Poland: Fracturing in Lubocino Delayed
Due to unspecified problems, hydraulic fracturing operations were postponed in the horizontal exploratory well Lubocino 2H in Northern Poland.
Polish gas company PGNiG spokesperson Joanna Zakrzewska confirmed Polish media reports. "The schedule has been extended" – declares the statement, signed by Zakrzewska and sent to the Polish Press Agency (PAP).
The spokesperson of PGNiG did not elaborate on the nature of problems experienced by the company in Lubocino. However, explaining reasons for the extension, Joanna Zakrzewska commented that “due to distinctive geological conditions during some stages of the works, results differed from forecasted assumptions.”
“Currently preparations for another stage of works are under way. Modifications and changes are implemented on a day-to-day basis, in order to achieve optimal results,” the letter states.
What’s wrong?
On December 3rd PGNiG's CEO Grazyna Piotrowska Oliwa announced the imminent beginning of the fracking operation on the kilometer long horizontal Lubocino 2H well. Initial results were expected before the end of the 2012.
At the same time machinery was relocated to Lubocino, though according to reports surfacing earlier this week, Halliburton Germany, which won a tender in November, began its first pumping almost a month later, on January 4th.
Since then, several attempts to stimulate shale rocks have reportedly failed to bring desired effect.
Media in Poland are speculating on possible reasons, quoting anonymous sources. Experts suspect various explanations; from rare geological conditions to technical complication to weather, even though temperatures this winter are rather moderate in Pomorze region.
An American expert, speaking to Natural Gas Europe under the condition of anonymity, suggested that inexperience, i.e. in well designing or operation planning, may have played a role.
Bring out jewel from the crown
Lubocino is probably the most well-known name of a single exploratory well site in Poland and Wejherowo concession area is considered the most promising of 15 licenses secured by the Polish gas company.
In 2011 Lubocino became the first successful test drilling for the PGNiG. In September 2011 the company announced that results obtained from first flow tests suggested potentially significant amounts of shale gas.
Lubocino then became a focal point in hopes to commercially develop prospective shale gas resources in Poland. After another successful well in nearby Opalino was drilled, Wejherowo concession was called “jewel in the crown” by the company CEO Grazyna Piotrowska Oliwa.
In 2012 the company declared that further tests in horizontal wells in Lubocino would follow.
In mid-2012 four state-controlled companies: KGHM, Tauron, PGE and Enea, encouraged by the Minister of Treasury Mikolaj Budzanowski, signed a cooperation agreement with PGNiG on shale gas exploration and extraction within Wejherowo license.
Later the companies announced they would need more time to shape the details of the program and deadline to announce the final version of the 1.7 bln PLN agreement was set for February 2012.