Netherlands Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Association

O C T O B E R

2 0 1 2

NEWSLETTER
IN THIS EDITION
Learning from the debate
in society

7th European Gas Well

Deliquification Conference

BRO: the Dutch Key Register

of the Subsurface

NOGEPA Safety Training Quality

Assurance

Obesity is a serious health risk

International Well Control Forum

Collision & near miss of fishing

vessels with offshore production
platforms

IMCA annual seminar

Farewell Gerard Tolman

NOGEPA Natural Gas Symposium 2012

On 12 September 2012, more than 180 delegates came together
at the Museon in The Hague to take part in NOGEPAs Natural
Gas Symposium 2012. With the proposition that natural gas is an
essential link in the transition to a sustainable energy mix, time was
taken to reflect on the public acceptance needed to realise all kinds
of industrial projects. The primary emphasis was on the cooperation
that will be needed between all the parties involved.

the lowest CO2 emissions and that we have

at least 200 years of proven gas reserves
worldwide, the image of the industry
could do with some improvement: it is no
longer enough to simply explain and then
implement, but we now need to create
public acceptance.

On 12 September 2012, more than 180

delegates came together at the Museon in
The Hague to take part in NOGEPAs Natural
Gas Symposium 2012. With the proposition
that natural gas is an essential link in the
transition to a sustainable energy mix, time
was taken to reflect on the public acceptance
needed to realise all kinds of industrial
projects. The primary emphasis was on the
cooperation that will be needed between all
the parties involved.

Symposium
After the opening by Jo
Peters, Secretary-General
of NOGEPA, a short news
bulletin was presented
which included bold
statements on energy
and society by the
political spokespersons
of political parties CDA
(Christian Democrats), SP
(Socialist Party) and GroenLinks (Green Left).
Commentators from the media (Financieel
Dagblad), from TU Delft/Clingendael Institute
and Greenpeace also contributed in order to
create as broad a framework as possible for
discussions later in the day.

NOGEPA, the Netherlands

Oil and Gas Exploration and
Production Association
Bezuidenhoutseweg 27-29
P.O. Box 11729
2502 AS The Hague
Phone: +31 70 3478871
Fax: +31 70 385123
E-mail: info@nogepa.nl

Mission
Outside the E&P industry, not everyone
is convinced that natural gas is needed for
the transition to sustainability. Despite the
fact that natural gas is the fossil fuel with

Netherlands Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Association

NEWSLETTER

NOGEPA Natural Gas Symposium 2012

Gertjan Lankhorst
(GasTerra)

Mark Dierikx
(Ministry of Economic Affairs,
Agriculture & Innovation)

Ron Wit
(Natuur & Milieu)

Following this journalistic introduction,

Gertjan Lankhorst (GasTerra) took to the
stage. Referring to an account given by
Thomas Met on sustainable, durable or
renewable, he emphasised the industrys
ambition to combine optimism and common
sense, with global demand for natural gas - as
opposed to oil, coal, nuclear and sustainable
- serving as the starting point.
Mark Dierikx (from the Ministry of Economic
Affairs, Agriculture & Innovation) was the
second speaker, and he quoted Freud on
the idea that self-improvement can lead to
a licence-to-operate. In his presentation, he
analysed the key developments in the Dutch
E&P industry, emphasising the role that the
government plays here.
The morning session was concluded by Ron
Wit (Natuur&Milieu). After first analysing
the positive and negative aspects of natural
gas and anticipating possible outcomes
of the forthcoming coalition agreement,
he went on to analyse and emphasise the
importance of establishing a National Energy
Agreement. He also sketched a plan to
achieve much needed energy savings, to be
achieved by possible cooperation between
political parties, NGOs and the gas industry.
After lunch, Linda Steg (University of
Groningen) gave an address. With a
scientific foundation, she explained the
concerns that society has and how these
can be influenced. With various examples of
acceptance and effectiveness, as well as an
evaluation of how viable the requirements
are, she succeeded in providing sufficient
food for thought for the debate to follow.

