SECURITY OF ENERGY SUPPLIES

 

Fields of research

 

Ever since its foundation in 1919 one of the Institute’s main tasks has been the geological mapping of the country to provide information about mineral resources. One outcome of the research effort of several generations of geologists has been the discovery of the economically most valuable mineral resources of Poland. To meet the demands of the national economy, mineral exploration in recent years has been focused on securing the energy supplies of the country.

We explore for and verify energy resources

  • We explore, document and verify the resources of lignite and hard coal
  • We establish new criteria for establishing the quality of hard coal resources in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin with regard to the standards of the international market and the Restructuring of Poland’s Coal-Mining Industry Program
  • We assess the geological conditions at the occurrences of hard coal and lignite deposits and the possibilities of their management with modern, clean technologies being employed,  using underground gasification and liquefaction methods in particular
  • We develop a methodology for prospecting for oil and natural gas
  • We establish out potential areas of unconventional resources of gas hydrocarbons, i.e. shale gas, tight natural gas and coal-bed methane
  • We keep records of the domestic fuels and analyse trends in the world markets

We contribute to the development of nuclear energy

  • We examine geological and environmental conditions at the locations of nuclear power plants, including: hazards caused by seismic movements, geological engineering conditions, access to the water resources needed to cool down reactors, and environmental conditions - including the rate and directions of contamination migration in case of a breakdown
  • We outline areas suitable for the location of nuclear waste repositories
  • We evaluate the possibilities of getting uranium from domestic deposits or importing it from other countries

We assess the feasibility of using geothermal energy and other renewable energy sources

  • We examine the potential of geothermal energy generation in Poland and construct thermal maps and models
  • We fix locations of thermal water intakes and provide guidelines on the implementation of medium-low temperature geothermal systems (including low enthalpy geothermal systems) and hot dry rock geothermal systems
  • We carry out analyses of the geological and environmental conditions at water-power and wind-power plants
  • We evaluate the possibilities of recovering methane from landfill sites

We address the prospects of fuel storage in geological structures

  • We assess the usefulness of geological structures for locating in them strategic storage sites of oil and gaseous fuels and having the capacity to accumulate supplies of these fuels for many months
  • We design the arrangement of such storage sites in geological structures, their cubic capacity and operatingl conditions 
  • We lay down guidelines on storage site monitoring

We analyze the practical and environmental aspects of mineral resources management

  • We assess the impact of the exploitation of energy raw materials on the natural environment and plan rehabilitation programs for post-mining areas
  • We protect energy raw material deposits through identifying prospective areas of raw material occurrence and providing the state administration with studies and guidelines on rational space management
  • We make feasibility studies to assess the economic viability of deposit exploitation

 

Selected publications

 

Papers indexed in ISI Jour­nal Cita­tion Reports

 

2014

BIELOWICZ B., KASIŃSKI J.R. - The possibility of underground gasification of lignite from Polish deposits. International Journal of Coal Geology, 2014, 131: 304-318.

KARCZ P. - Depositional conditions and petroleum potential of the Middle Triassic Passhatten Member (Bravaisberget Formation), Spitsbergen. Polish Polar Research, 2014, 35 (1): 41-71.

MIKULSKI S.Z. - Występowanie telluru i bizmutu w złotonośnych siarczkowych rudach polimetalicznych w Sudetach (SW Polska) / The occurrence of tellurium and bismuth in the gold-bearing polymetallic sulfide ores in the sudetes (SW Poland). Gospodarka Surowcami Mineralnymi, 2014, 30 (2): 15-33.

MIKULSKI S.Z., WILLIAMS I.S. - Zircon U-Pb dating of igneous rocks in the Radzimowice and Wielisław Złotoryjski auriferous polymetallic deposits, Sudetes, SW Poland. Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae, 2014, 84 (3): 213-233.

MIKULSKI S.Z., WILLIAMS IAN S. - Zircon U-Pb ages of granitoid apophyses in the western part of the Kłodzko-Złoty Stok Granite Pluton (SW Poland). Geological Quarterly, 2014, 58 (2): 251-262.

ULIASZ-MISIAK B., PRZYBYCIN A., WINID B. - Shale and tight gas in Poland – legal and environmental issues. Energy Policy, 2014, 65 (5): 68–77.

2013

HYLOVA LADA, JURECZKA JANUSZ, JIRASEK JAKUB SIVEK MARTIN, HOTARKOVA JANA - The Ptřkovice Member (Ostrava Formation, Mississippian) of the Upper Silesian Basin (Czech Republic and Poland). International Journal of Coal Geology, 106: 11-24.

MIKULSKI STANISŁAW Z., STRZELSKA-SMAKOWSKA BOŻENA - The prospective and hypothetical areas of zinc and/or lead ores in different types of deposits beyond the Upper Silesia Zn-Pb Ore District in Poland / Obszary perspektywiczne i hipotetyczne rud cynku i/lub ołowiu w rożnych typach złóż w Polsce (z wyłączeniem Górnośląskiego Okręgu Rud Zn-Pb). Gospodarka Surowcami Mineralnymi, 29 (3): 5-20.

