Natural Gas Storage Facilities – North-Eastern Germany

The first of the Nord Stream pipeline’s two pipes was officially opened on 8 November 2011. The pipeline transports Russian natural gas over a distance of 1,200 kilometres from Vyborg, Russia, under the Baltic Sea to Lubmin, near Greifswald, Germany. Suitable storage capacity is needed in the geographical vicinity of the landing point to ensure that natural gas can flow continuously through the pipeline.

One of the most important sources of natural gas for the Nord Stream pipeline is the Yuzhno-Russkoye oil and gas field, which has a production capacity of 25 Gm³ a year. The field is located in Western Siberia’s Yamal-Nenets autonomous region and has proven natural gas reserves of over 1,000 Gm³, making it a reliable source for supplying natural gas to Europe.

In order to meet the storage requirements defined by GAZPROM OJSC, investigation of geological storage structures around the landing point of the Nord Stream Pipeline and along the OPAL in North-East Germany is continuing. Following extensive analysis of all structures in the region, exploration rights have been secured from the mining authority for three aquifer structures in northern Brandenburg and southern Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. In addition, an application has been lodged for permission to conduct exploration work around the Storkow salt dome in Brandenburg. In 2010, a report was issued on the Schweinrich structure following an initial exploratory drill in 2009 and the completion of subsequent evaluations. An application for an extension of the main plan of operations until the end of 2012 to further investigate the suitability of the structure for gas storage was made to the responsible mining authority and has been approved.

In 2010, a report was issued on the Schweinrich structure following an initial exploratory drill in 2009 and the completion of subsequent evaluations. An application for an extension of the main plan of operations until the end of 2012 to further investigate the suitability of the structure for gas storage was made to the responsible mining authority and has been approved.