Natural gas

2022

Resources and output

Table 1 shows exploitable resources of natural gas exploited from the gas fields, crude oil and condensate fields, taking into account the degree of their exploration and the state of development. The data given in the table refer to the resources of natural gas of various methane content and are not converted to those of high methane gas (high methane gas = extracted reserves × combustion heat of real gas ÷ combustion heat of high methane gas, that is about 34 MJ/m³).

Table 1. Natural gas – million m³

In 2022, the exploitable resources of natural gas amounted to 153.52 billion m³ (the total anticipated economic and anticipated sub-economic resources) and in comparison with the previous year increased by 8.25 billion m³. There were new fields included in ‘The balance…’ in 2022: Rokietnica (documented exploitable anticipated economic resources 1,178.10 million m³), Bajerze (433.58 million m³), Tuchola (327.92 million m³), Mielniki – Nowe Sioło (273.56 million m³), Kulno (220.00 million m³), Jastrzębiec (170.45 million m³), Korzeniówek (75.08 million m³) and Chałupczyn (18.20 million m³). The most significant exploitable resources growth was recorded for the following deposits: Przemyśl, Lubiatów, Żuchlów, Mirocin. The resources drops were caused mainly by the exploitation.

The exploitable resources of exploited fields were estimated at 104.84 billion m³, which accounts for 68.3% of the total amount of the exploitable resources.

In 2022, the economic resources of natural gas fields were equal 77.96 billion m³.

The total domestic resources given above include those of gas fields which are planned to be converted for the use as the underground natural gas storage facilities. The resources remained in these fields are treated as a gas cushion (a buffer capacity) and will not be exploited in the time of the natural gas storage existence. There have been the following gas fields selected for conversion into underground storage facilities: Bonikowo (328.63 million m³), Brzeźnica II (45.59 million m³), Daszewo (27.72 million m³), Husów (372.88 million m³), Strachocina (121.5 million m³), Swarzów (28.80 million m³) and Wierzchowice (5,728.12 million m³). The total resources of natural gas to be used as gas cushions are estimated at 6,653.25 million m³. In 2012, there was a permission given by the Minister of the Environment for the Henrykowice E field (crossed out from ‘The balance…’ in 2003) to be used as underground natural gas storage facility.

The underground hydrocarbons storage facilities are also built in the salt deposits. There are 3 cavernous underground facilities operating at the moment – the gas storage facilities Mogilno II and Kosakowo and the crude oil and liquid fuels storage facility Góra. As of the end of 2022, 11 licenses for running underground natural gas, crude oil and liquid fuel storage facilities were valid.

In 2022, the domestic output of natural gas from the fields with documented gas resources (Table 2) was equal 4,718.83 million m³, being by 143.77 million m³ lower than in 2021.

Table 2. Domestic production of natural gas – million m³

The figure below shows changes in domestic exploitable anticipated economic resources and production of natural gas in Poland in the years 1989-2022.

 

The list of natural gas fields with their resources, the output and the state of development is presented in Table 3. The fields which have been abandoned due to the exploitable resources depletion have anticipated economic or anticipated sub-economic resources documented.

Table 3. List of natural gas fields – million m³

The prospective resources of the conventional natural gas, according to The balance of prospective mineral resources of Poland, are connected with the oil-gas-bearing formations occurring: on the Polish Lowlands (the Cambrian formation – about 1.3 billion m³, the Devonian-Carboniferous formation – about 56.22 billion m³, the Rotliegend formation – about 1,410 billion m³, the Main dolomite formation – about 219 billion m³, the Mesozoic formation – probable resources about 11.25 billion m³ and hypothetical resources 55.22 billion m³), on the Carpathian Foreland (the Miocene together with its basement in the Carpathian Foredeep – about 57.1 billion m³, the Carpathian flysh together with its basement – about 30.6 billion m³)*. The long-term prospective outlooks are connected with: the western and eastern part of the Carpathian Mts. and the Carpathian Foreland, the Carboniferous sediments of the north-eastern edge of the Western European platform, the Rotliegend formation occurring on the large depths of 3,500-6,500 meters, the area of the western parts of the Main dolomite platforms and the eastern part of the Fore-Sudetic Monocline. The resources of the unconventional natural gas (technically exploitable) in the land area within schists of the Lower Paleozoic age in the Baltic-Podlasie-Lublin basin are assessed to be equal about 75.3-622.2 billion m³, whereas on the maritime area to be equal about 126.7-166.1 billion m³**. Regarding the natural gas trapped in the Rotliegnd sandstones of the Poznań-Kalisz zone, the Carboniferous sandstones of the Wielkopolska-Śląsk zone and the Cambrian sandstones in the western part of the Baltic basin, their total geological resources are assessed to be equal 1,528-1,995 billion m³, which recalculated to the technically exploitable resources is about 153-200 billion m³.

Prepared by: Martyna Czapigo-Czapla, Dariusz Brzeziński

* Feldman-Olszewska A., Kiersnowski H., Peryt T., Pacześna J., Laskowicz R., Janas M., Głuszyński A., Waśkiewicz K., 2020 – ‘Ropa naftowa (crude oil), gaz ziemny (natural gas), kondensat ropno-gazowy (condensate)’. In: ‘Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31.12.2018 r.’ (eds. Szamałek K., Szuflicki M., Mizerski W.): 49-69. PIG-PIB, Warszawa [in Polish].

** Wójcicki A., Kiersnowski H., Podhalańska T., Janas M., Głuszyński A., Pacześna J., Adamczak-Biały T., 2020 – ‘Gaz i ropa z łupków (shale gas, shale oil), gaz zamknięty (tight gas)’. In: ‘Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31.12.2018 r.’ (eds. Szamałek K., Szuflicki M., Mizerski W.): 70-83. PIG-PIB, Warszawa [in Polish].

2021

Resources and output

Table 1 shows exploitable resources of natural gas exploited from the gas fields, crude oil and condensate fields, taking into account the degree of their exploration and the state of development. The data given in the table refer to the resources of natural gas of various methane content and are not converted to those of high methane gas (high methane gas = extracted reserves × combustion heat of real gas ÷ combustion heat of high methane gas, that is about 34 MJ/m³).

Table 1. Natural gas – million m³

In 2021, the exploitable resources of natural gas amounted to 145.27 billion m³ (the total anticipated economic and anticipated sub-economic resources) and in comparison with the previous year increased by 1.34 billion m³. There were new fields included in ‘The balance…’ in 2021: Chwalęcin (documented exploitable anticipated economic resources 335.62 million m³), Dargosław (536.26 million m³), Granówko (132.42 million m³), Koźminiec (54.44 million m³), Królewska Góra (142.21 million m³), Szczepowice (299.89 million m³) and Wielgoszówka (18.87 million m³). The most significant resources growth was recorded for the BMB (Barnówko – Mostno – Buszewo) field. The resources drops were caused mainly by the exploitation.

The exploitable resources of exploited fields were estimated at 98.11 billion m³, which accounts for 67.5% of the total amount of the exploitable resources.

In 2021, the economic resources of natural gas fields were equal 72.81 billion m³.

The total domestic resources given above include those of gas fields which are planned to be converted for the use as the underground natural gas storage facilities. The resources remained in these fields are treated as a gas cushion (a buffer capacity) and will not be exploited in the time of the natural gas storage existence. There have been the following gas fields selected for conversion into underground storage facilities: Bonikowo (328.63 million m³), Brzeźnica II (45.59 million m³), Daszewo (27.72 million m³), Husów (372.88 million m³), Strachocina (121.5 million m³), Swarzów (28.80 million m³) and Wierzchowice (5,728.12 million m³). The total resources of natural gas to be used as gas cushions are estimated at 6,653.25 million m³. In 2012, there was a permission given by the Minister of the Environment for the Henrykowice E field (crossed out from ‘The balance…’ in 2003) to be used as underground natural gas storage facility.

The underground hydrocarbons storage facilities are also built in the salt deposits. There are three cavernous underground facilities operating at the moment – the gas storage facilities Mogilno II and Kosakowo and the crude oil and liquid fuels storage facility Góra. As of the end of 2021, eleven licenses for running underground natural gas, crude oil and liquid fuel storage facilities were valid.

In 2021, the domestic output of natural gas from the fields with documented gas resources (Table 2) was equal 4,862.60 million m³, being only by 71.38 million m³ lower than in 2020.

Table 2. Domestic production of natural gas – million m³

The figure below shows changes in domestic exploitable anticipated economic resources and production of natural gas in Poland in the years 1989-2021.

