The Earth is rumbling because gas is being extracted from it and getting nothing in return. The north of the Netherlands is experiencing earthquakes and damage to buildings and people feel unsafe. Nevertheless, NAM is allowed to increase natural gas extraction under the Wadden Sea. The economy plays an important role in this. The Wadden Sea is a World Heritage Site but also an area where minerals are extracted. Nature conservation organizations, islanders and Wadden enthusiasts protest against these industrial activities.
Gas extraction by NAM in the world heritage
Below the north of the country lies the large Groningen field, which was drilled in 1959. Since then, gas has been extracted by the Dutch Petroleum Company. The activity is not without consequences for the region. Not only did industrial structures appear in the form of derricks and installations, but earthquakes have also been felt regularly since 1986.
East Groningen
The earthquakes are not only felt in East Groningen, although that is where the main focus of the shocks in number and strength lies. The earthquakes are observed as far away as Drenthe and Friesland. The first earthquake resulting from gas extraction in Groningen was on December 26, 1986 in Assen.
Earthquake in Groningen and under the mudflats
The earthquakes have been felt regularly since 1986, the extraction has been going on for over twenty years, but the population was unpleasantly awakened by a relatively heavy earthquake of 3.6 on the Richter scale in the Groningen village of Huizinge, municipality of Loppersum on 16 August 2012. Since then, the people of Groningen have been even more worried than before. In 2012/2013, the Minister of Economic Affairs commissioned a study by the State Supervision of Mines into the consequences and dangers of natural gas extraction. The conclusion of the report is that the Groningen field can best be spared and that more earthquakes can be expected.
High chance of a stronger earthquake
There is a good chance, says the report, that an earthquake measuring 3.9 on the Richter scale will follow in 2013. The chance is 1 in 14. Such a strong earthquake did not occur. There were dozens of earthquakes in 2014 and 2015, but none as severe as the one on August 16, 2012. Groningen is expected to experience an earthquake with a magnitude of 4.5.
Wadden Sea
On March 22, 2013, the decision of Minister Henk Kamp of Economic Affairs was published in the Government Gazette stating that more gas may be extracted from under the Wadden Sea and areas around the Wadden Sea. The areas are:
- Lauwersoog;
- Vierhuizen;
- Mudhole;
- Anjum;
- Ameland.
From 2013 onwards, an additional 15 billion cubic meters of gas will be extracted from the seabed and mudflats over a period of twenty years. NAM started additional extraction at the beginning of 2013.
Natural gas extraction since 2007
Since 2007, ten billion cubic meters of gas have been extracted from under the Wadden Sea. Forty billion cubic meters have already been extracted from Ameland from 1986 to 2013.
Land subsidence
In addition to earthquakes, natural gas extraction also causes land subsidence. By agreement, the soil may sink a maximum of 6 millimeters per year. If the ground sinks more, the gas tap will be opened less widely or closed completely. NAM must report on this every year to the Minister of Economic Affairs. This is called the Hand to the Tap principle. Scientists say that production by hand on the tap does not work. Ir. APEM Houtenbos says about this in the report Land Subsidence Wadden Sea 1977 2011: ,The controllability of land subsidence due to gas extraction via ‘production by hand at the tap’ is a utopia that has been unequivocally refuted by all measurements.,
Production continues
Minister Kamp and the NAM have both announced that the additional extraction under the mudflats does not mean that the tap will be turned off at the Groningen field. Production there continues as usual.
Injury
In the meantime, NAM has reserved one hundred million euros in early 2013 for claims settlement of cracks and other damage to buildings, roads and waterworks in Groningen. Groningen residents who have claimed damage from NAM are dissatisfied with the handling. With every new earthquake that causes new damage, the procedure starts over again, which means that damage settlement takes more than six months or more and can in principle be postponed indefinitely. NAM now provides information at information evenings and NAM directors are conducting a charm offensive by going for coffee with Groningen residents. Damage experts from the NAM will also visit the churches in March 2013 with experts from the Old Groninger Churches Foundation (SOGK) to see if there is damage there and how damage can be prevented. Churches require a special approach. Thirteen churches have already suffered cracks. The SOGK manages 65 monumental Groningen churches.
GBB and the concerns
Meanwhile, Groningen residents are also concerned about their safety. The Groningen Soil Movement (GBB) has launched a website where it keeps track of earthquakes by date and location.
It is expected that more gas extraction in the Wadden area will not lead to more serious earthquakes, as is the case in Groningen. In the Wadden area , measured until 2013, it remained the same with the one earthquake in 2005 near Ameland on the Amelander Wadden Sea.
Increase
The Wadden area is not only affected by land subsidence due to gas extraction. Climate change also faces sea level rise. The Wadden Association is extremely critical of the expansion of extraction under the Wadden Sea. Research into land subsidence should not be done by NAM, the Wadden Association believes. The company is an interested party. Independent researchers must look into this.
read more
- Earthquake – Natural gas extraction in Groningen
- Gas under Groningen – Kolham gas field in Slochteren
- Gas extraction – Damage and damage settlement by NAM
- Derricks on Ameland – Natural gas extraction in the Wadden area
- Ameland and its Land Subsidence