Construction and installation operations

No, the work operations cannot be heard from the mainland. The location of N05-A is 20 km offshore.

ONE-Dyas has already received all required permits for project N05-A from the Dutch government in 2022. The permit to install a cable between the platform and Riffgat wind farm was also issued by NLWKN (Lower Saxony Department of Water, Coastal and Nature Conservation) in 2022.

In 2024, the State Council’s preliminary injunction judge rejected the objections of opponents and ruled that ONE-Dyas could go ahead with the offshore work. No appeal is possible against this decision of the Council of State and therefore ONE-Dyas could immediately proceed with its planned activities in the North Sea. The power cable construction licence was temporarily suspended due to new requirements in the licensing process. At the end of August, ONE-Dyas delivered all required documents and the NLWKN has now started the process for granting the amended licence. The cable link is expected to be completed in spring 2025.

The drilling of the wells is done with a mobile drilling rig, the drilling platform. The drilling platform is right next to and partly over the production platform. It is larger and higher than the production platform. Drilling takes place continuously (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). On average, a well takes three months to drill. Drilling a sidetrack takes about a month and a half.

The drilling of the first production well in the Dutch part of the North Sea has been successfully completed. After completion, the drilling rig left the area.

The construction of the platform is done in the Netherlands and ONE-Dyas also works with almost exclusively Dutch companies for the materials, installation and transport of platform N05-A. It is a conscious choice that contributes to the local economy and preserves employment, knowledge and infrastructure that we desperately need now and in the future for the energy transition. It also minimises emissions from transport movements.

The installation of the production platform is already in its intended location in the North Sea. The first natural gas is planned for the winter of 2024/2025.

Work in the North Sea is in full swing. There are four main components for the installation: placing the platform, drilling the gas extraction wells, laying short gas pipeline between the already existing pipeline and the platform; and laying the electricity cable from the platform to the German wind farm. The platform is already placed.

When and in what order the work will take place is yet to be agreed with contracted parties.

Work in the North Sea is largely complete. The production platform has been installed at its intended location, the first well has been successfully drilled and the new pipeline connecting the platform to the existing infrastructure has been constructed. The laying of the power cable from the platform to the German Riffgat wind farm due to delays in the licensing process. The construction of power cable is scheduled for spring 2025. The timeline of the works can be found under the heading installation works North Sea.