Shell gets conditional BOEMRE approval to drill in Beaufort Sea

Offshore staff

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Shell Offshore Inc. has received conditional approval of its revised Exploration Plan for the Beaufort Sea from The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE).

BOEMRE issued a Finding of No Significant Impact after review of the revised plan.

The conditions of approval include the requirement for Shell to acquire permits from other agencies such as EPA, US Fish & Wildlife Service, and the National Marine Fisheries Service.

The areas covered in the application are three lease tracts on the OCS near Camden Bay, Beaufort Sea. According to the filing, Shell proposed to drill four exploration wells during July-October open water drilling seasons starting in 2012 and continuing until complete. Two wells would go into each of the Sivulliq and Torpedo prospects using the Kulluk drilling vessel.

08/05/2011