The K14-K18 gas fields are significant natural gas producing areas in the Netherlands sector of the North Sea, about 120 km north west of Den Helder. These five contiguous fields started producing gas in 1977 and are still operational.

K14-K18 gas fields
CountryNetherlands
RegionNorth Sea
Location/blocksK14, K15, K16, K17, K18
Offshore/onshoreOffshore
OperatorsNAM, Wintershall
Field history
Discovery1970 - 2005
Start of production1977
Production
Producing formationsRotliegendes / Zeckstein

The fields

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The K14-K18 gas fields are located in the Southern North Sea. They extend over the Netherlands Offshore Blocks K14, K15, K16, K17 and K18. The gas reservoirs have the following properties: [1] [2] [3]

K14-K18 field gas reservoir parameters
Block K14 K15-A K15-B K16 K17 K18-FB K18 Golf
Producing horizon Rotliegendes sandstone Rotliegendes sandstone Rotliegendes sandstone Zechstein 3 carbonates Slochteren Formation Slochteren Formation Rotliegendes sandstone
Depth, metres 3,025 3,325 3,900 2,001 2,686 4,217 3,750
Type of gas High calorific value (CV) Low CV & 24% CO2 38.19 MJ/m3, 10.05 % nitrogen 34.69 MJ/m3, 10.6 % nitrogen 35.8 MJ/m3, 10.79 % nitrogen
Recoverable reserves 424 billion cubic feet 353 billion cubic feet 671 billion cubic feet 0.5 billion m3 2.3 billion m3 0.5 to 1.0 billion m3
Discovery 1970 1974 1975 1987 1980 1992 2005
Initial operator Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij BV (NAM) NAM NAM ELF Petroland (exploration) NAM Conoco (exploration) Wintershall Noordzee BV

Development

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The K14-K18 reservoirs were developed over an extended period by a number of offshore installations across the five Blocks.[1]

K14 and K15 installations

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The initial installations in blocks K14 and K15 were:[1]

K14 and K15 Field Initial Offshore Installations
Installation K14-FA1 K14-FA1-C K15-FA1 K15-FB1
Function Drilling, production, accommodation Compression Drilling, production Drilling, production, accommodation
Type Steel jacket Steel jacket Steel jacket Steel jacket
Coordinates 53°16’10”N 03°37’39”E Bridge link to K14-FA1 53°14’53”N 03°59’41”E 53°16’35”N 03°22’28”E
Water depth, metres 26 26 27.4 26
Designer Crest / MarCon De Groot Shell / Crest Crest
Jacket fabrication De Groot THC De Groot NAPM
Deck fabrication De Groot De Groot De Groot De Groot
Jacket weight, tonnes 500 ? 1,245 ?
Legs 10 8 10 10
Piles 10 8 10 10
Deck weight, tonnes 940 Deck 2,250; modules 3,750 1,300 ?
Accommodation 24 100 24 22
Well slots 9 Nil 6 9
Production throughput 7.4 million m3/day 600 MMSCFD 7.4 million m3/day 10 million m3/day
Installation February 1977 1985 December 1978 1982

Gas production from these platforms was to the following pipelines.[1]

K14 and K15 pipelines
From To Length Diameter Notes
K14-FA1 WGT line 0.14 km 24” Sidetap
K15-FA WGT line 0.06 km 24” Sidetap
K15-FB Callantsoog 72 km 24”

K14, K15 and K17 installations

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The fields were developed further from the mid-1980s through five satellite installations.[4] [5] [6]

K14, K15 and K17 installations
Installation K14-FB1 K15-FC-1 K15-FG-1 K15-FK-1 K17-FA-1
Function Satellite Satellite Satellite Satellite Satellite
Type Steel jacket Steel jacket Steel jacket Steel jacket Monotower
Coordinates 53.16084 3.31354 53.25382 3.76408 53.30723 3.94825 53.21879 3.92062 53.06473 3.53866
Water depth, metres 26.7 26.1 25 25.6 25.6
Startup 1985 1989 1990 2002 2005

Gas from the K14-FB1 installation is routed to the K14-FA1 installation. Gas from the K15 installations is routed to the K14-FA1 installation. Gas from the K17 Monotower is routed to the K14-FB1 installation.[2]

K18 installations

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The K18 Golf gas field is a military restricted zone which necessitated development by subsea satellites.[7] [3]

K18 Golf Field installations
Installation K18 G1 K18 G2 K18 G4
Function Satellite Satellite Satellite
Type Subsea Subsea Subsea
Coordinates 53.0923 3.5747 53.0923 3.5747 53.1023 3.5813
Water depth, metres 20.9 27.5 27.5
Startup 2011 2014 2014

The output projection was 375.7 million normal cubic meters per year. Gas is routed to the K14-FA1 installation.[3]

The Kotter oil field is in Block K18, however there is no export route for the gas and the K18-FB gas accumulation has not been developed.[3]

K16 Field

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The K16 Field is a stranded asset with no nearby gas transport infrastructure. The field has not been developed.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Oilfield Publications Limited (1985). The North Sea Platform Guide. Ledbury: Oilfield Publications Limited. pp. 402–10.
  2. ^ a b "Fossil Gas Extraction Sites in Europe". Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d "Fact sheet K18" (PDF). Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Natural gas and oil of the Netherlands 2007" (PDF). Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  5. ^ "Platforms Netherlands Continental Shelf". Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  6. ^ "OSPAR Offshore Installations Inventory 2017". OSPAR.ORG. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  7. ^ "K18 oil and gas fields". Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  8. ^ "Fact sheet K16-5" (PDF). Retrieved 19 November 2021.