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                                                               EXHIBIT (a)(1)(w)

                  SHELL MAINTAINS $60 PER SHARE OFFER PRICE FOR
                                BARRETT RESOURCES


HOUSTON (MAY 2, 2001) - Shell Oil Company (Shell) announced today that it would
maintain its offer price of $60 per share in cash for the purchase of all
outstanding common shares of Barrett Resources Corporation (NYSE: BRR). In
reasserting its current offer price, Shell indicated in a letter to Barrett's
Board of Directors that it was prepared to negotiate all terms of its proposal,
including price.

Shell is submitting a merger agreement to Barrett Resources' financial advisors
consistent with the above offer. In addition, Shell has opted not to include a
breakup fee provision in its proposed merger agreement with Barrett Resources to
allow for a fair and shareholder-friendly auction process.

Shell also reaffirmed that its tender offer for Barrett Resources will remain
open until midnight EDT, on May 9, 2001, unless otherwise extended.

Shell Oil Company is a wholly-owned member of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group
(NYSE: RD, SC).

                                 ***************

         SHELL OIL COMPANY HAS FILED A PRELIMINARY CONSENT STATEMENT AND OTHER
SOLICITATION MATERIALS WITH THE SEC RELATING TO SHELL OIL COMPANY'S SOLICITATION
OF WRITTEN CONSENTS FROM THE SHAREHOLDERS OF BARRETT RESOURCES CORPORATION.
INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE
CONSENT STATEMENT, WHEN AVAILABLE, BECAUSE IT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT
INFORMATION. THE DEFINITIVE CONSENT STATEMENT WILL BE FILED BY SHELL OIL COMPANY
WITH THE SEC. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS CAN OBTAIN A FREE COPY OF THE
CONSENT STATEMENT (WHEN AVAILABLE) AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS ON THE SEC'S WEB
SITE.

         IN ADDITION, THE IDENTITY OF PEOPLE WHO, UNDER SEC RULES, MAY BE
CONSIDERED "PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION" OF BARRETT SHAREHOLDERS AND THEIR
HOLDINGS OF BARRETT COMMON STOCK ARE CONTAINED IN SHELL OIL COMPANY'S
PRELIMINARY CONSENT STATEMENT FILED WITH THE SEC UNDER REGULATION 14A.

         THIS PRESS RELEASE CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT ARE BASED
ON SHELL OIL COMPANY'S CURRENT EXPECTATIONS, ESTIMATES AND PROJECTIONS. WORDS
SUCH AS "EXPECTS," "ANTICIPATES," "FORECASTS," "INTENDS," "PLANS," "BELIEVES,"
"PROJECTS," AND "ESTIMATES," AND VARIATIONS OF SUCH WORDS AND SIMILAR
EXPRESSIONS ARE INTENDED TO IDENTIFY SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.

         THESE STATEMENTS ARE NOT GUARANTEES OF FUTURE PERFORMANCE AND INVOLVE
RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES AND ARE BASED ON A NUMBER OF ASSUMPTIONS THAT COULD
ULTIMATELY PROVE INACCURATE AND, THEREFORE, THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT THEY
WILL PROVE TO BE ACCURATE.

         ACTUAL RESULTS AND OUTCOMES MAY VARY MATERIALLY FROM WHAT IS EXPRESSED
OR FORECAST IN SUCH STATEMENTS. AMONG THE FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL
RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY ARE CHANGES IN NATURAL GAS PRICES, CHANGES IN
COMPETITIVE OR ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AFFECTING SUPPLY AND DEMAND FOR GAS, PENDING
OR FUTURE LITIGATION, CHANGES IN CURRENT LAWS AND REGULATIONS, AND GENERAL
DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS. SHELL OIL COMPANY
UNDERTAKES NO OBLIGATION TO UPDATE PUBLICLY ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS,
WHETHER AS A RESULT OF NEW INFORMATION, FUTURE EVENTS OR OTHERWISE.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Kitty Borah/Stacy Hutchinson      Shell Oil Media Relations       (713) 241-4544

INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT:
David Sexton                      Shell Oil Investor Relations    (212) 218-3112

WEB SITE INFORMATION              www.shell-barrett.com