Shell Completes Drilling Sweden's First Shale Gas Exploration Well

Shell has completed drilling Sweden's first shale gas exploration well, but said it would take up to a year before the results are studied.

“It will take up to a year before the results are analysed. We will know then if and how much gas there is in the bedrock," Martin von Arronet, the head of Shell’s Swedish exploration and production unit. The company plans to sink two more probes, both of which are scheduled for completion during the summer.

Shell was awarded two minerals exploration licences, Colonussankan and Hollvikengraven, in Skaane, southern Sweden, in May 2008. The first well spudded in November last year.

Between them, the licences cover about 256,000 hectares and allow Shell to explore the Alum shale. A further smaller area, Colonussankan 2, which covers about 956 hectares was awarded in May last year.

Source: UpstreamOnline