Shell and ConocoPhillips Honored as Refining & Energy Companies of the Year

SAN DIEGO, March 12 /PRNewswire/ -- The 21st annual presentation of HART Energy Publishing's Refining & Energy Company of the Year Awards will take place Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego. The annual awards are part of HART's Global Conference "Biofuels Integration: The Next Refining Challenge". This year's recipients are Shell Oil Company, the International Honoree, and ConocoPhillips, the North American Honoree.

"For 21 years, we at HART have had a long history of recognizing excellence in both Global Energy and North American Refining," said Frederick L. Potter, executive vice president, HART Energy Publishing. "As the world demands more integration and excellence from the oilfield to global refining centers, and from refining centers to renewable energy use, this year these two companies stand out as providing excellence in energy production, environmental improvement, and the use of renewables -- each aspect contributing to a more sustainable world."

In selecting the honorees, HART examines corporate commitment and achievements in three primary categories:

    --  Cleaner Environment. Producing cleaner, higher-quality gasoline and
        diesel fuel are among the greatest achievements recognized each year.
    --  Investment and Corporate Growth. The award recognizes investment and
        the highest operational and safety standards. Recipients also
        demonstrate innovative use of resources, often in difficult and
        challenging environments.
    --  Vision. The recipients of the HART Refining & Energy Company of the
        Year Awards are recognized for their innovation and Global Vision.

Both Shell and ConocoPhillips have exemplified the rich traditions of this prestigious award.

Shell Exhibits International Excellence

Among its notable achievements in 2007, Shell began work to more than double the production capacity of its joint-venture refinery in Port Arthur, Texas. The expansion would make the refinery the largest in the United States. The Port Arthur Refinery is operated by Motiva Enterprises which is a joint venture between Shell and Saudi Refining, Inc.

Shell is now the world's largest distributor of transport biofuels. Internationally, Shell has invested in CHOREN Industries in Germany to create the world's first demonstration-scale biomass-to-liquids (BTL) plant. Also notable are Shell's investments in Iogen in Canada.

Accepting the award for Shell will be David Sexton, Vice President - Portfolio Americas, Shell Oil Company.

ConocoPhillips recognized for Excellence in North America

ConocoPhillips has demonstrated a strong commitment to operations excellence including setting the highest standards for personal safety, process safety and the reliable operation of their refineries. In 2007, COP again achieved leading positions in safety and environmental performance, and has been a reliable supplier of transportation fuels to the market with utilization rates exceeding 95%; well above the industry average.

This commitment to safety and operations excellence forms the foundation for its work in biofuels expansion. ConocoPhillips is one of the largest refiners on the North American continent and maintains a large obligation to utilize biofuels in North American gasoline and diesel fuel markets. ConocoPhillips established an eight-year, $22.5 million research program at Iowa State University dedicated to developing technologies that produce biorenewable fuels and is collaborating with Archer Daniels Midland Company on the development of renewable transportation fuels from biomass. ConocoPhillips also developed a strategic alliance with Tyson Foods to produce and market the next generation of renewable diesel fuel from animal fats.

Accepting the award on behalf of ConocoPhillips, will be Lawrence M. Ziemba, President, U.S. Refining.

This is the 21st consecutive year that HART Energy Publishing has recognized Excellence in Global Energy and Refining Operations. Previous winners include:

    2007 Chevron Corporation /                  1996 Valero Refining
    Marathon Petroleum Co.
                                                1995 ARCO Corporation /
    2006 Petrobras / Suncor                     General Motors Corp.

    2005 Reliance Industries (India) /          1994 Texaco, Inc.
    Premcor (Now Valero)
                                                1993 Ashland Oil, Inc.
    2004 Petrobras / Sun / Irving Oil
                                                1992 CDTECH
    2003 Royal Dutch/Shell / ConocoPhillips
                                                1991 General Motors Corp.
    2002 HOVENSA / Valero
                                                1990 ARCO Products Co.
    2001 TotalFinaElf
                                                1989 Sun Oil Co.
    2000 Frontier Oil Corp.
                                                1988 ARCO Chemical Co.
    1999 BP
                                                1987 Amoco Oil Co
    1998 Tosco Corp.

    1997 DiamondShamrock

For more information on the conference and a full agenda, visit http://www.hartenergyconferences.com

HART Energy Consulting is a division of HART Energy Publishing, LLP, one of the world's largest energy industry publishers, with a diverse array of informational products for the worldwide energy industry. Multi-client consulting services include the International Fuel Quality Center, the Global Biofuels Center and an annual Crude, Refining & Clean Transportation Fuel Outlook to 2025. Headquartered in Houston, with offices in New York, London, Washington, Brussels, Bahrain, Singapore, Mexico City and Moscow, HART Energy Publishing's market-leading publications include Oil and Gas Investor, E&P, FUEL and PipeLine & Gas Technology. HART also produces newsletters, custom publishing products, conferences, and unique multi- and single-client consulting services.

For more information on Shell, contact Jill Davis, Shell Oil Company, 713.241.4733

For more information on ConocoPhillips, contact Bill Graham, ConocoPhillips, 281-293-1978

     Press Contact: Florence Kosmala
     Director of Marketing
     HART Energy Consulting
     (1) 713.260.6461
     fkosmala@hartenergy.com