Dansk Undergrunds Consortium

Dansk Undergrunds Consortium (DUC) is a Danish oil and gas consortium formed in 1962 to explore and produce hydrocarbons in the Danish subsoil and, later, the Danish sector of the North Sea. It was created after A.P. Møller received the first drilling licence for the entire Danish mainland in 1962; Gulf Oil joined the venture that same year, and Royal Dutch Shell soon followed. The concession was later extended to the Danish North Sea, and Chevron and Texaco also took part. Gulf Oil left the consortium in 1974 and Chevron in 1986. The fields are operated by Mærsk Olie og Gas AS. At its peak DUC accounted for a dominant share of Danish oil and gas output, producing 80% of Danish oil and 90% of Danish natural gas in 2000, which helped make Denmark one of Europe's three oil and gas exporters alongside the United Kingdom and Norway. DUC's exploration geologists discovered the relatively small Kraka field in 1966, the first gas in 1968, the Dan field in 1971 — the first major find in Danish waters — and the Gorm and Skjold fields in 1980. Since the 1980s DUC has relinquished some of its earliest concessions in the Danish North Sea, and since 1998 other companies have also produced in the area. Since 1991 the DUC fields have produced more oil than Denmark consumes. Ownership has historically been held by A.P. Møller-Mærsk (39%), Shell (46%) and Texaco (15%), with Mærsk operating the fields.

Dansk Undergrunds Consortium (DUC) was established in 1962 after A.P. Møller obtained the first drilling licence for the entire Danish mainland. The Danish government granted the licence for 50 years, with Møller given ten years to find oil. In the same year Gulf Oil joined the venture, and together the two companies founded DUC; Royal Dutch Shell joined shortly afterwards. When the concession was extended to the Danish sector of the North Sea, Chevron and Texaco also became participants. Gulf Oil left the consortium in 1974 and Chevron in 1986. The fields have been operated by Mærsk Olie og Gas AS. DUC geologists discovered the relatively small Kraka field in the North Sea in 1966 and the first gas in 1968. In 1971 they found the Dan field, the first major discovery in Danish waters, followed by Gorm and Skjold in 1980. Since the 1980s DUC has relinquished some of its earliest concessions in the Danish North Sea, and since 1998 other companies have also produced in the area. Since 1991 the DUC fields have produced more oil than Denmark consumes. In 2000 DUC produced 80% of Danish oil and 90% of Danish natural gas, helping make Denmark one of Europe's three oil and gas exporters alongside the United Kingdom and Norway. Ownership has historically been A.P. Møller-Mærsk with 39%, Shell with 46% and Texaco with 15%, with Mærsk operating the fields.

• 2000

  DUC produces 80% of Danish oil and 90% of Danish natural gas.

• 1998

  Other companies begin producing in the Danish North Sea area.

• 1991

  DUC fields begin producing more oil than Denmark consumes.

• 1986

  Chevron leaves the consortium.

• 1980

  Gorm and Skjold fields discovered.

• 1974

  Gulf Oil leaves the consortium.

• 1971

  Dan field discovered, the first major find in Danish waters.

• 1968

  First gas discovered.

• 1966

  DUC geologists discover the relatively small Kraka field in the North Sea.

• 1962

  A.P. Møller receives the first drilling licence for the entire Danish mainland; Gulf Oil joins and DUC is founded.

A long-established upstream oil and gas consortium holding historic concessions in the Danish North Sea.

• Crude oil

• Natural gas

1. 1Dansk Undergrunds Consortium – Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Dansk Undergrunds Consortium – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org