As of 30 June 2017, there were 20 active shale gas prospection and/or exploration concession in Poland.
The concessions were awarded to 7 Polish and foreign holders. Three State Treasury-owned companies hold shale gas prospection concessions, namely:
- PGNiG SA,
- PKN Orlen SA,
- and Grupa Lotos SA
Four companies with a foreign/private capital share hold the concessions:
- San Leon Energy Plc,
- Palomar Capital Advisors Limited & San Leon Energy B.V,
- Stena Inwestment S.A.R.L,
- Hutton Energy PLC.
Comparing with the previous month, the number of active concessions remains unchanged and stands at 20. In the record year of 2012 there were 115 active shale gas prospection concessions.
Shale Tech Energy Sp. z o.o. is currently the leader in terms of concessions held with 7 of them, followed by Orlen Upstream Sp.z o.o. and LOTOS Petrobaltic S.A. with 4 concessions held each (the latter holds solely offshore concession within Poland’s maritime waters. PGNiG SA now holds only one concession for the prospection of unconventional hydrocarbons.
The total area under shale gas exploration concessions is equal to 15,591 km2, or 5% of the total Poland's area. In 2012-2013, the concessions covered approximately 90,000 km2 (almost 30% of Poland's area).
Comparing to the last month the number of wells made did not change. By 26 June 2017 concession holders drilled out 72 exploratory wells, including:
- 18 directional/horizontal wells,
- 54 vertical wells.
The last well – Wysin – 3H at the Stara Kiszewa Concession (Pomeranian Province) – was completed for PGNiG in December 2015. Two hydraulic stimulation procedures were performed in July 2016 for PGNiG S.A. in Wysin-2H and Wysin 3H wells.
In the past years, the progress of shale gas exploration drilling was as follows:
- 2010 - 3 wells,
- 2011 - 12 wells,
- 2012 - 24 wells,
- 2013 - 14 wells,
- 2014 - 15 wells,
- 2015 - 4 wells,
- 2016 - 0 wells,
- 2017 - 0 wells.
Special jobs have been performed in some of the wells to initially assess the shale gas production potential. Hydraulic fracturing was performed in 28 wells (39% of all wells drilled), including:
- 14 horizontal wells,
- 14 vertical wells.
DFIT (Diagnostic Fracture Injection Test) was performed in 9 wells.
In the past years, the number of hydraulic fracture stimulation and DFIT tests made was as follows:
- 2010 - 2 hydraulically fracture stimulated wells and 1 DFIT,
- 2011 - 7 hydraulically fracture stimulated wells,
- 2012 - 8 hydraulically fracture stimulated wells and 7 DFIT,
- 2013 - 4 hydraulically fracture stimulated wells and 1 DFIT,
- 2014 - 5 hydraulically fracture stimulated wells,
- 2015 - 0 hydraulically fracture stimulated wells,
- 2016 - 2 hydraulically fracture stimulated wells,
- 2017 - 0 hydraulically fracture stimulated wells.
source: Ministry of the Environment, lupki.mos.gov.pl
