Sea Ice Still Keeps Shell from Drilling at Burger Well, Offshore Alaska

Shell’s drilling operations at Burger prospect in Chukchi Sea, Alaska, which have been halted due to potentially „encroaching“ sea ice, could resume in several days, AP has reported, citing Shell’s spokesman.

Shell on Sunday started drilling at the prospect, marking the first time a drill bit has touched the sea floor in the U.S. Chukchi Sea in more than two decades. However, only a day after, the company was forced to move the Noble Discoverer drillship off the well, ahead of an incoming ice pack.

According to Anchorage Daily news, the ice pack measures about 30 miles by 12 miles.

It could be several days, depending on how quick the ice drifts away, before the drillship is back to drilling at the prospect located 70 miles off the northwest coast of Alaska.

[mappress]
Offshore Energy Today Staff, September 12, 2012