Shell Offshore Files Plans to Return to Alaska’s North Slope

Published at: Sep 17 2020 - 13:24 / Updated at: Sep 17 2020 - 13:24

Shell Offshore Inc. has applied to form the West Harrison Bay Unit in state waters just offshore from the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, according to ADN. The company has plans to drill the area in search of oil in the coming years, according to documents submitted to the state Division of Oil and Gas.

If the Dutch oil industry giant can secure a partner to share in the costs and risks of remote offshore North Slope exploration, it expects to drill exploration wells in the West Harrison Bay Unit with at least one sidetrack each in 2023 and 2024, Shell’s initial unit plan of exploration states.

Shell holds a 100 percent working interest in 18 leases covering more than 78,000 acres in the proposed unit.