Oil giant Shell is said to be pushing ahead with plans to explore for oil in the Arctic Ocean near Alaska despite strong opposition from environmental groups.
The company is said to be preparing vessels to begin a two-year programme to explore two to three wells in the Chukchi Sea off the coast of Alaska.
Shell’s chief financial officer Simon Henry said work was “currently on track”.
Shell has submitted plans to explore the Arctic to the US Interior Department after the Obama administration upheld a 2008 Arctic sale last month.
The Interior Department will now consider the company’s drilling plan, which could take 30 days.
Earlier this month, six climbers who boarded an oil rig in the Pacific left after worsening weather conditions caused them to halt their activities.
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