 

The list of natural gas fields with their resources, the output and the state of development is presented in Table 3. The fields which have been abandoned due to the exploitable resources depletion have anticipated economic or anticipated sub-economic resources documented.

Table 3. List of natural gas fields – million m³

The prospective resources of the conventional natural gas, according to The balance of prospective mineral resources of Poland, are connected with the oil-gas-bearing formations occurring: on the Polish Lowlands (the Cambrian formation – about 1.3 billion m³, the Devonian-Carboniferous formation – about 56.22 billion m³, the Rotliegend formation – about 1,410 billion m³, the Main dolomite formation – about 219 billion m³, the Mesozoic formation – probable resources about 11.25 billion m³ and hypothetical resources 55.22 billion m³), on the Carpathian Foreland (the Miocene together with its basement in the Carpathian Foredeep – about 57.1 billion m³, the Carpathian flysh together with its basement – about 30.6 billion m³)*. The long-term prospective outlooks are connected with: the western and eastern part of the Carpathian Mts. and the Carpathian Foreland, the Carboniferous sediments of the north-eastern edge of the Western European platform, the Rotliegend formation occurring on the large depths of 3,500-6,500 meters, the area of the western parts of the Main dolomite platforms and the eastern part of the Fore-Sudetic Monocline. The resources of the unconventional natural gas (technically exploitable) in the land area within schists of the Lower Paleozoic age in the Baltic-Podlasie-Lublin basin are assessed to be equal about 75.3-622.2 billion m³, whereas on the maritime area to be equal about 126.7-166.1 billion m³**. Regarding the natural gas trapped in the Rotliegnd sandstones of the Poznań-Kalisz zone, the Carboniferous sandstones of the Wielkopolska-Śląsk zone and the Cambrian sandstones in the western part of the Baltic basin, their total geological resources are assessed to be equal 1,528-1,995 billion m³, which recalculated to the technically exploitable resources is about 153-200 billion m³.

Prepared by: Martyna Czapigo-Czapla, Dariusz Brzeziński

* Feldman-Olszewska A., Kiersnowski H., Peryt T., Pacześna J., Laskowicz R., Janas M., Głuszyński A., Waśkiewicz K., 2020 – ‘Ropa naftowa (crude oil), gaz ziemny (natural gas), kondensat ropno-gazowy (condensate)’. In: ‘Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31.12.2018 r.’ (eds. Szamałek K., Szuflicki M., Mizerski W.): 49-69. PIG-PIB, Warszawa [in Polish].

** Wójcicki A., Kiersnowski H., Podhalańska T., Janas M., Głuszyński A., Pacześna J., Adamczak-Biały T., 2020 – ‘Gaz i ropa z łupków (shale gas, shale oil), gaz zamknięty (tight gas)’. In: ‘Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31.12.2018 r.’ (eds. Szamałek K., Szuflicki M., Mizerski W.): 70-83. PIG-PIB, Warszawa [in Polish].

2020

Resources and output

Table 1 shows exploitable resources of natural gas exploited from the gas fields, crude oil and condensate fields, taking into account the degree of their exploration and the state of development. The data given in the table refer to the resources of natural gas of various methane content and are not converted to those of high methane gas (high methane gas = extracted reserves × combustion heat of real gas ÷ combustion heat of high methane gas, that is about 34 MJ/m³).

Table 1. Natural gas – million m³

In 2020, the exploitable resources of natural gas amounted to 143.92 billion m³ (the total anticipated economic and anticipated sub-economic resources) and in comparison with the previous year decreased by 0.33 billion m³. There were new field included in ‘The balance…’ in 2020 – Gnojnica (documented exploitable anticipated economic resources 148.59 million m³). The most significant resources growths were recorded for Brońsko field (the including new wells into the exploitation, the activities improving the exploitation) and in Trzebusz field (the approval of the geological-investment documentation), Paproć field, Załęcze field (mainly the better field exploration by the ongoing exploitation and the activities improving the exploitation). The resources drops were caused mainly by the exploitation.

The exploitable resources of exploited fields were estimated at 95.81 billion m³, which accounts for 66.6% of the total amount of the exploitable resources.

In 2020, the economic resources of natural gas fields were equal 73.51 billion m³.

The total domestic resources given above include those of gas fields which are planned to be converted for the use as the underground natural gas storage facilities. The resources remained in these fields are treated as a gas cushion (a buffer capacity) and will not be exploited in the time of the natural gas storage existence. There have been the following gas fields selected for conversion into underground storage facilities: Bonikowo (328.63 million m³), Brzeźnica II (45.59 million m³), Daszewo (27.72 million m³), Husów (372.88 million m³), Strachocina (121.5 million m³), Swarzów (28.80 million m³) and Wierzchowice (5,728.12 million m³). The total resources of natural gas to be used as gas cushions are estimated at 6,653.25 million m³. In 2012, there was a permission given by the Minister of the Environment for Henrykowice E field (crossed out from ‘The balance…’ in 2003) to be used as underground natural gas storage facility.

The underground hydrocarbons storage facilities are also built in the salt deposits. There are 3 cavernous underground facilities operating at the moment – gas storage facilities Mogilno II and Kosakowo and the crude oil and liquid fuels storage facility Góra. As of the end of 2020, 11 licenses for running underground natural gas, crude oil and liquid fuel storage facilities were valid.

In 2020, the domestic output of natural gas from the fields with documented gas resources (Table 2) was equal 4,933.98 million m³, being by 42.48 million m³ lower than in 2019.

Table 2. Domestic production of natural gas – million m³

The figure below shows changes in domestic exploitable anticipated economic resources and production of natural gas in Poland in the years 1989-2020.

 

The list of natural gas fields with their resources, the output and the state of development is presented in Table 3. The fields which have been abandoned due to the exploitable resources depletion have anticipated economic or anticipated sub-economic resources documented.

Table 3. List of natural gas fields – million m³

The prospective resources of the conventional natural gas, according to The balance of prospective mineral resources of Poland, are connected with the oil-gas-bearing formations occurring: on the Polish Lowlands (the Cambrian formation – about 1.3 billion m³, the Devonian-Carboniferous formation – about 56.22 billion m³, the Rotliegend formation – about 1,410 billion m³, the Main dolomite formation – about 219 billion m³, the Mesozoic formation – probable resources about 11.25 billion m³ and hypothetical resources 55.22 billion m³), on the Carpathian Foreland (the Miocene together with its basement in the Carpathian Foredeep – about 57.1 billion m³, the Carpathian flysh together with its basement – about 30.6 billion m³)*. The long-term prospective outlooks are connected with: the western and eastern part of the Carpathian Mts. and the Carpathian Foreland (especially the compaction anticlines below the Miocene sediments), the Carboniferous sediments of the north-eastern edge of the Western European platform, the Rotliegend formation occurring on the large depths of 3,500-6,500 meters, the area of the western parts of Main dolomite platforms and the eastern part of the Fore-Sudetic Monocline. The resources of the unconventional natural gas (technically exploitable) in the land area within schists of Lower Paleozoic age in the Baltic-Podlasie-Lublin basin are assessed to be equal about 75.3-622.2 billion m³, whereas on the maritime area to be equal about 126.7-166.1 billion m³**. Regarding the natural gas trapped in the Rotliegnd sandstones of the Poznań-Kalisz zone, the Carboniferous sandstones of the Wielkopolska-Śląsk zone and the Cambrian sandstones in the western part of the Baltic basin, their total geological resources are assessed to be equal 1,528-1,995 billion m³, which recalculated to the technically exploitable resources is about 153-200 billion m³.

Prepared by: Martyna Czapigo-Czapla, Dariusz Brzeziński

* Feldman-Olszewska A., Kiersnowski H., Peryt T., Pacześna J., Laskowicz R., Janas M., Głuszyński A., Waśkiewicz K., 2020 – ‘Ropa naftowa (crude oil), gaz ziemny (natural gas), kondensat ropno-gazowy (condensate)’. In: ‘Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31.12.2018 r.’ (eds. Szamałek K., Szuflicki M., Mizerski W.): 49-69. PIG-PIB, Warszawa [in Polish].

** Wójcicki A., Kiersnowski H., Podhalańska T., Janas M., Głuszyński A., Pacześna J., Adamczak-Biały T., 2020 – ‘Gaz i ropa z łupków (shale gas, shale oil), gaz zamknięty (tight gas)’. In: ‘Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31.12.2018 r.’ (eds. Szamałek K., Szuflicki M., Mizerski W.): 70-83. PIG-PIB, Warszawa [in Polish].

