WSJ: Shell Making Money On Natural Gas; Exxon, Not

No link; from the print edition, April 27, 2012, p. C10.

Shell making money on natural gas -- location, location, location.

Only 5 percent of Shell's natural gas output is from the US; fourteen percent of natural gas produced by Exxon comes from the US.

From the story:
"In the global gas game, location is critical. With US gas prices moribund, Exxon's big bet on the fuel vie 2010's purchase of XTO Energy still drags on profits. Gas sol in Europe and Asia fetches much higher prices."

The XTO deal is hurting XOM's return on capital, and that's why it had to significantly increase its dividend to hold investors.

Again, a disclaimer. This is simply a data point that caught my eye because of the XTO connection; it is not a buy, sell, hold recommendation.

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In another section in the print edition, is a longer article, same subject. One can find it on-line by googling "Exxon Struggles While Shell Thrives." 

At the very end, there's a bit on the "North Dakota to Texas Renaissance Zone."