The sea ice situation alone has already forced the operator to miss its initial 15 July spud date.
The company currently envisages an early August spud on what would be the first well in the offshore US Arctic in decades.
Shell has been working with Coast Guard officials to gain approval for use of the pioneering barge containment system, but the regulator is looking to have some changes to the unit implemented, including to its fire containment system, before it will certify the vessel for use.
“We
