Since 2023, we have been carrying out the plugging and abandonment of eleven central field stations in the Fahner Höhe, Kirchheilingen, Krahnberg and Mühlhausen natural gas fields, thereby fulfilling our responsibility as a mining company. The work is expected to continue until the end of 2027.
Neptune Energy produced natural gas in the Fahner Höhe, Kirchheilingen and Mühlhausen fields for several decades. Krahnberg was also one of the fields developed, but was never produced due to its low methane content. Since the end of production, the facilities have been kept under constant surveillance. Now, eleven wells in the aforementioned mining fields are being permanently and safely backfilled and the areas used are being made usable for agriculture and forestry again.
What does plugging and abandonment mean?
We are active in all phases of oil and gas production, from development to plugging and abandonment. Plugging and abandonment marks the final step in the life cycle of production. Our responsibility includes the complete restoration of the areas that have been used for mining. Once the work has been completed, we make these areas available for further utilisation, which marks the end of mining supervision.
Figures, data, facts about the project
- Size of the natural gas fields: around 1,500 hectares
- Location of the natural gas fields: Gotha district and Unstrut-Hainich district
- Number of wells to be filled: 11
- Well depth: 1,000 - 1,200 metres
- Plugging and abandonment period: Summer 2023 until probably the end of 2027
Prioritising safety and environmental protection
We involve landowners and leaseholders, municipalities and authorities in the planning process. All work is carried out in consultation with the Thuringian Ministry of the Environment, which finances the dismantling costs, and is supervised by the Thuringian State Office for the Environment, Mining and Nature Conservation (TLUBN) based in Gera. These and other specialised authorities ensure that the safety and environmental protection standards applicable in Germany are adhered to.
The procedure
The plugging and abandonment of the central field stations will take place in three phases.
In the first construction phase, from autumn 2024, Neptune Energy will construct suitable standing areas and access roads.
In the next step, we will backfill the wells from the 1st quarter of 2026. In order to be able to backfill the 1,000 metre-deep wells, we will erect a special rig around 35 metres high at each central field station for around six weeks. All the wells are permanently and permanently secured one after the other with cement and mechanical barriers. Experts then shorten the pipes around two metres below the bottom of the field and secure them completely with a concrete slab.
Once the wells have been backfilled, Neptune Energy completely dismantles the operational areas, including the access roads that have been built. Finally, we restore the site to its previous use and hand it over to the owner in accordance with the contract.
