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Natural gas exploration and production
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Hydrocarbons (gas and oil) result from the transformation of organic matter under specific temperature and pressure conditions. They are unevenly distributed across the world, in ancient sedimentary basins. Natural gas has been one of the Group’s core businesses since its formation. It is a fossil fuel whose combustion generates relatively little greenhouse gas. At a time of diminishing natural gas resources (two thirds of them are in Russia and the Middle East), GDF SUEZ is safeguarding its supplies and has made exploration-production a priority for the years to come.
Safeguarding natural gas supplies
To safeguard its supplies, GDF SUEZ has its own hydrocarbon reserves: it exploits fields in the North Sea, Germany and North Africa, with production of 51.3 million barrels of oil equivalent (Mboe) and hydrocarbon reserves of 704 Mboe at the end of 2008.
Its objective: to reach 1,500 Mboe in the long term. How? Through acquisitions but first and foremost through the discovery of new deposits via its exploration activities.
| Key figures concerning exploration-production: | |
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The Group deploys its exploration and production activities in the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom, Norway, Algeria, Egypt, and, in a more limited way, in Mauritania, the Ivory Coast, the USA, Indonesia, Denmark and France. The Group is also present in Azerbaijan and Libya.
In this regard, the policy of GDF SUEZ aims to increase hydrocarbon reserves. It covers three priorities:
- the full exploitation of existing fields,
- the development of resources already discovered,
- an intense exploration effort, in traditionally exploited areas as well as in less explored areas with high development potential (North Africa, Middle East, the Caspian Sea, the Caribbean – Gulf of Mexico).
The Group has a well-balanced portfolio, composed of assets (exploration licenses, gas fields and pipelines to transport the gas produced) in different stages of development.
| Exploration – a complex business | |
| Exploration is the first stage of the gas chain. At the core of this essential activity, GDF SUEZ specialists (geologists, geophysicists, engineers, etc.) analyze the structure of the soil to detect areas liable to contain hydrocarbons. They carry out specific tests, such as seismic analyses, to confirm their initial studies.
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