Poland to Increase Shale Drilling This Year

Poland is set to more than double its shale activity in the country this year, up from 22 drilled in the country in 2011.

In addition to 11 wells already drilled this year, information from the Polish Ministry of the Environment says that an additional 39 wells will be completed by the end of this year, the Warsaw Business Journal reports. The additional wells to be drilled will bring the total number of shale wells drilled in the country to 49.

The Ministry expects the figure to keep climbing year-on-year with 248 wells expected to be drilled in the country by 2017.

While Polish firms will be involved with the shale excavation efforts, the majority of wells to be drilled will be executed by foreign companies, including Chevron, Eni, and ExxonMobil. These companies will account for 39 of the wells drilled, with the remaining 11 wells to be completed by Polish companies, including PGNiG and PKN Orlen.

Despite the large foreign presence on the shale market in Poland, domestic companies continue to strengthen their activities on the shale front there.

Last week, Orlen and PGNiG announced that the two companies had begun talks to begin to cooperation across the oil and gas market, particularly in relation to shale exploration and production in Poland.

"It will concern also - maybe mainly - shale gas," Orlen CEO Jacek Krawiec said. "I`m convinced, that we are approaching a new opening in the cooperation between two companies. I think, that our relations will become better, than ever before."