Shell abandons Alaska Arctic drilling

Oil giant's US president says hugely controversial drilling operations off Alaska will stop for 'foreseeable future' as drilling finds little oil and gas

Shell has abandoned its controversial drilling operations in the Alaskan Arctic in the face of mounting opposition in what jubilant environmentalists described as "an unmitigated defeat" for big oil.

The Anglo-Dutch company had repeatedly stressed the enormous hydrocarbon potential of the far north region in public, but in private began to admit it had been surprised by the popular opposition it faced.