Decrease Groningen field production according planning, some delay in completion Zuidbroek

The Minister has informed  the Dutch parliament, including our report.

Our report shows that the production from the Groningen field (7.8 billion m3) is in accordance with the so-called degree-day equation. The rest of the gas required for the low-calorific market was supplied as pseudo G/L gas via quality conversion: 39.6 billion m3. The report makes it clear that with our existing means and methods we have made an optimal contribution to minimize the production from the Groningen field.

To bring the Groningen production to zero, we are building a new nitrogen installation. After the commissioning of this nitrogen installation in Zuidbroek, the annual pseudo G/L-gas production will increase by approximately 10 billion m3. This ensures that the Groningen field no longer has to produce in regular situations and only has a standby function. The nitrogen plant will be able to produce 180.000 m3 per hour using three production units of 60.000 m3/h each.

We have previously reported that the Covid-19 outbreak and the resulting lockdowns have had a significant delaying impact on work progress and material delivery. Delays in the completion date (1 April 2022) had become a real risk.

In the meantime, it has indeed become clear that commissioning as of April 1, 2022 will no longer be possible. The current schedule shows that two of the three production units will be available by the end of June 2022 for production, the installation will be fully available by mid-August 2022.

Both Air Products (the main contractor of the nitrogen installation) and GTS are convinced that this adapted planning is feasible. The schedule is no longer affected by the delivery of material, as all necessary parts are now on site.

The consequences of the delay of Zuidbroek II are currently being analyzed.