Shell starts drilling in Beaufort, Chukchi seas offshore Alaska
Oct. 4, 2012
Shell reportedly has started drilling offshore Alaska in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas.
Offshore staff
ANCHORAGE, Alaska –Shell reportedly has started drilling offshore Alaska in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas. The Anchorage Daily News says the conclusion of the Eskimo whaling season and the passing of the sea ice danger have combined to let Shell start work.
One well is at the Sivulliq prospect 20 mi offshore in the Beaufort Sea and the other is the Berger prospect in the Chukchi Sea 70 mi offshore.
In the time remaining in the drilling season, around Oct. 31, Shell hopes todrill top holes that can be re-entered next year to complete the wells.
Also by that time, repairs to thedamaged containment system are expected to be complete and the capping stack should be available as required by the Department of Interior, and Shell expects to be permitted to drill into the target hydrocarbon zones.
