Not sure why the downvotes. You are making a valid point. If shell is making such big, complicated investment it means that all the low hanging fruits are gone.

Not sure why the downvotes. You are making a valid point. If shell is making such big, complicated investment it means that all the low hanging fruits are gone. They need to do it because there is no easy gas left to tap (for them). A lot of the good and easy stuff is under government control. So it is a gamble. If they fail - it could drag down the whole corporation. If they succeed they will get quite rich.