Interfax reported that Polish company Polskie Gornictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo have started the first ever shale gas production in Poland which the country hopes can help it reduce its dependence on Russian gas imports.

The statement said: "Polskie Gornictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo SA is the first Polish company to have started technological production of shale gas. Prime Minister Donald Tusk and other members of the government arrived at the location to personally participate in the event, which marks a major milestone not only for PGNiG, but also for the entire Polish economy.”

The statement said "The flare is burning at the Lubocino-1 well in the Wejherowo licence area. This opens up the way for further work in the licence area which is expected to lead to the launch of commercial production of shale gas and to provide confirmation that the forecasts regarding large resources of shale gas in Poland are legitimate.”

It said "Tests carried out after a successful completion of the fracturing operation have corroborated that there are potentially significant amounts of shale gas in the Wejherowo licence area. Analyses of the gas coming from Silurian and Ordovician shales have confirmed its very good energy characteristics absence of hydrogen sulphide and low nitrogen content. The analyses have further identified the presence of heavy hydrocarbons. The first stage of the tests and trials has ended in lighting up the flare stack."

The statement said: "The adopted plan of work provides for drilling of the Lubocino 2H horizontal well carrying out the fracturing, testing the well and determining the actual production potential. If all the work proceeds as planned, it will be possible to start pilot production in the second half of 2013 and commercial production will be launched as soon as in 2014."

Operations at the Wejherowo field started last year. Verticle drilling at a depth of 3.5 kilometers was completed in March of this year by PGNiG subsidiary, Poszukiwania Nafty i Gazu Pila.

(Sourced from Interfax)