The Sillimanite gas field is located directly on the maritime border of the Netherlands and the UK
The D12-B platform at sea. (Credit: Wintershall Dea GmbH)
Wintershall Noordzee has commenced production from the second b2 well at the Sillimanite field located approximately 200km off the coast of Den Helder, the Netherlands.
Drilling on the second Sillimanite production well started in February 2020 by Wintershall Noordzee, a 50-50 joint venture of Wintershall Dea and Gazprom EP International.
Wintershall Noordzee managing director Robert Frimpong said: “Nobody could have foreseen the impact the outbreak of Covid-19 would have on our activities.
“However, by rapidly adapting to a new reality and through perseverance, we have managed to bring this new well on stream without any incidents and within budget and timeframe.”
Discovered in 2015, the Sillimanite gas field is located directly on the maritime border of the Netherlands and the UK.
Sillimanite gas field commenced production in February 2020
Following the signing of an agreement between the UK and the Netherlands, gas production from the field commenced in early 2020.
Frimpong added: “However, we experience an increasingly challenged environment in the Southern North Sea, with new exploration activities at a record low. Improving the investment climate is therefore crucial to secure the continued success of the Dutch E&P sector.
“It requires improved framework conditions that encourages and supports continued exploration, developments and sustenance of infrastructure essential to the energy transition.”
The gas from the b2 well will be transported through the 12km-long pipeline connecting the D12-B platform to the existing Neptune-operated D15-A production platform.
From there, the gas will be transported to shore through the Noordgastransport (NGT) gas transportation system.
Wintershall Noordzee is currently undertaking drilling programme at the Sillimanite South exploration well.
If successful, the gas from the third well will be added to the export pipeline in the fourth quarter of 2020.