PGNiG plans boost to shale acreage

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Poland's gas monopoly PGNiG will apply for five licenses to explore potential unconventional shale oil resources in Poland, deputy head Marek Karabula said today.

The licenses will add to shale gas licenses PGNiG already owns, Karabula said.

"We are preparing five motions to the Environment Ministry to expand our licenses to include exploration for shale oil," Reuters quoted Karabula as telling reporters.

PGNiG, along along with major oil and gas companies including US supermajors Chevron and ExxonMobil , is involved in shale gas in Poland.

The monopoly, which produces some 4 billion cubic metres of conventional gas annually, has 15 licenses for its unconventional gas and expects some more precise estimates of its resources in the second half of 2011.