In August activists from the environmental group "Greenpeace" chained themselves to a Russian ship working from Gazprom’s Prirazlomnaya rig in the Barents Sea.

"This is a peaceful attempt by us as Greenpeace to try to bring some sanity and some urgency, to get Gazprom, Shell, and other companies that are thinking about drilling in the Arctic to stop, to reconsider and understand the consequences of that action that will destroy our children's and grandchildren's future," said Greenpeace Executive Director Kumi Naidoo.

Scientists warn that a big oil spill in the Arctic would remain for decades in a kind of ‘ice-and-oil sandwich.’

Nevertheless oil companies like Shell say it will be necessary in the coming decades to look at unconventional resources such as the Arctic.

Environmental campaigners say that in such a pristine environment, the risks are simply too high.