oil drilling

Today, we’re in for a treat – another glimpse into the fantastical world of the Arctic oil spill response plan writer. 

Shell and Cairn Energy – who have both tried to use brute legal force to obstruct public scrutiny of their Arctic drilling plans and to silence Greenpeace and our supporters (more on that below) – are going to be subjected to a bit of parliamentary scrutiny. This afternoon, both companies will be giving evidence to a UK parliamentary inquiry on protecting the Arctic.

It was the biggest oil exploration campaign ever in the Arctic. It cost over a billion dollars. And Cairn has absolutely nothing to show for it.

Earlier this month, after more than 100,000 of you asked Cairn Energy to open up its Arctic oil spill response plan to public scrutiny, the government of Greenland stepped in and published it.

The verdict is now in. Veteran marine biologist and international oil spill expert Professor Richard Steiner has completed a review of the plan and, well, it's no wonder Cairn didn't want you to see it.

This morning, Cairn Energy published its half-yearly results. There isn't much for the company to shout about in there; halfway through their 2011 drilling season, they have yet to find any oil in the Arctic.