Warren R. True
OGJ Chief Technology Editor-LNG/Gas Processing
HOUSTON, Aug. 20 -- The natural gas storage project billed by sponsors as Europe’s largest—Bergermeer Gas Storage—took another step toward completion when partners signed an agreement with Gazprom Export. The export unit of Gazprom will supply the project’s cushion gas in exchange for gas storage services and a participating interest in operations of the facility.
The Bergermeer consortium consists of Energie Beheer Nederland (EBN), Dyas BV, Petro-Canada, and operator TAQA Energy BV, a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi National Energy Co. PJSC. The announcement follows a memorandum of understanding signed late last year to form the consortium (OGJ Online., Dec. 21, 2008).
The announcement said that, upon completion, the facility will be Europe’s largest with working gas capacity of 4.1 billion cu m (about 144.7 bcf). It also stated the partners expected to make a final investment decision in September. Current plans target construction start-up in 2010 with commercial operations beginning in 2013, assuming all permits are obtained and the FID takes place soon.
No emissions
Storage will be in a depleted natural gas field at a depth of 2.5 km in impermeable layers of rock. Surface treatment and compression will be designed as a “zero emissions” plant with no emissions of hydrocarbons or carbon dioxide, the announcement said.
Bergermeer Gas Storage will enhance the security of energy supply to Dutch and European consumers, it said, and provide a “reserve of the equivalent to the annual gas consumption” of about 1.6 million Dutch households and will be a “major contributor to liquidity in the Northwest European gas markets.”
Although Petro-Canada has formally merged with Suncor Energy Inc. to form the “new” Suncor Energy (OGJ, July 27, 2009, p. 5), the unit’s name has not yet changed in the Netherlands, said the announcement.
In addition to supplying gas, Gazprom Export supplies gas condensate, oil and products, other liquefied hydrocarbon gases, as well as petrochemicals.
Contact Warren R. True at [email protected].