Wintershall
Encyclopedia
Wintershall AG
is the largest crude oil and natural gas
producer in Germany. The company is based in Kassel
, Germany
. Wintershall is a wholly owned subsidiary of BASF
, based in Ludwigshafen. The name Wintershall is derived from the surname of the enterprise co-founder Carl Julius Winter and the Celtic word for salt (hall) together.
The company made a profit of 2.4 billion euro in 2005. In 2005, the company had 1,700 employees worldwide. The Chairman of the board of Executive Directors is Dr. Rainer Seele.
. In 1930, the accidental leaking of oil into one of the potash pits added oil production to the list of company activities. Because of increased oil demand, Wintershall concentrated on oil production.
Directly after World War II, the US Senate held some hearings on July 2, 1945, concerning the German economy and fiscal operations during the conflict. Under "Chemicals and Munitions", the testimony said: "Wintershall AG: Address: Kassel; Capital: RM 150,000,000; Business: The largest German potash concern and the largest factor in the German Potash Syndicate (Deutsche Kalisyndikat), after I.G. Farben, the largest German chemical concern. The owners of Wintershall are the August Rosterg family, Gunther Quandt
, and others, who hold their interest through the holding company, Gewerke Wintershall, the principal stockholder in Wintershall AG. Interest: The Dresdner Bank
is connected with Wintershall through interlocking directors in the persons of Karl Rasche
and Heinrich Schmidt
. The latter is the head of the Wintershall board of directors."
At the end of World War II, the libraries of the German Army's Military Geology Unit
(Wehrgeologenstellen) and the German Patent Office (Reichspatentamt) were removed from Berlin and secretly stored in the deep Wintershall potash
mine in Heringen
. There they were discovered by the US Third Army
in March 1945, and removed to the US. The German Patent Library was later restored to Germany, but the military geology materials of maps, reports and books, often stolen from other countries during the invasions, were retained by the US as Nazi materiel
. Most of these maps and books remain in the US Geological Survey Library today, with an obscure United States Army Corps of Engineers
stamp on each that reads "Heringen Collection".
During the 1950s Wintershall started natural gas production. In 1969 Wintershall AG became a subsidiary of BASF. The potash mining was sold to Kali & Salz AG. During the 1990s natural gas production by Wintershall AG expanded. In the autumn of 1990 Wintershall started cooperation with the Russian gas company, Gazprom
, and concluded a long-term agreement on the marketing
of Russian natural gas in Germany. In 1993, WINGAS GmbH
, the joint venture of Wintershall (50% plus one share) and Gazprom
(50% minus one share) was established. In 2005, Wintershall, Gazprom and E.ON Ruhrgas
agreed to build the Nord Stream natural gas pipeline from Russia
to Germany. In 2006, Wintershall got a stake in Yuzhno-Russkoye gas field
.
of oil
and natural gas
, and the natural gas trade, which includes also transport and storage.
In exploration and production the emphasis of the activities lies in Western Europe
, North Africa
, South America
and Russia
.
Aktiengesellschaft
Aktiengesellschaft is a German term that refers to a corporation that is limited by shares, i.e. owned by shareholders, and may be traded on a stock market. The term is used in Germany, Austria and Switzerland...
is the largest crude oil and natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
producer in Germany. The company is based in Kassel
Kassel
Kassel is a town located on the Fulda River in northern Hesse, Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Kassel Regierungsbezirk and the Kreis of the same name and has approximately 195,000 inhabitants.- History :...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Wintershall is a wholly owned subsidiary of BASF
BASF
BASF SE is the largest chemical company in the world and is headquartered in Germany. BASF originally stood for Badische Anilin- und Soda-Fabrik . Today, the four letters are a registered trademark and the company is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange, and Zurich Stock...
, based in Ludwigshafen. The name Wintershall is derived from the surname of the enterprise co-founder Carl Julius Winter and the Celtic word for salt (hall) together.
The company made a profit of 2.4 billion euro in 2005. In 2005, the company had 1,700 employees worldwide. The Chairman of the board of Executive Directors is Dr. Rainer Seele.
History
The drilling company Wintershall was established in 1894 by the industrialist Heinrich Grimberg and the drilling contractor Carl Julius Winters. Originally the company worked on the mining of potashPotash
Potash is the common name for various mined and manufactured salts that contain potassium in water-soluble form. In some rare cases, potash can be formed with traces of organic materials such as plant remains, and this was the major historical source for it before the industrial era...
. In 1930, the accidental leaking of oil into one of the potash pits added oil production to the list of company activities. Because of increased oil demand, Wintershall concentrated on oil production.
