The leading gas and oil company Shell has secured the last permit required for it to be able to start drilling operations under the sea at the Arctic, in search of oil.
Work actually began at this location during July, but prior to the awarding of this permit, Shell was only able to start drilling the top parts of the two wells, which are situated off the Alaskan coast.
Shell’s plans have been met with opposition from environmental groups, as they believe that the area could be damaged. However, the U.S. government has stated that the process will be monitored continuously to guarantee its safety.
Furthermore, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement’s director, Brian Salerno, added that Shell’s drilling operations would have to meet the highest standards of environmental protection and safety.
A spokesperson for the oil giant confirmed that it took these responsibilities seriously, saying:
“We remain committed to operating in a safe, environmentally responsible manner and look forward to evaluating what could potentially become a national energy resource base.”
Under the terms of the new permit, the company that manufactures top quality lubricants like Shell Tonna S3 M 68 and Shell Tellus S2 M 32 will be able to carry out its first undersea drilling in Alaska for over 20 years.
Shell is convinced that it can safely extract oil in this way, with experts having stated that over 20% of all undiscovered gas and oil in the world is located at the Arctic. It has already invested approximately £4.5bn into this project.