ORLEN’s Omega Alpha campaign uncovers up to 134 million barrels in Norway, strengthening its 2035 Strategy with record-setting drilling success.
ORLEN Upstream Norway, in partnership with operator Aker BP and other license holders, has announced a major oil discovery in the North Sea, marking the most significant find on the Norwegian Continental Shelf in 2025. The estimated recoverable resources stand between 96 and 134 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe). This development is expected to strengthen the ORLEN Group’s long-term energy strategy, aligned with its ORLEN 2035 Strategy, and enhance its production potential in the region.
The discovery forms part of the Omega Alpha campaign, conducted in the Yggdrasil area. Advanced drilling methods played a crucial role in the exploration’s success, allowing extensive, precise, and efficient resource identification. The campaign began with the drilling of a vertical well to 2,250 meters, from which several horizontal multi-lateral wells were created. Notably, three laterals exceeded 10 kilometers each—setting a record for the longest laterals ever drilled on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.
According to Wieslaw Prugar, Member of the Management Board of ORLEN SA, Upstream, “The Omega Alpha campaign sets new benchmarks for exploration. The use of ultra-long, high-precision horizontal wells has provided high-quality geological data. This may accelerate the start of production and can potentially be combined with other Yggdrasil-area developments where ORLEN also holds stakes. The additional volumes gained will improve both cost efficiency and operational effectiveness.”
The campaign lasted three months and covered a total of 45 kilometers of drilling. Using geo-steering technology, which allows real-time adjustment of drilling based on sensor data located directly behind the drill bit, the partners maintained accurate well placement within oil-bearing layers. This precision drilling led to 40,000 meters of reservoir exposure, ensuring high-quality data and confirming the considerable hydrocarbon presence.
The Omega Alpha project was executed under production licenses 873, 873B, and 1249. ORLEN Upstream Norway holds a 12.3 percent interest in the first two licenses and a 9.84 percent stake in the third. Other stakeholders include Aker BP and Equinor, while Petoro also participates in PL1249. Based on these shares, ORLEN’s additional recoverable resources from this discovery are estimated at 10.5 to 15.0 mmboe.
This marks the second major discovery for ORLEN in 2025. Earlier in the year, the company confirmed oil reserves in the E-prospect reservoir, estimated at 3–7 mmboe. Located near the producing Skarv field, where ORLEN is also a license partner, this earlier find complements the new Omega Alpha resources. Together, these developments highlight ORLEN’s growing role in Norway’s energy landscape and reinforce its strategy to expand production, secure resources, and support long-term energy security across Europe.