OCTOBER

2012

Jelto Terpstra

After the round-up by Ruud Zoon (Chair),

the delegates were treated to a live news
bulletin, which included scenes from the day
and interviews with the speakers.
Conclusion
The NOGEPA Natural Gas Symposium is an
annual event with a growing group of invited
delegates at which the industry comes
together with NGOs, students and other
stakeholders to reflect on energy issues. After
the 2012 symposium, we can conclude that:
the gas industry, government and NGOs
have come closer together, and that they
can benefit each other more in the future;
the parties involved will increasingly be
responsive to achieve the things they need
from each other;
cooperation with the sustainability lobby
is a necessity;
the road to a sustainable energy future can
only be travelled together;
dialogue in society is a prerequisite for
public acceptance.
For the news bulletin, see
www.aardgas-update.nl
For the presentations, see
www.nogepa.nl

Linda Steg
(University of Groningen)

NEWSLETTER

Netherlands Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Association

Learning from the debate in society

OCTOBER

2012

Gert-Jan Windhorst

On 22 September 2012 Gert-Jan Windhorst

addressed more than 50 participants of
the Global Frackdown Day protest. He had
been invited to do so by the lobby group
Netherlands Shale Gas-Free (Schaliegasvrij
Nederland), and attended as a representative
of the industry body NOGEPA. NOGEPA
represents 16 businesses active in the
Netherlands in the onshore and offshore
production of oil and gas.
The facts on fracking that Windhorst
presented to the protestors included:
Fracking, the method used to produce shale
gas, is not unique to shale gas production. It
is not a new technique. In the past 50 years,
fracking has been employed 200 times
onshore and offshore in the Netherlands.
All drilling activity in the Netherlands is
monitored closely by the State Supervision
of Mines. This has helped achieve a
situation where there have been no
significant incidents in the Netherlands.
In the United States, fracking releases
methane because it is employed in an open
system. Fracking in the Netherlands uses a
closed system, which means that releases
of methane are limited.
Just as in agriculture and in other branches
of industry, fracking by the oil and gas
industry uses chemicals. The concerns that
this creates are understandable. It is in
everyones interest - including our own - to
ensure that these chemicals are used safely.
For this reason, we only use chemicals that
are registered in accordance with REACH,
the European Unions chemicals legislation
framework.

Windhorst also told the audience that the

industry is learning from the debate in society.
Until now, the E&P industry has kept a
low profile in sharing information with the
public.
The disquiet about the use of chemicals
has taught us that more openness lends
credence to our message on the safety of
our activities.
The industry does not decide whether
society needs gas.
We do know, however, that society
demands gas from us day in, day out. For
cooking and for hot water. But also for
providing light, because two-third of our
electricity plants are gas-fired.
Independent research
We understand that people and organisations
who are critical of drilling for shale gas will
not be convinced by parties who have an
economic stake in the activity. For this reason,
our members are also looking forward to an
independent study which the Ministry of
Economic Affairs, Agriculture & Innovation
will order into the possible consequences of
shale and coal gas exploration and production
on man, nature and the environment. The
outcomes of the study are expected to be
published no later than summer 2013.
If it is found that drilling for shale gas presents
excessive risks to man and the environment,
the industry will not proceed with it.

Netherlands Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Association

7th European Gas Well

Deliquification Conference
The 7th European Gas Well Deliquification
Conference was held from 25-26 October
2012 in Groningen. The conference
welcomed more than 100 participants
from all across Europe, including operators,
service companies, research institutes and
academics. The conference also included
an exhibition with 18 vendors offering a full
range of hardware, chemicals, software and
other services.
Gas well deliquification strives to extend
stable production from depleting gas wells
that would otherwise become overloaded
with liquids resulting in sub-optimal or
even zero gas production. Deliquification
or liquid unloading techniques will help
increase economical gas recovery. During
the conference, EBN highlighted that every
1% additional recovery in the Netherlands
represents 10 Bcm of extra gas production.
The total scope of deliquification could be as
high as 5% extra recovery or 50 Bcm.
During the conference, operators shared
their experiences with mature and
developing deliquification techniques, and
service providers presented their progress

