For several weeks, Sylur has been conducting geological seabed surveys in the area of the planned Baltic East offshore wind farm, developed by Orlen Neptun. The work includes geological and engineering surveys, seismic studies, and laboratory analyses aimed at providing the data necessary to prepare the wind farm’s technical design.

“The results of seismic and geotechnical studies will allow us to build a soil model for the Baltic East site. Based on a series of studies, including the geological and engineering documentation, we will be able to determine the best solutions for the construction of the Baltic East wind farm,” explains Łukasz Domański from Orlen Neptun.

Captain of the Sylur, Dariusz Pańczyniak, emphasizes that Baltic Sea surveys have their own specifics. As a closed basin, the Baltic Sea has a different wave system compared to, for example, the North Sea. During drilling operations, however, it is crucial to maintain the vessel’s precisely designated position and to drill exactly in the targeted locations. Party chief Wojciech Woźnica, who supervises drilling, stresses the importance of accuracy: “Here, the boreholes must be drilled at precisely specified locations. You can’t just move 50 meters left or right. Precision is essential,” Woźnica highlights.

Work aboard the Sylur is practically continuous, around the clock—both in drilling and in the onboard laboratory. Chief geologist Jakub Nocoń notes that the staff working on core sampling operate in 12-hour shifts, day and night. Samples extracted from the seabed are immediately analyzed and preserved for further in-depth studies onshore. “We need to know exactly what the seabed looks like, what layers exist in each location. Without this knowledge, it is not possible to safely construct any structures in the Baltic, including offshore wind turbines,” Nocoń underlines.

During the current campaign, the Sylur crew consists of 38 people.

A vessel adapted for the task

The drilling vessel Sylur, owned by Orlen Petrobaltic, is a specialized DP2 Platform Supply Vessel that has undergone a major upgrade, receiving a modern drilling system dedicated to advanced geotechnical surveys for offshore wind energy projects, including the Baltic East farm.

The maximum drilling depth depends on local geological conditions and water depth, but Sylur’s technical capabilities allow for the full use of this range in offshore projects—such as Baltic East. These capabilities enable the recovery of cores and soil samples from deep layers, which is crucial for designing wind turbine foundations and conducting comprehensive offshore design studies.

Scope of Sylur’s seabed surveys:

• Geotechnical seabed surveys: up to 120 m below sea level

• Seabed drilling: up to 100 m below seabed level

• Borehole diameter: typically 131–146 mm

These parameters allow Sylur to collect cores and soil samples from deep layers—an essential step for foundation design and project planning in offshore wind.

Baltic East – the second offshore phase

Baltic East is another offshore project within the Orlen Group. The new development has the potential to provide clean energy for up to 1.25 million Polish households. According to current plans, the 112 km² site will host around 65 offshore wind turbines with capacities ranging from 14 to 20 MW, depending on the final technology choice.

Baltic East is one of five offshore wind farms awarded to Orlen in the second offshore phase, with locations granted in October 2023. Among these, Baltic East is the most advanced project, though its execution depends, among other factors, on the outcome of auctions for future offshore projects. Such an auction is planned for December 2025. These auctions will determine the value of Contracts for Difference (CfDs), enabling stable investment financing.

If procedures go as planned, Baltic East could be completed within seven years. In this scenario, a final investment decision (FID) would be made in 2028, offshore works would begin in 2030, and the wind farm would be operational by 2032.