Off-Shore Drilling on Hold Thanks to Environmentalists
By SHAWN BELL, SRJ Reporter 12.MAY.09
A major oil company will not drill in the Beaufort Sea due to environmentalists’ concerns.
Shell withdrew its plan for exploration in Alaska’s Beaufort Sea on May 6. The plan spanned 2007 to 2009, but was too large-scale for environmentalists. They voiced concerns about impacts drilling would have on marine wildlife. Shell told the United States’ Minerals Management Services it will file a new exploration plan for 2010.
“Over the last three years, Shell’s Beaufort Sea drilling objectives have become more focused with the acquisition and analysis of additional seismic data,” Pete Slaiby, Shell Alaska’s general manager, said in a statement. “As a result, the 2007-2009 plan no longer represents Shell’s current drilling approach.”
Shell had to formally cancel its 2007-2009 plan after a court ruling in November found federal officials did not look at the environmental impacts drilling would have when they granted Shell an exploration permit.
Shell could have waited for courts to reverse the finding but decided to create a smaller exploration plan.
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