By Emily Pickrell, HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Published Thursday, January 12, 2012
Shell Oil Co. expects to clear remaining regulatory hurdles and begin drilling later this year in the Chukchi Sea near Alaska, company President Marvin Odum said at a scientific conference on Thursday.
Shell received conditional federal approval last month to drill six exploratory wells in the Arctic offshore region but still must secure permits for individual wells.
Among the requirements for Shell to obtain those permits will be selling regulators on its plan for responding to spills or other accidents at the sites.