STORE WE NATURAL GAS

Transcription

1 STORE WE NATURAL GAS

2 Content From WHAT to HOW. From WHAT to HOW. Andreas Renner, Managing Director optimised. reliable. safe. We store natural gas Rehden. Haidach. Jemgum. The astora storage facilities at a glance As one of Europe s largest natural gas storage system operators, astora makes a fundamental contribution to a reliable energy supply and is an indispensable partner in Germany s energy transition. We tackle this major task successfully within an efficient team. In particular, we emphasise on HOW we store natural gas. The Rehden natural gas storage facility 8 The Jemgum natural gas storage facility 12 The Haidach natural gas storage facility 16 easy. flexible. fast. Our storage facilities for our customers experienced. responsible. safe. Safety first versatile. efficient. climate-friendly. Natural gas an all-round talent successful. committed. together. We are astora Our team Contacting us / Imprint The special focus for us at astora, alongside economic efficiency, is on the safe and reliable operation of our facilities and the health of our employees. We take great care to put this commitment to the highest safety into practice in our work for the well-being of all people and the preservation of nature and the environment. This spirit guides us in everything we do or achieve, whether in managing our company, in the technical operation of our gas storage facilities or in contact with customers and the general public. Thus, we not only create gas supply security for Germany and Europe, but also strengthen the regions in which our storage facilities are located. Andreas Renner, Managing Director of astora A graduate engineer in the field of crude oil and natural gas, and a longstanding industry expert, Andreas Renner has been managing the WINGAS subsidiary astora GmbH & Co. KG since its foundation in After completing his studies in 1980, he began his career with one of the largest internationally active German crude oil and natural gas producers, where he held various managerial positions in Germany and abroad. 2

3 WE STORE NATURAL GAS. reliable Maximum security of supply. Around the clock. 365 days a year. safe Storing natural gas safely is our main task. We operate three of the largest natural gas storage facilities in Europe. Our facilities in Rehden, Haidach and Jemgum stand for high availability of natural gas as an energy source, maximum safety and sustainable and environmentally friendly forms of operation. All facilities are monitored 24/7 Our natural gas storage facilities are monitored around the clock 365 days a year from our central control room. As a subsidiary of the natural gas Germany. Each of our storage Highest safety standards trading company WINGAS and as sites in Rehden, Jemgum and All inspection, maintenance and repair work is per- an independent storage operator Haidach is strategically located formed by our experienced experts in cooperation within the Gazprom Group, astora at a node of the German and with external specialists. has access to a wide range of expe- European gas pipeline networks. rience in planning, constructing and They help gas traders, municipal operating underground storages utilities and industrial enterprises Everything from a single source as well as in marketing storage balance seasonal and temporary Our team combines all skills ranging from planning, optimised We focus on safety at all times. Our experienced experts and the use of efficient technologies guarantee the reliable operation of our facilities. capacities. In total, our storage facilities can hold more than six billion cubic metres of gas, which is the equivalent of the annual consumption of about three million households and about demand fluctuations, and ensure a high level of security of supply. constructing and operating natural gas storage facilities to the marketing of our storage capacities. Environmental and emission protection Responsibility for people and the environment is our primary concern. That applies not only to the planning a quarter of the entire natural gas and construction, but also to the ongoing operation of storage volume in our natural gas storage facilities. 4 5

