Hold-up danger to Shell's ambitious drilling plans

Snags: thick ice and a Coast Guard inspection threaten to put back Shell’s plans to drill in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas

REUTERS

By Blake Wright Houston

 12 July 2012 22:59 GMT

Unseasonably thick sea ice coupled with the US Coast Guard inspection process on Shell’s oil spill containment barge Arctic Challenger could force the supermajor’s ambitious US Arctic drilling programme into further ­delays.

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 have yet to ­request certification on behalf…

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