The oil giant suspended its Alaskan drilling programme in 2014 after an unsuccessful start in 2012 in which two rigs ran into difficulty including the Kulluk which ran aground in poor weather.
Shell decided to halt the exploration drive last year amid cost-cutting, fierce environmental opposition and legal challenges.
Van Beurden said that operational assurance, permitting and legal challenges were all outstanding before Alaskan exploration could resume but the company is looking at drilling this summer.
Speaking
