Well provided for with the largest natural gas storage in western Europe

At the Rehden reservoir WINGAS stores the annual gas consumption for about two million homes. This means that WINGAS plays a major part in securing supplies for Germany and Europe. In connection with operating the MIDAL/STEGAL/WEDAL/RHG/YAGAL pipeline system (Middle Germany Pipeline Link/Saxony-Thuringia Pipeline Link I West German Pipeline Link/Rehden-Hamburg Gas Pipeline/Yamal Pipeline Link) WINGAS-a joint venture of Wintershall AG and OAO Gazprom-is also running the largest gas storage facility in western Europe at the Rehden gas field. This field is located 60 km south of Bremen and has been operated by Wintershall AG since 1954. The development of this storage facility was executed in four stages. Start-up of the first stage took place in August 1993. The fourth stage has been in operation since August 1999. The facility currently has a working gas capacity of 4.2 billion m(3). The technical concept of the storage plant-including horizontal wells, centrifugal, compressors and gas dehydration units-along with plant safety and environmental protection measures are illustrated in this article.