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Chevron to 'accelerate' Polish shale gas programme

PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge 13.12.2013 10:02
A memorandum has been signed by US fuel giant Chevron and Poland's state-controlled gas company PGNiG concerning cooperation in Poland's shale gas programme.

Photo:
Photo: Glowimages

“Cooperation would enable both firms to lower costs... to accelerate the exploration works and, by the same token, to speed up the process of estimating the potential resources of shale gas in Poland,” a statement released by PGNiG affirmed.

The joint work would focus on areas in south eastern Poland, in the Lublin region.

“The initiative is part of PGNiG's new policy of openness to opportunities that might come from working with other companies interested in Polish shale gas deposits,” PGNiG stressed.

A final approval of the cooperation is scheduled to be signed in 2014. Chevron already has four shale gas concessions in Poland.

Last month, a leading figure in the bid to tap into Poland's shale gas potential declared that the programme needs to pick up its pace.

Kamlesh Parmar, chairman of the Polish Exploration and Production Industry Organization (OPPPW), said the programme is hampered by administrative red tape.

“Until today, 49 wells have been made in Poland, whereas in Pennsylvania thousands have been built over a few years,” he said.

“We estimate that for a reliable assessment of shale gas resources in Poland some 287 wells are still needed,” he claimed.

“Unfortunately, at the present rate it could take until 2037.

Poland is currently attempting to broaden its energy portfolio, partly in a bid to become less dependent on Russian natural gas.

Nevertheless, in a June report by US's Energy Information Administration (EIA), it was estimated that Poland's shale gas resources are lower than initially imagined (estimates dropped from 187 trillion to 148 trillion cubic feet. (nh)

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