Summary of results

Earnings 2017–2016

Income for the period was $13,435 million in 2017, compared with $4,777 million in 2016. After current cost of supplies adjustment, total segment earnings were $12,471 million in 2017, compared with $3,692 million in 2016.

Earnings on a current cost of supplies basis (CCS earnings) exclude the effect of changes in the oil price on inventory carrying amounts, after making allowance for the tax effect. The purchase price of volumes sold in the period is based on the current cost of supplies during the same period, rather than on the historic cost calculated on a first-in, first-out (FIFO) basis. Therefore, when oil prices are decreasing, CCS earnings are likely to be higher than earnings calculated on a FIFO basis and, when prices are increasing, CCS earnings are likely to be lower than earnings calculated on a FIFO basis.

Integrated Gas earnings in 2017 were $5,078 million, compared with $2,529 million in 2016. The increase was mainly driven by higher realised oil, gas, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices, as well as the impact of the strengthening Australian dollar on a deferred tax position, and lower impairment charges. These effects were partly offset by the impacts in 2017 of a charge for fair value accounting of commodity derivatives, a charge as a result of US tax reform legislation, and by lower liquids production partially offset by higher LNG liquefaction volumes. See “Integrated Gas”.

Upstream earnings in 2017 were $1,551 million, compared with a loss of $3,674 million in 2016. The improvement was mainly driven by higher realised oil and gas prices. Higher gains on divestments and lower depreciation charges were partly offset by higher impairment charges. Overall, there were higher taxation charges. Beneficial movements in deferred tax positions were more than offset by a charge in 2017 as a result of US tax reform legislation and the absence of a gain related to the impact of a strengthening Brazilian real on a deferred tax position in 2016. See “Upstream”.

Downstream earnings in 2017 were $8,258 million, compared with $6,588 million in 2016. The increase was mainly driven by improved refining and chemicals industry conditions, the impact of fair value accounting of commodity derivatives, and lower taxation, redundancy and impairment charges. This was partly offset by lower gains on divestments and higher depreciation charges. See “Downstream”.

Corporate earnings in 2017 were a loss of $2,416 million, compared with a loss of $1,751 million in 2016. The higher loss was mainly driven by higher interest expense and net foreign exchange losses, partly offset by lower operating expenses. There was also a charge in 2017 as a result of US tax reform legislation. See “Corporate”.

Earnings 2016–2015

Income for the period was $4,777 million in 2016, compared with $2,200 million in 2015. After current cost of supplies adjustment, total segment earnings were $3,692 million in 2016, compared with $4,155 million in 2015. BG Group plc (BG) was consolidated within Shell’s results with effect from February 2016 following its acquisition.

Integrated Gas earnings in 2016 were $2,529 million, compared with $3,170 million in 2015. The decrease was mainly driven by higher operating expenses and depreciation, lower oil and LNG prices, and higher taxation. These impacts were partly offset by higher production and LNG liquefaction volumes, lower impairment charges and well write-offs.

Upstream earnings in 2016 were a loss of $3,674 million, compared with a loss of $8,833 million in 2015. The lower loss in 2016 was partly explained by the significant charges in 2015 associated with the decision to cease Alaska drilling activities and the Carmon Creek project in Canada and other impairments. In addition, earnings in 2016 benefited from higher production volumes and lower operating expenses, partly offset by lower oil and gas prices, higher depreciation, and lower gains on divestments.

Downstream earnings in 2016 were $6,588 million, compared with $10,243 million in 2015. The decrease was mainly due to lower realised refining and trading margins and a higher effective tax rate. There was a partial offset from stronger marketing margins, in turn partly offset by the impact of divestments and unfavourable exchange rate effects and fair value accounting of commodity derivatives.

Corporate earnings in 2016 were a loss of $1,751 million, compared with a loss of $425 million in 2015. Interest expense was significantly higher in 2016, due to additional debt for the BG acquisition and debt assumed on the acquisition, partly offset by lower foreign exchange losses. There were also BG acquisition costs and lower tax credits in 2016, and a gain in 2015 on the sale of an office building.

Production available for sale

Oil and gas production available for sale in 2017 was 1,338 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe), or 3,664 thousand boe per day (boe/d), compared with 1,342 million boe, or 3,668 thousand boe/d, in 2016. In 2017, production from new fields offset the impact of field declines and divestments.

Proved reserves

The proved oil and gas reserves of Shell subsidiaries and the Shell share of the proved oil and gas reserves of joint ventures and associates are summarised in “Oil and gas information” and set out in more detail in “Supplementary information – oil and gas (unaudited)”.

Before taking production into account, our proved reserves increased by 368 million boe in 2017. This comprised increases of 343 million boe from Shell subsidiaries and 25 million boe from the Shell share of joint ventures and associates. The increase from Shell subsidiaries included 927 million boe from revisions and reclassifications, 706 million boe from extensions and discoveries, and 97 million boe from improved recovery, partly offset by net sales of minerals in place of 1,387 million boe mainly related to synthetic crude oil in Canada.

In 2017, total oil and gas production was 1,383 million boe, of which 1,338 million boe was available for sale and 45 million boe was consumed in operations. Production available for sale from subsidiaries was 1,168 million boe and 38 million boe was consumed in operations. The Shell share of the production available for sale of joint ventures and associates was 170 million boe and 7 million boe was consumed in operations.

Accordingly, after taking production into account, our proved reserves decreased by 1,015 million boe in 2017, to 12,233 million boe at December 31, 2017, with a decrease of 863 million boe from subsidiaries and a decrease of 152 million boe from the Shell share of joint ventures and associates.

Capital investment and other information

Capital investment was $24.0 billion in 2017, compared with $79.9 billion in 2016, which included $52.9 billion related to the BG acquisition.

Divestments were $17.3 billion in 2017, compared with $5.0 billion in 2016.

Operating expenses decreased by $3 billion in 2017, to $38 billion. In 2016, operating expenses included redundancy and restructuring charges of $2 billion.

Our return on average capital employed (ROACE) increased to 5.8%, compared with 3.0% in 2016, mainly driven by a higher income in 2017.

Gearing was 24.8% at the end of 2017, compared with 28.0% at the end of 2016, driven by debt repayments in 2017.

Significant accounting estimates and judgements

See Note 2 to the “Consolidated Financial Statements”.

Legal proceedings

See Note 25 to the “Consolidated Financial Statements”.