Directly after World War II, the US Senate held some hearings on July 2, 1945, concerning the German economy and fiscal operations during the conflict. Under "Chemicals and Munitions", the testimony said: "Wintershall AG: Address: Kassel; Capital: RM 150,000,000; Business: The largest German potash concern and the largest factor in the German Potash Syndicate (Deutsche Kalisyndikat), after I.G. Farben, the largest German chemical concern. The owners of Wintershall are the August Rosterg family, Gunther Quandt
Günther Quandt
Günther Quandt was a German industrialist and Nazi who founded an industrial empire that today includes BMW and Altana .Eight of the hundred currently richest Germans are among his descendants.- Early life :...
, and others, who hold their interest through the holding company, Gewerke Wintershall, the principal stockholder in Wintershall AG. Interest: The Dresdner Bank
Dresdner Bank
Dresdner Bank AG was one of Germany's largest banking corporations and was based in Frankfurt. It was acquired by competitor Commerzbank in December 2009.- 19th century :...
is connected with Wintershall through interlocking directors in the persons of Karl Rasche
Karl Rasche
Karl Emil August Rasche was an SS-Obersturmbannführer and a Ph.D. in law as well as a Board member and banker, later spokesman, of the Dresdner Bank during the Third Reich...
and Heinrich Schmidt
Heinrich Schmidt
-People:*Heinrich Julian Schmidt , German journalist*Heinrich Schmidt , member of the Nazi Party*Heinrich Schmidt , member of the Nazi Party...
. The latter is the head of the Wintershall board of directors."
At the end of World War II, the libraries of the German Army's Military Geology Unit
Military Geology Unit
The Military Geology Unit was a unit in the United States military during World War II. It was established on June 24, 1942, six months after Pearl Harbor...
(Wehrgeologenstellen) and the German Patent Office (Reichspatentamt) were removed from Berlin and secretly stored in the deep Wintershall potash
Potash
Potash is the common name for various mined and manufactured salts that contain potassium in water-soluble form. In some rare cases, potash can be formed with traces of organic materials such as plant remains, and this was the major historical source for it before the industrial era...
mine in Heringen
Heringen
Heringen is a small town in Hersfeld-Rotenburg district in eastern Hesse, Germany lying right at the boundary with Thuringia.- Geography :- Location :...
. There they were discovered by the US Third Army
Third Army
A number of nations have had a Third Army* Third Army * Third Army * 3rd Army * Third Army * Third Army * 3rd Army * Third Army * United States Army Central...
in March 1945, and removed to the US. The German Patent Library was later restored to Germany, but the military geology materials of maps, reports and books, often stolen from other countries during the invasions, were retained by the US as Nazi materiel
Materiel
Materiel is a term used in English to refer to the equipment and supplies in military and commercial supply chain management....
. Most of these maps and books remain in the US Geological Survey Library today, with an obscure United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
stamp on each that reads "Heringen Collection".
During the 1950s Wintershall started natural gas production. In 1969 Wintershall AG became a subsidiary of BASF. The potash mining was sold to Kali & Salz AG. During the 1990s natural gas production by Wintershall AG expanded. In the autumn of 1990 Wintershall started cooperation with the Russian gas company, Gazprom
Gazprom
Open Joint Stock Company Gazprom is the largest extractor of natural gas in the world and the largest Russian company. Its headquarters are in Cheryomushki District, South-Western Administrative Okrug, Moscow...
, and concluded a long-term agreement on the marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
of Russian natural gas in Germany. In 1993, WINGAS GmbH
Wingas
Wingas GmbH is a gas distribution, transport and storage company located in Kassel, Germany. The company was established in 1993 by Wintershall Holding AG, a subsidiary of BASF, and Gazprom...
, the joint venture of Wintershall (50% plus one share) and Gazprom
Gazprom
Open Joint Stock Company Gazprom is the largest extractor of natural gas in the world and the largest Russian company. Its headquarters are in Cheryomushki District, South-Western Administrative Okrug, Moscow...
(50% minus one share) was established. In 2005, Wintershall, Gazprom and E.ON Ruhrgas
E.ON
E.ON AG, marketed with an interpunct as E•ON, is the holding company of the world's largest investor-owned energy service provider based in Düsseldorf, Germany. The name comes from the Greek word aeon which means eternity....
agreed to build the Nord Stream natural gas pipeline from Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
to Germany. In 2006, Wintershall got a stake in Yuzhno-Russkoye gas field
Yuzhno-Russkoye field
The Yuzhno-Russkoye field is a Russian oil and gas field located in the Krasnoselkupsky District, Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Tyumen Oblast.-History:...
.
Fields of activity
The activities of Wintershall cover two ranges: exploration and productionExtraction of petroleum
The extraction of petroleum is the process by which usable petroleum is extracted and removed from the earth.-Locating the oil field:Geologists use seismic surveys to search for geological structures that may form oil reservoirs...
of oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
and natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
, and the natural gas trade, which includes also transport and storage.
In exploration and production the emphasis of the activities lies in Western Europe
Western Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
, North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.