NEW YORK — Royal Dutch Shell Plc plans to drill more than 40 high-potential wells and test 10 key resource plays for tight gas and liquid-rich shales in 2013, a "step up" from its drilling activity in 2012, the company said in an outlook accompanying its fourth-quarter earnings results.

The company couldn’t be reached for comment on its level of drilling activity last year or where it is planning to drill this year.

The Hague, Netherlands-based Shell is still aiming for capital expenditures of $120 billion to $130 billion between 2012 and 2015, assuming an "improved U.S. gas and downstream environment from 2012," it said.

The company plans to spend $33 billion in 2013, with some $18 billion going to "growth priorities" in gas, deepwater and resources plays.

Shell plans to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States, it said recently (amm.com, Jan. 28).