San Leon discovers potential unconventional gas play in Poland

Oil and gas explorer San Leon Energy has discovered a new potential unconventional gas play while drilling its Siciny-2 well in the SW Carboniferous basin of Poland.

The company has completed the drilling and initial evaluation of the well in its 100% operated, 800,000-acre Gora concession located 70km southeast of the Polish city of Zielona Gora.

San Leon encountered continuous gas shows (C1-C3) across four prospective shale intervals as well as through the tight sandstone interval during the drilling process.

The company drilled the stratigraphic test well to a target depth of 3,520m after penetrating over 1,000m of the Carboniferous section. It collected more than 265m of continuous core across three prospective intervals identified in the Siciny-1 well.

San Leon said it also encountered a previously unseen fourth potential Carboniferous shale section and a fractured tight gas sandstone below 3,200m in the well.

The Siciny-2 well has been cased for future testing operations, which could include pressure testing of the prospective zones (DFIT test) and possible vertical fracture stimulation and production tests across several intervals.

"In total we encountered more than 500m of potential reservoir for further analysis and possible testing.

The complex nature of the Carboniferous source rock, including natural fracturing, shows real promise for gas production," said San Leon chairman Oisin Fanning.

"The successful drilling and completion of the Siciny-2 well is another milestone in proving our operating capabilities and the potential of our diverse exploration portfolio."

San Leon is a Europe and North Africa-focused energy company and its assets include both shale and conventional exploration assets.