ORLEN S.A. - Upstream Poland Division

We continue the tradition of Poland’s oil industry – the oldest in the world – by producing nearly 20% of the natural gas required by the Polish economy, as well as crude oil. We are also engaged in natural gas storage, a capability that could be leveraged for hydrogen storage in the future, as the economy undergoes its energy transition. We manage the entire upstream process, from geological analysis, geophysical surveys and drilling, through to the appraisal, development and production of natural gas and crude oil.

We are part of ORLEN, a regional leader in the energy transition

We conduct operations under more than 200 hydrocarbon exploration and production licences and manage 49 crude oil and natural gas fields across Poland. The majority of these assets – 34 fields – are situated in south‑eastern Poland, while the remainder are located in the western part of the country.

Although the border region of Małopolska and Podkarpackie is the cradle of the global oil industry – and is still home to the world’s oldest operating oil field at Bóbrka, established in 1854 – the majority of Poland’s crude oil production currently takes place in the West Pomeranian, Lubuskie and Wielkopolskie voivodeships. This region is home to the country’s two largest oil fields: Dębno and Lubiatów.

Our experts possess unique competencies, combining in‑depth knowledge with many years of experience working in Poland’s geologically complex environment. Every day, we coordinate the operation of more than 2,000 production wells across the country.

We continuously seek innovations that optimise domestic natural gas and crude oil production, enhancing Poland’s energy security while benefiting local communities and minimising the environmental impact of our investments. In our day‑to‑day operations, we use the latest digital technologies, including artificial intelligence.

Operating in more than 200 municipalities, we strive to be a good neighbour to local communities

We implement infrastructural, educational, cultural and sports projects that contribute to an improved quality of life for our neighbours.

Hydrocarbon production is also subject to a production fee, which depends on output volumes. The fee is distributed among municipalities (60%), counties and voivodeships (15% each) in whose territory the field is located. These funds are an important source of revenue for local governments throughout the entire production lifecycle, enabling them to plan and implement additional social projects and investments that benefit local residents.

The branches in our region

Natural gas remains a key resource for modern economies. It is used to generate electricity and heat in industry and households, playingan important role in a wide rangeof industrial processes — including in the chemical and food sectors, as well as in the production of many everyday goods such as plastics, automotive parts, and energy-related components.

Due to its properties — including its high calorific value, flexibility of gas-based power sources, and relatively low emissions — natural gas serves as a bridge fuel during the energy transition. It helps stabilize the power system as the share of renewable energy sources increases, complementing variable renewable generation when needed.

Demand for natural gas is expected to remain significant in the coming years, as reflected in ORLEN’s 2035 Strategy. The company plans to increase its own gas production to around 12 billion m³ per year, of which approximately 4 billion m³ is to come from domestic extraction by 2030. This level is then expected to be maintained over the strategic horizon.

Currently, domestic natural gas production amounts to approximately 3.4 billion m³ per year, meeting around 20% of the country’s demand.

Crude oil, like natural gas, is one of the key raw materials underpinning the modern economy. It is used not only as the primary fuel for transportation but also as a feedstock for the production of plastics, asphalts, lubricants, solvents, and numerous chemicals used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and a wide range of everyday products.

ORLEN’s Upstream Operationscurrently comprise 6 crude oil production facilities and 18 facilities conducting combined extraction of crude oil and natural gas. This infrastructure includes both production wells and surface installations used to process, store and transport the extracted resources.

In 2024, total domestic production of crude oil, condensate, and NGL (natural gas liquids) across the ORLEN Group amounted to 6,216 thousand boe.

The ORLEN Group owns seven underground high‑methane gas storage facilities (UGS) with a total capacity of approximately 3.3 billion cubic metres. Five — Wierzchowice, Strachocina, Husów, Swarzów and Brzeźnica — are storage sites developed in depleted natural gas reservoirs. The remaining two, located in Kosakowo and Mogilno, are cavern storage facilities in which gas is stored in cavities created in salt deposits through solution mining.

The main functions of gas storage facilities include:

meeting sudden increases in natural gas demand during the high‑consumption season (autumn–winter),
enabling optimisation of domestic natural gas field operations, allowing for stable, year‑round production regardless of fluctuations in demand,
optimising the operation of the gas transmission system by increasing the higher pipeline fill factor,
securing mandatory stocks and strategic reserves of natural gas,
strengthening the company’s negotiating position in relation to imported gas supplies.

The operation of underground gas storage facilities involves alternating injection and withdrawal cycles. Gas is injected into the reservoir during the summer and withdrawn in winter.Before entering the national transmission network, it is dried and metered for settlement purposes.