Shell rig sets sail for Beaufort Sea

Setting sail: Drillship Kullk heads to Beaufort Sea

Shell

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Luke Johnson

 21 August 2012 22:02 GMT

The rig tapped to embark on Shell's Arctic drilling programme set sail for the Beaufort Sea this week, as the Anglo-Dutch supermajor moved a step closer to launching its exploration plan off Alaska.

The Conical Drilling Unit Kulluk departed on its two-week journey from Dutch Harbour on Monday, but delays related to lingering sea ice and permitting issues have already forced Shell to scale back its plans for the year in the Arctic.

"Given the short windows in which we have to work this year, it’s now clear we will not complete five wells to total depth in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas," Shell said in a statement. 

"We are still working to deliver a total depth well at our Burger prospect in the Chukchi…

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