Royal Dutch Shell said on Thursday it would launch a long-anticipated $25 billion share buyback program after profits soared and debt pile eased in the second quarter. Shell's net income attributable to shareholders in the quarter, based on a current cost of supplies (CCS) and excluding identified items rose 30 percent to $4.691 billion from a year ago. The profit nevertheless fell short of a company-provided analysts' consensus of $5.967 billion.

Oil and gas production in the quarter declined to 3.442 million barrels of oil equivalent from 3.839 million boed in the first quarter of 2018.

(Reporting by Ron Bousso)