Gas Extraction off Borkum's North Sea Shore: A Successful Start for One-Dyas
Gas yields from Borkum, as per energy conglomerate, align with projected figures - Gas output from Borkum precedes projected figures according to energy corporation's announcement
After a controversy-laden start, energy company One-Dyas is pleased with its gas extraction venture in the North Sea, adjacent to the Wadden Sea islands of Schiermonnikoog and Borkum. "The first few months of gas extraction from N05-A in the North Sea have been successful," a One-Dyas rep announced, acknowledging inquiries. Although official figures remain unpublished, production is surpassing expectations. Current statistics indicate that an astounding 35 percent of the extracted natural gas is already being supplied to German households and businesses.
Expanding Potential
One-Dyas revealed that the platform could potentially host additional gas fields and bolster output, meeting up to three percent of German gas demand—a crucial step at a time when efforts are being made to cut dependence on countries like the USA and Russia, and as we strive to fulfill as much energy demand locally as possible.
Commencing Operations
One-Dyas disclosed at the end of March that production had commenced—an initial test phase preceded by the installation of a drilling platform roughly 20 kilometers northwest of Borkum. Autumn saw the platform's first access to a natural gas field, drilled on Dutch territory. The Lower Saxony State Office for Mining, Energy, and Geology has granted One-Dyas a permit for these drillings.
A coalition of environmental groups, under the umbrella of the German Environmental Aid, has initiated legal action against this in Lüneburg's Higher Administrative Court, fearing damage to the adjacent UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Wadden Sea. A ruling on the lawsuit has yet to be made.
Power Supply Conundrum
The controversy surrounding the laying of a power cable to give One-Dyas’s extraction platform wind energy from the neighboring Riffgat offshore wind farm remains unresolved. The Environmental Aid and their associates have also taken legal action against this eight-kilometer-long cable, concerned that it could irreversibly destroy protected underwater biotopes and reef structures.
In a recent verdict, the Administrative Court in Oldenburg favored One-Dyas, making the water law permit for the undersea cable immediately enforceable. One-Dyas has welcomed the decision, planning to resume preparations and tenders for the cable's laying in the summer. However, diverging opinions from the plaintiff environmental associations and the responsible NLWKN authority cast doubt on this timeline.
According to a Hannover Ministry of Environment spokesperson, "Work on the laying of the submarine cable may only begin if both an immediately enforceable water law installation permit and immediately enforceable nature conservation exemptions are available." The latter requirement has not yet been met, impeding the further course of events.
In light of the successful gas extraction venture by One-Dyas, there is potential for additional gas fields on the platform to meet up to 3% of German gas demand, reducing reliance on countries like the USA and Russia. This increased production could be a significant step towards local energy supply. Despite the success, controversies remain; a legal dispute concerning a power cable to provide wind energy from the Riffgat offshore wind farm persists, with environmental concerns over potential damage to underwater biotopes and reef structures. The installation of this cable is currently on hold, as both a water law permit and nature conservation exemptions are yet to be secured. Furthermore, the expansion of vocational training programs in the EC countries could leverage the growth of the environmental-science and science industries, contributing to climate-change mitigation efforts and the development of environmentally sustainable oil-and-gas industries. The finance sector may play a crucial role in funding these initiatives, ensuring a steady flow of energy, particularly from renewable sources.