2019

Resources and output

Table 1 shows exploitable resources of natural gas exploited from the gas fields, crude oil and condensate fields, taking into account the degree of their exploration and the state of development. The data given in the table refer to the resources of natural gas of various methane content and are not converted to those of high methane gas (high methane gas = extracted reserves × combustion heat of real gas ÷ combustion heat of high methane gas, that is about 34 MJ/m³).

Table 1. Natural gas – million m³

In 2019, the exploitable resources of natural gas amounted to 144.25 billion m³ (the total anticipated economic and anticipated sub-economic resources) and in comparison with the previous year increased by 2.09 billion m³. There were new fields included in ‘The balance…’ in 2019: Brzyska Wola (the documented exploitable resources: 49.00 million m³), Czarna Wieś (35.02 million m³), Olchowiec (16.00 million m³), Pniewy (5,429.60 million m³), Połęcko (12.90 million m³), Rogoźnica (167.00 million m³) and Wielichowo W (30.08 million m³). The most significant resources growths were recorded for B 6, Borowo, Wilcze-czerw.spąg. fields (due to the approval of the successive geological-investing documentations or the supplements for documentations with recalculated resources) and for Barnówko – Mostno – Buszewo, Kościan S, Mełgiew A and Mełgiew B, Paproć, Paproć W and Przemyśl fields (mainly due to the better exploration as the result of the ongoing exploitation and due to the efforts intensifying the output). The resources drops were caused mainly by the exploitation and by the resources settlement after the exploitation end.

The exploitable resources of exploited fields were estimated at 90.26 billion m³, which accounts for 62.6% of the total amount of the exploitable resources.

In 2019, the economic resources of natural gas fields were equal 74.95 billion m³.

The total domestic resources given above include those of gas fields which are planned to be converted for the use as the underground natural gas storage facilities. The resources remained in these fields are treated as a gas cushion (a buffer capacity) and will not be exploited in the time of the natural gas storage existence. There have been 7 gas fields selected for conversion into underground storage facilities so far: Bonikowo (328.63 million m³), Brzeźnica II (45.59 million m³), Daszewo (27.72 million m³), Husów (372.88 million m³), Strachocina (121.5 million m³), Swarzów (28.80 million m³) and Wierzchowice (5,728.12 million m³). The total resources of natural gas to be used as gas cushions are estimated at 6.65 billion m³. In 2012, there was a permission given by the Minister of the Environment for Henrykowice E field (crossed out from ‘The balance…’ in 2003) to be used as underground natural gas storage facility.

The underground hydrocarbons storage facilities are also built in the salt deposits. There are 3 cavernous underground facilities operating at the moment – gas storage facilities Mogilno II and Kosakowo and the crude oil and liquid fuels storage facility Góra. As of the end of 2019, 11 licenses for running underground natural gas, crude oil and liquid fuel storage facilities were in force.

In 2019, the domestic output of natural gas from the fields with documented gas resources (Table 2) was equal 4,976.46 million m³, being by 50.45 million m³ bigger than in 2018.

Table 2. Domestic production of natural gas – million m³

The figure below shows changes in domestic exploitable anticipated economic resources and production of natural gas in Poland in the years 1989-2019.

 

The list of natural gas fields with their resources, the output and the state of development is presented in Table 3. The fields which have been abandoned due to the exploitable resources depletion have anticipated economic or anticipated sub-economic resources documented.

Table 3. List of natural gas fields – million m³

The prospective resources of the conventional natural gas, according to The balance of prospective mineral resources of Poland, are connected with the oil-gas-bearing formations occurring: on the Polish Lowlands (the Cambrian formation – about 1.3 billion m³, the Devonian-Carboniferous formation – about 56.22 billion m³, the Rotliegend formation – about 1,410 billion m³, the Main dolomite formation – about 219 billion m³, the Mesozoic formation – probable resources about 11.25 billion m³ and hypothetical resources 55.22 billion m³), on the Carpathian Foreland (the Miocene together with its basement in the Carpathian Foredeep – about 57.1 billion m³, the Carpathian flysh together with its basement – about 30.6 billion m³)*. The long-term prospective outlooks are connected with: the western and eastern part of the Carpathian Mts. and the Carpathian Foreland (especially the compaction anticlines below the Miocene sediments), the Carboniferous sediments of the north-eastern edge of the Western European platform, the Rotliegend formation occurring on the large depths of 3,500-6,500 meters, the area of the western parts of Main dolomite platforms and the eastern part of the Fore-Sudetic Monocline. The resources of the unconventional natural gas (technically exploitable) in the land area within schists of Lower Paleozoic age in the Baltic-Podlasie-Lublin basin are assessed to be equal about 75.3-622.2 billion m³, whereas on the maritime area to be equal about 126.7-166.1 billion m³**. Regarding the natural gas trapped in the Rotliegnd sandstones of the Poznań-Kalisz zone, the Carboniferous sandstones of the Wielkopolska-Śląsk zone and the Cambrian sandstones in the western part of the Baltic basin, their total geological resources are assessed to be equal 1,528-1,995 billion m³, which recalculated to the technically exploitable resources is about 153-200 billion m³.

Prepared by: Dariusz Brzeziński, Martyna Czapigo-Czapla

* Feldman-Olszewska A., Kiersnowski H., Peryt T., Pacześna J., Laskowicz R., Janas M., Głuszyński A., Waśkiewicz K., 2020 – ‘Ropa naftowa (crude oil), gaz ziemny (natural gas), kondensat ropno-gazowy (condensate)’. In: ‘Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31.12.2018 r.’ (eds. Szamałek K., Szuflicki M., Mizerski W.): 49-69. PIG-PIB, Warszawa.

** Wójcicki A., Kiersnowski H., Podhalańska T., Janas M., Głuszyński A., Pacześna J., Adamczak-Biały T., 2020 – ‘Gaz i ropa z łupków (shale gas, shale oil), gaz zamknięty (tight gas)’. In: ‘Bilans perspektywicznych zasobów kopalin Polski wg stanu na 31.12.2018 r.’ (eds. Szamałek K., Szuflicki M., Mizerski W.): 70-83. PIG-PIB, Warszawa.

2018

In Poland, the main area of a natural gas fields occurrence is the Polish Lowlands. Gas fields have been also documented on the Carpathian Foreland, minor resources occur also in small deposits within the Carpathian Mts. area and in Polish economic zone of the Baltic Sea (map). About 75% of the gas resources are related to plays involving Miocene and Rotliegend formations and the remaining resources – to plays in the Cambrian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Zechstein, Jurassic and Cretaceous formations.

In the Polish Lowlands, the gas fields are related to the sediments of the Permian age in the Fore-Sudetic and Wielkopolska regions and of the Carboniferous and Permian age in the Western Pomerania. In these regions the gas occurs in the massive- and block-type fields with the water- or gas-drive exploitation mechanism. In that area only a few gas fields contain high methane gas, the remaining gas fields contain the nitrogen natural gas as the main component with the content of methane ranging from about 30% up to over 80%. Therefore, that is a nitrogen-methane or methane-nitrogen mixture.

The fields containing natural gas with a nitrogen content over 90%, called as ‘high nitrogenous natural gas’ (HNNG), are discussed in a separate section.

On the Carpathian Foreland, natural gas fields are related to plays involving the Jurassic, Cretaceous and Miocene formations. Most often, the fields contain high methane natural gas with a low content of nitrogen. The exceptions are few natural gas fields containing high nitrogen concentrations. In this region gas occurs in the structural-lithological multi-layer traps or, sometimes massive-type reservoirs with the gas drive mechanism.

In the Carpathians, the natural gas occurs in self-contained fields or as an accompanying element in crude oil or condensate fields related to plays in the Cretaceous and Paleogene formations. The gas is characterized by a high content of methane (usually over 85%) whereas an average content of nitrogen is a few percent.

In the Polish economic zone of the Baltic Sea the gas occur as a self-contained in B 4, B 6, B 21 fields and together with crude oil in B 3 and B 8 fields.

At present, the Polish Lowlands region accounts for 72% of exploitable domestic resources of natural gas and the Carpathian Foreland – for 23% of those resources. The resources of the Polish economic zone of the Baltic Sea and the Carpathians are subordinate (accounting for 3% and 1% of exploitable domestic resources, respectively).

Table 1 shows exploitable resources of natural gas exploited from the gas fields, crude oil and condensate fields, taking into account the degree of their exploration and the state of development. The data given in the table refer to the resources of natural gas of various methane content and are not converted to those of high methane gas (high methane gas = extracted reserves × combustion heat of real gas ÷ combustion heat of high methane gas, that is about 34 MJ/m³).

