Share

Shell files new plan to drill in Arctic

New York - Royal Dutch Shell has submitted a new plan for drilling in the Arctic offshore Alaska, more than one year after halting its programme following several embarrassing mishaps.

The plan to drill two new wells in the potentially oil-rich but environmentally sensitive region in the summer of 2015 is not a final decision, the company stressed.

"If we drill in 2015, the program will consist of two drilling rigs working simultaneously at Shell's Burger prospect in the Chukchi Sea," spokesperson Curtis Smith told AFP.

The filing, made to preserve the oil giant's options on its leased prospects off the northern coast of Alaska, was submitted Thursday to the Interior Department's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.

Shell completed top-hole drilling for two wells in the Arctic in 2012, the first drilling in the region in more than a decade

But it halted the exploration program in early 2013 following multiple embarrassing problems with its two drilling rigs, which fuelled objections from environmentalists worried over the impact of possible oil spills in the frigid Chukchi Sea.

One rig washed ashore after breaking loose from towing vessels, and another was cited by the US Coast Guard for numerous safety and operational deficiencies.

Shell's plans to resume exploration drilling include using one of those rigs, the Noble Discoverer, and another not used in the 2012 operations, the Polar Pioneer.

"In addition to a new rig, we have fortified our fleet with more anchor handlers, new tugs and additional offshore supply vessels," said Smith.

Greenpeace USA, one of the groups that have fought against oil drilling in the Arctic, raised its objections to the new proposal.

"Shell is not Arctic-ready, but more important the Arctic will never be Shell-ready," Greenpeace said in a tweet.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Do you think corruption-accused National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will survive a motion of no confidence against her?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
No, her days are numbered
42% - 394 votes
Yes, the ANC caucus will protect her
58% - 545 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
18.94
-0.2%
Rand - Pound
23.91
-0.1%
Rand - Euro
20.43
+0.2%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.34
+0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.2%
Platinum
910.50
+1.5%
Palladium
1,011.50
+1.0%
Gold
2,221.35
+1.2%
Silver
24.87
+0.9%
Brent-ruolie
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
68,346
+1.0%
All Share
74,536
+0.8%
Resource 10
57,251
+2.8%
Industrial 25
103,936
+0.6%
Financial 15
16,502
-0.1%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE