🛢️ Poland Unveils One of Europe’s Largest Oil Reserve Discoveries in a Decade

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

On 21 July 2025, Central European Petroleum (CEP) announced the discovery of what may be Poland’s largest conventional hydrocarbon deposit and one of the most significant in Europe in the past ten years. The breakthrough was made at the Wolin East 1 (WE1) well, located approximately 6 kilometres off the coast of Świnoujście, in Poland’s northwest Baltic Sea region.

📊 Estimated Reserves and Geological Scope

• Wolin East 1 well contains:
  • 22 million tonnes of recoverable crude oil and condensate
  • 5 billion cubic metres of commercial-grade natural gas
• The broader Wolin concession area spans 593 km² and may hold:
  • Over 33 million tonnes of oil and condensate
  • 27 billion cubic metres of natural gas

This discovery could more than double Poland’s current oil reserves, which stood at 20.2 million tonnes in 2023.

🛠️ Technical Details

• Drilled using a jack-up platform in 9.5 metres of water
• Reached a vertical depth of 2,715 metres
• Confirmed presence of a 62-metre hydrocarbon column in the Main Dolomite formation, with excellent reservoir properties

🗣️ Strategic and Economic Significance

CEP CEO Rolf G. Skaar described the find as a “historic moment” for Poland’s energy sector, stating:

“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”.

Poland’s Chief National Geologist, Krzysztof Galos, emphasized the discovery’s potential to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels and strengthen national energy autonomy:

“If confirmed, the Wolin East deposit could become the largest deposit of crude oil and associated natural gas ever discovered in Poland”.

🌍 Project Oversight and Ownership

• The project is managed by CEP Central European Petroleum, the company’s Polish subsidiary
• CEP is Canadian-based, with Norwegian majority ownership, and was originally established to explore hydrocarbons within the European Union, particularly in Germany

This landmark discovery is expected to reshape Poland’s energy landscape and attract international development partners for rapid and responsible resource extraction.