MIKULSKI STANISŁAW Z., STRZELSKA-SMAKOWSKA BOŻENA, RETMAN WOJCIECH - The perspective and prognostic areas of zinc and lead ores in the Upper Silesia Zn-Pb District / Obszary perspektywiczne i prognostyczne rud cynku i ołowiu w górnośląskim okręgu rud Zn-Pb. Gospodarka Surowcami Mineralnymi, 29 (2): 173-191.

MIKULSKI STANISŁAW Z., WIERCHOWIEC JAN - Placer scheelite and gold from alluvial sediments as indicators of primary mineralization - examples from SW Poland. Geological Quarterly, 57 (3): 503-514.

 

2012

DUMAŃSKA-SŁOWIK M., BUDZYŃ B., HEFLIK W., SIKORSKA M. - Stability relationships of REE-bearing phosphates in an alkali-rich system (nepheline syenite from the Mariupol Massif, SE Ukraine). Acta Geologica Polonica, 62, (2): 247-265.

GĄGAŁA Ł., VERGÉS J., SAURA E., MALATA T., RINGENBACH J.C., WERNER P., KRZYWIEC P. - Architecture and orogenic evolution of the northeastern Outer Carpathians from cross-section balancing and forward modeling. Tectonophysics, 532-535: 223-241.

JARMOŁOWICZ-SZULC K., KARWOWSKI Ł., MARYNOWSKI L. - Fluid circulation and formation of minerals and bitumens in the sedimentary rocks of the Outer Carpathians – based on studies on the quartz–calcite–organic matter association. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 32: 138-158.

PERYT T.M., PERYT D. - Geochemical and foraminiferal records of environmental changes during Zechstein Limestone (Lopingian) deposition in Northern Poland. Geological Quarterly, 56 (1): 187-198.

PERYT T.M., RACZYŃSKI P., PERYT D., CHŁÓDEK K. - Upper Permian reef complex in the basinal facies of the Zechstein Limestone (Ca1), western Poland. Geological Journal, 47 (5): 537–552.

PERYT T. M., DURAKIEWICZ T., KOTARBA M.J., OSZCZEPALSKI S., PERYT D. - Carbon isotope stratigraphy of the basal Zechstein (Lopingian) strata in Northern Poland and its global correlation. Geological Quarterly, 56 (2): 285-298.

WRÓBEL M., KOSAKOWSKI P., KRZYWIEC P. - Petroleum processes in the Palaeozoic and Mesozoic strata between Tarnów and Rzeszów (SE Poland): 2-D modelling approach. Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae, 82 (1): 81-97.

ZIELINSKI G.W., POPRAWA P., SZEWCZYK J., GROTEK I., KIERSNOWSKI H., ZIELINSKI R.L.B. - Thermal effects of Zechstein salt and the Early to Middle Jurassic hydrothermal event in the central Polish Basin. AAPG Bulletin, 96 (10): 1981–1996.

 

2011

BĄK B., RADWANEK-BĄK B., WYSZOMIRSKI P. - A current survey of Polish deposits of dolomites applicable in the industry of refractories. Gospodarka Surowcami Mineralnymi, 27 (1): 21-47.

JARMOŁOWICZ-SZULC K., KOZŁOWSKA A., KUBERSKA M. - Temperature and isotopic relations in the Middle Miocene sandstones from the Ukrainian Carpathian Foredeep Basin – a reconnaissance study. Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae, 81 (1): 79-86.

KOTARBA M.J., PERYT T.M., KOLTUN Y.V. - Microbial gas system and prospectives of hydrocarbon exploration in Miocene strata of the Polish and Ukrainian Carpathian Foredeep. Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae, 81 (3): 523-548.

KOTARBA M.J., PERYT T.M. - Geology and petroleum geochemistry of Miocene strata in the Polish and Ukrainian Carpathian Foredeep and its Palaeozoic-Mesozoic basement. Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae, 81 (3): 211-220.

KOTARBA M.J., WIĘCŁAW D., KOSAKOWSKI P., WRÓBEL M., MATYSZKIEWICZ J., BUŁA Z., KRAJEWSKI M., KOLTUN Y.V., TARKOWSKi J. - Petroleum systems in the Palaeozoic-Mesozoic basement of the Polish and Ukrainian parts of the Carpathian Foredeep. Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae, 81 (3): 487-522.

KOZŁOWSKA A., KUBERSKA M., LIS P., MALISZEWSKA A. - Diagenesis and reservoir properties of the Middle Miocene sandstones in the Polish segment of the Carpathian Foredeep. Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae, 81 (1): 87-103.

KUROVETS I., PRYTULKA H., SHYRA A., SHUFLYAK Y., PERYT T.M. - Petrophysical properties of the pre-Miocene rocks of the Outer Zone of the Ukrainian Carpathian Foredeep. Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae, 81 (3): 363–373.

