<"How long do you think it will take to get to a fracking stage from here - 1 year or more is probably what it will take, so what is the problem with 8 months to the regulations?">

Keep in mind that the estimate was not 8 months for the fracking regulations, it was 8 months just to have the Minister decide on the applications for the exploration rights, which would exclude fracking.

So after they get the exploration rights, assuming they do so, then a seismic program would involve aquiring 2-D seismic, then processing it, and then interpreting the information.

Depending on the size of the survey, and the terrain, that alone could take well over a year. And again, that would only start AFTER the 8 months or so from now when they would actually get the exploration rights.

The SA acreage may eventually turn out to be very productive, but it's going to take a very long time.

"On when an exploration right determination would be made, Mekwe said: “It will take the Minister of Mineral Resources approximately eight months from now to decide on the recommendations put before him pertaining to the said applications.”

Exploration work programmes, excluding fracking, could commence as soon as the exploration right was issued to a holder. Mekwe said that, if the right was granted, minimum exploration work programmes could begin towards the end of 2015."

http://www.miningweekly.com/article/petroleum-agency-moves-to-process-pending-shale-gas-applications-2014-10-27

jmo