The results of long-term studies of shale formations in Ukraine confirm their gas-bearing potential and open new opportunities for the development of domestic gas production and the strengthening of the state’s energy resilience.
On April 30, 2026, employees of SE «Ukrnaukageocenter», a subsidiary of NJSC «Nadra Ukrainy» participated in the roundtable «Innovative Solutions in the Energy Complex of Ukraine», held at the National University «Yuriy Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic». The event was attended by Mr. Oleg Golub, Deputy General Director for Technical Affairs and Chief Engineer, Mr. Roman Dvoretskyi, Deputy General Director for Geology and Chief Geologist, and Mr. Andrii Matviienko, Deputy Director of the Well Research and Field Development Department.

Within the framework of the roundtable, Roman Dvoretskyi presented a report titled «Current Status and Prospects for Developing Shale Gas Deposits in Ukraine». The presentation emphasized the role of unconventional hydrocarbon sources in ensuring the state’s energy security and the strategic importance of shale gas for achieving Ukraine’s energy independence.

“The systematic research work conducted by SE «Ukrnaukageocenter» contributes to forming an appropriate foundation for the development of the domestic resource base. Confirmation of the gas potential of shale formations and the identification of prospective areas is not only the result of years of expertise but also a practical step toward strengthening Ukraine’s energy independence. Our priority is to transform scientific developments into specific extraction projects that will strengthen the state’s energy resilience,” noted Mr. Viktor Novikov, Chairman of the Board of NJSC «Nadra Ukrainy».

Since 2012, by order of the State Service of Geology and Subsoil of Ukraine and NJSC «Nadra Ukrainy», specialists of SE «Ukrnaukageocenter» have been carrying out comprehensive geological-analytical and laboratory studies of shale formations. As part of this work, reinterpretation of geophysical materials using modern methods, analysis of vitrinite reflectance with map construction, reprocessing of petrographic and paleontological data, and generalization of drilling results were conducted. An important stage was the study of core material that had been stored in the enterprise’s archives for over 40 years. As a result, the presence of hydrocarbon gases was confirmed, indicating the gas-bearing potential of shale rocks and their prospects for further exploration and appraisal work.
Based on the synthesis of data, six main prospective areas have been identified within the Eastern and Western oil and gas regions of Ukraine. This creates a basis for intensifying geological exploration work and increasing the hydrocarbon resource base.

The roundtable brought together leading scientists and industry practitioners. Participants discussed the implementation of innovative solutions in the energy complex, as well as issues of its resilience and security under martial law. In particular, specialists from specialized universities, scientific institutions of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, and industry enterprises presented their findings.
As a reminder, NJSC «Nadra Ukrainy» tripled its contributions to the budget in the first quarter of 2026.