PGNiG, Chevron Team Up for Shale Hunt in Southeast Poland

Polskie Górnictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo (PGNiG) and Chevron Polska Energy Resources signed a collaboration agreement for shale gas exploration in south-eastern Poland on Monday, surfing the wave of revived optimism about unconventional gas in the country.

‘Under the agreement, the companies will collaborate in appraising shale gas deposits in four exploration licence areas in south-eastern Poland - two owned by PGNiG (Tomaszów Lubelski and Wiszniów-Tarnoszyn) and two belonging to Chevron (Zwierzyniec and Grabowiec),’ reads a note released on Monday.

The two companies will drill an exploration well together, also exchanging geological data as well as experiences gathered so far. The parties could then move to the second stage of collaboration, with additional joint exploration activities.

“By collaborating with Chevron we will be able to draw on its extensive experience in shale gas exploration. We hope that this partnership will be beneficial to both parties by allowing us to optimise the costs and improve the effectiveness of our exploration efforts," Mariusz Zawisza, President of the PGNiG Management Board, commented.

Also on Monday, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said his country wound soon send to Brussels a draft plan to promote efficiency in the European energy markets.