ORLEN Upstream Norway (Orlen), together with operator Equinor and partner Vår Energi, has confirmed a gas and condensate discovery in the Sleipner Area. The resources at the Frida Kahlo prospect are estimated at 7.2 million barrels of oil equivalent. The partners plan to bring the discovery into production in the first half of 2026.

The Frida Kahlo discovery is located in the Sleipner area, one of ORLEN’s key production hubs on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The well was drilled from the Sleipner B platform, allowing the new volumes to be brought on stream without the need for additional infrastructure.

“The Frida Kahlo project confirms the efficiency of ORLEN’s upstream assets on the Norwegian Shelf. By leveraging existing infrastructure, we not only reduce the cost of developing new resources but also significantly shorten the time required to start production. In the case of Frida Kahlo, the pace will be exceptionally fast – it will begin contributing to ORLEN Group’s results just a few weeks after the discovery,” said Wiesław Prugar, ORLEN Management Board Member for Upstream.

Preliminary estimates indicate that Frida Kahlo’s recoverable resources amount to 5.3–9.4 million barrels of oil equivalent, including 450–810 million cubic meters of gas. ORLEN Upstream Norway holds a 24.4112% interest in the license. Equinor is the operator with a 58.34944% share, and Vår Energi holds the remaining 17.23936%.

Bringing Frida Kahlo on stream continues the efficient utilization of Sleipner’s production infrastructure. In 2025, the area accounted for ca. 30% of ORLEN Group’s total production in Norway. Gas from Sleipner is transported to the Kårstø terminal and onward through Europipe II and the Danish transmission network to the Baltic Pipe.

Frida Kahlo marks ORLEN’s second exploration success in the Sleipner area this year. In January, ORLEN Upstream Norway and Equinor announced the Sissel discovery, with preliminary estimates indicating 6.3–28.3 million barrels of oil equivalent, including 0.6–2.7 billion cubic meters of gas. ORLEN Upstream Norway holds s 50% stake in Sissel.

About Orlen S.A.

Orlen S.A. is an integrated, multi-utility company, operating in Central Europe and Canada. We provide energy and fuel to over 100 million of Europeans, while our advanced products are marketed to over 100 countries across 6 continents.
We pursue strengthening our position of a regional leader in energy transition by implementing clean and sustainable technologies, as well as power generation based on low- and zero-emission sources. Our actions are driven by a strategic goal of reaching emission neutrality by 2050.

About Equinor

Equinor ASA is an international energy company headquartered in Norway. The company employs around 21,000 people worldwide. Equinor is already one of the world's most CO2-efficient producers of oil and gas. Equinor leverages strong synergies between oil, gas, renewables, carbon capture and hydrogen. Equinor participates in a consortium that has started the construction of the Northern Lights project, the world’s first full-scale and open-source CO2 transportation and storage project. The company has a growing portfolio in offshore wind with wind farms in Europe and the USA and is involved in various hydrogen projects throughout Europe.

About Vår Energi

Vår Energi is a leading independent upstream oil and gas company on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS).