ORLEN Petrobaltic and the offshore face of Polish mining. Celebrating Barbórka on the Baltic Sea

Polish mining today has two equally important dimensions: the well-known, land-based one rooted in Silesia, and a second, far less obvious—its offshore counterpart. Although Barbórka, the traditional miners’ feast day, is still widely associated with deep-coal mining, there are also miners working nearly 70 kilometres offshore in the Polish Exclusive Economic Zone of the Baltic Sea. It is here that five platforms operated by ORLEN Petrobaltic—the country’s only company extracting oil and gas from beneath the seabed—carry out year-round production.

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04 december 2025   |   15:28   |   Source: Gazeta Morska   |   Prepared by: Kamil Kusier   |   Print

Centrum produkcyjne na platformie wiertniczej fot. ORLEN Petrobaltic

In this environment, shaped by wind, sea and strict operational discipline, Barbórka has long been celebrated as the holiday of offshore miners working in some of the most demanding conditions in the Polish energy sector.

Upstream excellence: the foundation of ORLEN Petrobaltic

ORLEN Petrobaltic was established 35 years ago and, in 1991, was formally recognised as a mining operation by the District Mining Office in Poznań. This certification confirmed compliance with Polish mining law and enabled the company to begin commercial extraction of crude oil and natural gas.

The production fleet consists of five platforms:

• Drilling platforms: Petro Giant, Petro Monitor
• Production platforms: Baltic Beta, Petrobaltic
• Unmanned production platform: PG-1

Operations are carried out on two fields, B3 and B8, under the supervision of the Higher Mining Office. Offshore mining is subject to the same regulatory framework as underground mining on land, including certification of positions, strict safety procedures, inspections and adherence to approved operating plans.

Crew members hold mining qualifications, and platform managers perform statutory functions defined in mining regulations.

Offshore mining in practice: where technology meets the elements

Each offshore platform operates as a self-contained industrial asset, functioning 24/7 without its own propulsion yet equipped as an autonomous installation. Key systems include:

• independent power generation,
• fire protection systems,
• process infrastructure,
• blowout prevention systems,
• dedicated logistics and marine transport,
• full living and welfare facilities,
• emergency response and evacuation systems,
• dozens of critical subsystems requiring continuous readiness.

Crews work 12-hour shifts on a two-week rotation. In contrast to land-based mining, there is no “service depot next door”—every operation must be planned with military-level precision, and every spare part or tool is secured well in advance.

This complexity gives offshore mining its distinctive character: highly technical, operationally demanding and deeply dependent on procedural discipline.

Strategic value for Poland’s energy system

As the only Polish company engaged in offshore oil and gas production, ORLEN Petrobaltic plays a unique role in strengthening domestic supply, supporting diversification and building national offshore competence.

Over more than three decades, the company has developed expertise in:

• geological and engineering works,
• construction and maintenance of subsea infrastructure,
• marine logistics and specialised offshore operations.

This experience has become a natural bridge to Poland’s growing offshore wind sector. ORLEN Petrobaltic is active in:

• offshore wind projects,
• geophysical and geotechnical surveys,
• developing domestic capabilities for the offshore industry,
• logistical and service support for offshore wind operations.

The synergy between hydrocarbon extraction, offshore wind development and marine engineering positions ORLEN Petrobaltic as a key player within Poland’s broader offshore economy. Beyond crude production, it safeguards the expertise, assets and operational readiness essential for the country’s maritime energy transition.

Szczęść Boże - offshore edition

Although the Pomeranian coast has no coal mines, on 4 December the greeting “Szczęść Boże” (“God bless you”) is heard both onshore and across the Baltic, among crews working on drilling and production platforms. They, too, are miners—offshore miners—extracting vital resources from beneath the seabed in conditions defined by unpredictability and the forces of nature.

For ORLEN Petrobaltic crews, Barbórka is:

• an affirmation of belonging to Poland’s mining community,
• a reminder of their contribution to national energy security,
• recognition of work performed at the intersection of advanced technology and open sea.

Barbórka offshore is not an add-on to the Silesian tradition—it is an integral part of modern Polish mining, simply with a horizon line instead of a mine shaft.

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górnictwo morskie orlen petrobaltic wydobycie ropy i gazu Bałtyk offshore Polska Barbórka offshore

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