CALGARY, Alberta, June 26 (Reuters) - Imperial Oil Ltd said on Friday it is deferring plans to drill anexploratory well in the Beaufort Sea in Canada's Arctic as itseeks an extension to the length of its exploration license inthe region.
Pius Rolheiser, a spokesman for the company, said thelicense, which it shares with Exxon Mobil Corp and BPPlc, expires in 2020 and it is asking the Canadiangovernment for a nine-year extension so it can complete theregulatory process and have adequate time to make a decision onhow or when it will drill a well in the region. (Reporting by Scott Haggett; Editing by Tom Brown)