Shell rig grounding 'could delay Arctic drilling programme' The grounding of the drilling rig, the cost of which Shell has yet to quantify, was "unlikely to hurt [Shell's] bottom line directly" but constituted a "very unfortunate reputational hit," he said in a research note. The costs to Shell of a salvage operation and any needed repairs are unlikely to be great. But negative headlines are not helpful . The Arctic is seen as one of the world's most promising untapped oil and gas regions, with as much as 15bn barrels of oil thought to lie beneath the Chukchi Sea and 8bn barrels under the Beaufort. Shell first planned to drill there in 2007 but faced legal and regulatory delays. It hoped to finally get the programme under way in 2012 but a series of setbacks limited it to drilling shallow "top-holes." Even if the Kulluk can be repaired in time for this summer's programme, Shell must still secure a series of regulatory approvals before it can drill into potentially oil-bearing rocks. A "containment dome," a key piece of equipment used to cap any spill, needs further work after being "crushed like a beer can" during tests, according to official emails. The Noble Discoverer is also being repaired after the Coast Guard flagged problems. Shell may also need fresh approval from the US authorities for its 2013 drilling plans, permits for specific wells, and for the project's impact on marine mammals. "Shell got a green light to harass polar bears, but just for 2012; they will have go back and explain how many they intend to disrupt were they to go back in 2013," said Ben Ayliffe, head of Greenpeace's Arctic campaign. Hanging over the entire operation is the threat that Shell's 10-year exploration licences, which were granted between 2005 and 2008, may expire before Shell can prove there are commercially viable oil discoveries. It has begun talks to try to secure extensions, arguing officials should recognise that their drilling work was delayed in part by factors beyond their control. But those licences are likely to come under even closer scrutiny after the Kulluk accident. "We will try to put pressure on the US administration to suspend future drilling permits for Shell and the rest of the oil industry," Mr Ayliffe said. Malcolm Graham-Wood, oil analyst at VSA Capital, said if Shell's plans were delayed "it might cause them to rethink the Arctic in the longer term." He felt Shell would press ahead for now as "the cost-reward equation is still in their favour." But if the reputational risk of continuing proved worse than that of pulling out, they might reconsider. "Reputational risk is much more important to people like Shell than $5bn that they can earn in one quarter," he said. Writing off such a high-profile investment would leave Shell facing awkward questions from investors. One leading shareholder told The Sunday Telegraph he felt the market was "fed up" with Shell generally. He questioned its ability to translate high capital expenditure across its portfolio into increased production, adding: "They are trying to advance too many fronts, not particularly well." Investors did not oppose Shell exploring the Arctic but were "nervous," he said. If they spill anything it will be hell to pay.