Hydraulic Fracturing in Poland.

Does Poland have any shale beds? If so, will hydraulic fracturing be welcomed as a way of capturing the natural gas in the shale beds? How do Poles feel about this method of extraction, which involves hundreds of gallons of water and volatile compounds?

Do Poles worry the process will contaminate ground water and compromise air quality with all those produced water pits and condensation tanks hanging around, or will there be more strigent guidelines than here in the states?

Nice thread, i would say the average Pole would not be bothered about the contamination threats in line with the gains that could potentially be achievable.

I mean US stats gains far outway the cons, right? Its a case of taking one for the team IF something goes wrong. Most wouldnt even be aware of it, even in the local area.

We have lots of shale over here, so, no, the pros do not outweigh the cons. Contamination causes neuropathy and cancer, and you can't put a price tag on that. The more wells, the more problems, unless these problems are addressed and dealt with, first.

Shale gas drilling euphoria. Poland to become a new wasteland?

Poland and the Polish media (sponsored by foreign corporations and advertisers) have been recently excited about a great shale gas potential in Poland. Media announced Poland as the 'Saudi Arabia' of shale gas.

But has anyone asked the question about the true cost of shale gas drilling? The process of fracking, which involves thousands of gallons of poisonous chemicals to be pumped into the underground waters, contaminates water, pollutes air, and plants to the point it's not usable for at least one generation.

More details here: video.pbs.org/video/1452296560/.

I won't be surprised if in some years the corporate media promote the idea of Poland having a great potential in storing nuclear waste. After all, the process is relatively easy and Poland is big enough to store the waste on her soil.

Poland needs the energy. What's the consequences of depending on your supply of gas from Russia?

Tlum, I already posted about hydraulic fracturing in Poland. It could very well pollute the watersheds with fracking chemicals used to break up the shale deep in the ground...

I can't see people allowing that without a big fight.

If Poland is indeed the Saudi Arabia of natural gas in Europe, be extra wary. We have such places here. One is in Pennsylvania another in New York, in the catskills where well water is so tainted with methane the water coming out of the faucets catch on fire. Water wells exploded. There's a place in Wyoming that has undergone extensive fracking. People living near these places have lost their sense of smell and have peripheral neuropathy. Some even have lesions in their brains from the fumes venting from the top of condensate tanks. Fracking boom can mean health problems for anyone living nearby...

I'm not up to date with recent developments in the topic but a few months ago the info was as such: for next couple of years it will be only test drills to asses if this shale gas is really there. If so, the full scale commercial drilling will be possible up to 8-10 years from now.

It practically means two things:
1. LNG terminal in Swinoujscie will be operational in a few years, so Poland would be able to buy liquid gas from USA and Katar rather than spoil Polish environment

2. in ten years I suppose current controversy about the drillings method in USA will be settled one way or another...

So I say let them search and document possibilities, it will not hurt.
Taking into account environmental restrictions in EU and Natura2000 network I'm rather calm about it.

Plastic Pole- My family and friends have experienced first hand the damage fracking can do (in my hometown in the US). I hope we can avoid the same but who will speak up against the "frackers"?

We have methane in our ground water also but it's attributed to shallow gas deposits. And as for drinking water contamination, try home filters. Everyone should have regardless.


No, Poland needs its own energy source.

A guy named Josh Fox is taking them on and has stopped controversial fracking practices around the sensitive New York City watershed area and on and around his parent's home in the Catskills of Pennsylvania. Get in touch with Josh Fox.


Does your water catch on fire? If it doesn't you don't have as much methane as these people in Josh Fox's documentary. The energy corporation Encana has already compensated people for their trouble. You cannot filter out the dioxins. Poles have the right to be informed before the fracking boom starts of all the chemicals they will be exposed to. They have a right to demand the fumes from the condensate tanks be captured and the spent water disposed of expediently, not left in the ground to evaporate and seep in.

Amen. Let's keep each other posted.

P.S. I am from PA.

Poland has huge shale-gas reserves and they will be exploited sooner or later. Then tell Gazprom to get lost...
Hydraulic fracturing has been safely done for over 50 years. Accident do happen, but they are rare, same as with cars and planes, but no sane person wants to ban them.

Biogenic methane in water wells is a common, well understood occurrence, no big deal, treatment is cheap and effective. Would I drink it? I have for years. Would I let my child bathe in it? As long as they weren't smoking...

Frac flow-back water is a bigger problem that is being addressed by the best minds in the industry. It's too bad that rules and laws are made based on emotion rather than science.