NEWSLETTER

OCTOBER

2012

Kees Veeken

Wellhead compressors installed at an

onshore site in Germany (Wintershall)
in the different areas. The application
of deliquification in Europe is steadily
expanding. Further expansion will require
low enough deliquification costs, and cost
critically depends on location (e.g. onshore
or offshore) and on local regulations (e.g.
relating to the requirement for a surfacecontrolled subsurface safety valve).
Expansion also relies on the successful
application of end-of-life deliquification
solutions such as gas lift, downhole pump
and compression down to very low wellhead
pressure.

Velocity string installation

at an offshore location in
the Netherlands (NAM)

Netherlands Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Association

BRO: the Dutch Key Register

of the Subsurface
BRO, the Dutch Key Register of the Subsurface
(Basisregistratie Ondergrond) will be
introduced on 1 January 2015. From that
time, the oil and gas companies active in the
Netherlands will be asked to pass on the data
they hold on the subsurface, such as borehole
measurements, seismic surveys and monthly
production figures, to BRO. BRO will be taking
over the role currently played by TNOs DINO
database. The obligation to pass on subsurface
data has already been put in place for the
mining industry via the Mining Act. There will
essentially be no change here. From 1 January
2015, BRO will also act as a platform for users
to download data supplied under the Mining
Act and use it for various purposes.
BRO is one of the basic geographic registers
maintained by the Ministry of Infrastructure
and the Environment. A large part of the
current DINO database and the BIS Nederland
database will be transferred to BRO. At a later
stage, it is likely that archaeological data and
data on environmental quality will also be
added to BRO. The importance of suitable
information on the surface and subsurface will
only increase in the future. This is reflected,
for example, in European law, such as the
INSPIRE Directive. This was a key reason for
the Government to take the decision in 2008
to proceed with BRO. The BRO system goes
hand in hand with the BRO Act.
BRO contains data on the geological and
pedological (soil) structure, the subsurface
infrastructure and rights to use the subsurface.
The use of geological and pedological data
often takes place in the form of maps and
profiles based on geological and pedological
models. The shallow models form part of BRO.

Mining Act Well

expert session

NEWSLETTER

OCTOBER

2012

Rico Tnis

The deep geological model of the Netherlands

does is not as yet part of BRO.
The precise contents of BRO will be recorded
in a BRO Catalogue, which will explicitly state
what standardised subsurface data can be
made available to users. Specifically, the
catalogue comes into being through expert
sessions, civil service sessions and public
internet consultations. Recently an expert
session on Mining Act Wells was launched.
This ensures that information is recorded in
BRO on the various essential components of
a Mining Act well, the measurements from
a well and the type and quantities of the
minerals and other substances transported via
the wells. A number of NOGEPA members are
taking part in this expert session.
This ensures that the industry is making a
contribution to the formation of BRO. It is
important that the industry continues to do
this, including for the forthcoming expert
sessions on boreholes, seismic and permits.
Further information on BRO and more
specifically on the data held under the Mining
Act in BRO, please contact Rico Tnis (rico.
tonis@tno.nl).
Useful links:
For background information, see here.
Subscribe to the BRO news reports
info@dinoloket.nl.
Questions and answers on BRO can be
found here.
Further information: www.dinoloket.nl
For a YouTube interview about BRO,
click here.

