Deployment of state-of-the-art drilling technology to develop oil deposits

Through numerous innovations, RWE Dea as operator and Wintershall Holding GmbH as a partner have consistently developed their technologically sophisticated concept for safe and environmentally compatible oil production in the sensitive Mittelplate production field and come up with many new solutions to optimize drilling operations and production at a high level.

Diagram of well sites: Oil is extracted on the sea and the land side.  

From the artificial Mittelplate Drilling and Production Island built seven kilometers off Friedrichskoog in the Wattenmeer tidal flats, 18 wells produce from the western, larger part of the Mittelplate oil field. They penetrate to depths of up to 3,000 meters and are deviated in various directions – in some cases running horizontally through the reservoir. A comprehensive, closed waste disposal system prevents contamination of North Sea and the Wattenmeer tidelands during drilling operations.

In addition to the successful offshore operation, since mid-2000 the companies have also been producing crude oil from the eastern parts of the oil field from mainland-based facilities through extreme extended-reach production wells. These high-tech wells reach drilling lengths ranging from 7,727 to 9,275 meters, placing them among the longest wells of this type worldwide. The diagram shows the directions of the wells sunk from the island to date, as well as the drilling paths of the extended-reach wells originating on the mainland. Integrated offshore and onshore development has proved to be reliable and is now contributing to the more rapid exploitation of the oil field.

RWE Dea Drilling Game

Control the drill directly to the oil reservoir. Cross various rock layers to find the perfect course without losing valuable time.