Table 1. Natural gas – million m³

In 2018, the exploitable resources of natural gas amounted to 142.16 billion m³ (anticipated economic and anticipated sub-economic resources in total) and increased by 22.97 billion m³ in comparison with the previous year. In 2018 there were new fields included in ‘The balance…’: B 21 (documented exploitable anticipated economic resources equal 275 million m³), Jata (13.67 million m³), Krobielewko (25,886.50 million m³) and Miłosław (201.14 million m³). There were Porażyn field crossed out from the domestic balance. The most significant resources growths resulted from the approving of further documentations were recorded for Pruchnik-Pantalowice and Młodasko fields.

The exploitable resources of exploited fields were estimated at 90.56 billion m³, which accounts for 64% of the total amount of the exploitable resources.

In 2018, economic resources of natural gas fields were equal 66.64 billion m³.

The total domestic resources given above include those of gas fields which are planned to be converted for the use as the underground natural gas storage facilities. The resources remained in these fields are treated as a gas cushion (a buffer capacity) and will not be exploited in the time of the natural gas storage existence. There have been 7 gas fields selected for conversion into underground storage facilities so far: Bonikowo (328.63 million m³), Brzeźnica II (45.59 million m³), Daszewo (27.72 million m³), Husów (372.88 million m³), Strachocina (121.5 million m³), Swarzów (28.80 million m³) and Wierzchowice (5,728.12 million m³). The total resources of natural gas to be used as gas cushions are estimated at 6.65 billion m³. In 2012, there was a permission given by the Minister of the Environment for Henrykowice E field (crossed out from ‘The balance…’ in 2003) to be used as underground natural gas storage facility.

The underground hydrocarbons storage facilities are also built in the salt deposits. There are 3 cavernous underground facilities operating at the moment – gas storage facilities Mogilno II and Kosakowo and the crude oil and liquid fuels storage facility Góra. As of the end of 2018, 11 licenses for running underground natural gas, crude oil and liquid fuel storage facilities were in force.

In 2018, the domestic output of natural gas from the fields with documented gas resources (Table 2) was equal 4,926.01 million m³, being by 83.11 million m³ lower than in 2017.

Table 2. Domestic production of natural gas – million m³

The figure below shows changes in domestic exploitable anticipated economic resources and production of natural gas in Poland in the years 1989-2018.

The list of natural gas fields with their resources, the output and the state of development is presented in Table 3. The fields which have been abandoned due to the exploitable resources depletion have anticipated economic or anticipated sub-economic resources documented.

Table 3. List of natural gas fields – million m³

Prepared by: Martyna Czapigo-Czapla, Dariusz Brzeziński

2017

In Poland, major gas fields were discovered in the area of the Polish Lowlands. Gas fields are also known from the Carpathian Foreland and smaller ones – from the Carpathian Mts. and Polish economic zone of the Baltic Sea (map). About 75% of the gas resources are related to plays involving Miocene and Rotliegend formations and the remaining resources – to plays in the Cambrian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Zechstein, Jurassic and Cretaceous formations.

In the Polish Lowlands, gas fields are related to the Permian in the Fore-Sudetic and Wielkopolska regions and the Carboniferous and Permian in the Western Pomerania. In these regions gas occurs in the massive and block-type reservoirs with the water or gas drive mechanism. In that area only couple of gas fields contain high methane gas. The remaining gas fields are characterized by the presence of nitrogen natural gas with the content of methane ranging from about 30% up to over 80% that is nitrogen-methane or methane-nitrogen mixtures.

Gas fields containing natural gas with a nitrogen content over 90%, called as high nitrogenous natural gas (HNNG), are discussed in a separate section.

In the Carpathian Foreland, natural gas fields are related to plays involving the Jurassic, Cretaceous and Miocene formations. The fields usually contain high methane natural gas with a low content of nitrogen. The exceptions are few natural gas fields containing high nitrogen concentrations. In this region gas occurs in the structural-lithological multi-layer traps or, sometimes massive-type reservoirs with the gas drive mechanism.

In the Carpathians, natural gas occurs in gas, oil-gas and oil-gas-condensate fields related to plays in the Cretaceous and Paleogene formations. The produced gas is characterized by a high content of methane (usually over 85%) whereas an average content of nitrogen is a few percent.

In the Polish economic zone of the Baltic Sea, there are two gas fields (B 4 and B 6) and two oil-gas fields (B 3 and B 8).

At present, the Polish Lowlands region accounts for 67% of exploitable domestic resources of natural gas and the Carpathian Foreland – for 28% of those resources. The resources of the Polish economic zone of the Baltic Sea and the Carpathians are subordinate, accounting for 4% and 1% of exploitable domestic resources, respectively.

Table 1 shows exploitable resources of natural gas and the degree of exploration and development of the gas, oil and condensate fields in the individual parts of the country. The data given in the table refer to resources of natural gas of various methane content and are not converted to those of high methane gas (high methane gas = extracted reserves × combustion heat of real gas ÷ combustion heat of high methane gas, that is about 34 MJ/m³).

Table 1. Natural gas – million m³

In 2017, exploitable resources of natural gas were equal 119.19 billion m³ (anticipated economic and anticipated sub-economic resources), that is 2.75 billion m³ less than the year before – mainly due to the production. There were 3 fields documented in 2017: Kramarzówka (with documented exploitable anticipated economic resources equal 1,272.89 million m³), Miłosław E (926.45 million m³) and Dzików Stary (16 million m³). The most significant resources growths were recorded for B 3, B 8 and Kryg-Libusza-Lipinki fields.

The exploitable resources of exploited fields were estimated at 94.48 billion m³, which accounts for 79% of the total amount of the exploitable resources. In 2017, economic resources of natural gas were estimated at 50.61 billion m³.

The total domestic resources given above include those of gas fields which are planned to be converted for the use as the underground natural gas storage facilities. The production from these gas fields has been stopped in order to use the remaining gas as gas cushion (base gas) throughout the time of operation of the storage sites. There have been 7 gas fields selected for conversion into underground storage facilities so far: Bonikowo (328.63 million m³), Brzeźnica II (45.59 million m³), Daszewo (27.72 million m³), Husów (372.88 million m³), Strachocina (121.5 million m³), Swarzów (28.80 million m³) and Wierzchowice (5,728.12 million m³). The total resources of natural gas to be used as gas cushions are estimated at 6.65 billion m³. In 2012, there was a permission given by the Minister of the Environment for Henrykowice E field (crossed out from ‘The balance…’ in 2003) to be used as underground natural gas storage facility.

Underground hydrocarbons storage facilities are also built in the salt deposits. There are 3 cavernous facilities – gas storage facilities Mogilno II and Kosakowo and the crude oil and liquid fuels storage facility Góra. As of the end of 2017, 11 licenses for running underground natural gas, crude oil and liquid fuel storage facilities were issued.

In 2017, the domestic output of natural gas from the fields with documented gas resources was equal 5,009.12 billion m³ (Table 2), being by 0.064 billion m³ lower than in 2016.

Table 2. Domestic production of natural gas – million m³

The figure below shows changes in domestic exploitable anticipated economic resources and production of natural gas in Poland in the years 1989-2017.

The list of natural gas fields with their resources, production and the state of development is presented in Table 3. The fields which have been abandoned due to the resources depletion have anticipated economic or anticipated sub-economic resources documented.

Table 3. List of natural gas fields – million m³

Prepared by: Martyna Czapigo-Czapla, Dariusz Brzeziński

2016

In Poland, major gas fields were discovered in the area of the Polish Lowlands. Large gas fields are also known from the Carpathian Foreland and smaller ones – from the Carpathian Mts. and Polish economic zone of the Baltic Sea (map). About 75% of the gas resources are related to plays involving Miocene and Rotliegend formations and the remaining resources – to plays in the Cambrian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Zechstein, Jurassic and Cretaceous formations.

In the Polish Lowlands, gas fields are related to the Permian in the Fore-Sudetic and Wielkopolska regions and the Carboniferous and Permian in the Western Pomerania. In these regions gas occurs in massive and block-type reservoirs with the water or gas drive mechanism. In that area only four gas fields contain high methane gas. The remaining gas fields are characterized by the presence of nitrogen natural gas with the content of methane ranging from about 30% up to over 80%, that is nitrogen-methane or methane-nitrogen mixtures.

Gas fields containing natural gas with a nitrogen content over 90%, called as ‘high nitrogenous natural gas’ (HNNG), are discussed in a separate section.