Netherlands Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Association

NEWSLETTER

NOGEPA Safety Training Quality Assurance

Since July 2012, coordination and execution
of audits of the safety training courses listed
in the NOGEPA Training Handbook have
been undertaken by Deltalinqs. To ensure a
smooth transition, our previous auditor Peter
Knobbe attended the first three audits as an
observer. Audits are normally performed by
a team comprised of an auditor, a member
of our H&S Committee and a representative
of State Supervision of Mines. The audit
findings and the responses received from
the training institutes are reviewed and
discussed by NOGEPAs Training Working
Group and, where necessary, the training
institute in question is contacted before the

OCTOBER

2012

Cees van Oosterom

audit findings are finalised. The three audits

by Deltalinqs are performed at the following
traing centra: at DHTC with the 0.5 survival
at sea course, at Kros with the 2.6 fire team
member course and at SAIO with the 1.9
banksman course.
As an industry, we place great value on the
quality of training. This ensures personnel are
fully competent and also forms the basis for
mutual safety training around the North Sea.

Obesity is a serious health risk

Gert-Jan Windhorst

Obesity is a discussion topic not just within

our own industry, but in wider society too.
Obesity is a serious health risk and for this
reason the national oil and gas industry
associations around the North Sea have
studied the condition and have issued
recommended limits with regard to body
weight and fitness levels. These are expressed
as maximum BMI scores (see below).

A meeting will be held with HR departments

later this month to discuss the approach by
individual companies, but also a common
approach across the industry. It is expected
that the resulting guideline will be in place by
1 January 2013.

Oil companies do not feel that they can take

responsibility for the medical arrangements
that would need to be made for obese
persons whose BMI exceeds the set limits.

BMI 35-40:
unfit unless normal relative risk, rhythm, blood
sugar, blood cholesterol and family history.
Candidate is fit to crawl through a standard
helicopter window sized frame (a frame
with a rectangular aperture with a minimum
size of 432 mm x 355 mm, or 17 x 14).
Refer to General Practitioner and or Employer
for a fitness programme. Review in 6 months.

These restrictions are easy to implement for

new recruits, but for crew members already
currently working offshore, the situation
will require individual discussions with
those concerned and a suitable follow-up
procedure.

BMI 40+:
not fit for working offshore

BMI 30-35:
fit, but refer to a fitness programme via his/
her GP and or Employer.
Refer to General Practitioner in presence of
cardiac risk factors.
Standard helicopter window test (see above).
Review in 6 months.
BMI less than 30
OK.

Netherlands Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Association

International Well Control Forum

Prevention of
accidents involving
gas and oil wells is
an important focus
area for our industry.
For this reason,
NOGEPA supports the
International Well
Control Forum (IWCF)
which was established
in 1992.

The primary purpose of IWCF is to develop and

administer well control training, assessment
and certification programmes on behalf of
the exploration and production sector of the
oil and gas industry.
The mission of IWCF is to:
Improve competency globally to prevent
the recurrence of a major incident by
promoting and promulgating well control
knowledge, establishing uniform training,
assessment and certification programmes
which are acceptable globally by all
operators, contractors and regulatory
bodies.
Encourage a step change improvement
in the competence and behaviours of
personnel throughout the oil exploration
and production industry by developing
enhanced practical well control training.
IWCF accredits training providers, thereby
ensuring suitability of physical resources
(facilities, simulator equipment), suitability of
human resources (teaching and assessment
personnel), course objectives, curriculum
lesson plans and materials to ensure the
entire syllabus or curriculum, including
practical simulator training, is covered.

NEWSLETTER

OCTOBER

2012

Cees van Oosterom

IWCF is currently in the final stages of a project

in conjunction with organisations in countries
with North Sea operations to develop and
accredit a new programme:
Scenario-based Well Control Training
The overall objective of the course is to
encourage a step change in the competence
of personnel with well control critical roles.
Content will be in two broad categories:
Technical content
- to broaden the knowledge and
understanding of participants beyond
that achievable in a typical Well Control
certification course.
Behavioural content
- to improve critical team working and
decision-making skills and focus on the
empowerment of individuals to act.
The structure of the course will put
participants in an environment as close to real
life as possible, to allow meaningful learning
from simulator situations. An important
aspect is that both teams and individuals are
observed and given meaningful feedback.

