Royal Dutch Shell can resume offshore drilling in waters off Nova Scotia after that Canadian province’s industry regulator gave the green light, according to Toronto’s Globe and Mail.
The oil giant’s drilling at its Cheshire L-97 exploration well had been suspended after an accident in March when two kilometres of pipe broke off a wellhead and sank to the ocean floor.
The Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) came to its conclusion after three months of what it called “rigorous and exhaustive” investigation.
As a precaution in future, however, Shell will be required to disconnect the drillship from the well head when waves reach 5 metres high. The previous requirement was 8-metre waves.
