Shale gas exploration status as of December 2015
As of 30 November 2015, there were 32 active oil/gas exploration and appraisal concessions that covered also the shale gas.
About the project
This information service of the Polish Geological Survey, as established under the Geological and Mining Laws of 9 June 2011 and performed by Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute, is part of the “Support to informational, analytical and implementation shale oil and gas activities aimed at ensuring Poland's energy security and protection of the environment, including public participation in the licensing process” project.
In addition to establishing and running the shale oil and gas information service, activities under the Project include, but are not limited to:
- development of studies on unconventional hydrocarbons,
- hosting of seminars, workshops and conferences,
- public opinion polling,
- development of international cooperation,
- support to education of children, high school and university students.
The key aim of the Project is to disseminate knowledge on oil and gas shales, their exploration and production in the future. The Project is targeted at all those who do not possess expertise in that area but wish to get knowledge from a credible source which is independent and impartial in terms of business interests.
This news service and other activities are prepared by leading experts from Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute whose daily routine has been for years to conduct scientific research in geology, hydrogeology, geophysics and environmental protection. Moreover, they have experience in dissemination of geological issues.
We are collaborating closely with several professional experts – lawyers, sociologists, economists and political science researchers – to cover areas beyond the scope of geology which are required to give a comprehensive image of all unconventional oil and gas aspects.
You are cordially invited to visit our service on a regular basis, to contribute with your questions at the Expert Corner and inputs to the Student Area. If you believe that some topics need clarification or more in-depth coverage, please mail you suggestions to infolupki@pgi.gov.pl
Magdalena Sidorczuk, PhD
Project Manager
You may use any and all materials published by our service as inputs to your own studies and distribute them using traditional and electronic media.
It is required, however, to indicate each time the source of information:
Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute,
Information Service infolupki.pgi.gov.pl,
and the name(s) of the author of the text, photograph or drawing.
We would appreciate letting us know where and when our content has been published.
The above consent is without prejudice to personal copyright of the authors of specific publications, photographs and drawings under applicable laws and regulations.
Service Editors
Editorial Team
Magdalena Sidorczuk, PhD – Project Manager
Magdalena graduated from the Faculty of Geology and postgraduate studies in management at Warsaw University as well as research project management at Leon Koźmiński Academy. Leader of the shale gas awareness project launched by Polish Geological Survey to enhance public awareness of shale gas exploration and production in the future. Hobby: geotourism, snowboard and badminton.
Anita Starzycka, MSc – Service Editor
Anita graduated from the Faculty of Geology, Warsaw University and postgraduate studies in Waste Management at Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice. Environmental protection, with special focus on waste management, is her primary interest. Since several years she has consistently investigated shale gas issues, environmental aspects of exploration projects in particular. Visiting the drill sites and taking photographs of drilling operations is her favourite activity.
Maja Kowalska, MSc – deputy Service Editor
Maja graduated from Inter-Faculty Studies in Environmental Studies, Warsaw University. Her responsibilities include dissemination of information about unconventional hydrocarbons, geotourism and conservation of geological heritage. Other areas of interest: trekking and bicycle touring, environmental protection, phytosociology, cynology and ornithology.
Antoni Fałkowski, MSc
Antoni graduated from Management Faculty of Warsaw University. Previously, he was a staff member at the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of the Economy where his responsibilities included energy security projects, also those related to the shale gas. He has extensive international experience in promotional/marketing business advisory services. He is in charge of the ”Economy” Section in our Service.
Agata Olszyńska, MA
Agata is a painter, graduate of Painting Faculty, Fine Art Academy in Warsaw. Her responsibilities at PGI-NRI include illustration making, photo processing and pictorial aspects of our activities. Her other areas of interest are: fine arts, nature and ethnology. Agata is in charge of graphic layout in our Service.
Bartosz Stec, MScE
Bartosz graduated from AGH University of Science and Technology in Cracow (majoring in environmental protection in petroleum geology). Since a few years he has been involved in environmental aspects of shale gas exploration. Spatial data visualisation expert. Bartosz is in charge of maps in our Service.
