Royal Dutch Shell became the latest oil company to report massive profits after huge oil prices last year.
While also downgrading their oil reserves by 1.4 billion, Shell filed a profit ofr 2004 of $17.5bn (£9.3bn) - the highest ever for a UK listed company.
It had been a mixed year for Shell, with previous scandals of exaggerated reserves ;eading to the resignation of chairman Sir Philip Watts.