Project Profile
Location: North of the Netherlands, about 180 km East of Bremen
Area: 900 kilometres
Peak production: ~ 54 bcm (2013)
Production: 33 bcm (lowered to 24 bmc per year September 2016)
Reserves: 2.8 tcm (initial), left underground 700-800 bcm (September 2017)
Depth: 3,000 metres
Start-up Year: 1963
The Groningen Gas Field is one of the world’s largest gas fields (is in top 20). The field was discovered in 1959 and production started in 1963. The original recoverable volume of gas: 2,700 to 2,800 billion cubic metres, of which the field has already recovered. Approximately 1,700 billion m3, with 1,000 to 1,100 billionm3 is still recoverable. The project has reached a depth of almost 3,000 metres, with the thickness of the reservoir rock at approximately 100 metres. The extent of the reservoir is approximately 900 kilometres. In total there have been 300 wells drilled at the project, spread over 29 production clusters. The field is operated by state-owned Gasunie, with output jointly exploited by the government, Royal Dutch Shell 50% and Exxon Mobil 50% through NAM (Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij).
The Netherlands’ government has decided to cut the output at the field from the current level of 27 billion cubic metres per annum to 24 Bcm per annum, starting from 1 October 2016. A hike up to 30 Bcm will be allowed in exceptional circumstances, such as during cold winters.
Operators:
NAM Dutch Petroleum Company (Made up of Shell and Exxon Mobil): operator 100% interest
Gasunie (state-owned)