS CLIFFDALE!
Le personnel des installations Cliffdale a
récemment atteint un jalon important :
25 millions de barils.
Depuis l’acquisition de cet actif de Peace
River par Shell Canada en 2006, le
personnel a travaillé fort pour maximiser
la production. Ce lieu de production à
froid comprend 34 plateformes
d’exploitation et produit actuellement
près de 12 000 barils
de bitume par jour. Contrairement au
complexe de Peace River où l’on utilise
la vapeur pour liquéfier le bitume et
le pomper à la surface, à Cliffdale,
le pétrole est assez liquide pour être
extrait sans la vapeur. Ainsi, on y
produit plus rapidement et à un
moindre coût.
En 2011, Cliffdale a entamé un
programme de forage en continu afin de
maximiser la production de ses
concessions. Les mesures intégrées par
l’équipe ont non seulement maximisé la
production, mais aussi réduit les coûts.
Une plus grande portée souterraine et
plus de canalisations secondaires par
puits vertical ont permis de réduire en
moyenne le coût de chaque puits de
50 % (de 2008 à 2011) et d’en
augmenter la productivité. En
augmentant le nombre de puits par
plateforme (jusqu’ à dix puits, alors
UNE PREMIÈRE
TECHNOLOGIQUE!
qu’avant il y en avait entre trois et cinq),
la zone perturbée moyenne par puits a
été réduite.
Pour conserver le gaz produit avec le
pétrole, Cliffdale a un réseau qui collecte
le gaz directement du gisement durant la
production et des réservoirs à partir des
plateformes.
Ce réseau de pipeline collecte le gaz
des plateformes de Cliffdale, le
comprime et l’envoie au complexe de
Peace River pour utilisation comme
combustible. De plus, Shell a une entente
avec Genalta Power visant à fournir
du gaz pour produire de l’électricité. «
RECOMMANDEZ UN ENSEIGNANT
ET GAGNEZ UNE CARTE D’ESSENCE
Des élèves de Huntsville, en Ontario, ont gagné le prix de 10 000 $ du
Défi « éconergisez » votre école.
Un navire d’étude sismique dans le port de Halifax. Il est possible d’en
savoir plus sur le relevé WAZ et le projet Shelburne dans la vidéo de
Shell Canada.
Shell Canada et Canadian Geographic sont heureux de
lancer à nouveau le Défi scolaire Régime énergétique dans les
classes du Canada. Et cette année, les retraités peuvent
participer! Ceux qui recommanderont un enseignant seront
inscrits au tirage pour gagner une des deux cartes-cadeaux
Shell de 100 $.
En 2013, Shell a effectué un relevé sismique 3D de type WAZ
(vaste angle azimutal) au large de la Nouvelle-Écosse dans le
cadre de son projet d’exploration dans le bassin Shelburne.
Ce relevé est un jalon important pour Shell Canada. C’était la
première fois qu’une telle technique était utilisée en mer au
Canada, et l’entreprise a pu recueillir des données sur une
superficie de 10 850 km2 en une saison.
Le défi a été créé par Shell et Canadian Geographic afin que
les élèves canadiens tirent de précieuses leçons sur l’économie
de l’énergie. Les élèves cherchent comment diminuer
l’empreinte carbone de leur école, puis présentent leur idée
ainsi qu’une courte vidéo qui explique leur stratégie afin de
récolter des votes du public. Le défi comprend 40 000 $ en
prix, dont le grand prix de 10 000 $ pour la mise en œuvre
d’un projet énergétique à l’école.
Shell Canada a créé une vidéo qui permet de découvrir le
relevé WAZ et le projet Shelburne. Elle montre comment Shell
Canada a utilisé les dernières technologies d’exploration en
eaux profondes pour en apprendre plus sur la subsurface de
ses six permis d’exploration et les précautions prises par
l’entreprise pour réduire au minimum l’incidence
environnementale de cette activité sur la vie marine. Pour
visionner la vidéo, visitez le
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnS5OkuFt5M. «
Les retraités peuvent envoyer les noms d’enseignants qui
pourraient être intéressés par ce projet à l’adresse
[email protected]. Veuillez préciser le nom, l’adresse
courriel et le numéro de téléphone de l’enseignant ainsi que le
nom de son école. Les gagnants seront sélectionnés au hasard
parmi les participations admissibles. La période d’inscription
se termine le 18 janvier 2015. Le défi commencera le
2 février 2015. Suivez le défi et les classes participantes au :
http://energydiet.canadiangeographic.ca/. «
10
LE POINT RÉGIONAL Canada
JOHN RHIND PART À LA
RETRAITE
dans tout le secteur, que nous avons la
meilleure équipe. » John Rhind se dit
très content de l’équipe de direction qui
augmentera encore le rendement du
service des sables bitumineux au fil des
ans et il a affirmé avoir confiance en sa
successeure, Zoe Yujnovich.
