Anchorage—Shell was able to complete “top hole” work on one exploration well in the Chukchi Sea off Alaska’s northwest coast and one well in the eastern Alaskan Beaufort Sea, in the few weeks it was able to operate in 2012. The company’s drill fleet is now demobilizing in the region, spokesman Curtis Smith said. Drilling in the Beaufort Sea ended at midnight October 31, as required by federal permits, while drilling in the Chukchi Sea ended two days ago, Smith said. “We feel very good about what we have accomplished. We drilled in 2012. Despite problems with ice, we proved to our stakeholders that we can operate safely and responsibly in the Arctic,” he said.
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