Contributors
Lidia Adach, MSc
Lidia graduated from the Faculty of Geology, Warsaw University and from postgraduate studies in mining geology at AGH University of Science and Technology in Cracow. In PGI-NRI she promotes earth sciences with educational projects, exhibitions and geo-tourism.
Katarzyna Dybkowska, PhD
Katarzyna graduated from the Biology and Earth Science Faculty, Jagiellonian University in Cracow. Paleoenvironmental studies of Cretaceous epicontinental sediments; origin, types and preservation of organic matter in sediments and biogeochemical cycles are her key scientific areas of interest. Privately, Katrzyna is fascinated by sociobiology and fond of horseback riding. She is in charge of the ”Crude Oil” Section in our Service.
Ireneusz Dyrka, MScE
A petroleum geologist, he graduated from AGH University of Science and Technology in Cracow. At PGI-NRI he specializes in characterization of petroleum systems and processes. Currently involved in projects related to the assessment of resources and the determination of prospective shale gas zones in Poland and on analysis of geological data from the areas covered by the concessions for exploration of unconventional hydrocarbon resources.
Andrzej Głuszyński, MSc
Andrzej graduated from the Faculty of Earth Science and Environmental Management, Wrocław University, where he is currently preparing his PhD thesis. His responsibilities at PGI-NRI include structural geology and seismic data interpretation.
Izabella Grotek, PhD
Izabella graduated from the Faculty of Geology, Warsaw University. Her responsibilities at PGI-NRI include microscopy studies on organic matter from Neogene sedimentary rocks to determine its thermal maturity and origin. The results of her studies will be used in exploration of potential oil and gas source rocks.
Marcin Janas, MSc
A petroleum geologist, graduated from AGH University of Science and Technology in Cracow. His responsibilities at PGI-NRI include petroleum system analysis, petrology of dispersed organic matter and the determination of prospective shale gas and oil areas.
Marek Jarosiński, PhD
Marek graduated from the Faculty of Geology, Warsaw University. He has studied for twenty years contemporary stresses and tectonic structures in sedimentary complexes on the basis of drilling core analyses, outcrops, geophysical data and numerical models. He is also involved in estimation of geodynamic risks for potential locations of large infrastructural projects.
Marek Jasionowski, PhD
Graduated from Warsaw University. His responsibilities at PGI-NRI include sedimentology, petrography and geochemistry of sedimentary, primarily carbonate, rocks. He is currently involved in studies on the Miocene in Poland and Ukraine, as well as on the Zechstein formations.
Bartosz Jurga, MSc (bjur)
Bartosz graduated from the Faculty of Law, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, and from LLM in Bonn (Germany). An analyst representing PGI-NRI at International Energy Agency where his responsibilities include studies of oil and gas regulations and energy strategies adopted by different countries, with special focus on unconventional resources. Bartosz is member of World Energy Outlook editorial team. Privately, he is fond of mountaineering, sports of endurance, chess and good books.
Przemysław Karcz, PhD
A geologist, he received his PhD degree in geochemistry of black shale at the Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences. His research interests at PGI-NRI include characterization of petroleum basin with special emphasis on geochemistry and petrophysics. Currently, he is involved in shale gas occurrence projects.
Hubert Kiersnowski, MSc
Graduated from the Faculty of Geology, Warsaw University. Specializes in sedimentology and stratigraphy of clastic sediments, in particule Permian Rotliegend sandstones, as well as in analysis of conventional and unconventional reservoir rocks, including tight gas accumulations. His responsibilities at PGI-NRI include studies on lower Paleozoic shale rocks in the context of shale oil and gas exploration and assessment of petroleum resources.
Sylwia Kijewska, MSc
Graduated from the Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology in Cracow. Her responsibilities at PGI-NRI include interpretation and application of seismic data in geology.
Monika Konieczyńska, PhD
Graduated from the Faculty of Geology, Warsaw University, Department of Environmental Science in Central European University in Budapest and from Manchester University. Her responsibilities at PGI-NRI include the research on the effects of exploration and production of unconventional hydrocarbons on the environment. She participates in international research Shale Gas Joint Program under European Energy Research Allianz at the European Commission.
