Shell Breaks Oil Containment Dome, 1,900 Miles Away From Arctic Drilling Site - Oceana

Shell Breaks Oil Containment Dome, 1,900 Miles Away From Arctic Drilling Site

Press Release Date: September 17, 2012

Location: Juneau, AK

Contact:

Anna Baxter | email: abaxter@oceana.org
Anna Baxter

In response to Shell’s latest change of plans to cancel efforts to drill into oil bearing zones in 2012 and instead drill “top holes” in preparation for next year, Oceana, issued the following statement about the request and Shell’s aggressive push drill for oil in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas:

“Today Shell announced yet another last minute change of plans for this summer’s drilling season due to new problems with its oil spill containment equipment.  Oceana is just glad this didn’t happen during a real oil spill.  This series of blunders inspires anything but confidence in the oil industry’s ability to safely drill in the Arctic.  Shell’s repeated backtracking,  last minute requests for permit and plan changes, and their inability to successfully complete preparations has resulted in mishaps that  brings to mind the keystone cops rather than a company that is prepared and ready to work safely.  Shell, and only Shell, is responsible for the situation in which the company now finds itself.  

“There is no price tag on the Arctic.  No matter how much money the company spends Shell should not be allowed put the Arctic Ocean at risk. Companies like Shell must be held to the highest standards.  If Shell has proved one thing this summer it is that the oil industry is not ready to drill in the Arctic. It is time to put the thought of Arctic drilling back on the shelf and forget about it.   
 
“Americans need affordable energy and healthy oceans.  Drilling in the Arctic will not help us meet either goal.”

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Oceana is the largest international advocacy group working solely to protect the world’s oceans. Oceana wins policy victories for the oceans using science-based campaigns. Since 2001, we have protected over 1.2 million square miles of ocean and innumerable sea turtles, sharks, dolphins and other sea creatures. More than 550,000 supporters have already joined Oceana. Global in scope, Oceana has offices in North, South and Central America and Europe. To learn more, please visit www.oceana.org.