In the Carpathian Foreland, natural gas fields are related to plays involving the Jurassic, Cretaceous and Miocene formations. The fields usually contain high methane natural gas with a low content of nitrogen. The exceptions are few natural gas fields containing high nitrogen concentrations. In this region gas occurs in structural-lithological multi-layer traps or, sometimes, massive-type reservoirs with gas drive mechanism.

In the Carpathians, natural gas occurs in gas, oil-gas and oil-gas-condensate fields related to plays in the Cretaceous and Paleogene formations. The produced gas is characterized by a high content of methane (usually over 85%) whereas an average content of nitrogen is a few percent.

In the Polish economic zone of the Baltic Sea, there are two gas fields (B4 and B6) and two oil-gas fields (B3 and B8).

At present the Polish Lowlands region accounts for 67.5% of exploitable domestic resources of natural gas and the Carpathian Foreland – for 27.1% of those resources. The resources of the Polish economic zone of the Baltic Sea and the Carpathians are subordinate, being equal 4.1% and 1.3% of exploitable domestic resources, respectively.

Table 1 shows exploitable resources of natural gas and the degree of exploration and development of the gas, oil and condensate fields in the individual parts of the country. The data given in the table refer to resources of natural gas of various methane content and are not converted to those of high methane gas (high methane gas = extracted reserves × combustion heat of real gas ÷ combustion heat of high methane gas, that is about 34 MJ/m³).

Table 1. Natural gas – million m³

In 2016, exploitable resources of natural gas were equal 121.94 billion m³ (anticipated economic and anticipated sub-economic resources), that is 3.10 billion m³ less than the year before – mainly due to the production. The resources growth was recorded for several fields, i.a.: Husów-Albigowa-Krasne, Lubaczów, Przeworsk and Zbąszyń – due to the expanding of the geological structure model and the resources verification. In 2016 there was one new field documented: Karmin (495.74 million m³ of exploitable resources).

Resources of exploited fields were estimated at 98.87 billion m³, which accounts for 81.1% of the total amount of the exploitable resources. In 2016, economic resources of natural gas were estimated at 52.30 billion m³.

The total domestic resources given above include those of gas fields which are planned to be converted for use as underground natural gas storage facilities. The production from these gas fields has been stopped in order to use the remaining gas as gas cushion (base gas) throughout the time of operation of the storage sites. There have been 7 gas fields selected for conversion into underground storage facilities so far: Bonikowo (328.63 million m³), Brzeźnica II (45.59), Daszewo (27.72), Husów (372.88), Strachocina (121.5), Swarzów (28.80) and Wierzchowice (5,557.12). The total resources of natural gas to be used as gas cushions are estimated at 6.65 billion m³. In 2012, there was permission given by the Minister of the Environment for Henrykowice E field (crossed out from ‘The balance…’ in 2003) to be used as underground natural gas storage facility.

Underground hydrocarbons storage facilities are also built in salt deposits. There are 3 cavernous facilities – gas storage facilities Mogilno II and Kosakowo and the crude oil and liquid fuels storage facility Góra. As of the end of 2016, 11 licenses for running underground natural gas, crude oil and liquid fuel storage facilities were issued.

In 2016, domestic production of natural gas from the fields with exploitable gas resources was equal 5.073 billion m³ (Table 2), being by 0.140 billion m³ lower than in 2015.

Table 2. Domestic production of natural gas – million m³

The figure below shows changes in domestic exploitable anticipated economic resources and production of natural gas in Poland in the years 1989-2016.

The list of natural gas fields with their resources, production and the state of development is presented in Table 3. Deposits which have been abandoned due to the resources depletion have anticipated economic or anticipated sub-economic resources documented.

Table 3. List of natural gas fields – million m³

Prepared by: Dariusz Brzeziński

2015

In Poland, major gas fields were discovered in area of the Polish Lowlands. Large gas fields are also known from the Carpathian Foreland and smaller ones – from the Carpathian Mts and Polish economic zone of the Baltic Sea (map). About 75% of the gas resources are related to plays involving Miocene and Rotliegend formations and the remaining resources – to plays in the Cambrian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Zechstein, Jurassic and Cretaceous formations.

In the Polish Lowlands, gas fields are related to the Permian in the Fore-Sudetic and Wielkopolska regions and the Carboniferous and Permian in the Western Pomerania. In these regions gas occurs in massive and block-type reservoirs with water or gas drive mechanism. In that area only four gas fields contain high methane gas. The remaining gas fields are characterized by presence of nitrogen natural gas with content of methane ranging from about 30% up to over 80%, that is nitrogen-methane or methane-nitrogen mixtures.

Gas fields containing natural gas with nitrogen content over 90%, called as ‘high nitrogenous natural gas’ (HNNG), are discussed in a separate section.

In the Carpathian Foreland, natural gas fields are related to plays involving the Jurassic, Cretaceous and Miocene formations. The fields usually contain high methane natural gas with low content of nitrogen. The exceptions are few natural gas fields containing high nitrogen concentrations. In this region gas occurs in structural-lithological multi-layer traps or, sometimes, massive-type reservoirs with gas drive mechanism.

In the Carpathians, natural gas occurs in gas and oil-gas and oil-gas-condensate fields related to plays in the Cretaceous and Paleogene formations. Produced gas is characterized by high content of methane (usually over 85%) whereas average content of nitrogen is a few percent at the average.

In the Polish economic zone of the Baltic Sea, there are two gas fields (B4 and B6) and two oil-gas fields (B3 and B8).

At present the Polish Lowlands region accounts for 68.5% of exploitable domestic resources of natural gas and the Carpathian Foreland – for 26.5% of those resources. The resources of the Polish economic zone of the Baltic Sea and the Carpathians are subordinate, being equal 4.0% and 1.0% of exploitable domestic resources, respectively.

Table 1 shows exploitable resources of natural gas and degree of exploration and development of the gas and oil and condensate fields in individual parts of the country. The data given in this table refer to resources of natural gas of various methane content and are not converted to those of high methane gas (high methane gas = extracted reserves × combustion heat of real gas ÷ combustion heat of high methane gas, that is about 34 MJ/m³).

Table 1. Natural gas – million m³

In 2015, exploitable resources of natural gas were equal 125.04 billion m³ (anticipated economic and anticipated sub-economic resources), that is 4.70 billion m³ less than the year before – mainly due to the production. In 2015 there was one new field documented: Sieraków (93.91 million m³ of exploitable resources).

Resources of exploited fields were estimated at 102.34 billion m³, which accounts for 82% of total amount of the exploitable resources. In 2015, economic resources of natural gas were estimated at 54.91 billion m³.

The total domestic resources given above include those of gas fields which are planned to be converted for use as underground natural gas storage facilities. Production from these gas fields has been stopped in order to use the remaining gas as gas cushion (base gas) throughout the time of operation of the storage sites. There have been 7 gas fields selected for conversion into underground storage facilities so far: Bonikowo (328.63 million m³), Brzeźnica (45.59 million m³), Daszewo (27.72 million m³), Husów (372.88 million m³), Strachocina (121.50 million m³), Swarzów (28.80 million m³) and Wierzchowice (5,728.12 million m³). Total reserves of natural gas to be used as gas cushions are estimated at 6.65 billion m³. In 2012, there was permission given by the Minister of the Environment for Henrykowice E field (crossed out from ‘The balance…’ in 2003) to be used as underground natural gas storage facility.

Underground hydrocarbons storage facilities are also built in salt deposits. There are 3 cavernous facilities – gas storage facilities Mogilno II and Kosakowo and crude oil and liquid fuels storage facility Góra. As of the end of 2015, 11 licenses for running underground natural gas, crude oil and liquid fuel storage facilities were issued.

In 2015, domestic production of natural gas from field with exploitable gas resources was equal 5.214 billion m³ (table 2), being by 0.045 billion m³ lower than in 2014.

Table 2. Domestic production of natural gas – million m³

The figure below shows changes in domestic exploitable anticipated economic resources and production of natural gas in Poland in the years 1989-2015.

Shale gas accumulations are likely to occur in the Upper Ordovician-Lower Silurian formations in the Baltic and Lublin-Podlasie Basins, as well as in the Lysogory and Bilgoraj-Narol blocks. These formations are currently subject to industry exploration activity. Couple of years ago, Polish Geological Institute-National Research Institute in cooperation with U.S. Geological Survey on the basis of data from the period 1950-1990 estimated resources of gas and oil in the Upper Ordovician-Lower Silurian formations in the Baltic and Lublin-Podlasie Basins. Total exploitable resources of gas can be estimated at maximum 1,920 billion m³ and oil 535 million tonnes. Taking into account all parameters of the evaluation, resources can be estimated with the highest probability within the range of 346-768 billion m³ of gas and 215-268 million tonnes of oil*.

