Haidach gas storage

Haidach gas storage is an underground natural gas storage in the town of Haidach near Salzburg, Austria. As of the end of 2018 with a capacity of ~2.9 billion cubic meters (bcm) it is the third largest (after Rehden with volume of ~4.7bcm and Bergermeer of ~4.5bcm of capacity) gas storage facility in Central Europe.^[1]

Haidach gas storage

Haidach gas storage from the direction of Straßwalchen

entrance area

History

In 1997, Rohöl-Aufsuchungs Aktiengesellschaft (RAG) discovered the Haidach gas reservoir holding a total gas in place of 4.3 billion cubic meters (bcm).^[2] After depletion of the reservoir, it was planned to convert into a gas storage. The contract for use of the Haidach reservoir as a storage for natural gas was signed between RAG, Wingas and Gazprom Export on 13 May 2005.^[3] Construction works started in 2005.^[2] The gas storage started officially operating on 24 May 2007.^[1]

Technical features

Haidach underground gas storage uses depleted Haidach porous sandstone gas reservoir at a depth of 1,600 metres (5,200 ft).^[2] The operating capacity of the gas storage in the first phase is 1.2 bcm. In April 2011, after completing the second phase, the operating capacity would be doubled.^[1] The gas storage is connected to the Austrian and German gas grids at Burghausen/Überackern through the 39 kilometres (24 mi) long Austria-Bavaria gas pipeline (ABG).^[2]

The construction of the first stage cost €250 millions.^[1]

Ownership

Haidach gas storage is a joint project of RAG,^[4] Wingas, SEFE Storage (Astora)^[5] and Gazprom Export (GSA LLC). During April 2021, Gazprom-associated gas storage facilities became unusually low and remained low instead of refilling in the off-peak summer season as usual.^[6][7][8] In July 2022 the Austrian government gave away Gazprom's portion of the Haidach gas storage facility to RAG Austria for failure to fill it up for the winter season.^[9] It is operated by the Austrian energy company EVN.^[1]