Thick sea ice and other permitting and regulatory delays are threatening to steal more time from one company with eyes set on drilling this summer in the Arctic.

But officials from Shell remain hopeful they will be able to push forward a downscaled plan to drill two wells this year – one each in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas. If weather and governmental higher-ups permit, it would take the company about 30 days to drill each well. Shell also plans to undertake foundational work, starting additional wells then returning next ...