RADWANEK-BĄK B. - Mineral resources of Poland in the aspect of the assessment of critical minerals to the European Union economy. Gospodarka Surowcami Mineralnymi, 27 (1): 5-19.

SŁOWAKIEWICZ M., MIKOŁAJEWSKI Z. - Upper Permian Main Dolomite microbial carbonates as potential source rocks for hydrocarbons (W Poland). Marine and Petroleum Geology, 28 (8): 1572-1591.

SZAMAŁEK K., MARCINOWSKA A., NEJBERT K., SPECZIK S. - Sea-floor massive sulphides from the Galápagos Rift Zone - mineralogy, geochemistry and economic importance. Geological Quarterly, 55 (3): 187-202.

 

2010

G. CZAPOWSKI, K. BUKOWSKI - Geology and resources of salt deposits in Poland: the state of the art. Geological Quarterly, 54 (4): 509–518.

E. KALLMEIER, C. BREITKREUZ, H. KIERSNOWSKI, M. GEISSLER - Issues associated with the distinction between climatic and tectonic controls on Permian alluvial fan deposits from the Kotzen and Barnim Basins (North German Basin). Sedimentary Geology, 223 (1-2): 15-34.

H. KIERSNOWSKI, T.M. PERYT, A. BUNIAK. Z. MIKOŁAJEWSKI - From the intra-desert ridges to the marine carbonate island chain: middle to late Permian (Upper Rotliegend-Lower Zechstein) of the Wolsztyn-Pogorzela high, west Poland. Geological Journal, 45 (2-3): 319-335.

P. KOSAKOWSKI, M. WRÓBEL, P. POPRAWA - Hydrocarbon generation/expulsion modelling of the lower Paleozoic potential source rocks in the Gryfice and Kołobrzeg blocks (NW Poland). Geological Quarterly, 54 (2): 183-196.

P. KOSAKOWSKI, M. WRÓBEL, P. POPRAWA - Hydrocarbon generation and expulsion modelling of the lower Paleozoic source rocks in the Polish part of the Baltic region. Geological Quarterly, 54 (2): 241-256.

R. MATLAKOWSKA, W. NARKIEWICZ, A. SKŁODOWSKA - Biotransformation of organic-rich copper-bearing black shale by indigenous microorganisms isolated from Lubin Copper Mine (Poland). Environmental Science & Technology, 44 (7): 243-340.

J. PAŠAVA, S. OSZCZEPALSKI, A. DU - Re-Os age of non-mineralized black shale from the Kupferschiefer, Poland, and implications for metal enrichment. Mineralium Deposita, 45: 189-199.

P. POPRAWA, P. KOSAKOWSKI, M. WRÓBEL - Burial and thermal history of the Polish part of the Baltic region. Geological Quarterly, 54 (2): 131-142.

K. SOBIEŃ, J. NAWROCKI - Palaeomagnetic and petromagnetic study of uranium-bearing polymetallic-fluorite mineralization in the Orlík-Kladsko crystalline complex (near Kletno, Lower Silesia, Poland). Geological Quarterly, 54 (3): 325–336.

D. WIĘCŁAW, M.J. KOTARBA, P. KOSAKOWSKI, A. KOWALSKI, I. GROTEK - Habitat and hydrocarbon potential of the lower Paleozoic source rocks in the Polish part of the Baltic region. Geological Quarterly, 54 (2): 159–182.


2009

B. CHARLIER, O. NAMUR, J.C. DUCHESNE, J. WISZNIEWSKA, A. PARECKI, J.V. AUWERA - Cumulate origin and polybaric crystallization of Fe-Ti oxide ores in the Suwalki anorthosite (NE Poland). Economic Geology, 104 (2): 205-221.

D. DAN, A. MATTHEWS, S. OSZCZEPALSKI, M. BAR-MATTHEWS, L. HALICZ - Fluid speciation controls of low temperature copper isotope fractionation applied to the Kupferschiefer and Timna ore deposits. Chemical Geology, 262, (3-4): 147-158.

V.M. KOVALEVYCH, J. PAUL, T.M. PERYT - Fluid inclusion in the halite from the Röt (Lower Triassic) salt deposit in the central Germany: evidence for seawater chemistry and conditions of salt deposition and recrystalization. Carbonates and Evaporites, 24 (1): 45-57.

M. SŁOWAKIEWICZ, Z. MIKOŁAJEWSKI - Sequence stratigraphy of the Upper Permian Zechstein Main Dolomite carbonates in western Poland: a new approach. Journal of Petroleum. Geology, 32 (3): 215-234.

J. SZEWCZYK, D. GIENTKA - Terrestrial heat flow density in Poland - a new approach. Geological Quarterly, 53 (1): 125–140.

J. WIERCHOWIEC, A. WOJCIECHOWSKI - Auriferous wastes from the abandoned arsenic and gold mine in Złoty Stok (Sudetes Mts., SW Poland). Geological Quarterly, 53 (2): 233-240.