The K14-K18 gas fields are significant natural gas producing areas in the Netherlands sector of the North Sea, about 120 km north west of Den Helder. These five contiguous fields started producing gas in 1977 and are still operational.
| K14-K18 gas fields | |
|---|---|
| Country | Netherlands |
| Region | North Sea |
| Location/blocks | K14, K15, K16, K17, K18 |
| Offshore/onshore | Offshore |
| Operators | NAM, Wintershall |
| Field history | |
| Discovery | 1970 - 2005 |
| Start of production | 1977 |
| Production | |
| Producing formations | Rotliegendes / Zeckstein |
The fields
editThe K14-K18 gas fields are located in the Southern North Sea. They extend over the Netherlands Offshore Blocks K14, K15, K16, K17 and K18. The gas reservoirs have the following properties: [1] [2] [3]
| Block | K14 | K15-A | K15-B | K16 | K17 | K18-FB | K18 Golf |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Producing horizon | Rotliegendes sandstone | Rotliegendes sandstone | Rotliegendes sandstone | Zechstein 3 carbonates | Slochteren Formation | Slochteren Formation | Rotliegendes sandstone |
| Depth, metres | 3,025 | 3,325 | 3,900 | 2,001 | 2,686 | 4,217 | 3,750 |
| Type of gas | High calorific value (CV) | Low CV & 24% CO2 | 38.19 MJ/m3, 10.05 % nitrogen | 34.69 MJ/m3, 10.6 % nitrogen | 35.8 MJ/m3, 10.79 % nitrogen | ||
| Recoverable reserves | 424 billion cubic feet | 353 billion cubic feet | 671 billion cubic feet | 0.5 billion m3 | 2.3 billion m3 | 0.5 to 1.0 billion m3 | |
| Discovery | 1970 | 1974 | 1975 | 1987 | 1980 | 1992 | 2005 |
| Initial operator | Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij BV (NAM) | NAM | NAM | ELF Petroland (exploration) | NAM | Conoco (exploration) | Wintershall Noordzee BV |
Development
editThe K14-K18 reservoirs were developed over an extended period by a number of offshore installations across the five Blocks.[1]
K14 and K15 installations
editThe initial installations in blocks K14 and K15 were:[1]
| Installation | K14-FA1 | K14-FA1-C | K15-FA1 | K15-FB1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Function | Drilling, production, accommodation | Compression | Drilling, production | Drilling, production, accommodation |
| Type | Steel jacket | Steel jacket | Steel jacket | Steel jacket |
| Coordinates | 53°16’10”N 03°37’39”E | Bridge link to K14-FA1 | 53°14’53”N 03°59’41”E | 53°16’35”N 03°22’28”E |
| Water depth, metres | 26 | 26 | 27.4 | 26 |
| Designer | Crest / MarCon | De Groot | Shell / Crest | Crest |
| Jacket fabrication | De Groot | THC | De Groot | NAPM |
| Deck fabrication | De Groot | De Groot | De Groot | De Groot |
| Jacket weight, tonnes | 500 | ? | 1,245 | ? |
| Legs | 10 | 8 | 10 | 10 |
| Piles | 10 | 8 | 10 | 10 |
| Deck weight, tonnes | 940 | Deck 2,250; modules 3,750 | 1,300 | ? |
| Accommodation | 24 | 100 | 24 | 22 |
| Well slots | 9 | Nil | 6 | 9 |
| Production throughput | 7.4 million m3/day | 600 MMSCFD | 7.4 million m3/day | 10 million m3/day |
| Installation | February 1977 | 1985 | December 1978 | 1982 |
Gas production from these platforms was to the following pipelines.[1]
| From | To | Length | Diameter | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K14-FA1 | WGT line | 0.14 km | 24” | Sidetap |
| K15-FA | WGT line | 0.06 km | 24” | Sidetap |
| K15-FB | Callantsoog | 72 km | 24” |
K14, K15 and K17 installations
editThe fields were developed further from the mid-1980s through five satellite installations.[4] [5] [6]
| Installation | K14-FB1 | K15-FC-1 | K15-FG-1 | K15-FK-1 | K17-FA-1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Function | Satellite | Satellite | Satellite | Satellite | Satellite |
| Type | Steel jacket | Steel jacket | Steel jacket | Steel jacket | Monotower |
| Coordinates | 53.16084 3.31354 | 53.25382 3.76408 | 53.30723 3.94825 | 53.21879 3.92062 | 53.06473 3.53866 |
| Water depth, metres | 26.7 | 26.1 | 25 | 25.6 | 25.6 |
| Startup | 1985 | 1989 | 1990 | 2002 | 2005 |
Gas from the K14-FB1 installation is routed to the K14-FA1 installation. Gas from the K15 installations is routed to the K14-FA1 installation. Gas from the K17 Monotower is routed to the K14-FB1 installation.[2]
K18 installations
editThe K18 Golf gas field is a military restricted zone which necessitated development by subsea satellites.[7] [3]
| Installation | K18 G1 | K18 G2 | K18 G4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Function | Satellite | Satellite | Satellite |
| Type | Subsea | Subsea | Subsea |
| Coordinates | 53.0923 3.5747 | 53.0923 3.5747 | 53.1023 3.5813 |
| Water depth, metres | 20.9 | 27.5 | 27.5 |
| Startup | 2011 | 2014 | 2014 |
The output projection was 375.7 million normal cubic meters per year. Gas is routed to the K14-FA1 installation.[3]
The Kotter oil field is in Block K18, however there is no export route for the gas and the K18-FB gas accumulation has not been developed.[3]
K16 Field
editThe K16 Field is a stranded asset with no nearby gas transport infrastructure. The field has not been developed.[8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d Oilfield Publications Limited (1985). The North Sea Platform Guide. Ledbury: Oilfield Publications Limited. pp. 402–10.
- ^ a b "Fossil Gas Extraction Sites in Europe". Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Fact sheet K18" (PDF). Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Natural gas and oil of the Netherlands 2007" (PDF). Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Platforms Netherlands Continental Shelf". Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "OSPAR Offshore Installations Inventory 2017". OSPAR.ORG. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "K18 oil and gas fields". Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Fact sheet K16-5" (PDF). Retrieved 19 November 2021.