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Information for this article was contributed by Dan Joling of The Associated Press.

Environmental groups oppose drilling in the Arctic due to the vulnerability of animals already struggling to survive because of melting sea ice, as well as risk that a spill could pose to the region.

Environmental groups had vociferously opposed Shell’s Arctic drilling bid, as well as the Obama administration’s granting of a drilling permit to the company this spring.

Climate change even seemed to be co-operating, making the northern sea routes passable to drilling vessels and supply ships.

Yet that long-term play is suddenly over – or at least on prolonged pause – after Shell announced Monday that several factors led it to abandon the project “for the foreseeable future“.

The Hague-based company originally obtained the necessary licenses to drill in the Chukchi Sea in 2008 when oil prices were more than 0 a barrel.