Orlen Upstream Norway, together with Aker BP and other license partners, has made a significant oil discovery on the Norwegian continental shelf. This is already the second discovery this year.
With estimated resources of up to 134 million barrels of oil equivalent, it is the largest discovery so far this year, according to the energy company.
The discovery was made as part of the so-called Omega Alpha campaign in the Yggdrasil area of the North Sea. According to Orlen, highly developed drilling technologies were used to enable the rapid and precise exploration of a large area. The starting point was a vertical borehole at a depth of 2,250 m, from which several horizontal branches were drilled. Three of these exceeded the 10 km mark – a record on the Norwegian continental shelf. A total of 45 km was drilled during the three-month campaign.
Second discovery for Orlen in 2025
The Omega Alpha project comprised wells in production licenses 873, 873B and 1249. Orlen Upstream Norway holds a 12.3% interest in the first two licenses and a 9.84% interest in the last. The other license partners are Aker BP and Equinor, and in the case of PL1249 also Petoro. Based on Orlen’s share of the licenses, the latest discovery will provide the Polish energy group with additional recoverable resources estimated at 10.5 to 15.0 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe).
This is Orlen’s second discovery in Norway this year. Previously, the company had proven deposits of 3 to 7 million barrels in the so-called E-prospect, not far from the producing Skarv field, in which the Polish company also has a stake.
