Two drilling vessels, under contract to Shell, have departed Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands for the Chukchi Sea, Shell spokeswoman Megan Baldino has told Petroleum News. 
"The Noble Discoverer left last night around 6:30 and the Transocean Polar Pioneer followed at approximately 1:00 p.m. this afternoon," Baldino said in an email sent this afternoon.
The two vessels, with assistance from support vessels, will connect to anchors that Shell has recently placed over the drilling prospect in the Chukchi Sea, Baldino said. Shell is planning to drill for oil in the Burger prospect, about 70 miles northwest of the Chukchi coastal village of Wainwright.
- ALAN BAILEY

See story in July 26 issue, available online Friday, July 24 at www.PetroleumNews.com