John Rhind, vice-président – sables
bitumineux et coentreprises, a annoncé
qu’il partirait à la retraite le 31 mars
2015. Dans une lettre aux employés,
John Rhind a dit avoir adoré travailler
chez Shell Canada et être fier du
progrès que l’entreprise a accompli au
cours des sept dernières années.
Il se sent privilégié d’avoir pu diriger
une équipe qui, à son avis, gérera une
part importante de RDS dans le futur.
« Cette équipe a fait progresser
l’entreprise depuis que j’y travaille,
alors je sais qu’elle est entre bonnes
mains », affirme-t-il. «
« Atteindre le premier quartile en 2013
a été une grande réussite, et j’espère
que chacun comprend que nous y
avons tous contribué, dit-il. Je suis fier
de l’entreprise que je laisse derrière
moi et je suis sûr, car je l’ai entendu
RENSEIGNEMENTS UTILES
Numéros des régimes collectifs de Shell
(*Dans le cas des garanties Frais médicaux et Frais dentaires et du CSS
Plus des retraités, votre numéro de certificat est 100, auquel s’ajoutent les
six derniers chiffres de votre matricule.)
Régime
Assistance-voyage en cas d’urgence
Garantie Frais médicaux/dentaires
CSS Plus des retraités
Numéro de régime
150113
150113
20573
Demandes de règlement – garanties Frais médicaux/
Frais dentaires et CSS
Pour des renseignements sur les demandes de règlement et les options de
couverture, communiquez avec la Financière Sun Life au numéro sans frais
1-866-203-4526 (1-800-9-876-5470 de l’extérieur du Canada ou des
États-Unis) ou allez à www.masunlife.ca.
Assistance-voyage
Pour obtenir de l’aide au cours d’un voyage, communiquez avec Europ
Assistance USA Inc.
Pays
Canada et É.-U.
Partout ailleurs,
composez le
DÉPARTS À LA
RETRAITE
Numéro
1-800-511-4610
202-296-7493
Directives
Sans frais
Appels à frais virés,
s’il y a lieu
Coordonnées
Pour connaître les avantages sociaux dont vous bénéficiez, apporter des
changements ou signaler le décès d’un retraité, d’un conjoint ou d’une
personne à charge, communiquez avec le Centre des avantages sociaux de
Shell au numéro sans frais au 1-877-550-3539 (1-416-390-2633 de
l’extérieur du Canada ou des États-Unis) ou allez à www.mybenefitscentre.
com/Shell. (Utilisez le centre de messages. Nom d’utilisateur : six derniers
chiffres de votre matricule.)
Pour des renseignements concernant vos prestations de retraite, votre relevé
T4, votre relevé T4A, l’impôt sur le revenu ou pour toute autre question,
communiquez avec le Bureau d’aide RH des Amériques par téléphone, au
numéro sans frais 1-800-663-9898 (1-403-691-2900 de l’extérieur du
Canada) ou par courriel, à [email protected].
Pour examiner votre couverture au titre de l’assurance-vie ou apporter des
changements, allez à www.mybenefitscentre.com/Shell. (Sélectionnez Mes
avantages.) Desjardins Sécurité financière (Desjardins) fournit l’assurance
sous le numéro de régime 530011.
Darcy Alexander
Dernier poste occupé : superviseur cadre –
puits (1er novembre 2014)
Roddie MacIsaac
Dernier poste occupé : directeur – révisions
(1er février 2015)
Byron Smyke
Dernier poste occupé : directeur – mise en
service et démarrage, Albian
(31 août 2014)
RETROUVEZ
D’AUTRES ANCIENS
MEMBRES DU
PERSONNEL!
