| Groningen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Region | Groningen |
| Offshore/onshore | Onshore |
| Operator | Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij (NAM) |
| Field history | |
| Discovery | 1959 |
| Start of development | 1959 |
| Start of production | 1963 |
| Peak year | 1976 |
| Abandonment | 2024 |
| Production | |
| Current production of gas | 93×106 m3/d 3.3×109 cu ft/d |
| Estimated gas in place | 2.8×1012 m3 100×1012 cu ft |
| Producing formations | Slochteren Formation |
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]
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).
- ^ "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.
- ^ van den Berg, Stephanie; Meijer, Bart (23 June 2023). "Netherlands to end Groningen gas production by Oct 1". Reuters. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ Hancock, Alice (25 February 2023). "Dutch gasfield that caused earthquakes earned oil majors billions". Financial Times. Retrieved 9 July 2023.