In 2014 PGI-NRI prepared the first preliminary report** assessing the prognostic resources of natural gas in the selected most perspective compact reservoir complexes in Poland. This report was elaborated as one of the state geological survey tasks. There were 3 complexes explored: Permian sandstones of Rotliegend formation in Poznań-Kalisz area, Carboniferous sandstones in Wielkopolska-Śląsk area and Cambrian sandstones in the western part of Baltic basin.

On the basis of archival data and the latest information disclosed by exploratory companies operating in Poland the prognostic resources of natural gas within 3 areas mentioned above were estimated at 1,528-1,995 billion m³. According to the authors of this report technically exploitable resources can be hypothetically assessed assuming the exploitation factor at 5-15% (mean 10%) for each of these regions.

Table 3. List of natural gas fields – million m³

Prepared by: Martyna Czapigo-Czapla, Dariusz Brzeziński

*PIG-PIB, 2012 – Ocena zasobów wydobywalnych gazu ziemnego i ropy naftowej w formacjach łupkowych dolnego paleozoiku w Polsce (basen bałtycko-podlasko-lubelski). PIG-PIB, Warszawa.

**Wójcicki A., Kiersnowski H., Dyrka I., Adamczak-Biały T., Becker A., Głuszyński A., Janas M., Kozłowska A., Krzemiński L., Kuberska M., Pacześna J., Podhalańska T., Roman M., Skowroński L., Waksmundzka M.I., 2014 – Prognostyczne zasoby gazu ziemnego w wybranych zwięzłych skałach zbiornikowych Polski. PIG-PIB, Warszawa.

2014

In Poland, major gas fields were discovered in area of the Polish Lowlands. Large gas fields are also known from the Carpathian Foreland and smaller ones – from the Carpathian Mts and Polish economic zone of the Baltic Sea (map). About three quarters of the gas resources are related to plays involving Miocene and Rotliegend formations and the remaining resources – to plays in the Cambrian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Zechstein, Jurassic and Cretaceous formations.

In the Polish Lowlands, gas fields are related to the Permian in the Fore-Sudetic and Wielkopolska regions and the Carboniferous and Permian in the Western Pomerania. In these regions gas occurs in massive and block-type reservoirs with water or gas drive mechanism. In that area only four gas fields contain high methane gas. The remaining gas fields are characterized by presence of nitrogen natural gas with content of methane ranging from about 30% up to over 80%, that is nitrogen-methane or methane-nitrogen mixtures.

Gas fields containing natural gas with nitrogen content over 90%, called as ‘high nitrogenous natural gas’ (HNNG), are discussed in a separate section.

In the Carpathian Foreland, natural gas fields are related to plays involving the Jurassic, Cretaceous and Miocene formations. The fields usually contain high methane natural gas with low content of nitrogen. The exception are here few natural gas fields containing high nitrogen concentrations. In this region gas occurs in structural-lithological multi-layer traps or, sometimes, massive-type reservoirs with gas drive mechanism.

In the Carpathians, natural gas occurs in gas and oil-gas and oil-gas-condensate fields related to plays in the Cretaceous and Tertiary formations. The Carpathian fields are exploited using standard gas depletion drive mechanism. Produced gas is characterized by high content of methane (usually over 85%) whereas average content of nitrogen is a few percent at the average.

In the Polish economic zone of the Baltic Sea, there are two gas fields (B4 and B6) and two oil-gas fields (B3 and B8).

At present the Polish Lowlands region accounts for 69% of exploitable domestic resources of natural gas and the Carpathian Foreland – for 26% of those resources. The resources of the Polish economic zone of the Baltic Sea and the Carpathians are subordinate, being equal 4.0 and 1.0% of exploitable domestic resources, respectively.

Table 1 shows exploitable resources of natural gas and degree of exploration and development of the gas and oil and condensate fields in individual parts of the country. The data given in this table refer to resources of natural gas actually present in the gas fields and are not converted to those of high methane gas (high methane gas = extracted reserves × combustion heat of real gas ÷ combustion heat of high methane gas, that is about 34 MJ/m³).

Table 1. Natural gas – million m³

In the year 2014, exploitable resources of natural gas were found to be 129.75 billion m³ (anticipated economic and anticipated sub-economic resources), that is 4.55 billion m³ less than one year earlier – mainly due to the production. In 2014 there were three new fields documented: Batycze (21.10 million m³ of exploitable resources), Komorze (340.05 million m³) and Potok Górny (37 million m³).

Resources of exploited fields were estimated at 106.80 billion m³, which accounts for 82% of total amount of the exploitable resources. In 2014, economic resources of natural gas were estimated at 57.30 billion m³.

The total domestic resources given above include those of gas fields which are planned to be converted for use as underground natural gas storage facilities. Production from these gas fields has been stopped in order to use the remaining gas as gas cushion (base gas) throughout the time of operation of the storage sites. There have been 7 gas fields selected for conversion into underground storage facilities so far: Bonikowo (328.63 million m³), Brzeźnica (45.59), Daszewo (27.72), Husów (372.88), Strachocina (121.5), Swarzów (28.80) and Wierzchowice (5,557.12). Total reserves of natural gas to be used as gas cushions are estimated at 6.65 billion m³. In 2012, there was permission given for Henrykowice E field (crossed out from ‘The balance…’ in 2003) to be used as underground natural gas storage facility.

Underground hydrocarbons storage facilities are also built in salt deposits. There are 3 cavernous facilities – gas storage facilities Mogilno II and Kosakowo (opened in 2014⁽¹⁾) and crude oil and liquid fuels storage facility Góra. As of the end of 2014, 11 licenses for running underground natural gas, crude oil and liquid fuel storage facilities were issued.

In the year 2014, domestic production of natural gas from exploitable gas resources was equal 5.258 billion m³ (see Table 2), being by 0.230 billion m³ lower than in 2013.

Table 2. Domestic production of natural gas – million m³

The figure below shows changes in domestic exploitable anticipated economic resources and production of natural gas in Poland in the years 1989-2014.

Shale gas accumulations are likely to occur in the Upper Ordovician-Lower Silurian formations in the Baltic and Lublin-Podlasie Basins, as well as in the Lysogory and Bilgoraj-Narol blocks. These formations are currently subject to industry exploration activity. Polish Geological Institute-National Research Institute in cooperation with U.S. Geological Survey on the basis of data from the period 1950-1990 estimated resources of gas and oil in the Upper Ordovician-Lower Silurian formations in the Baltic and Lublin-Podlasie Basins. Total exploitable resources of gas can be maximum 1,920 billion m³ and oil 535 million tonnes. Taking into account all parameters of the evaluation, resources can be estimated with the highest probability in the range of 346-768 billion m³ of gas and 215-268 million tonnes of oil⁽²⁾.

In 2014 PGI-NRI prepared the first preliminary report⁽³⁾ assessing the prognostic resources of natural gas in the selected most perspective compact reservoir complexes in Poland. This report was elaborated as one of the state geological survey tasks. There were 3 complexes explored: Permian sandstones of Rotliegend formation in Poznań-Kalisz area, Carboniferous sandstones in Wielkopolska-Śląsk area and Cambrian sandstones in the western part of Baltic basin.

On the basis of archival data and the latest information disclosed by exploratory companies operating in Poland the prognostic resources of natural gas within 3 areas mentioned above were estimated at 1,528-1,995 billion m³. According to the authors of this report technically exploitable resources can be hypothetically assessed assuming the exploitation factor at 5-15% (mean 10%) for each of these regions.

Table 3. List of natural gas fields – million m³

Prepared by: Martyna Czapigo-Czapla

⁽¹⁾www.osm.pgnig.pl

⁽²⁾PIG-PIB, 2012 – Ocena zasobów wydobywalnych gazu ziemnego i ropy naftowej w formacjach łupkowych dolnego paleozoiku w Polsce (basen bałtycko-podlasko-lubelski). PIG-PIB, Warszawa.

⁽³⁾Wójcicki A., Kiersnowski H., Dyrka I., Adamczak-Biały T., Becker A., Głuszyński A., Janas M., Kozłowska A., Krzemiński L., Kuberska M., Pacześna J., Podhalańska T., Roman M., Skowroński L., Waksmundzka M.I., 2014 – Prognostyczne zasoby gazu ziemnego w wybranych zwięzłych skałach zbiornikowych Polski. PIG-PIB, Warszawa.

