On May 19, polish officials said publicly that the large-scale development of domestic shale gas is optimistic. Poland is a energy importers, oneself can only provide 30% of the country's energy demand, the rest of the need to be imported. But now Poland for ambitious energy strategy, plan vigorously in shale gas reserves in Europe first, change the situation of long-term dependence on imported energy.
At present, shale gas is gain worldwide recognition, its resources exploration and exploitation has aroused the attention of more and more countries and enterprises, while the us was "shale gas revolution". In the global competition bet and unwilling to lag behind in Poland, quicken the steps of the shale gas, to one energy power.
Shale gas reserves in Europe first
The U.S. department of energy (EIA) in April this year, according to data from the polish shale gas reserves of 5.3 trillion cubic meters, according to the current annual consumption of 14 billion cubic meters of natural gas in Poland, equivalent to polish their consumption in 300. Poland has three shale gas basin, located in the Baltic sea, waves and lublin region, Della technology for shale gas reserves of 187 million cubic feet (about 5.3 million cubic meters), among the top of the European countries. At present, the polish every year, 70% of the natural gas from Russia. Make it if the mining project, which will greatly reduce the Poland's dependence on Russian gas. Shale gas is retained in the source rock of natural gas, is a kind of unconventional natural gas, and coal bed methane, tight gas belong to the same category. The formation and enrichment of shale gas with its own characteristics, are often distributed in basin shale strata with large thickness, wide distribution. Compared with conventional natural gas, shale gas development had many advantages, such as mining and production cycle longer life, most of the gas shale distribution range, thickness, and the general gas, which makes the shale gas well to long-term gas at a steady rate.
Shale gas is a kind of unconventional natural gas, contained in the deep underground rock structure, once considered difficult to development, but with the continuous development of drilling technology, shale gas in the United States, Canada and other countries has become an important part of the energy structure. In 2000, accounts for only 1% of the natural gas production, shale gas and has now reached 25%, over the next 10 years, this ratio will continue to rise to 50%.
Encouraged, Poland has decided to vigorously promote the development of shale gas. The wave environment, so far has been to the United States Exxon Mobil, Chevron, Canada Lane energy and Poland PGNiG and PKN Orlen and other companies to issue a total of more than 70 shale gas mining license. Experts said that if the European countries to effectively develop shale gas, will change the map of Europe's energy at a stroke, like rich reserves of countries such as Poland, can even become a important exporter of natural gas, energy superpower.
The polish government to formulate the ambitious mining plan. Foreign minister sikorski said, shale gas development is facing important opportunities for Poland, is also the responsibility of the polish government. On March 29, prime minister Donald tusk in Warsaw, the capital of a conference said: "we decided to use shale gas exploration, from plan into reality. As prime minister, my personal commitment, to exploration, scientific research and economic framework (implementation) shale gas by creating the best conditions." "If possible, we should produce per cubic centimetre of this kind of gas."
The international oil and gas giant head
A few days ago, the European giant France's total oil and gas company to reach a deal with the largest oil company exxon mobil, common Chelm in Poland and Werkowice areas for shale gas.
France's total company said in a statement, in the joint venture company, owns a 49% stake in the company total, and exxon mobil corp. owns a 51% stake. Total company officials say the project proves that the total company expand its unconventional gas fields, especially in the promise of unconventional gas sector activity in Europe.
Shale gas exploration and development in Poland, a lot of Europe and the United States of oil and gas giants are keen smell business opportunities, first step into this field. In the past few years, the government has issued the 86 gas exploration license, exxon mobil, chevron, marathon, such as Europe and the United States energy giant is one of its top, is allowed in the exploration and exploitation of shale gas in Poland.
In may this year, the US President barack Obama's visit to Poland. Wave beauty between the two countries in shale gas exploration in the field of cooperation is what the leaders meeting one of the important topics, Washington wants with advantages in technology, experience, in order to gain more market share. Wave foreign minister sikorski said that shale gas exploration has become a wave beauty as one of the most key areas of cooperation between the two countries. Polish gas company, is expected to have with the first American companies to enter, such as exxon mobil, chevron, investment of billions of dollars in this area.
At present, 124 polish plan of drilling in gas Wells have seven is completed, ongoing reserves and the evaluation of economic benefits. The third largest oil company conocophillips in the first exploration well in Poland is now tense work. The company said that after 4 to 5 years of exploration and trial after mining, until around 2015, the polish will become a natural gas producer.
Cause environmental pollution concerns
The shale gas exploration is mainly using a technique known as "hydraulic fracturing method", the chemicals used in this process, possible pollution of groundwater, is bad for the environment. On the other hand, this technique requires a lot of water, will cost 15 million litres of water each shale gas well to make the shale fracture.
In addition, the shale gas mining process also leads to a large amount of methane leakage, this is a kind of a few times more greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide. Europe several small-scale shale gas project have been suspended due to environmental risk. France April protest even environmentalists, ask the government for shale gas exploration in the ban. In may, the French national assembly passed a aims to ban the use of "hydraulic fracturing" to the exploitation of shale gas and oil law, if the senate also pass a law in July, the French will be the first country to ban the use of "hydraulic fracturing".
Poland currently faced with enormous pressure. According to polish media reports recently, residents of mining area are protesting for shale gas exploration, because it may damage the environment. Due to the mining by hydraulic fracturing of shale gas can lead to groundwater pollution, so it become the main concern of the public. In addition, the polish population density is four times that of the United States, once the threat to drinking water, the consequence will be unimaginable.
The polish government, however, continue to develop the attitude of the shale gas still firmly. Said the polish prime minister Donald tusk, Poland will create conditions and for shale gas development. Base on May 20, the polish foreign minister Paul scholes said: "the international energy market turmoil, the unstable factors of north Africa and Japan's nuclear accident led to soaring oil prices, the serious influence to the global economic recovery. Mining polish domestic shale gas resources, it is a good opportunity for us, we have the obligation to mining. People don't have to worry about, it is necessary for us to environmentalists and explain the specific situation of the development of shale gas, to the best of my knowledge, technology in development, everything will be better."