Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T04:27:09.918Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Exploration in the Netherlands, 1987-2012

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 March 2014

H. Kombrink ,
J.H. ten Veen  and
M.C. Geluk
H. Kombrink*
Affiliation:
TNO – Geological Survey of the Netherlands, P.O. Box 80015, 3508 TA Utrecht, the Netherlands
J.H. ten Veen
Affiliation:
TNO – Geological Survey of the Netherlands, P.O. Box 80015, 3508 TA Utrecht, the Netherlands
M.C. Geluk
Affiliation:
Shell Development (Australia) Pty Ltd, 2 Victoria Avenue, Perth WA 6000, Australia
*
Email: [email protected].
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Following a time of expansion of the oil industry, the period 1987-2012 and especially the second half of it reflects a diversification of exploration activities in the Netherlands. In addition to the ongoing discovery of classical hydrocarbon reservoirs, successful attempts have been made to explore deep geothermal energy. Shale gas and Coal Bed Methane received interest in the Netherlands too but so far no wells have been drilled in order to test the potential. Storage of gas and liquids has been introduced and salt mining more or less continued without many changes. In terms of drilling activity, the last 25 years show a decreasing trend and the discovered volumes are smaller. Testing of new play concepts was either successful (shallow gas) or not (Dinantian) and sometimes an unexpected discovery was made (Triassic Fat Sands). New techniques proved older fields to be exploitable again, e.g. redevelopment of the Schoonebeek Field. Therefore, despite a decline in number of wells drilled and reserves added, the diversification of use of the subsurface will guarantee ongoing exploration.

Keywords

explorationNetherlandsoilgassubsurfacegeothermalsalt
Type
Research Article
Information
Netherlands Journal of Geosciences , Volume 91 , Issue 4 , December 2012 , pp. 403 - 418
Copyright
Copyright © Stichting Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 2012