Associations de retraités
Club de l’Amitié Shell
Louis Beaudet
3666 43e avenue
Montréal (Québec)
H1A 3A9
T : 1-514-642-4305
C : beaudet.louis@
videotron.ca
Shell Manitoba
Retirees’ Association
Jim Rodgers
837 Buckingham Road,
Winnipeg (Manitoba)
R3R 1C3
T : 1-204-888-9708
C : [email protected]
L’O.A.S.I.S.
Gaétan Vachon
5489, rue du Menuet,
Charny (Québec)
G6X 2Z2
T : 1-418-832-4333
C : gaetanvachon99@
videotron.ca
Section de Sarnia,
en Ontario
Audrey Broer
T : 1-519-381-4251
C : [email protected]
Shell Canada
Retirement
Association of
British Columbia
Roger Amiot
14877 – 24th Avenue,
Surrey (ColombieBritannique) V4P 1N9
T : 1-604-535-3352
C : [email protected]
Shell Oiltimers Club
(Alberta)
C : [email protected]
Shell Ontario
Association of
Retirees (SOAR)
Fred Resch
946 Lawrence Ave. East,
Unit #2, PO Box 47634
Don Mills (Ontario)
M3C 3S7
T : 1-905-471-1969
C : [email protected]
Shell Golden
Pecten Club
PO Box 502, Pincher
Creek (Alberta)
T0K 1W0
T : 1-403-627-4741
YOUR FEEDBACK!
11
3rd ANNUAL ALUMNINEWS SURVEY
Help us make AlumniNews even better. In the survey below, please check the boxes that apply or fill in the blanks
as prompted. To submit your survey via mail, cut out the survey and mail it to Natalie Mazey. To answer the survey
online, visit www.shell.us/alumni. Please submit all surveys by January 31, 2015. All data will be collected then
for the March 2015 issue of AlumniNews.
Do you look forward to receiving AlumniNews magazine?
 Very much  A little  Not so much
Do you usually read:  All of the magazine  None of the magazine
*If only certain sections, which sections do you read?
 Only certain sections*
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Do you feel informed about Shell’s business?
 Very much  A little  Not so much
Rate the following AlumniNews sections in terms of how much they interest you on a scale of 1 to 5
(1 = not at all, 2 = little, 3 = indifferent, 4 = somewhat, 5 = very much):
News about the company and Shell projects: ____
Alumni features: ____
Regional section: ____
Alumni club information: ____
What would you like to see more of?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
What would you like to see less of?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Do you share information you read in AlumniNews with others?  Often  Sometimes  Never
Does AlumniNews help you when discussing issues concerning Shell
and the oil/gas industry with friends and family? Yes
 No
Would you be interested in “friends and family” messaging documents outlining
Shell’s stance on key issues and topics?  Yes
 No
Do you feel as though you can easily contribute content? Yes
 No
Do you feel a connection to the business articles included in AlumniNews? Yes
 No
Do you ever visit the Shell website to learn more about a topic you read in AlumniNews?
Tell us about you:
Do you have a computer? Yes
Do you have an iPad and/or iPhone?  iPad
Do you surf the Internet? Yes
Have you ever visited the main Shell website?  Yes
Have you ever visited the Shell Alumni website?  Yes
If you have visited the Shell Alumni website:
How easy is it for you to use?  Very easy
If difficult or very difficult, why?
 Yes  No
 No
 iPhone  Neither
 No
 No
 No
 Somewhat easy  Difficult  Very difficult
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
12
YOUR FEEDBACK!
If you have visited the Shell Alumni website (continued):
Can you find information you are seeking quickly?
 Yes  No
What sections of the site do you use?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
What would you like to see on the Alumni website that is not currently included?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
What do you have no use for and think we should remove?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
For those currently receiving a paper copy of AlumniNews, would you be interested in receiving an electronic
version of AlumniNews instead of a paper copy? Yes**  No*
*If no, please share why:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
**If yes, please email us at [email protected] with the following information:
Name (first and last)
Email address
Physical address (so we can remove you from the hard copy list)
Address
City
State / Province
Zip / Postal Code
Country
If you already receive the electronic version, do you like the format?  Yes
 No
General comments/suggestions:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
May we publish your comments?
