Orlen confirms major success in Norway. There may be twice as much gas
ORLEN has confirmed a significant increase in the estimated resourcóes of the Aphrodite field in the North Sea. The latest well indicates that recoverable resources may be more than twice as large as previously assumed. ORLEN's share amounts to more than 4 billion cubic metres of gas.
Pictured: the Kvitebjørn platform in the North Sea.
Fot. Torstein Lund Eik/materiały prasowe Equinor
ORLEN Upstream Norway, together with Equinor, DNO and Wellesley Petroleum, has completed appraisal drilling at the Aphrodite field. The data obtained has made it possible to increase previous resource estimates and is also expected to help select a development solution for the field. Aphrodite is an unconventional field. The first well was drilled there nearly 20 years ago, but the data available at the time did not allow for an unequivocal assessment of the project's profitability.
Resources grow. Drilling changes estimates
ORLEN Upstream Norway acquired a 25% stake in Aphrodite from Vår Energi in February 2026. At that time, the field's total recoverable resources were estimated at around 50 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe), of which approximately 12 million boe were attributable to ORLEN. The new data has significantly changed these calculations. According to estimates by the field operator, Equinor, resources are now in the range of 77 to 180 million boe.
The average of this range is 128 million boe. More than 32 million boe are attributable to ORLEN Upstream Norway, including over 4 billion cubic metres of gas. Aphrodite also contains crude oil and other hydrocarbons. For comparison, the average recoverable resources of the Omega Alfa field, discovered last year, amount to 115 million boe. ORLEN is also involved in this project.
The average of this range is 128 million boe. More than 32 million boe are attributable to ORLEN Upstream Norway, including over 4 billion cubic metres of gas. Aphrodite also contains crude oil and other hydrocarbons. For comparison, the average recoverable resources of the Omega Alfa field, discovered last year, amount to 115 million boe. ORLEN is also involved in this project.
Kvitebjørn in play. Development analysis continues
The higher estimates increase the importance of work on a development solution for Aphrodite. One of the options being analysed is connecting the field to the existing Kvitebjørn infrastructure, in which ORLEN Upstream Norway and Equinor are already partners. Such a solution could reduce project costs. It could also speed up the start of production.
Aphrodite is located in licence PL293, northwest of Bergen. Based on available data, ORLEN believes that additional resources may be located nearby. Starting production from Aphrodite could facilitate their subsequent development. The company's portfolio also includes several other unconventional fields on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, including Victoria, in which ORLEN acquired stakes in 2026.
Aphrodite is located in licence PL293, northwest of Bergen. Based on available data, ORLEN believes that additional resources may be located nearby. Starting production from Aphrodite could facilitate their subsequent development. The company's portfolio also includes several other unconventional fields on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, including Victoria, in which ORLEN acquired stakes in 2026.
Victoria is Norway's largest gas field that has yet to be developed. ORLEN, together with its partners, is assessing its production potential and preparing a development plan. The company intends to use experience gained from unconventional projects carried out in other countries.
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