4 Three locations. Two storage types. Ideal geological conditions. The pore storage facilities in Rehden and Haidach use the volume of the respective local rock layer of porous sandstone or limestone to store large amounts of natural gas. The former natural gas reservoirs are preferentially suitable for balancing out seasonal fluctuations. The Jemgum cavern storage facility is a high-performance storage facility in the depths of a salt dome, and can inject or withdraw its entire gas volume in short spaces of time. The Rehden gas storage facility has been in operation since 1993, the Haidach facility since We put the Jemgum gas storage facility into operation in 2013, and it is scheduled for completion in 2019/ m Jemgum Jemgum natural gas storage facility Storage type: Cavern storage Working gas volume: 900 to 950 million m 3 (astora commercialises 5/6) Cavern diameters: Up to 86 m Depth: 950 to 1,500 m Haidach 2000 m Haidach natural gas storage facility Storage type: Pore storage Working gas volume: 2.8 billion m³ (astora commercialises 1/3) Storage area: 17.5 km 2 Depth: 1,600 m Pore storage facilities are natural underground rock formations of porous Cavern storage facilities are artificially created cavities in a salt for- Rehden Rehden natural gas storage facility Storage type: Pore storage Working gas volume: 4.4 billion m 3 Storage area: 8 km 2 Depth: 1,900 to 2,100 m sandstone or limestone. Millions of years ago, natural gas accumulated in pores and fractures similar to a sponge soaking up water. Overlying impermeable layers of earth and rock prevent the natural gas from escaping. Once such a former gas reservoir has been depleted, it can be converted into a natural gas storage facility. mation. The caverns are created by drilling into the dome and using freshwater to dissolve and extract the salt in a controlled process. This creates cavities in which gas can be stored far below the surface. The surrounding salt serves as a gas-tight barrier ensuring the caverns to be impermeable. 6 7

5 THE REHDEN NATURAL GAS STORAGE FACILITY. A gas storage facility the size of 910 football pitches. 910 x The football pitch comparison illustrates what cannot be seen above ground, namely the vast dimensions of the largest pore storage facility in Western Europe. The local sports field for the joint community in Lower Saxony is in fact not too far from our company site. But while the sports field was only inaugurated in 2001, the former gas reservoir was here long before any humans ever settled in this area. 4.4 billion m 3 The natural gas reservoir covers a subsurface area of around eight square kilometres. This is equivalent to an expansion of approx. 910 football pitches. large Our natural gas storage facility annual consumption of natural gas it takes to cover the entire under- accesses a rock formation that was for around two million single-family ground storage volume. What that created through sedimentation homes. means, most importantly, is less im- after the land was flooded in the pact on nature and the landscape. larger Rehden The porous rock that stored natural gas for millions of years now provides the ideal basis for our pore storage facility. It is the largest in Western Europe. Upper Permian period, about 260 million years ago. At a depth of 2,000 metres, the rock layer is up to 40 metres thick and covers an area of around eight square kilometres. Its microscopic pores can hold the The Rehden natural gas reservoir was discovered in 1953, converted into a storage facility after its depletion and went into operation in horizontal wells running through the storage layer are all State-of-the-art storage technology, geology and the environment thus remain in harmony. 8 9

6 At the node of German and European gas pipelines. 16 wells Development 16 horizontal wells access the entire gas reservoir. The storage capacity of our Rehden gas storage facility is impressive. Added to the outstanding storage properties of the porous rock is the connection to natural gas pipelines from Germany, Norway, Great Britain and Russia. 280 bar Working pressure The storage pressure is between 110 and 280 bar, depending on the filling level. 280bar is the maximum storage pressure in the Rehden gas storage facility. The Rehden site has a working gas capacity of 4.4 billion cubic metres that s around a fifth of the total storage capacity currently available in Germany. 2.6 billion cubic metres of cushion gas remain permanently in the storage to maintain the minimum pressure needed to operate the facility. The Rehden storage facility offers our customers the ideal basis for their trading activities since natural gas can be transported from here throughout Europe as well as flexibly be injected and withdrawn. The facility is linked to the major pipelines Central German Gas Link (MIDAL) and Rehden-Hamburg Gas Pipeline (RHG) as well as to the North European Gas Pipeline (NEL) with a connection to the Nord Stream pipeline through the Baltic Sea. It, thus, plays a central role in supplying Germany and Western Europe with energy. 100 degrees Celsius 30 employees 20 years Temperature The temperature in the storage layer is 100 degrees Celsius. Specialists More than 30 employees ensure safe technical operation in Rehden around the clock. Safety We have been operating the Rehden natural gas storage facility safely and reliably for over 20 years. approx. 4 bar is the pressure in a bicycle tyre. Why does natural gas have to be dried when withdrawn? When withdrawn from the underground storage horizon the stored gas still contains a proportion of water. To remove this from the gas mixture, the gas is subjected to a dehydration process. This process uses glycol, which absorbs the water and thus dries the natural gas. The saturated glycol is stripped off the water and then reused