 No
 Yes (with my name) ______________________________________________________________________________
 Yes (without my name)
Note: Your contact information is for internal purposes only and will not be made public in any way.
Mail your completed survey to:
Shell Oil Company
Communications - Natalie Mazey
P.O. Box 2463
Houston, Texas 77252-2463
SHELL NEWS
13
UNCONVENTIONALS BUSINESS UPDATE
Focus to Win strategy on track
In the summer of 2013, Shell announced
a Focus to Win strategy in regards to its
Upstream Americas (UA) Unconventionals
portfolio. A new focused portfolio would
include approximately 12 active plays
operated at scale in four to six operating
theaters, versus the existing 28 plays in
12 theaters.
Greg Guidry, executive vice president,
UA Unconventionals, recently announced
to employees that this plan has been
completed, delivering 12 months ahead
of target.
“Tough choices have been made to put us
on the Focus to Win pathway,” Guidry
says. “With these latest portfolio moves
and the internal alignment on beliefs and
strategy now at the highest levels of Shell,
we will begin to transition into a business
with much more stability.”
Guidry outlines the latest portfolio
updates:
■■ Shell has signed an agreement with
Ultra Petroleum and will be trading
Shell’s interest in the Pinedale Anticline
for interests in Appalachia, plus over
$900 million in cash to Shell. The Ultra
trade allows Shell to deepen its very
attractive Utica position in Appalachia
where there are promising well results
and increases the company’s net
working interest substantially.
The deal represents the first upgrade to
Shell’s North American portfolio in
nearly two years and is a positive
signal of the company’s commitment to
making Unconventionals work for Shell.
■■ The company has also signed an
agreement to sell its interest in the
Magnolia asset to Vine Oil & Gas LP
and its partner Blackstone for $1.2
billion in cash.
The latest portfolio moves help make Unconventionals a more stable business.
■■
Additionally, Shell completed the sale
of its Slippery Rock acreage in western
Pennsylvania to Rex Energy.
“My primary concern is not the sale of
the physical assets—the wells and
facilities—but is in regard to our people.
Our priority has been, and continues to
be, to retain as much of the talent as we
can,” Guidry notes.
Delivering ahead of target
Guidry says that delivery in the first half
of 2014 was very strong, with 75% of the
earnings improvement in UA’s year-to-date
performance due to Unconventionals.
“This should feel good, as it’s a much
different statistic from this time a year
or two ago,” he says.
CEO Ben Van Beurden concurs.
“Our Unconventionals business delivered
a substantial increase in earnings,
excluding impairments. We see
attractive growth opportunities there,
such as natural gas integration and
liquids-rich shales.”
While operational and financial improve­
ments are impressive, Guidry notes that
Unconventionals has serious work to do to
get the company back on a path to
achieve Goal Zero. “Although there was
some stabilization in July, our TRCF has
increased by 20% since the beginning of
the year, and we are still seeing a
concerning level of high-potential
incidents. This is not where we want to
be, and I’m confident we can turn it
around with a relentless focus on reducing
exposure to unmitigated hazards and a
genuine care for those around us.”
Overall, Guidry is confident in
emplo­yees’ ability to turn Unconven­tionals
into a special business for Shell. “Can
we declare victory? Not yet, but we know
what we’re capable of when we work
with a shared purpose—and we know
where to focus going forward.” «
THIRD WIN IN NASCAR SERIES
In a battle to the finish against
teammate Brad Keselowski, Joey
Logano, driver of the No. 22 ShellPennzoil Ford Fusion, emerged the
victor after a hard-fought battle in the
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race with
Shell technology under the hood. The
win at the Bristol Motor Speedway is
the third 2014 points race victory for
the Shell-Pennzoil team.
“Throughout the season, Shell
engineers work closely with the Penske
Racing team to support strong product
development for use both on and off
the track,” says Paul Bogers, general
manager of Lubricants Technology at
Shell Oil. “The knowledge we gain at
the track is the cornerstone to
developing high-quality products for
our customers.” «
14
ALUMNUS FEATURE
EXERCISING PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY
Ballroom dance keeps alumnus moving
Two years ago, when George Vero (’11 Sarnia Manufacturing
Centre) and his wife, Marsha, took to the dance floor for a
cha-cha during their daughter’s wedding reception, Vero had
no idea the floor would not only clear for them, but that the
dance would end in a round of applause.
