Reuters: Total to drill Denmark's first shale gas test wells in Dec or Jan

French energy major Total plans to drill Denmark's first test wells for shale gas in December or January, with drilling expected to last for three months, it said on Friday.

The Frederikshavn municipality in northern Denmark gave Total approval last week, saying it expected drilling to start by the end of the summer.

Total said on Friday the extent of activities in 2015 would depend on the results of the test, and on obtaining permits that would take account of an environmental impact assessment study.

"If the results are positive, a test using hydraulic fracturing (fracking) will be carried out in 2015," a spokeswoman for the firm said in an email to Reuters.
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