Exxon/Shell Still in Dutch Firing Line

摘要

The Dutch government has again lowered the production cap at Groningen, Europe's biggest natural gas field, because of seismic activity that earlier this year prompted 100,000 homeowners to launch a class-action suit against field operator NAM, a joint venture between Exxon Mobil and Royal Dutch Shell. Following a marked increase in seismic activity at the northern Dutch field in 2013, the government said in January 2014 it would cap output at 42.5 billion cubic meters (4.1 billion cubic feet per day) in 2014 and 2015 and 40 Bern in 2016. But with seismic activity continuing, Economy Minister Henk Kamp said on Dec. 16 that "we have now decided to cut production even further in 2015 and 2016" (WGI Jan.22'14).