ORLEN: Eirin deposits are already supplying gas to Poland via Baltic Pipe

ORLEN Upstream Norway and Equinor launched mining from the new Eirin deposit in the North Sea. During the peak period of production, deposits are expected to provide ORLEN 270 million m3 of natural gas per year. The raw material goes to Poland via Baltic Pipe.

Gas from the Norwegian Continental Shelf strengthens Poland's security

The gas mined on the Norwegian Continental Shelf is crucial for ensuring the energy security of Europe and Poland. Our presence in Norway is strategic and long-term. The launch of production from Eirin's deposits strengthens ORLEN's position in the region and confirms the determination and effectiveness in implementing investments that develop Shelf's mining potential. The gas we extract is already flowing from Eirin to Poland, strengthening the guarantee of reliability of supply to ORLEN customers, despite the tense international situation.

Mr Ireneusz Fąfara, President of the ORLEN Board

Eirin bed is located in the North Sea, about 250 km west of Stavanger. Its resources are 27.6 million barrels of oil equivalent, including 3 billion m3 of natural gas.

ORLEN Upstream Norway owns 41.3 percent of the share in the deposit. This means that the resources per company are almost 11.5 million barrels of oil equivalent, including over 1.2 billion m3 of natural gas. The remaining shares belong to Equinor, who is the concession operator.

Eirin connected to Gina Krog platform

According to a planning plan approved in January 2024, the production well on Eirin deposit was connected to a platform on the nearby Gina Krog deposit. ORLEN Upstream Norway also holds shares in this deposit.

The use of existing infrastructure is not only less cost and less investment time, but also additional gas volumes. According to the operator's forecasts, by connecting Eirin, we will be able to extend Gina Krog's lifetime by seven years and thus increase the rate of scrapping. This will allow the extraction of an additional 9.6 million barrels equivalent, of which 4 million barrels for ORLEN. This is an excellent example of our efficiency in managing an asset portfolio to maximize its value.

Wiesław Prugar, Member of the ORLEN Mining Board

Lower emissions from Eirin

Eirin's exploitation by Gina Krog means that production from the new deposit is powered primarily by renewable energy. Since 2023 Gina Krog has been connected by an offshore electric cable to the mainland, where approximately 90% of electricity is produced by hydroelectric power plants, another 8% comes from wind power plants.

As a result, emissions from the extraction from Eirin will only be 3 kg CO2 per barrel of oil equivalent. That's less than an average for the whole Norwegian Continental Shelf, which is 6.7 kg, and the global average estimated to be approximately 16 kg CO2 per barrel of oil equivalent.

Gas from Eirin goes to Poland via Baltic Pipe

Gas extracted from the deposits of Eirin and Gina Krog is sent to the Sleipner platform complex, in which ORLEN also holds shares. There, the raw material is adapted to commercial parameters, then directed to the starting point at Nybro, connecting the Norwegian transmission system to the Danish. Further, the gas goes to Poland via the Baltic Pipe pipeline.

ORLEN Upstream Norway and Equinor assume that there may be additional hydrocarbons in the vicinity of Gina Krog and Eirin. Therefore, in the following years they plan to carry out further in this area search work.

Source: PKN Orlen