Chevron obtains a new construction permit, this time for the exploration well in Puiesti

Chevron received its second construction permit for a shale gas exploration well in Puiesti, Vaslui County. The local authorities have authorized the exploration project after more than half a year after starting the related procedures, Mediafax informs. Earlier this year, on January 30, the local Environmental Protection Agency issued an environmental permit for Chevron, authorizing drilling operations in the perimeter. The exploration well will be located outside the inhabited areas, at 1.4 km away from the nearest community, the area farmed out to Chevron totaling about two acres.

Last year, in October, the company received its first construction permit for a shale gas exploration well in Romania, the one from Silistea-Pungesti, the same Vaslui County. In the next period setting up the drilling platform will be carried out and the exploration well will be commissioned. According to the newswire which quotes a Chevron-representative, exploration operations will effectively start within the coming two or three weeks and are estimated to last about three months. Samples taken during drilling will be analyzed so as to establish whether producing shale gas is profitable or not.

Chevron Romania began exploring for natural gas trapped in shale rock formations in Romania four years ago. The company has been granted, apart from the block in Moldova region, other three onshore blocks in Constanta County. In Moldova, the company holds three other environmental permits for shale gas exploration in the region.