Latvian Sector of the Baltic Sea

Petroleum potential

Overview of exploration history

Latvia is a part of the Baltic sedimentary basin which is a proven petroliferous province, with oil production in several countries. In the different parts of the basin, both onshore and offshore, a significant number of hydrocarbon accumulations of varying sizes are known, mostly in the Cambrian sandstone reservoirs. In addition, there are carbonate reservoirs within the Ordovician and Silurian successions.

HC occurrence in the Baltic basin

Exploration for oil in the Latvian onshore area took place, predominantly, before 1970. It has led to some minor discoveries, but none of them have proven to be commercial. Still, the probability of finding hydrocarbon accumulations is considerably higher in the Latvian sector of the Baltic Sea towards the central, more submerged part of the basin.

The offshore exploration for oil commenced in 1976, operated by CO Petrobaltic, a group of companies then representing East Germany, Poland and USSR. The activities of Petrobaltic focused on the southern part of the area, as far north as the latitude of Liepaja. To the north, all the exploration activity was carried out by the Ministry of Oil Industry of USSR.

Offshore seismic coverage map

Numerous prospects have been identified by seismic in the Latvian offshore area, but only two of them have been drilled. Both exploration wells, E6 and E7, were drilled by CO Petrobaltic. The wells encountered the Cambrian sandstone with good reservoir properties and oil shows, while one of them (E6) discovered an oil accumulation within the Ordovician succession.

In 1991, the Latvian Department of Geology continued seismic acquisition in the western offshore area, which resulted in the identification of some new prospects, quite big and promising, located close to the Swedish waters. One of them has been licensed for exploration and production to the AMOCO/OPAB consortium in 1996, but still remains undrilled due to the offshore border problem between Latvia and Lithuania.

At present, Latvia is at the final stage of preparation for the first licensing round. Some offshore blocks are going to be offered for exploration and production, while a vast offshore area - for further prospecting. In view of that, the State Geological Survey of Latvia offers to the oil industry relevant data from the Latvian offshore and coastal onshore areas, as well as a promotional mini-atlas called “LATVIA – Petroleum Potential and Exploration Opportunities”.