Shell seeing profit shift from oil to natural gas

The energy giant's oil division is expected to post a third-quarter loss due to production problems in several locations.

Royal Dutch Shell will post “significantly higher” earnings from its natural gas trading division despite supply disruptions to its sprawling portfolio, but its oil unit fared worse.

Shell has a huge portfolio of gas supplied by pipeline or carried in its liquefied form by ocean-going vessels. However, its earnings from the fuel fell short in the third quarter due to production problems in several locations.