Germany. Crude oil production increased by 10% [in 2001]

German crude oil production in 2001 increased by 10% to - 3.4 million tonnes. While the production decreased in most domestic oilfields because of their natural exhaustion, the extraction from the Mittelplate field at the Dieksand extended reach drilling perceptibly increased. Natural gas extraction from domestic fields increased by a scant 1% to 20.3 billion cu m. As a result of the higher prices for natural gas and the broadening of crude oil-/natural gas production the total sales from domestic extraction in 2001 went from Euros 2.7 billion to 3.5 billion. The German reserve levels of 16 yr for natural gas and 14 yr for crude oil have been about constant for years. The extraction industry in Germany has succeeded using innovative procedures to extract more than in 1970. Present reserves are more than in 1970. Combined with production elsewhere, the total crude oil-/natural gas extraction in 2001 by German companies was > 25 billion cu m natural gas and > 22 million tonnes crude oil, corresponding to 17% of the German crude oil and 25% of the German natural gas requirements. uin German.