Petrol giant to ignore environmental protests and press on with $1bn project if it wins permits and overcomes legal objections
Shell is determined to drill for oil in the Arctic this summer if it can win the permits and overcome legal objections, although the energy company accepts it will never win a battle with environmentalists over its reputation.
The oil group said the project would cost $1bn (£660m) whether it proceeded with drilling or not, given the fleet of vessels and other logistics that needed to be kept on standby.
Related: Shell slashes spending and calls for North Sea tax cuts