UPI: Big oil companies won't pursue Polish shale

International oil companies don't have the patience to explore for shale natural gas in frontier territory like Poland's, an executive said.

John Buggenhagen, director of Irish energy company San Leon, said his company was moving into Polish shale after Marathon Oil Corp. and Talisman Energy Inc. said they were abandoning the area.

"I don't think the majors have the mind-set and the patience to explore and prove these types of plays," he told Bloomberg News. "We can now begin to move forward to prove this play."

Marathon followed Talisman out of the area after it said had a change in strategy. San Leon will serve as the operator of three licenses in Poland's Dutch basin. MORE