Orlen discovers Sissel gas field in the North Sea

ORLEN Upstream Norway, in partnership with Equinor, has made a significant gas discovery on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The newly identified field, named Sissel, is expected to provide nearly one billion cubic meters of gas for delivery to Poland.

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20 january 2026 | 15:57 | Source: Gazeta Morska | Prepared by: Kamil Kusier | Print

fot. ORLEN

The discovery is located within PL1137 concession, in the central North Sea, approximately 250 km southwest of Stavanger. Exploration drilling began in December 2025 and was completed within 39 days, despite challenging weather conditions. The exploration well reached a total depth of 4,359 meters, encountering gas resources with condensate estimated at 6.3–28.3 million barrels of oil equivalent.

– The success of exploration at the Sissel field, from which we can extract up to one billion cubic meters of gas, strengthens our asset portfolio in Norway and represents another step towards achieving ORLEN Group’s strategic goals. Norwegian gas is critical for ensuring stable supplies for our customers. This was demonstrated earlier this year, when record demand from the energy sector, companies, and households reached 100 million cubic meters per day. In response, we increased imports, including via the Baltic Pipe, bringing gas from the Norwegian Continental Shelf to Poland, said Ireneusz Fąfara, CEO of ORLEN. – As a company key to national energy security, we remain committed to developing cooperation with our Norwegian partners based on our own offshore production.

The Sissel field could be connected to the nearby Utgard field, just 5 km to the north, via a subsea pipeline. Utgard is part of ORLEN’s production hub, which also includes Sleipner Øst, Sleipner Vest, Gungne, and Gina Krog. In 2025, production in the Sleipner area accounted for approximately 30% of ORLEN’s total output in Norway. This year, ORLEN plans to bring another field, Eirin, online.

– The Sissel discovery confirms the effectiveness of our exploration strategy, focused on areas close to existing production infrastructure. The new resources can be tied into operating facilities, enabling fast development while reducing investment costs. At the same time, Sissel’s production will compensate for natural declines at Utgard, extending the life of our existing infrastructure. This approach maximizes upstream operational and economic efficiency while ensuring stable gas supplies to our customers in Poland and Central Europe, emphasized Wiesław Prugar, ORLEN board member for upstream.

The PL1137 concession is jointly owned by ORLEN Upstream Norway and Equinor, which acts as operator. ORLEN acquired its stake through the 2024 acquisition of KUFPEC Norway.

The potential development of Sissel will depend on a joint decision by the concession partners, based on detailed economic, technical, and operational analyses.

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Kamil Kusier
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