December 18, 2024 - 17:00
Utrecht
PGK Annual Christmas Dinner & Lecture 2024
The PGK brings to you our annual Christmas Lecture and Dinner, taking place on December 18th from 17:00 onwards. This year’s event will be held at Oudaen in Utrecht, a location rich with history. Oudaen has long served as the venue for NL Scout meetings, an event aimed at encouraging activity among E&P operators in the North Sea, while also serving as a strategic “Spy Meeting” to gauge the plans of various operators.
The evening will begin at 17:00 with social drinks in Oudaen’s charming brewery followed by lectures on the geology and geothermal potential of the West Netherlands Basin with the following presentations:
1) West Netherlands Basin JU-KL geology: early insights (Daan den Hartog Jager, EBN B.V.)
Abstract
The West Netherlands Basin is nowadays a hotspot for geothermal wells, many of them successful. The underlying geological framework was established way back in the last century, in the context of exploration for oil and gas. More than 900 wells have been drilled in the basin, and oil and gas have been produced since 1951. Most of the basin was covered with 3D-seismic within the short period 1985-1991. I’d like to (re-)familiarise you with some of the study work done in that period, and to make a plea not to forget about the old stuff in today’s geological studies. Exploring for information is an important part of our job!
About the presenter
Daan den Hartog Jager studied Geology in Utrecht. From 1985 to 2020 he was Geologist with Shell, including assignments to London, Assen (NL) and Brunei. During his first assignment to Assen, from 1991-1996, he worked for NAM on West Netherlands Basin geology, both regional and prospect-specific. He was involved in discoveries like ‘s-Gravenzande and Noorderdam, but also in some memorable dry holes. Early 2021 he joined EBN B.V. in Utrecht, as a Geoscientist in the Exploration team. Amongst other EBN projects, he has contributed to the Geode Atlas
2) Rejuvenation of an old hydrocarbon basin. How to explore for geothermal sweet spots (Herman van der Veen, Shell Geothermal B.V.)
Abstract
The West Netherlands Basin is an old hydrocarbon basin with its peak production in the 1960’s. With the high heat demand in Zuid Holland this basin offers a unique opportunity for geothermal development to let the energy transition succeed in this densely populated area. It is crucial to build on the extensive subsurface data base and geological understanding acquired during the hydrocarbon era and use this to understand the opportunities and risks for geothermal developments. This Christmas Lecture will highlight the similarities and differences between hydrocarbon and geothermal and how to explore for geothermal sweet spots.
About the presenter
Born and raised in Coevorden (Drenthe), becoming a geologist had always been Herman’s aspiration. After finishing his M.Sc. in Geology at the University of Utrecht in 1990 he worked for several geological consultancies before joining NAM/Shell in 1997. First as a production geologist developing the Dutch on/offshore gas fields and underground gas storages. Herman then moved to global exploration in The Hague doing play-based exploration and prospect maturation in frontier geological settings across the globe. Since 2022, he contributes to the energy transition as a senior geoscientist in Shell’s Geothermal team, maturing multiple geothermal projects in The Netherlands.
Daan den Hartog Jager: Cross-section SW-NE across the West Netherlands Basin, drawn in 1993 and published by Racero-Baena and Drake (1996). Understanding of the complex structure greatly improved after full coverage with 3D-seismic was completed in 1991. |
Herman van der Veen: Block model looking at the Hauge, demonstrating the diverse resource potential of the West Netherlands Basin including a temperature model (background), two hydrocarbon fields and a local geothermal simulation. |
Programme
17:00 – 18:00 | Social hour in Oudaen’s brewery |
18:00 – 19:00 | Lecture in Linteloozaal |
19:00 – 21:30 | Dinner in Linteloozaal |