Bigtoe....my observations about the lack of a meaningful comparison between Solv (and its planned commercial plant) and Shell (and its pilot plant) were neither worded as nor intended as a taunt to anyone....(now, the rumble stuff - that's a different story, but it was tongue in cheek).
I stick by what I said. I don't think that a comparison is valid. That Shell may spend around $1 billion is, in my view, a pretty good indication of what it really takes to do it right. If that is what it takes to do it right, I don't think that one can make a meaningful comparison with a company who tries to do it on only $100M or so. My guess is that if someone told Shell that all they could spend was $100-$200M, they would probably say no thanks, let's not invest the money and let's not risk the money since it can't be done right for that. Plus, unlike Solv, Shell management has not promised a specific result by a specific date. IMO, many of Solv's problems can be linked directly to promises such as those that weren't kept - even if they were genuine and in good faith when made. I have READ the article and we just have a different view of it.
Troy
P.S. - it was tempting to respond to your pun (shell out) with a pun about a shell game, but I won't...) - it is neither necessary nor warranted and might not be taken as only humor. |
