Wintershall Dea, Gazprom Add Well at Dutch Field

Russia's Gazprom and Germany's Wintershall Dea have brought on stream a second well at the Sillimanite gas field straddling the border between the Dutch and UK North Sea, they said June 16.

The Sillimanite field, some 200 km from Den Helder, started production at its first well in February. Drilling began on a second well at the start of that month.

"Nobody could have foreseen the impact the outbreak of Covid-19 would have on our activities," Robert Frimpong, managing director of Gazprom and Wintershall Dea's joint venture Wintershall Noordzee, said in a statement. "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."

Gas produced from the new well will be pumped via a 12-km pipeline to UK Neptune Energy's operated D15-A facilities for treatment. Neptune, a joint venture partner in the Sillimanite development, said the project fitted its regional portfolio of fields well and it saw more potential in the area. The gas will be delivered to shore through the Noordgastransport pipeline.

The partners are drilling the Sillimanite South exploration well, which if successful can start supplying additional gas in the fourth quarter of this year.

"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," Frimpong said. " It requires improved framework conditions that encourages and supports continued exploration, developments and sustenance of infrastructure essential to the energy transition."

Wintershall Noordzee operates Sillimante with a 39.7% stake, while Gazprom International has an additional 19.9% interest on its own. Energie Beheer Nederland has a further 25%, Neptune 7.5% and One-Dyas 7.9%.