Royal Dutch Shell has praised the verdict of US district judge Martin Feldman in a review of president Barack Obama's decision to impose a six-month ban on offshore drilling.

President Obama made the decision following the explosion onboard the Deepwater Horizon rig on April 20nd, but yesterday's (July 22nd) ruling reverses the ban on the grounds that it is unnecessary, unjustified and against public interest.

Following the announcement, Shell issued a statement reassuring politicians and lawmakers that deepwater drilling would be completed to the highest standards of safety and expertise.

"Shell standards often exceed regulatory requirements, including a rigorous training programme for well engineers," the company stated.

Commenting on the announcement, Christopher Helman, an associate editor at Forbes, said a number of industry insiders expect Shell to make a bid for beleaguered BP within two years.

The British company has faced a fierce backlash from US politicians and the public at large, with many accusing the firm of complacency and poor safety standards.

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