Central European Petroleum (CEP) has found oil in the Baltic Sea off Poland. The Wolin East 1 (WE1) well, which CEP owns and operates outright, hit 33.4 API oil about 6 km offshore from the city of Swinoujscie. CEP estimates the Wolin East discovery holds mean recoverable oil, sales gas and natural gas liquids totaling 200 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe).
What the well found
CEP drilled WE1 with a jack-up rig in 9.5 meters of water. The well reached a vertical depth of 2,715 meters. Tests confirmed a 62-meter hydrocarbon column and reservoir properties CEP describes as excellent for oil and gas production in the Main Dolomite formation.
Size and further potential
CEP says the Wolin East resources make up the largest conventional hydrocarbon field yet discovered in Poland, and one of the largest conventional oil discoveries in Europe in the past decade. It also sees low-risk exploration, appraisal and secondary recovery potential in the Main Dolomite and in the deeper Rotliegend formation. With those included, CEP puts the Wolin license at more than 400 mmboe of recoverable hydrocarbons.
Comments from CEP and Poland
Rolf G. Skaar, CEO of CEP, called the find "a historic moment for both Central European Petroleum and Poland's energy sector" and described it as a foundation for long-term, responsible development of Poland's offshore resources.
Prof. Krzysztof Galos, Undersecretary of State and Chief Geologist, said the deposit still needs its geological documentation prepared, submitted and approved. If the discovery is confirmed, he said, Wolin East could become the largest oil and associated natural gas field found in Poland to date. He said development could contribute to Poland's energy security and reduce its dependence on external hydrocarbon suppliers, provided all formal requirements for exploitation are met first. He also pointed to Poland's Exclusive Economic Zone in the Baltic Sea as an area that has stayed insufficiently explored.
