Chevron Cautiously Optimistic on Polish Shales
In a recently published interview, the head of Chevron Energy Resources Poland praised the Polish government for its cooperation.
“We have experienced very strong support. It’s been a great situation to come into an environment like that,” said John Claussen, Poland country manager for the U.S. based multinational, in conversation with interviewer Michal Zielinski of Polish radio station RMF FM
Addressing pending updates to legislation covering hydrocarbon exploration, Claussen said that Chevron understood the need for new regulations and expected continuation of the dialogue. However, he avoided comment on legal framework rules, which are to be issued in draft on June 13th.
First things first
Chevron hold four shale gas concessions in Poland and initiated drilling in Horodysko hamlet, near Lesniowice, on the Grabowiec concession in Lubelskie in November 2011. The company spudded its Frampol-1 drilling site in Andrzejow, 60 kms south of Lublin in eastern Poland in March 2012.
The multinational holds two additional concessions, Krasnik and Zwierzyniec, also situated in Lubelskie. The company is authorized for the completion of five wells.
Two exploratory vertical wells that have been drilled so far are in addition to the approximately 20 wells drilled by other companies. As Claussen reminded, according to the Ministry of Environment the drilling of almost 200 wells would be required in order to collect the appropriate data required to properly to assess Poland's shale gas resources.
This is why Chevron representative prefer to speak cautiously on prospects of the development of shale gas in Poland.
He underlined that the company was still in the early stage of exploration: “Poland has an opportunity to enhance its energy security, to expand its economic activity, to create jobs, but we’re still so early in the phases, that how exactly that would work we are not sure.”
“Let`s see what geology and resource tell us.”
“First things first” added Claussen, listing the order of priority: drilling exploratory wells, assessing geology and estimating potential resources.
Enough equipment and people
However, should the progressive process of exploration eventually lead to a production phase, Claussen expects a European version of the shale gas revolution to happen.
Asked about access to rigs, specialists, roads and pipeline infrastructure in Poland, he admitted that Europe in general and Poland specifically is starting from a different place than the U.S.
“Our situation right now is good. From the standpoint of exploratory work there is enough equipment, people, resources to go through this preliminary stage,” he assured. “As activities scale up then we`ll see.”
In Claussen’s opinion, if the production stage starts, the infrastructure, know-how, skills, as well as an evolution in the development of indigenous technologies in Poland, will follow
“It would take some time. How long we not sure,” he said.
Questions are welcome
The interviewer noted that although the Polish government has excluded any kind of moratorium and the polls suggest exceptionally strong support for exploration, the anti-shale gas coalition was getting stronger, fuelling some local protests.
“We know people have questions, that`s something that we welcome. Part of our process is to make sure people have information.” replied Claussen.
Read the original interview at www.rmf24.pl (in Polish) HERE