Natural gas operations in Lower Saxony

Lower Saxony is the most important natural gas production region in Germany with more than 95% of domestic gas produced there. The RWE Dea Lower Saxony Production District is also based there. The production area is mainly located between the Elbe and Weser rivers near the German North Sea coasts and extends a radius of around 80 km. The Hemsbünde, Bötersen and Völkersen natural gas fields are among Germany’s ten most productive. More than 13 billion m³ of gas have been produced at Völkersen since production began in 1992.

Production rate

The 29 wells have a peak production capacity of more than 9 million m³ per day. The individual wells can produce between 2,000 and 30,000 m³ per hour depending on the characteristics of the gas reservoir and the well's flowing life.

The production team ensures that the agreed supply quantities of more than 2 billion m³ per year are available on time and can be supplied without any problems. The quantities demanded fluctuate greatly from season to season and even from hour to hour at certain times of the year. So long-term planning and safeguarding high production capacities are a particular challenge for the production team.

Maintenance and safety

66 people are employed to monitor, service and maintain all the surface production facilities. Since natural gas is supplied in a closed, controlled system and you cannot see or smell the gas, the maintenance team has to work with utmost care and circumspection. They pay particular attention to any noise that might indicate a leakage of gas or any leakage of liquids.

All the wells, pipelines and stations are constantly monitored and controlled from a central control station manned around the clock. In constant contact with the control station by mobile phone, the maintenance team can be quickly on the spot in the event of trouble, thus ensuring a high level of availability for all the production facilities.

Further development of the gas fields

RWE Dea has ambitious goals. The current gas fields are to be further developed, additional concessions acquired and exploration for new gas reservoirs intensified. So there is every reason to believe that the Lower Saxony Production District operations will continue to make a significant contribution to Germany’s energy supplies for a long time yet.