7 THE JEMGUM NATURAL GAS STORAGE FACILITY. fast Cavern storage: high-speed for the customer. One of Germany s largest cavern storage facilities has been under construction in Jemgum since The main advantage of cavern storage over other storage technologies: the cavities and drill sections in the rock salt make it possible to inject or withdraw the entire storage volume within a very short space of time. 400 m The caverns in Jemgum are up to 400 metres high. Even the Berlin TV tower with a height of 368 metres would fit in there. Jemgum The salt dome, measuring more than 10 kilometres in length in the region around the community of of natural gas. From 2019/20, ten such caverns will then be available, planned for just under a billion the bird breeding seasons, and we selected lighting for our operation site that is adapted to the natural Jemgum in Lower Saxony, is prac- cubic metres of natural gas. surroundings. Additional noise pro- tically tailor-made for our natural tection ensures that local residents faster gas cavern storage facility. The upper edge of the salt formation that keeps the natural gas hermetically sealed is located at a depth of Since the surrounding Rheiderland is an important conservation area, we began working intensively in line with statutory requirements on and animals are not disturbed by the operation. Last but not least, the region also 450 metres. To create the individual concepts to ensure environmental benefits from new jobs and the caverns, we drill even deeper to compatibility even before the first commissioning of local companies a depth of at least 900 to 1,500 me- sod was turned. For example, con- to build and operate the facility. tres. In the subsequent solution struction work for connecting the leaching process we create the bot- storage facility to the gas transpor- tle-shaped cavities for safe storage tation network took place outside 12 13

8 At the intersection point of the natural gas supply in Northwest Europe. Rapid availability for all users is a key feature of our cavern storage facility in Jemgum. The border area between Germany and the Netherlands provides the best connections to major gas pipeline networks. 400 metres 200 bar Cavern height The underground caverns in Jemgum are up to 400 metres high. Working pressure Compressors condense the natural gas to a pressure of up to 200 bar before injecting it into the caverns. 20 km/h is the approximate flow speed of natural gas when it is being withdrawn from the storage. Since the natural gas doesn t have to make its way through countless rock pores, we achieve record speeds at Jemgum for injection and withdrawal of the gas reserves. A million cubic metres of natural gas can be released within an hour, while the entire storage volume can be provided within about 40 days. That means short-term intermediate storage to compensate for supply bottlenecks is possible as well as spontaneously taking advantage of market opportunities. Thanks to its connection to the pipeline networks in the Netherlands and Germany, Jemgum has cross-border access to two market areas. Even natural gas that arrives in Germany from Russia via the Nord Stream Pipeline can be transported to Jemgum for storage via the North European Gas Pipeline (NEL). 60,000 m³ per hour 100,000 m³ per hour 500,000 single-family homes Injection Rate A maximum of 60,000 cubic metres of natural gas per hour can be injected into each cavern. Withdrawal rate A maximum of 100,000 cubic metres of natural gas per hour can be withdrawn from each cavern. Supply The working gas quantity of the Jemgum storage facility is equivalent to the annual consumption of 500, km/h is the average walking speed of a person. How does the injection and withdrawal process work in cavern storage facilities? The gas to be stored is first cleaned in large separators, compressed and injected into the caverns under high pressure. Before being withdrawn, the pressure of the gas is reduced again to the pipeline pressure level. This cools the gas so much that it has to be pre-heated. single-family homes. 14

9 THE HAIDACH NATURAL GAS STORAGE FACILITY. From a natural gas deposit to an exemplary storage operation. 1.4 million /year The natural gas reservoir, which was only discovered in the 1990s, was converted into a state-of-the-art storage facility immediately after its depletion. It can supply the annual gas consumption of around 1.4 million single-family homes. The storage volume of the Haidach storage facility is equivalent to the annual gas consumption of around 1.4 million single-family homes. The starting point was the disco- time of just two years, the first con- very of the natural gas reservoir struction stage of the new natural 1,600 metres below the surface and gas storage facility was commis- stretching over 17.5 square kilo- sioned in The second stage metres. Its total volume of 4.3 bil- was completed in lion cubic metres of working gas and cushion gas make the reser- Like our storage facilities in Rehden voir one of the largest deposits in and Jemgum, the Haidach facility fits perfectly Haidach Austria. A major advantage of the 100-metre-thick reservoir rock is its high permeability, which speeds up injection and withdrawal considerably. Using it subsequently as a storage facility was therefore an complies with the most stringent environmental and safety standards. Thanks to its landscaping, it is well integrated into its natural surroundings. obvious choice. After a conversion 16 17

