Upstream area
Our achievements to date
In 2012, the PGNiG Group was involved in exploration and appraisal work either on its own or in cooperation with partners. Eight wells were drilled in PGNiG’s own licence areas. Three wells were tested in the Carpathian Foothills. The tests confirmed the presence of gas in two wells – one exploratory well (Kramarzówka-1) and one appraisal well (Lubliniec-12). No hydrocarbon flow at commercial rates was recorded from the third well (Łapanów-6K), and the well was subsequently abandoned.
Work was also under way on the Felsted-1 well in Denmark, but the well was subsequently abandoned as dry. Since the results of exploration in Denmark were discouraging, the PGNiG Group withdrew from that country, and licence 1/05 expired.
The PGNiG Group was also prospecting for unconventional gas. In 2012, the Lubocino 2-H horizontal well was drilled in the Wejherowo licence area, where in December 2012 a fracturing treatment had been performed in Ordovician formations. Fracturing operations have also been performed in Silurian rock formations in the Lubocino-1 vertical well, and the Opalino-2 well was drilled. In the Tomaszów Lubelski licence area, the Lubycza Królewska-1 borehole was drilled and it is the first exploration borehole designed to explore for shale gas in the areas of PGNiG’s licences in the southern part of the Lublin Province.
In addition to projects carried out on its own, on July 4th 2012 PGNiG signed a framework agreement on the exploration for and production of shale gas and oil within the Wejherowo licence area with four other Polish companies: TAURON Polska Energia SA, KGHM Polska Miedź SA, PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna SA and Enea SA. Pursuant to the agreement, the joint operations will focus mainly around the villages of Kochanowo, Częstkowo and Tępcz, on a part of the Wejherowo licence held by PGNiG. Currently, work is under way to amend the agreement setting out the detailed rules of cooperation between the parties.
The Group put on stream three oil wells on the BMB (Barnówko – Mostno – Buszewo) field, as a result of which crude oil production rose to 478 ths tonnes in 2012. In addition, the Lubiatów oil field and the Międzychód gas field were both put on stream. Their development was a part of the LMG (Lubiatów – Międzychód – Grotów) project.
On December 31st 2012, the PGNiG Group launched production from the Skarv field on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. Furthermore, a new field, Snadd Outer, was discovered within the PL212E licence area. The field lies in the vicinity of the Snadd North gas field and borders the Skarv field.
The PGNiG Group continued its exploration and appraisal work in Egypt and Pakistan. The exploration work in Egypt focused on the Bahariya licence (Block 3), and in Pakistan – on the Rehman field. In 2012, the Pakistani licensing authority (Directorate General of Petroleum Concessions) classified the Rehman field as a deposit of tight gas.