Central European Petroleum’s (CEP) conventional oil discovery offshore Poland is one of Europe’s largest in a decade, the company announced in a July 21 press release.
If confirmed, the discovery of an estimated 22 MMtonnes (160 MMbbl) and 5 Bcm of natural gas would rank as Poland’s largest conventional hydrocarbon deposit and would more than double the country’s current estimated oil reserves—which stood at around 20.2 MMtonnes in 2023, according to the Polish press.
“This is a historic moment for both Central European Petroleum and the Polish energy sector,” said Central European Petroleum’s CEO Rolf G Skaar.
The breakthrough was made in the Polish Baltic Sea at CEP’s Wolin East 1 well, according to the release.
Wolin is sited approximately 6 km from the port city of Świnoujście in northwest Poland.
The broader concession area, spanning 593 sq km, is estimated to contain over 33 MMtonnes of oil and condensate, as well as 27 Bcm of gas.
The well was drilled using a jackup platform in waters measuring 9.5 m deep, and reached a total vertical depth of 2,715 m.
“Wolin East is more than just a promising deposit—it is a joint opportunity to unlock the full geological and energy potential of the Baltic Sea,” Skaar said.
CEP said the find could play a key role in reducing Poland’s dependence on imported fossil fuels, as the country looks to strengthen its energy autonomy.
“The discovery of the Wolin East hydrocarbon deposit ... could prove to be a breakthrough in the history of hydrocarbon exploration in Poland, especially in areas still insufficiently explored, such as the Polish Exclusive Economic Zone in the Baltic Sea,” said Krzysztof Galos, Poland’s undersecretary of state and chief national geologist.
CEP Central European Petroleum, the company’s Polish subsidiary, is overseeing the project, the release stated.