Wintershall eyes old fields in southern Germany

Wintershall Holding GMBH is taking a hard look at old fields in southern Germany.

The company said it completed two exploratory wells in Bedernau and Lauben fields in the state of Bavaria. In the next 6 months, Wintershall will determine whether “resuming traditional oil production” is commercially feasible.

Also in Bavaria, Wintershall plans to drill at least one well in 2016 in Aitingen field, which has been producing since 1979.

The company also is looking into developing two old fields—Monchsrot and Hauerz—in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg. Production stopped 20 years ago “because it was no longer profitable.”

Monchsrot, Hauerz, Aitingen, Bedernau, and Lauben lie in a string of crude-oil reservoirs in the foothills of the Alps, the company said.

Wintershall also plans to build up its operations at Landau in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate, where it has been producing oil for 60 years in the midst of vineyards.

Andreas Scheck, head of Wintershall Deutschland, told the German Energy Congress in Munich this week that the debate about the use of hydraulic fracturing for shale gas production has blocked “traditional” production in Germany (OGJ Online, Jan. 20, 2015).

He cited an “investment backlog” and declining production in Germany.

“To unlock this investment, we need a reliable and proportionate policy framework,” he said. “Policymakers in Berlin intend to pass legislation in the next few weeks which will lay the groundwork for the future of oil and gas production in Germany.”