Shell reported a profit of nearly $9.5 billion between July and September, more than double the amount earned in the same period a year earlier.

The oil company continued to benefit from a surge in energy prices, but it fell short of its record $11.5 billion profit from April through June because of weaker refining and gas trading.

Despite this, the company's third-quarter profit beat analysts' forecasts of $9 billion.

Huge oil company profits have sparked calls for higher taxes on the sector and are likely to lead to new demands from political parties, including Labor, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens, as well as environmentalists, on Britain's new government led by Rishi Sunak.

Shell and other major oil and gas companies have enjoyed soaring profits and booming trade since the start of the war in Ukraine, which has driven up oil and gas prices. This is in stark contrast to households and businesses struggling with rising energy bills.

Soaring profits have been a source of cash flow for oil producers and their shareholders. Shell said it would pay its investors an interim dividend of $0.25 per share and announced its intention to increase it by 15% in the last three months of the year.