Rijswijk. Wintershall Noordzee announces the cessation of production of its operated fields Kotter und Logger in the Dutch North Sea as of end of July 2015. These platforms started production in 1984 (Kotter) and 1985 (Logger). In 2002 Wintershall Noordzee took over the license and operations on the platforms via the acquisition of Clyde Petroleum Exploratie B.V. Since then Kotter (K18b) and Logger (L16a) have produced around seven million barrels of oil alone. Wintershall’s share in Kotter and Logger fields is 100%.

Wintershall was able to extend field life several times through continuous optimization. Kotter and Logger have reached a recovery factor of more than 60%. The remaining recoverable volumes are limited and no longer commercial, Wintershall Noordzee decided to shut down permanently production from the Kotter and Logger platforms. Wintershall Noordzee informed the Dutch authorities in advance and is in close contact with them.

Until commencement of decommissioning the Kotter and Logger platforms will be regularly maintained. In the second half of 2015 staff, supplemented by a special cleaning contractor, will clean and prepare platforms for abandonment.

Wintershall is not planning to release staff as a consequence of this measure. Staff working on the platforms will be reassigned to other operated offshore locations and to the Central Control Room in Den Helder.

Wintershall Noordzee B.V. based in Rijswijk, the Netherlands, operates 25 offshore platforms in the Southern North Sea. The operations are located in Dutch, Danish, German and UK waters. In the Netherlands Wintershall is one of the largest producers of natural gas. To improve the efficiency of its operations Wintershall controls 20 of these platforms from Den Helder with a modern radio surveillance and control system.