Yet these billions are a disappointment compared with the bonanza of previous years (Shell, for example, raked in $31.4 billion in 2008 alone) when soaring oil prices pulled profits ever higher.

然而，几十亿的营业额与前一大运年相比，仍显失望（例如：壳牌2008年单年的营业额就在314亿美元）。 前年（2008年），油价疯长将利润也拉升到前所未有的高度。

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The industry organisation insists that the country's big oil companies - BP, Caltex, Mobil and Shell - "do not profit from high crude oil prices", but are in fact "cushioning the Australian motorists from the full effects of rising crude oil prices".

BBC: Holiday fuel rise fury

If the reserves problem at Shell does not grow into an industry-wide scandal, one reason may be today's high oil prices.

ECONOMIST: Oil companies

Royal Dutch Shell has reported a 13% drop in second quarter profits, hit by weaker oil and North American gas prices.

BBC: Royal Dutch Shell profits hit by oil price volatility