10 Our cornerstone for gas supply in Central Europe. As an international project, the Haidach natural gas storage facility is the joint venture of strong partners: Germany s WINGAS Holding GmbH, Austria s RAG Rohöl-Aufsuchungs Aktiengesellschaft as well as Gazprom Germania GmbH and Centrex Europe Energy & Gas AG. astora commercialises one third of the total working gas volume of around 2.8 billion cubic metres. 17 wells 156 bar Development 17 directional wells access the entire gas reservoir. Working pressure The storage pressure is between 40 and 156 bar, depending on the filling level. 38 kg weighs the heaviest screw used to build the storage facility. km The Haidach natural gas storage facility is connected to the German high-pressure grid via the German-Austrian intersection at Burghausen/Haiming. That makes it part of the European gas market, available to our customers from municipalities, business and industry as a source to cover their natural gas supply needs. Alongside diversified import sources and trans- port routes, liquid trading markets and domestic gas production, our storage facilities make an essential contribution to a secure supply of natural gas. Seamless and redundant facility monitoring ensures safe and reliable operation. 53 degrees Celsius 13 experts 10 years Temperature The gas reservoir temperature is around 53 degrees Celsius. Specialists A team of 13 RAG employees is responsible for managing, maintaining and operating the storage facility. Safety The Haidach natural gas storage facility went into operation in 2007 and has been running safely and reliably ever since. 2 g weighs a standard screw (3,5 x 45 mm). How does natural gas evolve? Natural gas was created around two billion years ago from organic material (such as dead plankton), which sank to the bottom of the primeval seas, where it was sealed in by sediment (sand and clay). The organic material was broken down by bacteria and pressed deep into the earth over millions of years through further sedimentation. Without oxygen, under extreme pressure and at high temperatures, the organic components were slowly converted into gaseous hydrocarbons, resulting in the formation of natural gas, which evolved through various intermediates over a long period of time

11 OUR STORAGE FACILITIES FOR OUR CUSTOMERS. Our customers have the choice. fast Our philosophy is simple: The focus is on the customer. Through our one-to-one support, customers always have a competent contact person for all their needs. Our storage flexible capacities are commercialised in a transparent and non-discriminatory way. easy We offer our customers free storage capacities as bundled or unbun- interruptible capacities as well as long-term contracts can be conclu- and compiling their storage quotas. They can rely on our long-time ex- dled products with freely selectable ded with us on the basis of the perience and our sound knowledge contract periods. Bundled storage proven first committed first of the market. products consist of the injection served principle. capacity, the withdrawal capacity and the working gas volume, which Updated each day, our digital stor- together form a bundle. With un bundled storage products, the respective components are offered separately. age portal provides a transparent overview of transaction data and availability. Supplementary services provided by our company can astora s contractual framework Storage services agreement also be booked as an option, such We know the markets and our customers wishes. As your partner for a flexible and reliable storage of natural gas we are always there to support you with our ideas. We offer free capacities on an annual basis in a keyed procedure via the PRISMA online trading platform. The product structure, bundle sizes and bidding deadlines are predefined for each keyed procedure. In addition, other unbundled and as the obligatory reporting of the stored gas volume to the respective international and national regulatory authorities. We advise our customers personally and competently in planning exchangeable General terms and conditions Storage specification 20 21

12 SAFETY FIRST. We do not make compromises where health and occupational safety, environmental protection and facility safety are concerned. Robert Quatmann, HSE-Coordinator of astora We take responsibility. For people and the environment. Health, environmental protection and safety are essential for the reliable operation of our facilities and are given clear priority alongside economic efficiency. This principle determines our actions and decisions and is the reason for the long-term success of our company. experienced responsible safe We plan, build and operate our natural gas storage facilities according to the most stringent environmental and safety standards. And not simply because this has been stipulated. Responsibility for people and the environment can be found in the use of efficient technologies and reliable infrastructure, and seen in the attentiveness of our employees. Health, safety and environmental protection (HSE) consistently shape our corporate culture across all divisions and activities. Everyone at astora acts in accordance with our HSE standards to protect both themselves and all others. All our work processes are constantly monitored. For us, the protection of species and the preservation of natural resources surrounding our natural gas storage facilities go without saying. We coordinate with nature conservation associations, cooperate with government authorities and operate with business partners who share our convictions. Success is our confirmation: Our natural gas storage facilities are among the largest in Western Europe and stand for reliable, safe and efficient facility operation

