Upstream and downstream gas projects are under way or planned in Germany.
In Northwest Germany, a three company croup has received a license to study the feasibility of coalbed methane production in the Munsterland region.
And in the former East Germany, Verbundnetz Gas AS (VNG) of Leipzig has finished laying one gas pipeline and is near completion of another.
Mining authorities of North-Rhine Westphalia issued the coalbed methane license to group leader Conoco Mineraloel GmbH, Hamburg, and partners Ruhrkohle AG and Ruhrgas AG, both of Essen.
The license covers the Sigillaria area bounded b%, the towns of Werne, Gutersloh, lbbenbuhren, Munster, and Haltern.
Group members have been planning the project for 2 years. They estimate potential production at 1-2 billion cu m/year of gas, or 5-10% of Germany's current gas production.
Exploration drilling will start soon south of Drensteinfurt. A 2 year pilot project will follow.
The group said if the pilot is successful it will apply for a commercial production license for work that would require a capital outlay of "several hundred million marks.
Conoco has operating experience with similar coalbed methane projects in the U.S., said the group, while Ruhrkohle has geological knowledge of the area from coal mining, and Ruhrgas can market the gas.
NEW PIPELINE
VNG finished laving an 821/2 km, 500 mm diameter pipeline from Schwerin to Perleberg at a cost of 100 million deutschemarks ($70 million). The line will feed two gas turbine power generating plants in Schwerin. VNG is 100% owner of the pipeline.
A 180 km, 1,100 mm diameter pipeline from Steinitz to Bemau is to be complete in December in a 50-50 venture with Ruhrgas to be operated by VNG. The link is to cost 500 million deutschemarks ($330 million).
This line, with an expected start-up in October 1996, will connect with the West German gas grid. It will transport gas imported from Norway via Emden, Germany.
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