
Shell Australia is a subsidiary of Shell plc, a British multinational oil and gas company. Shell has operated in Australia since 1901, initially delivering bulk fuel and then expanding into storage, distribution, oil refineries, and service stations. Over time, Shell Australia's activities evolved to include oil exploration, petrochemicals, and coal mining, with a significant presence in upstream businesses such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) and onshore coal seam gas. In 2014, Shell sold its Australian downstream business, including its Geelong Oil Refinery and retail sites, to Vitol, a Dutch firm. Shell continues to have a significant presence in Australia through its upstream projects and investments, maintaining its position as a key player in the country's energy sector.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of establishment | 1907 |
| Type of company | Public limited company |
| Primary listing | London Stock Exchange (LSE) |
| Secondary listings | Euronext Amsterdam and the New York Stock Exchange |
| World rank by revenue | 2nd largest investor-owned oil company |
| World rank by size | 15th largest company |
| Headquarters | London, England |
| Operations | Over 99 countries |
| Number of service stations worldwide | 44,000 |
| Oil production | 3.7 million barrels of oil equivalent per day |
| Oil reserves | 11.1 billion barrels of oil equivalent |
| Australian subsidiary | Shell Australia |
| Year of arrival in Australia | 1901 |
| Current Australian operations | Upstream businesses, including exploration, liquified natural gas (LNG), and onshore coal seam gas |
| Notable Australian reserves | North West Shelf, Gorgon, Browse Basin, Surat Basin, Bowen Basin |
| Notable Australian partnerships | Woodside Petroleum, Viva Energy |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- Shell Australia is a subsidiary of Shell plc, a British company
- Shell has operated in Australia since 1901
- Shell sold its Australian refinery in 2014
- Shell's Australian activities include exploration, liquified natural gas and onshore coal seam gas
- Shell is one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world

Shell Australia is a subsidiary of Shell plc, a British company
Shell Australia is the Australian subsidiary of Shell, Shell plc, a British company. Shell has operated in Australia since 1901, when it first delivered bulk fuel to the country. Over time, the company established storage and distribution terminals, oil refineries, and a network of service stations.
Shell Australia's remaining activities in the country are in upstream businesses, including exploration, liquified natural gas (LNG), and onshore coal seam gas. The company holds large reserves in the North West Shelf, Gorgon, Browse Basin, and onshore coal seam gas Surat and Bowen Basins in Queensland. It also maintains a significant exploration portfolio in Australia, particularly in offshore Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
In August 2014, Shell sold its downstream business in Australia, including its Geelong Oil Refinery and retail sites, to the Dutch firm Vitol (operated as Viva Energy) for A$2.9 billion. Despite this sale, Shell continues to invest in Australian upstream projects, working with companies such as Chevron Corp., Woodside Petroleum, and Prelude.
Shell plc, the parent company of Shell Australia, is a British multinational oil and gas company. It is headquartered in London, England, and is one of the largest companies in the world, with operations in over 99 countries. Shell plc was formed in April 1907 through the merger of the Royal Dutch Petroleum Company of the Netherlands and The "Shell" Transport and Trading Company of the United Kingdom.
Church Tax Exemptions: Australian Rates and Exemptions
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Shell has operated in Australia since 1901
Shell Australia is the Australian subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell. Shell has operated in Australia since 1901, when the 'Shell' Transport and Trading Company of London commissioned bulk fuel handling facilities at Gore Bay in Sydney and on leased land in Melbourne. This marked the first delivery of bulk kerosene to Australia, with the arrival of the ship Turbo on June 3, 1901.
Over the years, Shell established storage and distribution terminals, oil refineries, and a network of service stations across Australia. In 1905, the Shell Transport and Trading Company and the Royal Dutch Petroleum Company formed the British Imperial Oil Company in Australia through a joint venture. In 1916, Shell began bulk deliveries to garages with pumps, and in 1926, it acquired the Neptune Oil Company. The British Imperial Oil Company was renamed the Shell Company of Australia in 1927, and the following year, it purchased the Clyde Refinery in Sydney.
Shell expanded its operations in Australia beyond fuel distribution and established itself in various sectors. It ventured into oil exploration, petrochemicals, and coal mining. In 1954, Shell opened its second oil refinery in Geelong, and a year later, it established a detergent alkylate plant and a petrochemical plant in the same city. The Geelong refinery was the first of Australia's post-war refineries to begin operations, and it played a significant role in strengthening the country's industrial capacity.
Shell also became a leading partner in Australia's largest resource development project, the North West Shelf Venture. In 1984, domestic sales of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the North West Shelf commenced, and Shell signed a sales and purchase agreement with several Japanese electricity and gas utilities. Shell has maintained a substantial exploration portfolio in Australia, with a focus on offshore Western Australia and the Northern Territory. The company has also sponsored various Australian initiatives, such as the Shell Aria contest for young operatic singers, and has been involved in motorsports sponsorships.
Applying for an Australian Passport in the USA
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Shell sold its Australian refinery in 2014
Shell Australia is the Australian subsidiary of Shell, which has operated in Australia since 1901. Initially, Shell delivered bulk fuel to Australia, then established storage and distribution terminals, oil refineries, and a network of service stations. Over time, it extended its Australian activities to oil exploration, petrochemicals, and coal mining.
In August 2014, Shell sold its downstream business in Australia, including its Geelong Oil Refinery and 870 retail sites, along with its bulk fuels, bitumen, chemicals, and part of its lubricants businesses, to the Dutch firm Vitol. The sale was valued at A$2.9 billion (US$2.6 billion). This move was part of a broader trend of oil companies offloading less profitable assets, with Vitol, a large commodity trading house, expanding its operations.
Following the sale, Shell retained its aviation fuel business in Australia and continued its involvement in upstream businesses, including exploration, liquified natural gas (LNG), and onshore coal seam gas. Shell holds significant reserves and exploration portfolios in Australia, particularly in the North West Shelf Venture, alongside joint venture partners such as Woodside Petroleum.
The decision to sell the Geelong refinery and downstream business came after Shell experienced challenges in its refining business, particularly in Europe and Asia, leading to restructuring efforts. The Geelong refinery had also recorded consecutive annual losses in the years preceding the sale. Despite these challenges, Shell continued to invest in Australian upstream projects after the 2014 sale, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to the country's energy sector.
Elizabeth Macarthur: Australia's Unsung Female Pioneer
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$12.99 $13.99

Shell's Australian activities include exploration, liquified natural gas and onshore coal seam gas
Shell Australia, the Australian subsidiary of Shell, has been operating in the country since 1901. Shell's Australian activities include exploration, liquified natural gas (LNG), and onshore coal seam gas.
In terms of exploration, Shell has a significant presence in offshore Western Australia and the Northern Territory. The company holds large reserves in the North West Shelf, Gorgon, and Browse Basin. In 2011, the Federal Government approved Shell to drill an exploration well west of the Ningaloo Marine Park, at a depth of around 1,300 metres, the deepest ever in Australian waters.
Shell is also involved in liquified natural gas (LNG) projects in Australia. In 1984, domestic sales of LNG from the North West Shelf began, and Shell signed a sales and purchase agreement with Japanese utilities. In 2011, Shell finalised its investment in the world's first floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facility, with the Prelude field off Australia's north-west coast containing an estimated 85 billion cubic metres of natural gas equivalent reserves.
Additionally, Shell is active in onshore coal seam gas projects in Australia. The company holds reserves in the Surat and Bowen Basins in Queensland. In 2017, Shell agreed to a 27-year deal with Arrow Energy to develop the country's biggest coal seam gas resource, utilising infrastructure from its Queensland Curtis LNG (QCLNG) project to speed up the process and reduce the environmental impact.
Immigration Guide: Australia from Jordan
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Shell is one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world
Shell plc (previously Royal Dutch Shell plc) is a British multinational oil and gas company, with its headquarters in London, England. It is one of the largest oil and gas companies in the world, and a core component of Big Oil. Shell is a public limited company with a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and secondary listings on Euronext Amsterdam and the New York Stock Exchange.
Shell is the second-largest investor-owned oil and gas company in the world by revenue, after ExxonMobil. It is also one of the largest companies in the world across all industries. In 2023, Shell's revenue stood at around 345 billion US dollars. The company has operations in over 99 countries, producing about 3.7 million barrels of oil equivalent per day and has around 44,000 service stations worldwide.
Shell was formed in April 1907 through the merger of the Royal Dutch Petroleum Company of the Netherlands and The "Shell" Transport and Trading Company of the United Kingdom. The combined company rapidly became the leading competitor of the American Standard Oil, and by 1920, Shell was the largest producer of oil in the world. Shell has been operating in Australia since 1901, initially delivering bulk fuel and then expanding its operations to include storage and distribution terminals, oil refineries, and a network of service stations.
In 2016, Shell acquired the BG Group, surpassing Chevron Corporation to become the world's second-largest non-state oil company. Shell is vertically integrated and is involved in all areas of the oil and gas industry, including exploration, production, refining, transport, distribution, and marketing. The company has a significant presence in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) market and has been a partner in the world's first commercial sea transportation of LNG. Shell's logo, the "pecten", is one of the most recognisable commercial symbols globally, based on the design of the sea shell Pecten maximus, the giant scallop.
Trademark Application in Australia: A Comprehensive Guide
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
No, Shell is not Australian-owned. Shell is a British multinational oil and gas company, headquartered in London, England. It is the second-largest investor-owned oil company in the world.
Shell has operated in Australia since 1901, initially delivering bulk fuel into the country.
Shell's involvement in the Australian oil industry includes exploration, liquified natural gas (LNG), and onshore coal seam gas. The company holds large reserves in the North West Shelf, Gorgon, Browse Basin, and the Surat and Bowen Basins in Queensland.
Yes, Shell Australia is the Australian subsidiary of Shell. In 2014, Shell sold its downstream business in Australia, including its Geelong Oil Refinery and retail sites, to the Dutch firm Vitol (now operated under the name Viva Energy). Shell maintains its aviation fuel business and continues to invest in Australian upstream projects.











































