Royal Dutch Shell reported income up 33% and earnings up 5% for the second quarter of this year.

Shell reported income attributable to shareholders for the quarter at US $11.556 Bn, up 33% from the $8.667 Bn figure last year. Earnings on Shell’s Current Cost of Supplies (CCS) basis were $7.902 Bn, up 5% from $7.556 Bn last year.

For the half year, Shell reported income of $20.639 Bn, up 29% from $15.948 Bn last year, and CCS earnings for the period were $15.678 Bn, up 8% from $14.488 Bn in the first half of 2007.

During the last quarter Shell dividends and share repurchases meant $3.8 Bn returned to shareholders.
Capital investment hit $8 Bn in the quarter, but asset sales are forecast to continue and increase from $4 Bn to $5 Bn. The company has only recently closed a deal with Abu

Dhabi’s national energy company via its Taqa investment vehicle for the sale of Shell’s interests in eight UK Northern North Sea fields.

Oil and gas production for the quarter was 3,126 boe/d, compared with 3,178 boe/d in the second quarter last year.