“People were amazed that we were dancing like we were.
Even as a beginner in ballroom dance, when you get on the
dance floor, it blows people away.”
Within a month after retiring, Vero and his wife joined the
Sarnia Ballroom Dancing Club in Sarnia, Ontario. “I had
always wanted to learn ballroom dance, but it’s a big
commitment. After retiring, I finally had time.”
The couple immersed themselves in lessons, taking classes three
days a week—five hours of dancing each week. “After an
hour-and-a-half-long class, you’re tired and hurting. When we
started, we were 57 years old. You’re moving muscles that you
have never moved. I told the instructor that my hips don’t move
the way she wanted them to.”
The club hosts up to 50 couples during dances. “We need a
big floor because couples are moving all across the floor.” And
when it comes to the type of floor, club members are admittedly
“fussy,” according to Vero. “A gym floor can be hard on your
knees. The best floors are suspended hardwood floors that
provide shock absorption and are better on your joints.”
Learning new dances and steps not only keeps Vero and his
wife in shape, but they stay mentally sharp as well. “Dance
exercises your mind as well as your body.” Though Vero hopes
to advance in his lessons, he has no aspirations to teach
ballroom dance. “Teachers have to know both partners’ dance
steps. I have a hard enough time learning my own steps!”
One aspiration Vero shares with his wife is getting people of
all ages interested in ballroom dance. “We want couples to not
only take lessons, but get out there and try out their steps at our
dances. Ballroom dancing is good for you mentally and
physically, and it’s a great deal of fun.” «
But after three years, Vero has not only gained flexibility in his
hips, but the couple also have lost an astounding 70 pounds of
weight between the two of them in just a year and a half. “We
realized that we dance a lot better if we’re lighter on our feet,”
he muses, adding that the two enrolled in Weight Watchers,
as well as adhering to an active dance schedule.
Having mastered beginner lessons in the cha-cha, rumba,
tango, waltz, quickstep and foxtrot, the two have advanced
to an intermediate level. While the smooth, melodious rhythms
of the foxtrot and waltz have made them among his favorite
dances, the jive is Vero’s most challenging. “I would say that
I failed beginner lessons in jive,” he says with a laugh.
To remedy this, Vero is taking jive lessons again this fall.
In addition to participating in nine-week lessons three times a
year and attending dances almost every month, Vero and his
wife have become active volunteers in the club. As assistant
social directors, the two help to advertise lessons and dances
and put in hours of work before and after dances. “We might
arrive at a dance at 4 p.m. to help set things up for a couple
of hours. After the dance finishes around midnight, we tear
down. After we’re through, I’m ready for a glass of wine.”
The bartender is a lonely person at dances, according to Vero.
“People think that having a drink or two loosens you up, but
ballroom dancing requires good balance and coordination.
With all the spins and turns, you can run into each other after
one drink!”
Vero says that the music of the Big Band Era is best for the
foxtrot and waltz. “You can’t foxtrot to U2 or AC/DC.”
However, many of today’s Latin singers, as well as soloists like
Adele, are great for other types of ballroom dance. “Adele’s
Skyfall is excellent for the rumba, and Livin’ la Vida Loca by
Ricky Martin is fun for the cha-cha.”
The smooth, melodious rhythms of the foxtrot and waltz have made them
among George Vero’s favorite dances.
ALUMNI FEATURES
15
OUT OF THE RECLINER,
ONTO THE COURSE
Alumnus passes on love of the game to junior golfers
has found generous sponsors, including local business DVD
Walnut Processing and the Tachi-Yokut Tribe, which has four
of its members on the team.
Mercer is not only proud of the young golfers’ performance,
but is also pleased with their positive attitude and good
sportsmanship as well. “A few junior golfers graduated or
moved after that first year, and we went from being first to
placing next to last in the following year’s tournament. It
wasn’t a big deal to the kids though. They took it in stride. I
tell them that if they’ve done their very best, I’m proud.”
