PGNiG-ORLEN to Drill Third Libya Well in November
The Polish energy group plans a third exploration well in Libya's Murzuq Basin, following two earlier drilling campaigns.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Oil and Gas
PGNiG-ORLEN plans to drill its third exploration well in Libya in November, the National Oil Corporation announced. The company already drilled its first and second wells in the country.
Why it matters
The planned well continues PGNiG-ORLEN's exploration work in Libya, where its earlier efforts produced natural gas discoveries. The drilling depends on the work program and budget for 2027 that were discussed at the recent technical meeting.
Area 113 spans about 5,500 square kilometers in Libya's Murzuq Basin, where PGNiG-ORLEN made natural gas discoveries in 2013 and 2014 under a 2008 production-sharing agreement. The planned third well's results and the approval status of the proposed 2027 budget remain unannounced.
The players
PGNiG-ORLEN
PGNiG-ORLEN is the Polish energy group formed through the merger of PGNiG and ORLEN, operating exploration and production assets abroad.
National Oil Corporation
The National Oil Corporation is Libya's state-owned oil company, responsible for the country's petroleum exploration and production agreements.
The details
NOC's Exploration Department and PGNiG-ORLEN held an annual technical meeting in Tripoli to review exploration and appraisal progress. The meeting also discussed the company's proposed work program and budget for 2027, with participation from technical experts and the Petroleum Research Center.
Timeline
2008: PGNiG-ORLEN signed its exploration and production-sharing agreement with NOC.
2013 and 2014: The company made two natural gas discoveries in the area.
April 2024: PGNiG-ORLEN lifted its force majeure declaration.
November 2026: The third exploration well is planned to be drilled.
Market Landscape
The third well extends the exploration program launched under PGNiG-ORLEN's 2008 production-sharing agreement with Libya's National Oil Corporation. It shows how a European operator continues to pursue frontier gas acreage in the Murzuq Basin after a prior force majeure pause ended in April 2024.
For consumers, an exploration well in Libya does not change fuel prices or supply in the near term, since any discovery would take years to reach production. The main near-term effect is on companies and investors tracking Libyan gas development.
The takeaway
Exploration drilling is a multi-year process, so the November well is an early step rather than a signal of imminent supply. Readers should watch for the results and the approval of the 2027 budget before drawing conclusions about the project.
What happens next
The third exploration well is scheduled for drilling in November 2026, and its outcome will determine whether the Area 113 program advances further.
Further reading
For broader context on drilling and supply trends, see Oil and Gas coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Anadolu Ajansı.
