Poland: The Promise and Perils of Shale Gas Exploration

Lane Energy Poland, an exploration company controlled by U.S. energy giant ConocoPhillips, announced Aug. 28 that it has been extracting some 8,000 cubic meters of shale gas per day at a test well in northern Poland since late July. While this is not significant enough to qualify for commercial production, it is the best result for shale gas extraction in Poland to date. The announcement comes after three international firms left Poland following disappointing drilling results and raises hopes that shale gas extraction in the country could regain momentum. However, significant regulatory, technological and infrastructural challenges remain.