The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement’s (BSEE) Director Brian Salerno has announced that Shell has received approval of one Application for Permit to Modify (APM) to conduct exploratory drilling activities into potential oil-bearing zones offshore Alaska at one of the wells at the Burger prospect, Burger J. The company remains limited to the top section of the Burger V well. Offshore drilling activities often involve the use of many different kinds of valves.
Shell submitted an APM on August 6 to modify the Burger J Application for Permit to Drill (APD), which previously restricted Shell from drilling into oil-bearing zones since a capping stack was not on hand and deployable within 24 hour, as required by BSEE. The capping stack, staged on the vessel M/V Fennica, is now in the region and capable of being deployed within 24 hr.
Shell is still prohibited from simultaneous drilling at Burger J and V, in accordance with the approved APDs, which define limitations related to marine mammal protection consistent with requirements established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).