FACTBOX-Companies exploring for shale gas in Europe

LONDON, March 16 (Reuters) - After missing out on the U.S. shale gas rush, most of the biggest Western oil and gas companies are getting in early in exploring for shale gas in Europe.

The following are details of where the big players are active.

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* The world's largest non-government controlled oil company, Texas-based Exxon Mobil (XOM.N) is exploring for shale gas in Germany and Poland.

* Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSa.L) drilled its first well in Sweden in January and is also exploring in Ukraine.

* The U.S.'s second-largest oil company, Chevron (CVX.N), has shale gas interests in Poland.

* Paris-based Total (TOTF.PA) is examining opportunities in France and Denmark.

* ConocoPhillips (COP.N) has a contract to explore for shale gas in northern Poland with Lane Energy and said it expects to drill its first well in Poland in the first quarter of 2010.

* U.S producer Marathon Oil Corp (MRO.N) has interests in Poland.

* Canada's Talisman Energy (TLM.TO) is exploring in Poland with explorer San Leon Energy PLC.

* Austria's OMV (OMVV.VI) is looking for shale-gas deposits in the Vienna basin around the Austrian capital.

* Small UK explorer IGAS (IGAS.L) has shale gas licences in Northern England.

* Falcon Oil & Gas (FO.V) is exploring for tight gas in the Mako Trough area in south central Hungary. Former partners Exxon Mobil and Hungary's MOL MOLB.BU pulled out of the venture in February after disappointing drilling results.

(Reporting by Tom Bergin)