Oil and Gas Exploration in Poland

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to present the geologic framework of the oil and gas prospective zones and the hydrocarbon exploration history of Poland. In almost 100 years of exploration it has been proved that hydrocarbon prospective area covers roughly 82% of the whole territory, i.e. 257,000 km². This area falls into two major oil-and gas-bearing provinces (Fig. 1):

• The Carpathian Province comprises folded Flysch (with an area of 19,000 km²) and Foredeep (with an area of 17,000 km²) tectonic zones. The Carpathian Foredeep has an external part situated north of the frontal overthrust fold of the Carpathian Flysch and an internal part, under the overthrust of the Carpathian Flysch.

• Polish Lowlands cover the eastern part of the NE German-Polish basin and the western part of the E European Platform. It comprises platform areas of Poland and the Polish sector of the Baltic Sea with an area of 221,000 km².