January 10, 2012 at 11:30 am by Puneet Kollipara
A top federal official said today the Interior Department is committed to giving Shell Oil Co. a firm, timely answer on its applications to drill off the Alaska coast starting next summer.
Deputy Interior Secretary David Hayes said his department is well along in its consideration of several components of Shells applications for drilling exploratory wells in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas starting next summer.
We are committed to giving them a timely up or down, Hayes told reporters at an event hosted by Platts Energy Podium. Although he didnt specify an exact date to expect a final decision, he said the department has a general sense that Shell needs input early this year.