Poland is emerging as an area of interest in the unconventional game as two energy companies, Polish Oil and Gas Co. (PGNiG) and Aurelian Oil & Gas, break ground on exploratory projects in the country, according to Polish Market Online.

PGNiG is starting Poland’s first large-scale fracture stimulation on its Markowola-1 site in the Pionki-Kazimierz concession, a tight-gas project. Pending successful results, the company will turn its sights on planning the exploitation process, a phase that PGNiG executives project will take place in three to four years.

Meanwhile, Aurelian has spud Poland’s first attempt at a horizontal well fractured in multiple stages in the country’s Midwestern region at Siekierki Field. During the next five months, the company plans to drill a vertical well to a depth of 4,150 meters and then take a lateral out 1,500 meters. It plans to fracture the well in up to 10 stages. Final results will be confirmed by the end of December.

Halliburton is the contractor on both the completion attempts.