Wintershall Noordzee successfully develops 3rd Sillimanite well

Monday, September 28 2020

Wintershall Noordzee successfully developed the Sillimanite South field discovery and directly converted the well into a production well.

This third well is yet again a welcome addition to the first two Sillimanite wells brought on stream earlier this year. Although we may think differently, natural gas is still very much needed as we transition into a more sustainable energy mix whilst meeting the rising demand in energy.

Wintershall Noordzee is currently finalizing the hook-up activities to the D12-B production platform situated close to the Anglo-Dutch border in Dutch territorial waters. From there, the produced gas will be transported via the Neptune operated D15-A production platform, through the NGT gas transportation system to shore.

“It is without a doubt a unique achievement of Wintershall Noordzee, Maersk Drilling, and our many supply-chain and Joint Venture partners to develop this exploration well into a production well in one flow,” says Robert Frimpong, Managing Director of Wintershall Noordzee B.V.

With the finalization of this third well, drilling activities on the Dutch Continental Shelf have come to a temporary standstill. With the increasingly challenging environment in the mature Southern North Sea, new exploration activities are 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 encourage and support continued exploration, development, and sustenance of infrastructure essential to the energy transition. “There is still potential in the Dutch North Sea, but the conditions and circumstances need to change rapidly.,” says Robert Frimpong.