Shell, Alaska Natives To Share In Offshore Profits

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — An Alaska Native regional corporation and six Native Village corporations signed an agreement with a Shell Oil subsidiary Thursday that aims to share the profits from offshore drilling off Alaska's northwest coast.

Shell and the Arctic Slope Regional Corp. announced the formation of a new company called Arctic Inupiat Offshore LLC. Its participants include six village corporations on the North Slope. The agreement with the Shell subsidiary, Shell Gulf of Mexico Inc., gives the Alaska Native company the option of acquiring an overriding royalty interest from Shell's drilling on leases in the Chukchi Sea.

Rex Rock Sr., president and CEO of the regional corporation, said the new company aims to align the oil industry and North Slope communities by investing in offshore production through the purchase of the overriding interest. Rock, who also is president of the new company, said the agreement allows the corporations to balance the risks and benefits of offshore drilling.

"This is a historic event," he said. "This commitment represents our collective vision and commitment to a sustainable economy in our villages."

Shell would get the benefit of local knowledge for its drilling operations, said Shell Alaska Vice President Pete Slaiby. He said the agreement also underscores Shell's commitment to provide opportunities for the communities.

"It's my belief that a strong alliance with so many respected Alaska Native corporations provides Shell the opportunity to collaborate with savvy and experienced North Slope partners," Slaiby said.

Details about the arrangement were sketchy and officials allowed little time for questions from reporters.