Fracing is a technique by which unconventional natural gas deposits are extracted from rocks.

FORBES: Poland: Fracing On The Rise?

In fact, deals like it could be the standard, unless something like fracing can shift the equation.

FORBES: Poland: Fracing On The Rise?

The second problem is that energy majors looking for fracing action in Europe are not necessarily the companies with the greatest expertise or incentive.

FORBES: Poland: Fracing On The Rise?

Fracing was largely innovated in the United States by smaller energy companies willing to take risks to get to deposits in fields considered to be depleted.

FORBES: Poland: Fracing On The Rise?

Technological advances in drilling techniques in the United States, combined with the rising price of natural gas in the mid 2000s, made the adoption of fracing possible.

FORBES: Poland: Fracing On The Rise?

The idea of applying these fracing techniques to Europe is appealing, especially in Eastern and Central Europe, where the former Soviet bloc countries still largely depend on imported natural gas from Russia for domestic consumption.

FORBES: Poland: Fracing On The Rise?

For example, Italy and the Netherlands, which have had considerable domestic natural gas production over the years, have the majority of their production offshore, but fracing can only be conducted from an onshore site because it requires immense amounts of freshwater to be pumped down the well.

FORBES: Poland: Fracing On The Rise?