WASHINGTON, Oct 16 (Reuters) - The U.S. Interior Departmenton Friday said it would cancel two potential Arctic offshorelease sales after Royal Dutch Shell PLC said that itwas not interested in those leases.
"In light of Shell's announcement, the amount of acreagealready under lease and current market conditions, it does notmake sense to prepare for lease sales in the Arctic in the nextyear and a half," Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said in astatement.
Shell said last month it was giving up its Arctic search foroil after failing to find enough crude oil. (Reporting By Patrick Rucker; Editing by Sandra Maler)