Poland cuts its shale gas expectations - Reuters

Polish Environment Minister Maciej Grabowski said in an interview with Reuters, that he expected some 80 exploratory wells to be drilled this year. In June he projected that number to reach 100. “By the end of June there had been 64 exploratory shale gas wells drilled in Poland. A further 20 are planned (for this year),” Grabowski said. He stressed however that he still expects commercial shale gas production to start this year in Poland. “A well like that would show that there is real possibility of extracting shale gas in Poland. However, extracting gas on an industrial scale, and clearly perceptible to the economy, is not a matter of this year or next,” Grabowski said. Energy firms have yet to find commercial reserves and several big players, including Exxon Mobil, Marathon and Total, have either given up exploring or are not renewing exploration concessions. Chevron and ConocoPhillips have already left Poland's shale sector.