Dorota Koszka-Maroń, MSc
Graduated from Gdańsk University. Her responsibilities at PGI-NRI (Marine Geology Department in Gdańsk) include geology and geomorphology of river mouths (delta), spatial modeling and facies development of forms and sediments in the South Baltic, sea coast geodynamics, geological structure and the processes that activate cliff coast degradation, and environmental geology. She is involved in educational projects for children and youth.
Wojciech Labuda
Student of geology and drilling technology at the Faculty of Drilling, Oil and Gas, AGH University of Technology in Kraków. Twice silver medalist at the International Geography Olympiad and holder of awards from several national Olympiads in the areas of economy, finance, history, social studies and ecology. In our Service, Wojciech is in charge of technology, economics of production and environment protection.
Mirosław Lidzbarski, PhD
Regional Coordinator of National Hydrogeological Survey at PGI-NRI Marine Geology Department in Gdańsk. He conducts research studies on groundwater in the Baltic coast area and lake districts in North Poland, as well as participates in projects involving an analysis of environmental aspects that are associated with exploration of unconventional hydrocarbons. He is involved in educational projects for children and youth.
Magdalena Nidental, MSc
Graduated from the Faculty of Geology, Warsaw University. Her responsibilities at PGI–NRI include the drafting of the hydrogeological map of Poland (1:50 000) and groundwater quality/conservation projects. In recent years she has been involved in assessments of environmental impact from exploration and appraisal of unconventional gas resources.
Teresa Podhalańska, PhD, PGI-NRI Professor
Graduated from the Faculty of Geology, Warsaw University. Throughout her scientific career she has focused on detailed studies of Poland's regional geology and lower Paleozoic stratigraphy, Ordovician and Silurian in particular. Her studies are extensively applied in exploration and proving of unconventional oil and gas resources.
Michał Roman, MScE
Graduated from the Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology in Cracow. His responsibilities at PGI-NRI include analysis of geophysical well logging data, also for the purposes of unconventional hydrocarbon exploration.
Joanna Roszkowska-Remin, MSc
Graduated from the Faculty of Geology, Warsaw University, postgraduate studies in Petroleum Geology at AGH University of Science and Technology in Cracow and completed an intensive course of clastic sedimentology at Tromso University in Spitsbergen. She is about to complete her PhD thesis at the Faculty of Geology, Warsaw University. Sedimentology of clastic sediments and paleomagnetic studies are her research areas.
Mirosław Rutkowski, MSc
Graduated from the Faculty of Geology, Warsaw University. He worked for State- and privately-owned companies while publishing popular science papers. The spokesman for Polish Geological Institute-NRI.
Piotr Stankiewicz, PhD
A sociologist, lecturer at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń. Energy (mainly nuclear and shale gas) related conflicts are his key areas of interest. In the past, he served as an energy expert for the Science and Technology Park in Gdańsk and secretary to the ”Energy and Dialogue” Dialogue and Cooperation Forum of the Pomeranian Province. Currently, he is advisor to Shale Gas Plenipotentiary of the Pomeranian Local Assembly Speaker. Piotr is addicted to running and playing. He is charge of the ”Society” Section in our Service.
Agnieszka Szczypiorska, MScE
Graduated in Earth Science from SGGW University of Life Sciences in Warsaw and Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. At PGI-NRI she is responsible for legal and environmental aspects of unconventional gas production and the ongoing progress of exploration and appraisal efforts.
Michalina Ścibisz-Kosanowska, MSc
Michalina graduated from the Faculty of Geology, Warsaw University. At PGI-NRI, she is responsible for coordination and promotion of educational activities in the area of unconventional hydrocarbon exploration. She promotes the concept of geo-education at delivery of geo-diversity protection and geo-tourism projects. Michalina is interested in treasures hidden in the earth – both geological ones and younger artifacts.
Małgorzata Woźnicka, PhD
Graduated from the Faculty of Geology, Warsaw University. Her responsibilities at PGI-NRI include Polish Hydrogeological Survey's tasks in the area of appraisal, proving and conservation of groundwater resources, as well as investigation of environmental preconditions for unconventional gas production.
Adam Wójcicki, PhD
Graduated in Applied Geophysics from AGH University of Science and Technology in Cracow. At PGI-NRI he is involved in geoenergy projects, including carbon sequestration, geothermal energy and petroleum exploration ones.
