Andy Brown, Managing Director of Pearl GTL and Qatar Country Chairman, said today: “This success was possible because of the vision of His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, and the work of Her Highness Sheikha Moza to establish the science park. We are proud to file the first patent from the Qatar Shell Research & Technology Centre, which we believe is the first patent filed by any company at the science park. We hope this patent will be the first of many innovations from our work at the science park.”
Once filed, a patent application needs to be confirmed by the Patent Authorities as original. This usually takes some months. At that stage, the final patent is granted, protecting the rights related to the invention for a set period of time.
Some 20 Shell scientists and engineers from Qatar and around the world are engaged in research at the Qatar Shell Research & Technology Centre at the science park. The facility has over 35 staff in total.
Current research programmes include GTL catalyst testing and research, improving the understanding of local carbonate geology, developing sulphur-based products among many other exciting new concepts and ideas focused on GTL and upstream technologies.
Shell is committed to a substantial expenditure of up to US$100 million over a 10-year period on a world-class technology innovation and development programme in Qatar.
The Qatar Shell Research & Technology Centre at the science park was opened by Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Industry, His Excellency Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah, in April 2008. Shell had been conducting research work since 2005, initially in temporary facilities at Education City.
Enquiries: Qatar Shell Simon Buerk +974 495 7740
Cautionary Note
The companies in which Royal Dutch Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate entities. In this announcement "Shell", "Shell group" and "Royal Dutch Shell" are sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Royal Dutch Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" are also used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies. ''Subsidiaries'', "Shell subsidiaries" and "Shell companies" as used in this announcement refer to companies in which Royal Dutch Shell either directly or indirectly has control, by having either a majority of the voting rights or the right to exercise a controlling influence. The companies in which Shell has significant influence but not control are referred to as "associated companies" or "associates" and companies in which Shell has joint control are referred to as "jointly controlled entities". In this announcement, associates and jointly controlled entities are also referred to as "equity-accounted investments". This announcement contains forward-looking statements concerning the financial condition, results of operations and businesses of Royal Dutch 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 Royal Dutch 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 "anticipate", "believe", "could", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "plan", "objectives", "outlook", "probably", "project", "will", "seek", "target","risks", "goals", "should" and similar terms and phrases. There are a number of factors that could affect the future operations of Royal Dutch Shell and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this announcement, 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) reserve estimates; (f) loss of market 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, fiscal and regulatory developments including potential litigation and regulatory effects arising from recategorisation of reserves; (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; and (m) changes in trading conditions.
All forward-looking statements contained in this announcement 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. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this announcement, December 4th, 2008. Neither Royal Dutch Shell 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 announcement. Please also refer to the Annual Report and Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2007 for a description of certain important factors, risks and uncertainties that may affect Shell's businesses. |