The oil price fell so far, which oil company most eye-catching? The answer is Shell , its acquisition of the British Natural Gas Group (BG) nearly dusty, once again held high the flag of the Arctic development, the US government also issued a key permit to it, Although there are additional conditions, it is enough to satisfy the long-standing Shell of the Arctic.
However, in view of the fact that the resource-rich Arctic has always been concerned by environmentalists, Shell’s “Arctic Dream†is still far away.
One step closer to the development of the Arctic
Shell's Arctic oil and gas exploration has made substantial progress. "Financial Times" said that the US Marine Energy Authority (BOEM) "conditionally" approved Shell Alaska Arctic water drilling program, which means that it will begin the dream of the Arctic development activities this summer.
The Wall Street Journal pointed out that so far no company has conducted drilling activities in the Arctic waters of the United States, including the Chukchi Sea and the Beaufort Sea. The approved Shell is the first of its kind. In contrast, the Norwegian national oil company and Chevron, under the pressure of low oil prices, postponed the Arctic exploration plan to reduce expenditures and save money.
According to 2011 data from the US Department of the Interior, the above two sea areas have 22 billion barrels of technically recoverable crude oil and 93 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves. Analysts pointed out that any new oil and gas discovery is not suitable for production before 2020, because there is a high possibility that the price of oil will be low before this time, and the Arctic development plan with risks and challenges is not economical.
In the statement, the Ocean Energy Administration stated that it accepts Shell's plan to drill six wells in the Chukoe Sea prospect of Northwestern Alaska. According to the survey, the project will not affect the environment. However, Shell is also required to ensure that other audits are approved and that the two wells to be started will also receive a wastewater discharge permit.
Reuters said that as part of the "conditional" approval, Shell must obtain permission from the federal government and Alaska to begin drilling this summer. In addition, even if Shell obtains all the licenses, it still faces other resistance.
Although the conditions proposed by the Ministry of the Interior to Shell are almost harsh, this is still a key permit issued under the name of the U.S. government. Shell is very optimistic about this. Spokesman Curtis Smith said that this is an important milestone in the development of Shell’s Arctic, which signals that regulators are increasing their confidence.
According to the plan, Shell will first drill two wells in the prospect of Burger. The drilling activity will begin on July 15, 2015. When waiting for the remaining permit, it will continue research work and prepare emergency plans.
Shell chased the “Arctic Dream†with an almost fanatical mentality and burned money faster than expected. So far it has spent nearly US$7 billion to explore the Arctic, but it has not drilled a well.
In 2012, Shell drilled two boreholes 1,500 feet below the Chukchi Sea, one of which was located in the Burger Prospect, but ended up without any approval. Compared to 2012, the current sea ice in the region is not so deep, which means that the company's previously determined drilling position is not suitable.
Shell said that in view of the research base of the Chukchi Sea from 1989 to 1991, it believed that there were considerable crude oil reserves in the Burger Prospect. Since the acquisition of the Exploration and Rental Zone in Alaska's Arctic Ocean in 2005, Shell has become the target of environmental protection organizations' reclamation. The 10-year condemnation has not yet reduced the company's development enthusiasm.
Gulf Coast nightmare repeats worries
The decision of the United States to open a green light for the Shell Arctic Development Project almost ignited the ire of all environmental groups.
Obama’s environmental policy has been one of the most powerful among successive US presidents, but he is also seeking to open up yet undeveloped federal waters and launch new oil and gas development projects to balance these moves.
The environmental group Earth Justice issued a statement saying that this decision placed the huge oil business on top of mankind and endangered the Arctic's animal and plant world and the health of the earth.
Friends of the Earth’s climate activist Marisa sarcastically claims that Shell’s Arctic development program is “the largest, highest profile, and dirtiest exploration program everâ€.
Susan Murray, chief vice president of the World Marine Protection Organization, strongly condemned the U.S. government. He stated that “approving the development of the Arctic, the most remote and important area of ​​the earth’s oil and gas exploration activities, is a hasty and unwise decision. Activities will only increase the Arctic ecological environment risk."
Some media pointed out that environmentalists fear that the situation in the Arctic waters is complex. Once a mining accident occurs, it will cause more serious consequences than the oil spill accident in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.
In fact, the Chukchi Sea is one of the world's most dangerous areas for mining. The waters are very remote. There are no roads connected to big cities or deep-water ports within hundreds of miles. Once an accident occurs, the clean-up work is difficult to carry out.
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