Any company involved in oil accords may operate shale gas exploration and exploitation works, Alexandru Patruti, head of Romania's National Agency for Mineral Resources (ANRM) said in an interview with HotNews.ro. Beside Chevron, several other oil companies have shown interest in exploring shale gas. Patruti said the main environmental effect would be a possible contamination of subterranean waters, but "this impact may be kept in check and at a minimal level by sticking to good practices". Patruti also said hydraulic fracturing was a standard method used by the oil industry in Romania for decades. The difference is that in the case of unconventional gas deposits it also involves horizontal drilling.

Key statements by ANRM President Alexandru Patruti:

All oil accords and exploration licenses in Romania are classified informationAs a general rule, any company holding an oil accord in Romania may operate exploration works for these unconventional resourcesMost companies holding oil accords, including Petrom, Romgaz have shown their intention. Mol has also shown intention, as well as Sterling, East-West.It is a resource which no state or company affords to neglect or leave unstudied for possible exploitation - by applying best practices and with a minimal impact on the environment, of course.The process of exploitation of any mineral resource has an impact on the environment, but this impact can be kept in check and at a minimal level by sticking to good practices.As a main effect on the environment, a possible - and I underline the term "possible" - contamination of subterranean waters. This contamination can be caused only by disregarding drilling and probe cementing technologies and not by the use of a certain method. Among the mentioned measures, a thorough control of probe cementation is recommended so that the liquid used in the hydraulic fracturin