2013

In Poland, major gas fields were discovered in area of the Polish Lowlands. Large gas fields are also known from the Carpathian Foreland and smaller ones – from the Carpathian Mts and Polish economic zone of the Baltic Sea (map). About three quarters of the gas resources are related to plays involving Miocene and Rotliegend formations and the remaining resources – to plays in the Cambrian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Zechstein, Jurassic and Cretaceous formations.

In the Polish Lowlands, gas fields are related to the Permian in the Fore-Sudetic and Wielkopolska regions and the Carboniferous and Permian in the Western Pomerania. In these regions gas occurs in massive and block-type reservoirs with water or gas drive mechanism. In that area only four gas fields contain high methane gas. The remaining gas fields are characterized by presence of nitrogen natural gas with content of methane ranging from about 30% up to over 80%, that is nitrogen-methane or methane-nitrogen mixtures.

Gas fields containing natural gas with nitrogen content over 90%, called as ‘high nitrogenous natural gas’ (HNNG), are discussed in a separate section.

In the Carpathian Foreland, natural gas fields are related to plays involving the Jurassic, Cretaceous and Miocene formations. The fields usually contain high methane natural gas with low content of nitrogen. The exception are here few natural gas fields containing high nitrogen concentrations. In this region gas occurs in structural-lithological multi-layer traps or, sometimes, massive-type reservoirs with gas drive mechanism.

In the Carpathians, natural gas occurs in gas and oil-gas and oil-gas-condensate fields related to plays in the Cretaceous and Tertiary formations. The Carpathian fields are exploited using standard gas depletion drive mechanism. Produced gas is characterized by high content of methane (usually over 85%) whereas average content of nitrogen is a few percent at the average.

In the Polish economic zone of the Baltic Sea, there are two gas fields (B4 and B6) and two oil-gas fields (B3 and B8).

At present the Polish Lowlands region accounts for 69% of exploitable domestic resources of natural gas and the Carpathian Foreland – for 26% of those resources. The resources of the Polish economic zone of the Baltic Sea and the Carpathians are subordinate, being equal 4.0 and 1.0% of exploitable domestic resources, respectively.

Table 1 shows exploitable resources of natural gas and degree of exploration and development of the gas and oil and condensate fields in individual parts of the country. The data given in this table refer to resources of natural gas actually present in the gas fields and are not converted to those of high methane gas (high methane gas = extracted reserves × combustion heat of real gas ÷ combustion heat of high methane gas, that is about 34 MJ/m³).

Table 1. Natural gas – million m³

In the year 2013, exploitable resources (anticipated economic and subeconomic) of natural gas were found to be 134,297 million m³ (anticipated economic and anticipated sub-economic resources), that is 5.76 million m³ less than one year earlier – mainly due to the production. In 2013 there were two new fields documented: Brzózka (75.40 million m³ of exploitable resources) and Podole (13.86 million m³).

Resources of exploited fields were estimated at 111.06 billion m³, which corresponds to 83% of total amount of all the exploitable resources. In 2013, economic resources of natural gas were estimated at 62.18 billion m³.

The total domestic resources given above include those of gas fields which are planned to be converted for use as underground natural gas storage facilities. Production from these gas fields has been stopped in order to use the remaining gas as gas cushion (base gas) throughout the time of operation of the storage sites. The Bonikowo (328.63 million m³), Brzeźnica (45.59), Daszewo (27.72), Husów (372.88), Strachocina (121.5), Swarzów (28.80) and Wierzchowice (5,557.12) gas fields were selected for conversion into underground storage facilities. Total reserves of natural gas to be used as gas cushions are estimated at 6.65 billion m³. In 2012, there was permission given for Henrykowie E field to be used as underground natural gas storage facility.

Underground natural gas storage facilities are also built in salt deposits. There are 2 facilities – Mogilno II and Kosakowo. The Mogilno II facility is the first of that type already in use for natural gas storage and the Kosakowo facility is under construction – it will be opened in 2014. In turn, the Góra facility is used for storage of crude oil and liquid fuels. As of the end of 2013, 11 licenses for running underground natural gas and liquid fuel storage facilities were issued.

In the year 2013, domestic production of natural gas from exploitable gas resources was equal 5,489 million m³ (see Table 2), being by 131 million m³ lower than in 2012.

Table 2. Domestic production of natural gas – million m³

The figure below shows changes in domestic exploitable anticipated economic resources and production of natural gas in Poland in the years 1989-2013.

Shale gas accumulations are likely to occur in the Upper Ordovician-Lower Silurian formations in the Baltic and Lublin-Podlasie Basins, as well as in the Lysogory and Bilgoraj-Narol blocks. These formations are currently subject to industry exploration activity. Polish Geological Institute-National Research Institute in cooperation with U.S. Geological Survey on the basis of data from the period 1950-1990 estimated resources of gas and oil in the Upper Ordovician-Lower Silurian formations in the Baltic and Lublin-Podlasie Basins. Total exploitable resources of gas can be maximum 1,920 million m³ and oil 535 million tonnes. Taking into account all parameters of the evaluation, resources can be estimated with the highest probability in the range of 346-768 billion m³ of gas and 215-268 million tonnes of oil⁽¹⁾ .

Presence of tight gas accumulations is the most probable in the north-eastern rim of the Fore-Sudetic Monocline in the Rotliegend sediments developed in eolian facies. A few wells drilled in 2009-2011 east of Poznan confirmed presence of gas in Rotliegend tight sandstones in that region.

Table 3. List of natural gas fields – million m³

Prepared by: Martyna Czapigo-Czapla

⁽¹⁾Polish Geological Institute – National research Institute, 2012 – Ocena zasobów wydobywalnych gazu ziemnego i ropy naftowej w formacjach łupkowych dolnego paleozoiku w Polsce (basen bałtycko-podlasko-lubelski).

2012

In Poland, major gas fields were discovered in area of the Polish Lowlands. Large gas fields are also known from the Carpathian Foreland and smaller ones – from the Carpathian Mts and Polish economic zone of the Baltic Sea (map). About three quarters of the gas resources are related to plays involving Miocene and Rotliegend formations and the remaining resources – to plays in the Cambrian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Zechstein, Jurassic and Cretaceous formations.

In the Polish Lowlands, gas fields are related to the Permian in the Fore-Sudetic and Wielkopolska regions and the Carboniferous and Permian in the Western Pomerania. In these regions gas occurs in massive and block-type reservoirs with water or gas drive mechanism. In that area only four gas fields contain high methane gas. The remaining gas fields are characterized by presence of nitrogen natural gas with content of methane ranging from about 30% up to over 80%, that is nitrogen-methane or methane-nitrogen mixtures.

Gas fields containing natural gas with nitrogen content over 90%, called as ‘high nitrogen natural gas’ (HNNG), are discussed in a separate section.

In the Carpathian Foreland, natural gas fields are related to plays involving the Jurassic, Cretaceous and Miocene formations. The fields usually contain high methane natural gas with low content of nitrogen. The exception are here few natural gas fields containing high nitrogen concentrations. In this region gas occurs in structural-lithological multi-layer traps or, sometimes, massive-type reservoirs with gas drive mechanism.

In the Carpathians, natural gas occurs in gas and oil-gas and oil-gas-condensate fields related to plays in the Cretaceous and Tertiary formations. The Carpathian fields are exploited using standard gas depletion drive mechanism. Produced gas is characterized by high content of methane (usually over 85%) whereas average content of nitrogen is a few percent at the average.

In the Polish economic zone of the Baltic Sea, there are two gas fields (B4 and B6) and two oil-gas fields (B3 and B8).

At present the Polish Lowlands region accounts for 69% of proven domestic resources of natural gas and the Carpathian Foreland – for 26% of those resources. The resources of the Polish economic zone of the Baltic Sea and the Carpathians are subordinate, being equal 4.0 and 1.0% of the proven domestic resources, respectively.

Table 1 shows exploitable resources of natural gas and degree of exploration and development of the gas and oil and condensate fields in individual parts of the country. The data given in this table refer to resources of natural gas actually present in the gas fields and are not converted to those of high methane gas (high methane gas = extracted reserves × combustion heat of real gas ÷ combustion heat of high methane gas, that is about 34 MJ/m³).

Table 1. Natural gas – million m³

In the year 2012, exploitable resources of natural gas were found to be 140,059 million m³ (anticipated economic and anticipated sub-economic resources), that is 4.82 million m³ less than one year earlier – mainly due to the production. In 2012 there were new fields documented: Draganowa (88.27 million m³ of exploitable resources) and Białoboki (48.00 million m³).

