Greenpeace leaves Romanian fracking site

BUCHAREST, Romania, July 8 (UPI) -- Activists from Greenpeace have left the site of a hydraulic fracturing effort in Romania led by Chevron, the environmental group said.

Greenpeace said its protesters were at the Chevron site for 15 hours to protest a hydraulic fracturing campaign. Through its Twitter account, Greenpeace Romania said 25 activists from seven different countries descended on the site early Monday to declare an "anti-Chevron quarantine area" in Pengesti.

"After 15 hours of non-stop protest at Chevron-Pungesti, all activists were evacuated, while press access was forbidden," it said in its latest post to the social media site.

Chevron says its hydraulic fracturing campaign in Romania is in the early stages. Its national subsidiary, Chevron Romania Exploration and Production, is the operator in the country's Barlad shale formation.

The company said it is drilling an exploration well in the area.

Shale campaigns in Europe are in their infancy. Romania is one of the Eastern European countries thought to be rich in shale gas reserves.

Greenpeace activists formed a human chain around the drilling site in Romania. While police were on hand during the demonstration, it was unclear if any arrests were made.