Total in Talks to Give up Shale Licence in Denmark

Total is in talks with Danish regulators on giving up one of the two shale gas licences it has in the country, the Danish Energy Agency said on Thursday, in another setback for the French oil major's shale plans in Europe.

 

Danish news website Finans, citing an unnamed well-placed source, earlier reported that Total had decided the play did not contain enough hydrocarbons to continue with exploration. Total said it was in talks to relinquish the licence but had no immediate further details.

 

The company began drilling earlier this month in its other shale licence in Jutland, western Denmark. The licence it wants to give up is in eastern Denmark, north of Copenhagen.

 

Total exited its Polish licences last month. It has been the target of protests over its Danish prospects and endured a ban on hydraulic fracturing in its home country.

 

Danish regulators ordered a brief halt to Total's drilling in western Denmark a day after the company started, over what they said was a violation of environmental rules.