Royal Dutch Shell Chief Executive Officer Peter Voser commented on Shell's Fourth Quarter and full year results:

"Our fourth quarter 2009 results were impacted by the weak global economy. Oil prices have increased compared to a year ago, but gas prices and refining margins have declined sharply, because of weaker demand and high industry inventory levels. We are not assuming that there will be a quick recovery, and the outlook for 2010 is uncertain.

"Our strategy is on track, although the near-term industry outlook does remain challenging. We are taking steps to improve our performance, to bridge the company, and our shareholders, into a period of significant growth in the coming years.

"We are making good progress on our plans to raise Shell's competitive performance. The Transition 2009 program, which was launched in mid-2009, is now completed. We have reduced complexity in the company, and our new organization, announced in July 2009, is now fully up and running. Our Upstream organization is simpler and our new Projects & Technology organization makes for better technical integration on bigger projects and a sharper innovation focus along the value chain.

"As a result of our actions in 2009, some 5,000 employees will leave Shell, a reduction of 10% in the impacted areas. We have reduced underlying operating costs by some $1 billion in the fourth quarter 2009, and by over $2 billion in 2009 compared to 2008.

"Cost focus is now embedded in our day-to-day operations. For 2010, we are targeting a further underlying cost reduction of at least $1 billion, and a reduction of some 1,000 employees. Much of this will come from Downstream and ongoing cost initiatives in the corporate functions.

"I am pleased with the portfolio progress in 2009. We had successful start-ups of Sakhalin II in Russia and BC-10 in Brazil, and these projects, plus Ormen Lange in Norway have completed their production ramp-ups. We have taken final investment decisions on two substantial new projects; Gorgon LNG in Australia, and Caesar/Tonga in the deep water Gulf of Mexico, and launched a front-end engineering and design study for floating LNG for the Prelude gas field in Australia. Exploration and appraisal performance in 2009 has been strong, with particularly good results in North America tight gas and Western Australia gas. I see exciting opportunities for the medium-term."

Portfolio highlights

In Australia, Shell confirmed that it has accepted Woodside Petroleum Ltd.'s entitlement offer of new shares at a total cost of $0.8 billion, maintaining its 34.27% share in the company.

In Iraq, Shell was awarded a contract as lead operator in developing the Majnoon field (Shell share 45%). Production is expected to reach 1.8 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d), up from a current level of approximately 45 thousand boe/d (100% basis). In addition, Shell was awarded a 15% share in a contract for the development of the West Qurna 1 field.

Shell has agreed an asset swap to acquire assets in Gabon and in the UK North Sea, in return for its interest in a pair of Norwegian offshore fields. This transaction, which is still subject to government approval and other requisite consents, is a strategic trade and no cash payment is involved.

In Egypt, Shell signed agreements to acquire a 40% holding and become the operator on the Alam El Shawish West Concession, where oil and gas discoveries have been confirmed.

During 2009, Shell participated in 10 discoveries, in Australia, the US Gulf of Mexico, Malaysia and Norway. Shell is seeing particularly strong results from exploration and appraisal drilling in the North American Haynesville and Groundbirch tight gas areas, and offshore Western Australia. Shell also increased its overall acreage position, completing acquisitions of new exploration licences in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Guyana, Italy, Jordan, Norway and the USA and successfully bidding for new licences in Egypt, South Africa and French Guiana.

Key features of the fourth quarter and full year 2009

• Fourth quarter 2009 CCS earnings were $1,177 million, 75% lower than in the same quarter a year ago. Full year 2009 CCS earnings were $9,804 million, 69% lower than in 2008.
• Fourth quarter 2009 CCS earnings, excluding identified items, were $2,774 million compared to $3,888 million in the fourth quarter 2008.
• Fourth quarter 2009 reported earnings were $1,961 million compared to a loss of $2,810 million in the same quarter a year ago. Full year 2009 reported earnings were $12,518 million compared to earnings of $26,277 million in 2008.
• Basic CCS earnings per share decreased by 76% versus the same quarter a year ago. Full year 2009 basic CCS earnings per share decreased by 69% compared to 2008.
• Cash flow from operating activities for the fourth quarter 2009 was $5.7 billion, compared to $10.3 billion in the same quarter last year. Excluding net working capital movements, cash flow from operating activities in the fourth quarter 2009 was $4.4 billion. Full year 2009 cash flow from operating activities was $21.5 billion compared to $43.9 billion in 2008.
• Total dividends paid to shareholders during the fourth quarter 2009 were $2.6 billion, bringing the total for the full year 2009 to $10.5 billion.
• Capital investment for the fourth quarter 2009 was $8.8 billion. Net capital investment (capital investment, less divestment proceeds) for the fourth quarter 2009 was $7.2 billion, bringing the total for the full year 2009 to some $29 billion.
• Return on average capital employed (ROACE), on a reported income basis (see Note 3), was 8.0%.
• Gearing was 15.5% at the end of the fourth quarter 2009 versus 5.9% at the end of the fourth quarter 2008.

Upstream

• Oil and gas production for the fourth quarter 2009 was 3,331 thousand boe/d.
• Full year 2009 oil and gas production was 3,152 thousand boe/d. Production for the fourth quarter and the full year 2009 excluding the impact of divestments, production sharing contracts (PSC) pricing effects and OPEC quota restrictions was 2% lower compared to the same periods last year.
• Underlying production, in the fourth quarter and full year 2009, increased by some 200 thousand boe/d from new field start-ups and the continuing ramp-up of fields, more than offsetting the impact of field declines.
• LNG sales volumes of 3.96 million tonnes in the fourth quarter 2009 were 18% higher than in the same quarter a year ago. Full year 2009 LNG sales volumes were 13.40 million tonnes compared to 13.05 million tonnes in 2008, an increase of 3%.