IWCF requires independent assessment

and examination to verify that the training
objectives and outcomes have been met.

This programme began as an initiative in the

Netherlands and is wholeheartedly supported
by NOGEPA.

Current IWCF programmes include:

Introductory Rotary Drilling Well Control
Rotary Drilling Well Control
Well Intervention Pressure Control

Pilot courses have been running in the

Netherlands and the plan is to have these
courses formally available by 1 January 2013.
In addition, IWCF has, along with the
IADC, been involved in producing the
Recommendations for Enhancements to
Well Control Training, Examination and
Certification as part of its work on the
Human Factors Training, Competency
and Behaviours Task Force of the Oil and
Gas Producers Wells Expert Committee. This
document is scheduled for publication later
this year. Its recommendations will then be
implemented by IWCF.

Netherlands Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Association

NEWSLETTER

Collision & near miss of fishing vessels

with offshore production platforms

OCTOBER

2012

Cees van Oosterom

On 19 July, the Danish fishing vessel Michell

Jasmine lost propulsion and ran adrift,
passing the K7FD platform at a distance of
around 35 meters. Subsequently, it dropped
anchor very close to an offshore platform.
The ship, however, drifted further dragging
its anchor over a high pressure gas pipeline.
On 23 September, the fishing vessel Goeree
20 collided with NAMs K15-FK-1 platform,
damaging its bow and boom. The unmanned
platform brace was also damaged.
These incidents are considered to be very
serious because of the risk of high pressure
gas being liberated from damaged pipelines
or processing equipment with potentially
very serious attendant consequences for the
vessel, the gas processing platform and the
crews.
NOGEPA has requested a meeting with
Rijkswaterstaat North Sea to discuss
possible measures to prevent such
incidents from occurring.

Netherlands Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Association

NEWSLETTER

OCTOBER

2012

IMCA annual seminar

The 2012 IMCA annual seminar will take
place on 2829 November at the Okura
Hotel, Amsterdam, Netherlands on the
theme: Marine and subsea operations: a
culture of sustainability.

The seminar will represent the interests

of all four of IMCAs technical divisions marine, diving, remote systems & ROV and
offshore survey.
Keynote presentations will be given by the
former Prime Minister of The Netherlands,
Jan Peter Balkenende, Andy Woolgar of
Subsea 7 and IMCAs current president,
Ronnie Bonnar, Managing Director of Repsol
Nuevas Energias, Cato Hordnes, Advisor
Subsea and Diving Intervention of Statoil
and Ruud Zoon, Managing Director of GDF
Suez.
The conference splits on both days into
three parallel sessions - Marine, Diving and
ROV & Survey. Full details can be found on
the programme page:
http://www.imca-int.com/events/seminar/
programme.html or a programme can be
downloaded here:
http://www.imca-int.com/events/seminar/
IMCAProgramme.pdf

ENDORSED BY

IMCA_Advert_2012.indd 1

16/10/2012 11:17:40

Farewell Gerard Tolman

On 10 October, the NOGEPA H&S Committee
said goodbye to the HSE Manager of Total
E&P Nederland, Gerard Tolman.
Gerard actively served for 5 years on the
NOGEPA H&S Committee. He contributed
to a number of subjects, such as measures
to help reduce the number of incidents of

Cees van Oosterom

vessels infringing the safety zones around

platforms.
Gerard is transferring to Totals head office
in Paris, where he will become Maistro
Auditor of HSE Management Systems at
Total subsidiaries around the globe. We do
wish Gerard a rewarding assignment.

Disclaimer newsletter NOGEPA has

taken the greatest of care to ensure
the accuracy of the contents of the
e-mail newsletter, but is not liable
for any inaccuracies, omissions, or
errors whether in respect of the
information provided in the e-mail
newsletter. The information in the
newsletter may only be used by
readers for their own purposes.
Permission must be obtained from
NOGEPA for any other use.