"ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Royal Dutch Shell will cease exploration in Arctic waters off Alaska's coast following disappointing results from an exploratory well backed by billions in investment and years of work.

The announcement was a huge blow to Shell, which was counting on offshore drilling in Alaska to help it drive future revenue. Environmentalists, however, had tried repeatedly to block the project and welcomed the news.

Shell has spent upward of $7 billion on Arctic offshore exploration, including $2.1 billion in 2008 for leases in the Chukchi Sea off Alaska's northwest coast, where an exploratory well about 80 miles off shore drilled to 6,800 feet but yielded disappointing results. Backed by a 28-vessel flotilla, drillers found indications of oil and gas but not in sufficient quantities to warrant more exploration at the site."

Dan Joling reports for the Associated Press September 28, 2015. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Shell Stops Arctic Activity After 'Disappointing' Tests" (BBC News) [3]

"Royal Dutch Shell Abandons Disappointing Offshore Alaskan Well" (New York Times) [4]

"Shell Pulls the Plug on Arctic Exploration" (Reuters) [5]