Polish energy company, ORLEN Group has announced that Norwegian authorities approved the development and operation of Ørn and Alve Nord fields on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, along with other fields owned by the company (28 June).
The Ørn and Alve Nord fields will provide around 0.4 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas per year at peak production, with a carbon intensity more than three times lower than the global average for the upstream industry, ORLEN said in a press release.
The development plan involves drilling two wells at each field using existing infrastructure, which will “significantly” reduce the capital expenditure. Production is scheduled to commence in the second half of 2027, the company noted.
Alve Nord and Ørn primarily contain natural gas, with Alve Nord also having oil and condensate. The ORLEN Group’s estimated recoverable resources from these fields amount to over 27 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe).
“The development of the Ørn, Alve Nord, Fenris fields and the Yggdrasil area will provide ORLEN Group with 9 billion cubic meters of natural gas over the entire production period. These are key investments that will ensure that we maintain stable, high natural gas production over the coming years. We want the largest possible share of gas sent from Norway to Poland via the Baltic Pipe pipeline to be our equity gas. This will not only guarantee efficient implementation of the Group’s business goals but also strengthen the energy security of the country and the entire region,” said Daniel Obajtek, President of the Management Board of ORLEN.
In June, the Fenris field received approval for development and production, in which ORLEN holds a 22.2 per cent share. The field is expected to provide over 3 bcm and nearly 19 million boe of crude oil and condensate.
The Yggdrasil project, also approved in June, is one of the largest ongoing production projects on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. ORLEN Group holds more than 12 per cent of shares in eight fields, with total recoverable resources of more than 40 million boe, including 2 bcm of natural gas. Drilling will begin in 2025, with production scheduled to start in early 2027.
