On Tuesday, the Dutch government estimated that the gas output at the Groningen field might be higher than previously planned during its last year of regular production.
Earlier this year, the field’s output was predicted to be cut in half to 3.9 bcm for the year to the end of September 2022. It was decided to limit the seismic risks in the region with gas only to be extracted thereafter in the event of extreme weather, for which a few sites will remain on standby.
The government did not specify the higher amount possible but said that output would not exceed 7.8 bcm produced in the year to the start of last month.
The delay of the output cut would be due to a delay in the building of a nitrogen facility needed to convert imported high-calorific gas into the low-calorific type delivered by Groningen.
According to Dutch Economy Minister Stef Blok, the nitrogen facility is expected to be ready by August, four months later than previously planned. Still, it will be in time for Groningen to halt production before October 2022.