13 NATURAL GAS AN ALL-ROUND TALENT. A strong partner for the energy transition. efficient Natural gas, the most environmentally friendly conventional source of energy, covers the heating requirements for millions of households, generates electricity and enables mobility. When the wind doesn t blow and the sun doesn t shine, it is natural gas that flexibly balances out the fluctuations of renewable energies, making it critically important for Europe s energy supply. We are convinced that natural gas is making a major contri- versatile bution to implementing the energy transition. Without natural gas storage facilities, however, the many applications for natural gas would be inconceiva- mal energy, in other words, power and heat. And in the mobility sector, clean-burning compressed natural ble. They not only balance out the seasonal fluctuations gas (CNG) improves the carbon footprint. In shipping, between production and consumption in summer and liquefied natural gas (LNG) helps preventing the envi- the winter months, but, on the path to a green future, ronmental impact of heavy oil. they also significantly contribute to ensuring stable availability and flexible use of natural gas as an all- We already have a well-developed infrastructure for climatefriendly round talent. Today, half of all residences in Germany are already heated with natural gas. And environmentally friendly and highly efficient natural gas system solutions also natural gas as an energy source, from generation and transportation to distribution to storage. This all-round talent is a valuable basis for the modern and efficient energy supply of the future. The energy transition is thus being supported with natural gas alongside harbour huge potential for heating and decentralised renewables. power supply for the future. That applies to both private households and major power plants alike. In modern, gas-powered combined heat and power plants, natural gas is converted very efficiently into electric and ther

14 WE ARE astora. We do things really well together. We at astora work efficiently and sustainably. We are committed to the success of our company in all endeavours. Because every employee contributes its special knowledge and experience exactly where it is needed, we are a well-coordinated team. successful The reliable operation of natural gas openness, respect and courtesy. storage facilities over many years By specifically promoting social and is a promise for the future. As an cultural initiatives locally, we create committed together Nothing is perfect, which is why we are constantly looking for ways to integrate the latest findings from science and technology into our work. experienced team we know that we can attribute this to the technical expertise and commitment of each and every one of us. Whatever their position may be, our employees have the necessary skills, whether they work in the control room, in business development, in technical facility operation or in marketing a positive environment for living and working. Our specialists for planning, building and operating natural gas storage facilities and marketing storage capacities impress with their knowhow and reliable service. On site, in customer service, in every situation. our storage products. Continuous further training expands our specialist know-how. The way we deal with each other is governed by 26 27

15 As a team we know that shared success is what drives us today and in the future. And this success is based on the experience and know ledge of each and every one of us. Andreas Renner, Managing Director of astora

16 CONTACTING US / IMPRINT Headquarters Rehden storage facility Jemgum storage facility Haidach storage facility Storage services Imprint astora GmbH & Co. KG Head of Department: Silke Baumann Phone: Publisher: Photos: Wilhelmshöher Allee 239 Osterkamp 31 Jemgumkloster 3 Haidach 50 astora GmbH & Co. KG astora GmbH & Co. KG, Kassel Rehden Jemgum 5204 Straßwalchen / Austria Secretarial Office: Christel Baumert Phone: Wilhelmshöher Allee 239 Nikolaus Frank, Heiko Meyer, Kassel Uwe Zucchi, Markus Hibbeler, Phone: Sales Manager: Matthias Krätzer Phone: Bernd Schoelzchen, Sebastian Rosa Phone: Concept und design: Thorsten Ritzmann, kontakt@astora.de Malte Hachmeister Phone: Machbar GmbH, Kassel RAG Archiv, istockphoto.com, Getty Images speicherung@astora.de Editorial team and authors: Printed by: astora GmbH & Co. KG, Boxan Repro + Druck, Kassel Brigitte Rathmann, Kassel Machbar GmbH, Kassel Published: February

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