References

Abdul Fattah, R., Verweij, J.M., Witmans, N. & Ten Veen, J.H., 2012. Reconstruction of burial history, temperature, source rock maturity and hydrocarbon generation in the northwestern Dutch offshore. Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 91–4: 535–554, this issue.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Benvenuti, A., Kombrink, H., Ten Veen, J.H., Munsterman, D.K., Bardi, F. & Benvenuti, M., 2012. Late Cenozoic shelf delta development and Mass Transport Deposits in the Dutch offshore area – results of 3D seismic interpretation. Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 91–4: 591–608, this issue.Google Scholar
Bonté, D., Van Wees, J.-D. & Verweij, J.M., 2012. Subsurface temperature of the onshore Netherlands: new temperature dataset and modelling. Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 91–4: 491–515, this issue.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brouwer, G.C. & Coenen, M.J., 1968. Nederland = Aardgasland. Roelofs van Goor (Amersfoort), 301 pp.Google Scholar
De Jager, J., 2012. The discovery of the Fat Sand Play (Solling Formation, Triassic), Northern Dutch offshore – a case of serendipity. Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 91–4: 609–619, this issue.Google Scholar
De Jager, J., Doyle, M.A., Grantham, P.J. & Mabillard, J.E., 1996. Hydrocarbon habitat of the West Netherlands Basin. In: Rondeel, H.E., Batjes, D.A.J. & Nieuwenhuijs, W.H. (eds): Geology of gas and oil under the Netherlands. Kluwer Academic Publishers (Dordrecht): 191–210.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
De Jager, J. & Geluk, M.C., 2007. Petroleum geology. In: Wong, T.E., Batjes, D.A.J. & De Jager, J. (eds): Geology of the Netherlands. Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) (Amsterdam): 241–264.Google Scholar
Doornenbal, J.C. & Stevenson, A.G. (eds), 2010. Petroleum Geological Atlas of the Southern Permian Basin Area. EAGE Publications b.v. (Houten), 342 pp.Google Scholar
Duin, E.J.T., Doornenbal, J.C., Rijkers, R.H.B., Verbeek, J.W. & Wong, T.E., 2006. Subsurface structure of the Netherlands; results of recent onshore and offshore mapping. Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 85: 245–276.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gdula, J.E., 1983. Reservoir geology, structural framework and petrophysical aspects of the De Wijk gas field. Geologie en Mijnbouw 62: 191–202.Google Scholar
Geluk, M.C. & De Jager, J., 2012. Exploiting our riches – significance of Dutch industry. In: Floor, P. (ed.): Dutch Earth Sciences – Development and Impact. KNGMG (The Hague): 207–230.Google Scholar
Glennie, K.W., 2001. Exploration activities in the Netherlands and North-West Europe since Groningen. Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 80: 33–53.Google Scholar
Grötsch, J. & Gaupp, R. (eds), 2011. The Permian Rotliegend of the Netherlands. Society for Sedimentary Geology (Tulsa) USA, 21 pp.Google Scholar
Heederik, J.P. & Huurdeman, A.J.N., 1988. Geothermal study of the Central Graben (North Brabant): evaluation of the results of an exploratory geothermal well in Asten. In: Hooghart, J.C. (ed.): Geothermal energy and heat storage in aquifers. TNO Communication on Hydrological Research (The Hague): 77–95.Google Scholar
Herber, R. & De Jager, J., 2010. Oil and gas in the Netherlands – Is there a future? Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 89: 91–107.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Knaap, W.A. & Coenen, M.J., 1987. Exploration for oil and natural gas. In: Visser, W.A., Zonneveld, J.I.S. & Van Loon, A.J. (eds): Seventy-five years of geology and mining in the Netherlands (1912-1987). Royal Geological and Mining Society of the Netherlands (KNGMG) (The Hague): 207–230.Google Scholar
Kombrink, H., Doornenbal, J.C., Duin, E.J.T., DenDulk, M., Van Gessel, S.F., Ten Veen, J.H. & Witmans, N., 2012. New insights into the geological structure of the Netherlands; results of a detailed mapping project. Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 91–4: 419–446, this issue.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kramers, L., Van Wees, J.-D., Pluymaekers, M.P.D., Kronimus, A. & Boxem, T., 2012. Direct heat resource assessment and subsurface information systems for geothermal aquifers; the Dutch perspective. Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 91–4: 637–649, this issue.Google Scholar
Munsterman, D.K., Verreussel, R.M.C.H., Mijnlieff, H.F., Witmans, N., Kerstholt-Boegehold, S. & Abbink, O.A., 2012. Revision and update of the Callovian-Ryazanian Stratigraphic Nomenclature in the northern Dutch offshore i.e. Central Graben Subgroup and Scruff Group. Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 91-4: 555–590, this issue.Google Scholar
Nelskamp, S., Verweij, J.M. & Witmans, N., 2012. The role of salt tectonics and overburden in the generation of overpressure in the Dutch North Sea area. Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 91-4: 517–534, this issue.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pluymaekers, M.P.D., Kramers, L., Van Wees, J.-D., Kronimus, A., Nelskamp, S., Boxem, T. & Bonté, D., 2012. Reservoir characterisation of aquifers for direct heat production: Methodology and screening of the potential reservoirs for the Netherlands. Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 91–4: 621–636, this issue.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schroot, B.M., Klaver, G.T. & Schiittenhelm, R.T.E., 2005. Surface and subsurface expressions of gas seepage to the seabed – examples from the Southern North Sea. Marine and Petroleum Geology 22: 499–515.Google Scholar
Ten Veen, J.H., Van Gessel, S.F. & Den Dulk, M., 2012. Thin- and thick-skinned salt tectonics in the Netherlands; a quantitative approach. Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 91–4: 447–464, this issue.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Van Hulten, F. & Poty, E., 2009. Dinantian Reefs underneath the Netherlands. 71st EAGE Conference & Exhibition (Amsterdam).Google Scholar
Van Wees, J.-D., Kronimus, A., Van Putten, M., Pluymaekers, M.P.D., Mijnlieff, H., Van Hooff, P., Obdam, A. & Kramers, L., 2012. Geothermal aquifer performance assessment for direct heat production – Methodology and application to Rotliegend aquifers. Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 91–4: 651–665, this issue.Google Scholar
Veeken, C.A.M., Van Velzen, J.G.F., Van den Beukel, J., Lee, H.M., Hakvoort, R.G., Hollman, F.J., Evans, C. & Okkerman, J.A., 2007. Underbalanced drilling and completion of sand-prone tight gas reservoirs in Southern North Sea. European Formation damage conference (Scheveningen, the Netherlands).Google Scholar
Verweij, J.M., Simmelink, H.J., Underschultz, J. & Witmans, N., 2012. Pressure and fluid dynamic characterisation of the Dutch subsurface. Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 91-4: 465–490, this issue.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wong, T.E., Batjes, D.A.J. & De Jager, J. (eds), 2007. Geology of the Netherlands. Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) (Amsterdam), 354 pp.Google Scholar