In addition to teaching the students golf, Mercer emphasizes
honesty in the game. “Every person signs a code of conduct
that outlines our expectations on behavior. In their practice
rounds, I’ll see a parent mistakenly write down a lower
number. The child will actually correct the parent. ‘No, I
actually got a six on that shot, not a five.’ I tell the kids that if
you cheat, you cheat yourself. You have to be proud of
where you are as a golfer.”
George Mercer enjoys coaching and sharing his love of the game with
junior golfers on the travel team at Lemoore Municipal Golf Course.
For Gerald Mercer (’99 Shell Pipeline), there is nothing
more rewarding on the golf course than a smile from a
junior golfer. “You see them struggling with a swing, and
you know they can do better. I’ll make one small suggestion,
and they make the adjustment, turn around to me and grin.
I love that.”
Mercer has been on the golf course for more than 40 years,
and for three of those years, he’s been passing on his
knowledge to junior golfers as a volunteer coach for the
travel team at the Lemoore Municipal Golf Course in
Lemoore, California.
In the three years Mercer has served as coach, the team,
which includes students from nine to 17 years old, has not
only grown from 11 to 25 junior golfers (with 30 kids
already signed up for 2015), but has expanded its golfing
season. “The original program was six weeks. You can’t
teach someone how to golf in six weeks. After winning the
championship during my first year as coach, the kids asked if
they could continue playing. Today, our season runs from the
beginning of March to the end of October.”
A longer season, however, translates into more costs—from
green fees to range balls to uniforms. “We only charge our
junior golfers $37.50 per month, but our costs are much
more.” To raise money for the team, Mercer does one of the
hardest things for him—knock on people’s doors to solicit
sponsorships. “I’ve always been an introvert. Even after
doing this for several years, it’s extremely difficult for me to
ask for money.” Even amidst a flagging economy, Mercer
During the season, Mercer can be found on the course three
days a week for practices, arriving two hours early to gather
range balls and set up the course. Twice a month, he travels
with the junior golfers to tournaments, covering about 1,200
miles each season.
Mercer can often be found on the sidelines at high school
golf games as well. “As a coach, I can’t see how they’re
performing unless I watch them in a tournament
environment.” One of his junior golfers was struggling at a
high school game, and though Mercer can’t offer advice
during the game, he was able to work with her afterwards.
“Sometimes when you get under pressure in competition,
your swing breaks down. I could see what her flaw was from
the sidelines. It was just a glitch in her swing. I worked with
her, and in the next tournament, she took 11 strokes off
her score.”
Many of Mercer’s junior golfers stay with him from season to
season, making saying goodbye difficult. “One of my junior
golfers who came to me when he was nine years old had to
move with his family last year. I had him for three years.
We had a special bond. He told his dad that I was the only
coach who could fix his swing with one comment. Even now,
I miss him. These kids are like my own kids. We’re just like
a family.”
Though Mercer still gets on the golf course to play, the junior
golfers are what keep him moving. “Coaching these kids
is my life. I don’t know if I would be alive today were it not
for them. There is nothing more rewarding than volunteering
to help someone, especially when you’re older and retired.
I would encourage all seniors to get out there and share
your talents.” «
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Houston, TX
Permit NO. 1991
Shell Oil Company
Communications - Natalie Mazey
P.O. Box 2463
Houston, Texas 77252-2463
STORY IDEAS WELCOME!
AlumniNews magazine is looking for recent story ideas for our Alumni Features section! In this part of the magazine, we highlight alumni
who are staying active and making a difference in retirement. If you know of someone who would make a great profile for the magazine,
please send us his/her phone number and email address, along with a brief description of the story idea. To submit story ideas for the
U.S., email [email protected] or mail a letter to Shell Oil Company Communications – Natalie Mazey, P.O. Box 2463, Houston,
Texas 77252-2463. To submit story ideas for Canada, email [email protected] or mail a letter to Jackie Panera, Shell
Canada Limited, 400 4th Avenue S.W., P.O. Box 100 Station M, Calgary, Alberta T2P 2H5, Canada.
LET’S KEEP
MOVING
TOWARDS
CLEANER
FUELS.
Find out how we’re broadening
the worlds energy mix
at www.shell.com/letsgo
LET’S GO.
R05577-Petrol Station Ad for AlumniNews.indd 1
28/01/2014 09:59

Documents pareils