News

Print

15.11.2012 Gas encountered in PGNiG’s well in Opalino

  Polskie Górnictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo S.A. has discovered another gas field in the Wejherowo licence area in Pomerania. Natural gas flow was identified during drilling of the Opalino well, which was aimed at appraising the hydrocarbon resources in gas-bearing Silurian and Ordovician shales and other geological formations. The flare on the well site started burning.

Gas flow in the Opalino well was obtained during initial testing of the well using formation tester. Commercial gas flow rates were recorded from Cambrian formations at the depth of approximately 3,000 metres.

Drilling will be resumed still today, i.e. on November 15th, after all the necessary measurements have been taken. The objective of further drilling is to penetrate all prospective formations.  After completion of drilling, hydrodynamic testing will be carried out to determine the field parameters.

The Wejherowo licence is one of the most promising among the 15 unconventional gas exploration licences held by PGNiG S.A. The first gas flow in this licence area was produced from shale formations in the Lubocino-1 well in September 2011.  Recently, the horizontal Lubocino-2H well has been completed in that zone, and preparations to carry out a fracturing treatment operation are currently under way. 

Also in the Wejherowo licence area, PGNiG S.A. is implementing the KTC project, in which its partners are KGHM, PGE, Tauron Polska Energia and Enea. As the governing bodies of the Corporate Partners (KGHM, Enea, Tauron, PGE) gave their approval for the launch by PGNiG of work leading to the Kochanowo-1 well drilling, the process of selecting drilling contractors is already under way.  At present, the Company is preparing an announcement on opening of the procedure to select a drilling contractor and an invitation to preparatory work contractors to submit bids.  The preparatory work may be commenced in the first half of December, and drilling may start by the end of December.

PGNiG S.A. has adequate financial resources to implement the project itself, and following execution of the final agreement, relevant costs will be re-invoiced to the partners. At present, intense business and legal negotiations are held to determine the organisational structure of the cooperation and the business model. These negotiations are not affecting the geophysical or drilling work schedules in any way. 

Joanna Zakrzewska

Press Officer

Back