Resources of exploited fields were estimated at 115.77 billion m³, which corresponds to 83% of total amount of all the exploitable resources. In 2012, economic resources of natural gas were estimated at 66.43 billion m³.

The total domestic resources given above include those of gas fields which are planned to be converted for use as underground natural gas storage facilities. Production from these gas fields has been stopped in order to use the remaining gas as gas cushion (base gas) throughout the time of operation of the storage sites. The Bonikowo (328.63 million m³), Brzeźnica (45.59), Daszewo (27.72), Husów (372.88), Strachocina (121.5), Swarzów (28.80) and Wierzchowice (5,557.12) gas fields were selected for conversion into underground storage facilities. Total reserves of natural gas to be used as gas cushions are estimated at 6.65 billion m³. In 2012, there was permission given for Henrykowie E field to be used as underground natural gas storage facility.

Underground natural gas storage facilities are also built in salt (Mogilno II and Kosakowo facilities) and hard coal deposits (Nowa Ruda facility). The Mogilno II facility is the first of that type already in use for natural gas storage and the Kosakowo facility is under construction. In turn, the Góra facility is used for storage of liquid fuels. Up to now, 11 licenses for running underground natural gas and liquid fuel storage facilities were issued.

In the year 2012, domestic production of natural gas from exploitable gas resources was equal 5,620 million m³ (see Table 2), being 26 million m³ lower than in 2011.

Table 2. Domestic production of natural gas – million m³

The figure below shows changes in domestic resources and production of natural gas in Poland in the years 1989-2012.

Shale gas accumulations are likely to occur in the Upper Ordovician-Lower Silurian formations in the Baltic and Lublin-Podlasie Basins, as well as in the Lysogory and Bilgoraj-Narol blocks. These formations are currently subject to industry exploration activity. Polish Geological Institute-National Research Institute in cooperation with U.S. Geological Survey on the basis of data from the period 1950-1990 estimated resources of gas and oil in the Upper Ordovician-Lower Silurian formations in the Baltic and Lublin-Podlasie Basins. Total exploitable resources of gas can be maximum 1,920 million m³ and oil 535 million tones. Taking into account all parameters of the evaluation, resources can be estimated with the highest probability in the range of 346-768 billion m³ of gas and 215-268 million tones of oil⁽¹⁾ .

Presence of tight gas accumulations is the most probable in the north-eastern rim of the Fore-Sudetic Monocline in the Rotliegend sediments developed in eolian facies. A few wells drilled in 2009-2011 east of Poznan confirmed presence of gas in Rotliegend tight sandstones in that region.

Table 3. List of natural gas fields – million m³

Prepared by: Martyna Czapigo-Czapla

⁽¹⁾Polish Geological Institute – National research Institute, 2012 – Ocena zasobów wydobywalnych gazu ziemnego i ropy naftowej w formacjach łupkowych dolnego paleozoiku w Polsce (basen bałtycko-podlasko-lubelski).

2011

In Poland, major gas fields were discovered in area of the Polish Lowlands. Large gas fields are also known from the Carpathian Foreland and smaller ones – from the Carpathian Mts and Polish economic zone of the Baltic Sea (map). About three quarters of the gas resources are related to plays involving Miocene and Rotliegend formations and the remaining resources – to plays in the Cambrian, Devonian, Carboniferous, Zechstein, Jurassic and Cretaceous formations.

In the Polish Lowlands, gas fields are related to the Permian in the Fore-Sudetic and Wielkopolska regions and the Carboniferous and Permian in the Western Pomerania. In these regions gas occurs in massive and block-type reservoirs with water or gas drive mechanism. In that area only four gas fields contain high methane gas. The remaining gas fields are characterized by presence of nitrogen natural gas with content of methane ranging from about 30% up to over 80%, that is nitrogen-methane or methane-nitrogen mixtures.

Gas fields containing natural gas with nitrogen content over 90%, called as ‘high nitrogen natural gas’ (HNNG), are discussed in a separate section.

In the Carpathian Foreland, natural gas fields are related to plays involving the Jurassic, Cretaceous and Miocene formations. The fields usually contain high methane natural gas with low content of nitrogen. The exception are here few natural gas fields containing high nitrogen concentrations. In this region gas occurs in structural-lithological multi-layer traps or, sometimes, massive-type reservoirs with gas drive mechanism.

In the Carpathians, natural gas occurs in gas and oil-gas and oil-gas-condensate fields related to plays in the Cretaceous and Tertiary formations. The Carpathian fields are exploited using standard gas depletion drive mechanism. Produced gas is characterized by high content of methane (usually over 85%) whereas average content of nitrogen is a few percent at the average.

In the Polish economic zone of the Baltic Sea, there are two gas fields (B4 and B6) and two oil-gas fields (B3 and B8).

At present the Polish Lowlands region accounts for 69% of proven domestic resources of natural gas and the Carpathian Foreland – for 26% of those resources. The resources of the Polish economic zone of the Baltic Sea and the Carpathians are subordinate, being equal 4.0 and 1.0% of the proven domestic resources, respectively.

Table 1 shows exploitable resources of natural gas and degree of exploration and development of the gas and oil and condensate fields in individual parts of the country. The data given in this table refer to resources of natural gas actually present in the gas fields and are not converted to those of high methane gas (high methane gas = extracted reserves × combustion heat of real gas ÷ combustion heat of high methane gas, that is about 34 MJ/m³).

Table 1. Natural gas – million m³

In the year 2011, exploitable resources of natural gas were found to be 144,881 million m³ (anticipated economic and anticipated sub-economic resources), that is 2.51 million m³ less than one year earlier. In 2011 there were new deposits documented: Lisewo (989.50 million m³ of exploitable resources), Gajewo (18.30 million m³) and Kamień Mały (129.85 million m³).

Resources of exploited fields were estimated at 120.24 billion m³, which corresponds to 83% of total amount of all the exploitable resources. In the year 2011, economic resources of natural gas were estimated at 62.96 billion m³.

The total domestic resources given above include those of gas fields which are planned to be converted for use as underground natural gas storage facilities. Production from these gas fields has been stopped in order to use the remaining gas as gas cushion (base gas) throughout the time of operation of the storage sites. The Brzeźnica (45.59 million m³), Daszewo (27.72), Husów (372.88), Strachocina (121.5), Swarzów (28.80) and Wierzchowice (5,557.12) gas fields were selected for conversion into underground storage facilities. In December 2010 Bonikowo Underground Natural Gas Storage Facility was officially opened. Total reserves of natural gas to be used as gas cushions are estimated at 6.48 billion m³. Underground natural gas storage facilities are also built in salt (Mogilno II and Kosakowo facilities) and hard coal deposits (Nowa Ruda facility). The Mogilno II facility is the first of that type already in use for natural gas storage and the Kosakowo facility is under construction. In turn, the Góra facility is used for storage of liquid fuels. Up to now, 11 licenses for running underground natural gas and liquid fuel storage facilities were issued.

In the year 2011, domestic production of natural gas from exploitable gas resources was 5,646 million m³ (see Table 2), being 150 million m³ bigger than in 2010.

Table 2. Domestic production of natural gas – million m³

The figure given below shows changes in domestic resources and production of natural gas in Poland in the years 1989-2011.

Domestic production of natural gas covers about 40% of annual consumption.

Shale gas accumulations are likely to occur in the Upper Ordovician-Lower Silurian formations in the Baltic and Lublin-Podlasie Basins, as well as in the Lysogory and Bilgoraj-Narol blocks. These formations are currently subject to industry exploration activity. Polish Geological Institute-National Research Institute in cooperation with U.S. Geological Survey on the basis of data from the period 1950-1990 estimated resources of gas and oil in the Upper Ordovician-Lower Silurian formations in the Baltic and Lublin-Podlasie Basins. Total exploitable resources of gas can be maximum 1,920 million m³ and oil 535 million tones. Taking into account all parameters of the evaluation, resources can be estimated with the highest probability in the range of 346-768 billion m³ of gas and 215-268 million tonnes of oil⁽¹⁾ .

Presence of tight gas accumulations is the most probable in the north-eastern rim of the Fore-Sudetic Monocline in the Rotliegend sediments developed in eolian facies. A few wells drilled in 2009-2011 east of Poznan confirmed presence of gas in Rotliegend tight sandstones in that region.

Table 3. List of natural gas fields – million m³

Prepared by: Martyna Czapigo-Czapla

⁽¹⁾Polish Geological Institute – National research Institute, 2012 – Ocena zasobów wydobywalnych gazu ziemnego i ropy naftowej w formacjach łupkowych dolnego paleozoiku w Polsce (basen bałtycko-podlasko-lubelski).