Dutch Government Reduces Groningen Gas Production over Tremors
The Netherlands will cut gas production from the Groningen gas field by 15% to 20%. The field, which is the largest gas field in Europe and the tenth largest in the world, produces gas for national consumption, as well as for export to Germany, Italy, France and United Kingdom.
"If we extract less gas, that has a cost," Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem said to broadcaster NOS.
The Dutch government decided to slow down production after protests of local population and politicians due to earth tremors.
According to Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij (NAM), the field’s total production volume is 2,800 billion m3. Annual production in 2012 was approximately 49 billion m3.
NAM is the operator of the field. It is a joint venture between Royal Dutch Shell and ExxonMobil. In its forecasts, the operator expects natural gas production from the Groningen field to continue ‘for at least another 50 years’.