Shell looks to strike deal in Black Sea Alaska deals

Shell is assessing oil exploration and production opportunities in the Black Sea with the Turkish state-owned oil firm TPAO, Shell's chief executive Peter Voser said yesterday.

Last year TPAO signed an accord with Shell for exploration and production in the Mediterranean and south-eastern Turkey. That agreement included plans for shale gas exploration near the south-eastern city of Diyarbakir, which Shell started last week.

Mr Voser also said Shell is to start exploring for oil in Alaska after receiving the green light there.

The US Environmental Protection Agency said last week Shell, which has spent about $4.5bn (£2.8bn) on its effort to drill Arctic oil, would soon get a temporary air permit to operate a drilling rig offshore Alaska.