ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Shell Oil says it has begun exploratory drilling in
the Beaufort Sea off Alaska's north coast as it continues to drill in the
neighboring Chukchi Sea.

Shell Alaska spokesman Curtis Smith says Beaufort drilling started
Wednesday after the end of an Alaska Native whale hunt.

Smith says the company hopes to drill until the seasonal Oct. 31
deadline.

Shell announced last month it would limit drilling this year to
non-petroleum zones.

The company can't drill into those zones until its spill response barge
is in place, and Smith says that won't happen this year.

A containment dome on the barge was damaged in tests last month.

Royal Dutch Shell PLC has spent $4.5 billion on Arctic offshore drilling,
moving ahead in spurts to overcome court challenges and scrutiny. 

Read more: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner - Shell starts exploratory drilling
in Beaufort Sea 

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