We are realising a modern natural gas extraction project at the Georgsdorf site in the district of Grafschaft Bentheim. The aim is to develop regional energy sources in an efficient, environmentally friendly and safe manner. In this way, we are contributing to security of supply in Germany. The Adorf Karbon natural gas field is therefore an important part of our Base area of activity.
A few weeks ago, we successfully completed drilling work on a new natural gas well called Adorf Z19. The well, located on a former agricultural area south of Heideweg in the municipality of Georgsdorf, is around 4,170 metres long in total. Following final measures, the team on site converted the KCA Deutag drilling rig to drill a second well, Adorf Z20, around 35 metres away from Adorf Z19. Specialist companies had already set up the well site for both wells at the end of 2024.
A success story
We are mining the Adorf Z19 and Adorf Z20 in the Adorf Karbon reservoir. Current geological findings and local experience provided the impetus for this project. We know the subsurface in this region well. Our experts have successfully drilled a total of four wells into the same reservoir since 2019. The wells, named Adorf Z15, Z16, Z17 and Z18, are located at two central field stations - on the peat extraction route in Georgsdorf and at Bathorner Diek in Hoogstede. Two modern processing plants for the raw gas are in operation on site in order to supply around 200,000 households per year with natural gas - close to the consumer and with a significantly better CO2 footprint than all imports.
The two new wells are now set to tap into natural gas reserves in areas not reached by the previous Adorf wells.
Our wells
Our team is currently drilling the Adorf Z20 well over a period of several months. We are using a drilling rig more than 50 metres high for this. The well will run underground within a curve - around 4,430 metres long. Our experts will seal off the well from the groundwater several times using a system of steel pipes and cement and install shut-off devices and pressure monitoring systems. During the drilling phase, several people are on site around the clock.
After short-term production tests of the Adorf Z20, our experts decide how to proceed. They check whether the well can produce natural gas economically. If it is successful, we connect the well to the local natural gas network after obtaining approval from the relevant authorities.
Current planning
Schedule for the Adorf Z19 and Adorf Z20
From autumn 2024
Start of drilling site construction
Winter/spring 2025
Drilling of the natural gas well
Summer 2025
Testing of the Adorf Z19 well, drilling of the Z20 well
Autumn 2025
Testing of the Adorf Z20 well
2025
We are also realising the construction of a processing plant at our central field station. The pipeline connection of the well to the regional natural gas network of Erdgas Münster will also take place this year.
Neptune Energy focuses on compliance with safety and environmental protection standards
All work is supervised by the State Office for Mining, Energy and Geology (LBEG). This and other specialised authorities ensure that the safety and environmental protection standards applicable in Germany are adhered to. External experts have reviewed our concepts for the well site and the boreholes and, among other things, considered nature conservation issues - in the accompanying landscape conservation plan, including a species protection assessment and a preliminary environmental impact assessment. The technical reports describe, among other things, how we can avoid any adverse effects on nature and the landscape. In some cases, this is not possible, for example through the sealing of surfaces. For this reason, we have provided compensation and replacement measures for nature conservation. Irrespective of this, we are working to reduce carbon dioxide emissions as much as possible in all our activities. This includes, for example, electrifying plants while at the same time using electricity from renewable sources.
