Exxon Pledges Community Engagement with German Shales

ExxonMobil is carrying out a reconnaissance drilling in Lünne, a municipality in the Emsland district, in Lower Saxony, Germany which is intended to collect data about the potential of shale gas development in the area.

The wellbore would conventionally driven at about 1200 meters down, then after 500 meters horizontally in a northerly direction.

Locals have concerns not so much with the exploration for natural gas, but in the use of hydraulic fracturing in the shale gas process.

ExxonMobil Production Germany GmbH spokesman Norbert Stahl has offered the mayor of the municipality Spelle, and opponents of shale gas drilling, a round table discussion at the local level.

The Company has already announced the establishment a working group of independent experts to observe the drilling operations. In addition, a panel of scientists, including representatives of the company, of municipalities, districts, associations and water companies will monitor activities to determine risks to humans and the environment through the use of hydraulic fracturing.

Exxon has also established a information website to address concerns (HERE in German)

Locals have called for a environmental impact assessment prior to any drilling.  However, Klaus Söntgerath, Executive Director of the Mountain State Office for Mining, Energy and Geology (LBEG), said that approval of this nature would be only be required for production, not exploratory activities.

Source: MV Online