Countries
Regions
Oil and Gas
Exploration
Company
Core regions
We have been actively involved in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas for more than 75 years. Since 1969, and as a wholly owned subsidiary of BASF, Ludwigshafen, we have been building up a high level of regional and technological expertise in Europe, North Africa, South America, as well as in Russia and the Caspian Sea region. Our activities in the Middle East are also increasingly gaining in importance.
Europe
As a company with German roots, we continue to search for and produce oil and gas in Germany. Since 1965 our search has included the neighboring Dutch North Sea and as natural gas from this region will continue to make a key contribution to Europe’s natural gas supply, we have acquired very promising licenses in British, Danish and Norwegian territorial waters. Furthermore, we are actively boosting our activities on the Norwegian Continental Shelf, whereby creating additional potential for growth.
North Africa
Since 1958, we have been active in the exploration and production of crude oil in Libya, one of the largest oil producers in Africa. The largest deposit is the As Sarah oil field near the Jakhira oasis were we operate a facility (the only one of its kind in Libya), which conditions the associated gas produced from our oil production operations, and supplies gas and condensate for sale on the coast. Aside from owning a stake in the offshore production operations, we also have another exploration area in the south-east of Libya and one in Mauritania.
South America
Some of South America’s most significant gas deposits are in Argentina with the country being one of the largest natural gas producers in South and Central America. Since 1976, we have held concessions rights in oil and gas fields in central Argentina. These concessions, off the coast of Tierra del Fuego and in neighboring Chile have allowed us to share in the very promising hydrocarbon reserves in the area. Together with its partners, Wintershall is active off the coast of Tierra del Fuego on the southern-most platform in the world.
Russia and the Caspian Sea
Wintershall and Gazprom have extended their cooperation in natural gas trading, which dates back 20 years, by the signing of Yuzhno Russkoye and Achimgaz. These two projects in Siberia are vital in ensuring a secure supply of gas to Germany and Europe in future. Furthermore, in the Volgograd region we have been producing oil for more than a decade in a joint venture with Russia’s Lukoil and are currently exploring for hydrocarbons in the Caspian Sea.
Middle East
Around 50 percent of the world’s oil and gas reserves are located in the Middle East region. Wintershall is steadily expanding its activities in the Gulf region and have opened a company branch office in Abu Dhabi in 2010. We are actively searching for new natural gas reserves off the coast of Qatar.
