ION Geophysical Corporation says that its GX Technology subsidiary has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Institute of Geophysics - Polish Academy of Sciences (IGF), Institute of Geological Sciences - Polish Academy of Sciences (ING), and Polish Geological Institute - National Research Institute (PGI) for research collaboration in Poland. Under the memorandum, the parties will investigate the feasibility of developing a basin-scale, 2D regional seismic study covering a large portion of Poland.

Marek Lewandowski, Director of the Institute of Geological Sciences, commented, 'On behalf of PGI Director, Jerzy Nawrocki, and IGF Director, Pawel Rowinski, I wish to express our greatest satisfaction about the collaboration with ION to determine the feasibility of this groundbreaking program in Poland. If deemed feasible, the program will be designed leveraging the combined knowledge and expertise of the group not only for the research benefit of the parties, but also for the future energy safety of Poland and the European Union. Furthermore, the experience gained in Poland may become useful for other countries coping with similar exploration issues.'

Enthusiasm over Poland's shale gas play has been high as companies look to reproduce the success of the North American unconventional fields. Still much work needs to be done to prove that this concept will work in Poland, including a more comprehensive understanding of the regional geology and the risk factors associated with the shale gas trend. There is considerable exploration risk associated with the play, and further scientific studies will play a key role in helping companies define and manage that risk while focusing initial efforts on the most prospective areas.

Brian Horn, Chief Geologist and Director of Geology in ION's Integrated Seismic Solutions, added, 'Through this joint effort, ION hopes to be able to propose a world-class regional study to the Polish Ministry of the Environment. The program, known as PolandSPAN, would include new high-end 2D seismic acquisition, processing, and interpretation to provide the most complete and extensive understanding of the subsurface to date.'

IGF IGF, a unit of the Polish Academy of Sciences, is a multidisciplinary organization engaging in advanced research, teaching and service provision in cutting-edge geophysical sciences. Its expertise spans the globe from pole to pole and embraces all environments - solid Earth, hydrosphere and atmosphere. The main fields of research are: seismology, Earth's interior dynamics, geomagnetism, physics of the atmosphere, hydrology and polar research.

ING ING, a unit of the Polish Academy of Sciences, is a first-ranked and worldwide recognized scientific institute, with outstanding impact on the progress and development of the regional geology, currently specializing in geochemistry, mineralogy and petrology, and their application to sedimentology, tectonics and the geosystem history.

PGI PGI is a leading research institute (with official status of National Research Institute) covering a very wide area of activities in Earth Sciences, including regional geological and geophysical studies, and appraisal of shale gas potential of Poland.

Tags: ION Geophysical Corporation