ORLEN Announces Gas Discovery in the North Sea
ORLEN Upstream Norway, in partnership with Equinor, has discovered new natural gas resources on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The company expects to produce approximately 1 billion cubic meters of gas from the Sissel discovery, which will be transported to Poland via the Baltic Pipe.
The discovery was made in the PL1137 license area, located in the central part of the North Sea, 250 kilometers southwest of Stavanger. Despite the stormy season, the drilling was completed in 39 days. The exploration well, with a total depth of 4,359 meters, confirmed the presence of natural gas with condensate admixture. The size of the discovery is estimated at 6.3–28.3 million barrel of oil equivalent.
“The Sissel discovery, from which we expect to obtain approximately 1 billion cubic meters of gas, strengthens our asset portfolio in Norway and represents another step toward achieving the ORLEN Group’s strategic objectives. Norwegian gas plays a crucial role in ensuring stable supplies for our customers. This was clearly demonstrated earlier this year, when we recorded record‑high demand from the energy sector, businesses, and households—reaching as much as 100 million cubic meters in a single day. In response, we increased gas imports, including via the Baltic Pipe, which transports gas from the Norwegian Continental Shelf to Poland, ” said Ireneusz Fąfara, President of the ORLEN Management Board. “As a company fundamental to Poland’s energy security, we remain firmly committed to further developing cooperation with our Norwegian partners based on our own production on the Shelf.”
The Sissel discovery could be developed as a tie-back to the Utgard field, located five kilometers to the north. The Utgard field itself was developed as a tie-back to the Sleipner complex, which is one of ORLEN’s key production centers on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The hub includes the Sleipner Øst, Sleipner Vest, Gungne, and Gina Krog fields. The Sleipner hub accounted for almost 30 per cent of the total ORLEN production in Norway in 2025. Later this year, ORLEN Upstream Norway plans to launch Eirin, another field in this area, which will be developed using Gina Krog and Sleipner infrastructure.
“The Sissel discovery confirms effectiveness of our exploration strategy, which focuses on resources located close to existing installations. Sissel can be developed as a tie-back to this infrastructure, enabling a rapid start-up and significantly reducing investment costs. This project will also help offset natural production declines at Utgard, extending the life of its infrastructure. By leveraging these synergies, we maximize economic and operational efficiency in our upstream operations, while ensuring stable gas supplies for our customers in Poland and Central Europe,” said Wiesław Prugar, Member of the ORLEN Management Board, Upstream.
The PL1137 license is jointly owned 50/50 by ORLEN Upstream Norway and Equinor, with Equinor as the operator. ORLEN acquired its share in the license following the acquisition of KUFPEC Norway in 2024.
The potential development of the Sissel discovery is subject to the license partners’ decision following economical, technical and operational evaluations.
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The photo may be used to illustrate press materials on the discovery of the Sissel deposit, provided that the copyright is indicated: Øyvind Gravås and Bo B. Randulff / © Equinor.
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