Biznes Fakty
The largest oil deposit in Poland has been discovered. A „historic moment”
Central European Petroleum (CEP) has announced a significant oil find from a drilling operation in the Baltic Sea, located roughly 6 kilometers from Świnoujście, according to a press release from the company.
„The Wolin East field is estimated to hold 22 million tonnes of recoverable hydrocarbons, including crude oil and condensate, as well as 5 billion cubic metres of commercially viable gas,” stated Central European Petroleum (CEP) in its announcement.
Concession
The total reserves of the Wolin concession are believed to surpass 33 million tonnes of recoverable crude oil and condensate, along with 27 billion cubic metres of commercial-grade gas.
The concession area also offers considerable exploration and prospecting possibilities within the Main Dolomite geological formation and the deeper Rotliegend formation.
Based on this estimate, the Wolin East oil and gas field represents the largest conventional hydrocarbon field discovered in Poland to date, and is among the most significant conventional oil fields found in Europe in the last ten years.
The WE1 well was drilled with a jack-up platform in waters 9.5 meters deep, reaching a vertical depth of 2,715 meters.
Crude oil in Poland Crude oil in Poland PAP„This is a historic moment”
According to CEP, tests confirmed a 62-meter hydrocarbon column and exceptional reservoir qualities for the extraction of oil and gas from the Main Dolomite geological formation.
„This marks a historic moment for both Central European Petroleum and the Polish energy sector. We consider this discovery a cornerstone for the sustainable and responsible development of Polish marine resources. Wolin East is not merely a promising deposit—it represents a collective opportunity to harness the full geological and energy potential of the Baltic Sea,” remarked Rolf G. Skaar, CEO of CEP, as cited in the press release.
„The discovery of the Wolin East hydrocarbon deposit—despite the need for preparation, submission, and approval of geological documentation—could signify a pivotal moment in the history of hydrocarbon exploration in Poland, particularly in regions that remain underexplored like the Polish Exclusive Economic Zone in the Baltic Sea. If this find is ultimately verified, the Wolin East deposit could emerge as the largest source of crude oil and associated natural gas ever identified in Poland,” stated Undersecretary of State and Chief National Geologist Krzysztof Galos.
He believes that the future development of this facility could greatly enhance Poland’s energy security and lessen its reliance on external hydrocarbon suppliers, provided that all necessary formalities for its operation are satisfied. The President of CEP is optimistic that Wolin East could play a crucial role in Poland’s national energy strategy.
– Our aim is to ensure that the project is executed swiftly, technically efficiently, aligned with the country’s strategic interests, and in close collaboration with national stakeholders, said Rolf Skaar.
In late February, Central European Petroleum finalized drilling its inaugural well, Wolin East 1 (WE1), in the Wolin concession. Initial results from the drilling were reported as promising.
The Wolin concession spans an area of 593 square kilometers and was granted by the Minister of Climate and Environment. CEP is actively exploring for hydrocarbons in the Main Dolomite (Ca2) and Rotliegend deposits.
As part of the WE1 operation, CEP conducted drilling, core sampling, geophysical profiling, and reservoir testing within the Ca2 Main Dolomite reservoir. Preliminary data indicated that the Ca2 Main Dolomite reservoir may contain as much as 16.5 billion cubic meters of recoverable gas and 10.3 million cubic meters of recoverable fluids.
Central European Petroleum Ltd. is a Canadian company specializing in hydrocarbon exploration and production, headquartered in Calgary and predominantly owned by Norwegian investors. Its subsidiary, CEP Central European Petroleum, manages the Wolin concession in northwestern Poland.
