Lane Energy, an arm of Isle of Man-registered 3Legs Resources Group, has begun the first phase of drilling Poland's first shale gas test well.

"Lane Energy Poland is very pleased to announce that drilling of the Lebien LE1 well has commenced," the company said in a statement.

Lane said the well is expected to reach its target depth in six to eight weeks.

It is the first of two vertical test wells Lane plans to drill in Poland this year, followed by a horizontal one early next year.

Lane has teamed up with ConocoPhillips to explore for unconventional gas in Poland, with the latter estimating Lane's six concessions, covering one million acres in the Baltic basin region, potentially contain many trillions of cubic feet of gas.

The US major is funding the initial exploration program and has the right to acquire a majority equity interest in the concessions.

Lane was one of the first foreign companies to enter Poland to search for shale gas and was awarded its first exploration concessions in the country more than two years ago.

The 3Legs Resources Group also has two licenses covering 630,000 acres in the Baden Wurttemburg region in southern Germany.