Shell Oil Begins Exploratory Drilling in Beaufort Sea

ANCHORAGE, Alaska—

Shell Oil began exploratory drilling Wednesday afternoon in the Beaufort Sea and now has two rigs simultaneously offshore Alaska.

The oil company had to wait for the Alaska Native whale hunt season to end in Kaktovik.

The rig “Kulluck” began drilling at Shell’s Sivulliq prospect around 2:45 p.m. Wednesday.

The “Noble Discoverer” has been drilling on and off since Sep. 8 in the Chukchi Sea.

Shell Spokesperson Curtis Smith said in a news release that “the occasion is historic in that it’s the first time two rigs have been drilling simultaneously offshore Alaska in over two decades.”

The Associated Press reports that Smith said the company hopes to drill until the seasonal Oct. 31 deadline.

Shell announced last month it would limit drilling this year to non-petroleum zones.

The company can't drill into those zones until its spill response barge is in place, and Smith says that won't happen this year.

A containment dome on the barge was damaged in tests last month.

Royal Dutch Shell PLC has spent $4.5 billion on Arctic offshore drilling, moving ahead in spurts to overcome court challenges and scrutiny.