PGNiG, Aker BP discover new oil, gas reserves in Norwegian Sea

Polish oil and gas company PGNiG and Norwegian oil exploration firm Aker BP have discovered new reserves of oil and gas in the Norwegian Sea, PGNiG announced on Friday.

The oil reserves run to an estimated 11-36 barrels of crude equivalent, with the Polish firm owning a 20-percent share, PGNiG said.

"The company estimates that in the vicinity further reserves may be found and plans to conduct preliminary drilling soon," PGNiG wrote on Friday.

The firm said drilling in the Newt prospect in the northern part of the sea had been successful and that Norway remained its priority overseas exploration site.

"Exploitation of those reserves are of strategic importance to us, including in the context of strengthening Polish energy security," PGNiG CEO Iwona Waksmundzka-Olejniczak said, adding that the company also owns more licences in the area where it intends to explore further in the near future.