Poland discovers the largest oil and gas field in the country's history
The Noble Resolve jack-up drilling rig (photo - Noble Corporation)

A new oil and natural gas field has been discovered in northwestern Poland. The operator, Central European Petroleum (CEP), called it the largest in the country and one of the largest in Europe over the past decade, according to Polish media, including Money.pl, Business Insider and others.

The Wolin East 1 (WE1) well, drilled in the Baltic Sea 6 km from the town of Świnoujście, confirmed 22 million tons of crude oil and 5 billion cubic meters of commercial natural gas.

According to preliminary estimates presented by the Center for Energy Policy, the field's total reserves could reach more than 33 million tons of oil and 27 billion cubic meters of gas.

"This is a historic moment for the Polish energy sector. Wolin East is more than just a promising field, it is a joint opportunity to unlock the full geological and energy potential of the Baltic Sea," said CEP President Rolf G. Skaar.

According to Krzysztof Halosz, Poland's chief geologist, this discovery can significantly strengthen the country's energy security and reduce its dependence on external energy suppliers.

Before starting commercial production, it will be necessary to complete the preparation of geological documentation and obtain the relevant permits.

  • Canadian energy company Central European Petroleum (CEP) has been operating in the European market since 2006. The company is engaged in the exploration and production of oil and gas fields, mainly in the EU. Outside of Canada, the company has subsidiaries in Germany and Poland.
  • The Polish subsidiary Central European Petroleum Ltd. has been operating since 2018. Its activities in the Baltic are carried out on the basis of the Wolin exploration license covering the onshore and offshore area near Świnoujście.
  • Since October 2017, Central European Petroleum has also had an exclusive license for gas production at the 330-square-kilometer Gulen field in Berlin for 30 years. In 2015, CEP signed an agreement with PGNiG (Polish Oil and Gas Company) to drill wells within the Lubben SW project in Brandenburg.