Things to know about shale gas
8
Experts emphasise that detailed and precise in-
formation about Polish gas deposits can only be
obtained from new exploration wells. The Ministry
of the Environment has awarded 109 unconven-
tional gas reservoir prospecting/exploration licen-
ces (status as of 1 April 2013). The licences do not
grant the right to industrial production. Only after
gas resources have been partly documented for
a given licence area, may the company apply with
the Ministry of the Environment for a production
licence. Gas, being a strategic resource, remains
property of the State Treasury, not the lessee.
In order to start production on an industrial scale,
it will be necessary to drill hundreds (and, ultima-
tely, thousands) of wells in the coming years. The
average cost of a single well is between 30 and
40 million PLN (ca. 10‑13 million USD). Modern
technology makes it possible to optimise costs and
minimise the impact on the surrounding landsca-
pe. Several wells are drilled from a single location
(i.e. from a single drilling rig) and they in turn lead
to over ten directional wells under the surface of
the ground. As a result, it is possible to produce
gas from a large area of the reservoir with rela-
tively few drilling rigs: the spacing between them
can be between 5 and 8 km. As evidenced by the
number of wells necessary for exploration, the ca-
pital expenditure and risk are huge, while the very
first results can only be expected in about three
years, when the results of most exploratory work
become known.
Goździk, August 2012
