Groningen gas field

Groningen
CountryNetherlands
RegionGroningen
Offshore/onshoreOnshore
OperatorNederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij [nl] (NAM)
Field history
Discovery1959
Start of development1959
Start of production1963
Peak year1976
Abandonment2024
Production
Current production of gas93×10^6 m3/d
3.3×10^9 cu ft/d
Estimated gas in place2.8×10^12 m3
100×10^12 cu ft
Producing formationsSlochteren Formation [nl]

The Groningen gas field is a natural gas field in Groningen province in the northeastern part of the Netherlands. With an estimated 2,740 billion cubic metres of recoverable natural gas, it is the largest natural gas field in Europe[a] and one of the largest in the world.

The gas field was discovered in 1959 near Slochteren, in the northeast of the Netherlands. The subsequent extraction of natural gas became central to the energy supply in the Netherlands. Virtually the entire country was connected to Groningen gas in the following years. Revenue from natural gas production became important in the post-war development and construction of the Dutch welfare state. As of 2013, 2,057 billion cubic metres of natural gas had been extracted from the field.[1]

Gas extraction resulted in subsidence above the field. From 1991, this was also accompanied by earthquakes, which led to damage to houses and unrest among residents. It was decided to phase out gas extraction from 2014 onwards. The reinforcement operation and damage settlement as a result of the earthquakes are progressing slowly. The National Ombudsman called this a "national crisis" in 2021.

In June 2023, the Dutch government announced that extraction from the field would cease by 1 October 2023.[2] Approximately 450 billion cubic metres of gas are thought to remain in the field as of 2023.[3]


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  1. ^ "Wat heeft Nederland aan al dat gas verdiend en wat willen partijen nu?". NOS Nieuws. 2017-03-01. Archived from the original on 2021-08-02. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
  2. ^ van den Berg, Stephanie; Meijer, Bart (23 June 2023). "Netherlands to end Groningen gas production by Oct 1". Reuters. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  3. ^ Hancock, Alice (25 February 2023). "Dutch gasfield that caused earthquakes earned oil majors billions". Financial Times. Retrieved 9 July 2023.