By Alexis Flynn
LONDON–Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSB) expects to drill eight wells in the second half of its two-year Arctic exploration program, three more than it had originally planned, as stubborn ice sheets and permit delays have reduced the amount of time available to complete the first five wells this year.
Shell, which still plans to drill ten wells in two years, is busy working with the U.S. coastguard to complete a special oil spill containment vessel that is being retrofitted to operate in more challenging conditions, a company spokesman said Wednesday.
The delays mean Shell, which counted on drilling up to five wells according to a plan approved by U.S. regulators, now expects to complete two exploration wells during Alaska’s short summer-drilling season. It also plans to partially drill some wells that would be completed next year.
The Shell spokesman said ice in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas is thicker than it has it has been in more than a decade. The company has previously indicated that it expects to begin drilling sometime in early August.
Write to Alexis Flynn at [email protected]
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires
(END)
Dow Jones Newswires 08-01-121002ET Copyright (c) 2012 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
*This website and sisters royaldutchshellgroup.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, shellnews.net, and shellwikipedia.com, are owned by John Donovan - more information here. There is also a Wikipedia segment, the Shell DPA Files, "Shell and the Spies", the Shell Leaks files, as well as books written and published by John Donovan - Kindle eBooks. Timeline of the Donovan Shell Feud. Toxic History of Royal Dutch Shell Group. Shell and the Donovans: The Full Media Record — 550+ Articles, 110 Books, 40 Years. *All created and supported by internet wizz, Nick Gill.
