The Petroleum Industry – Status as of December 1945
Section I – Domestic Crude Oil Production
Germany possesses limited natural crude oil deposits, but efforts are proceeding apace to expand these and exploration continues in those parts of the Reich where geology suggests untapped oil deposits may exist. In the year ending 31 December 1945 domestic crude oil production amounted to 1,000,000 tonnes, derived from:
Nienhagen Oil Field (Lower Saxony): --- 270,000 tonnes
Reitbrook Oil Field (Lower Saxony): --- 250,000 tonnes
Hambühren Oil Field (Lower Saxony): --- 120,000 tonnes
Hanigsen Oil Field (Lower Saxony): --- 75,000 tonnes
Etzel Oil Field (Lower Saxony): --- 65,000 tonnes
Wesendorf Oil Field (Lower Saxony): --- 50,000 tonnes
Heide Oil Field (Lower Saxony): --- 40,000 tonnes
Rodewald Oil Field (Lower Saxony): --- 30,000 tonnes
Zistersdorf Oil Field (Vienna Basin): --- 100,000 tonnes
Wintershall Mineralöl GmbH operates the Nienhagen, Reitbrook, Hambühren, Hanigsen, Etzel and Wesendorf oilfields in the Lower Saxon Basin; the newly operating Heide and Rodewald oilfields in the same basin are operated by the Oldenburgische Erdgas und Erdölgesellschaft. The Zistersdorf Oil Field is operated by the Ostmärkische Mineralölverwaltung.
The Bentheim natural gas field, operated by the Oldenburgische Erdgas und Erdölgesellschaft, has also added significantly to the available quantities of feedstock for petrochemicals production.
Section II – Domestic Oil Refining Capacity
The need of the German economy for petroleum products has caused a substantial refining industry to be built up, in some cases owned by German firms, but largely through investment by foreign oil firms. The city of Hamburg is home to many of the largest refineries, but the city of Vienna and its environs host a number of oil refineries that draw their supplies from Romania, Poland, Hungary, and, to a degree, from the Russian Federation, using the river Danube as their artery of supply. As of 31 December 1943 the nominal refinery capacity of the Reich amounted to exceeded 5.5 million tonnes of crude oil per annum, divided as follows:
Deutsch-Amerikanische Petroleum Gesellschaft [1] --- Hamburg-Harburg --- 60,000 tonnes per month
Deutsche Erdöl AG --- Hamburg-Wilhelmsburg --- 10,000 tonnes per month
Deutscher Mineralöl-Verkaufsverein GmbH --- Hamburg --- 7,500 tonnes per month
OLEX Deutsche Benzin- und Petroleum-GmbH --- Hamburg --- 35,000 tonnes per month
Ölwerke Julius Schindler KG --- Hamburg --- 2,500 tonnes per month
Rhenania-Ossag Mineralölwerke AG [2] --- Hamburg-Grasbrook --- 17,000 tonnes per month
Rhenania-Ossag Mineralölwerke AG --- Hamburg-Harburg --- 60,000 tonnes per month
Rhenania-Ossag Mineralölwerke AG --- Hamburg-Wilhelmsburg --- 10,000 tonnes per month
Deutsche Erdöl AG --- Heide --- 16,000 tonnes per month
Deutsche Gasolin AG --- Dollbergen --- 4,200 tonnes per month
Erdöl-Raffinerie Deurag-Nerag GmbH --- Misburg --- 30,000 tonnes per month
Mineralöl and Asphalt AG --- Ostermoor --- 10,000 tonnes per month
Bitumenwerk Brunsbüttel AG --- Brunsbüttel --- 10,000 tonnes per month
Ölwerke Julius Schindler KG --- Peine --- 1,500 tonnes per month
Vacuum Oel AG [3] --- Oslebshausen --- 10,000 tonnes per month
Vacuum Oel AG --- Wedel --- 2,500 tonnes per month
Wintershall Raffinerie Hannover AG --- Hannover --- 10,000 tonnes per month
Wintershall Raffinerie Salzbergen AG --- Salzbergen --- 10,000 tonnes per month
Deutsche Gasolin AG --- Emmerich --- 6,000 tonnes per month
Deutsche Treibstoffe AG --- Lutzkendorf --- 10,000 tonnes per month
Deutscher Mineralöl-Verkaufsverein GmbH --- Mannheim --- 2,500 tonnes per month
Erdöl-Raffinerie Emsland AG --- Lingen --- 10,000 tonnes per month
Hydrierwerk Moosbierbaum AG (IG Farben) --- Moosbierbaum --- 12,500 tonnes per month
Rhenania-Ossag Mineralölwerke AG --- Monheim am Rhein --- 16,000 tonnes per month
Ostmärkische Mineralölverwaltung --- Wien-Floridsdorf --- 25,000 tonnes per month
Ostmärkische Mineralölverwaltung --- Wien-Lobau --- 25,000 tonnes per month
Ostmärkische Mineralölverwaltung --- Wien-Schwechat --- 25,000 tonnes per month
Raffinerie Korneuburg AG --- Korneuburg --- 7,000 tonnes per month
Raffinerie Vösendorf AG --- Vosendorf --- 7,000 tonnes per month
Vacuum Oel AG --- Wien-Kagran --- 9,000 tonnes per month
Section III – Synthetic Oil Production
To compensate for the small domestic reserves of natural crude oil, considerable investment has been made in the production of synthetic fuels and lubricants, using both the Bergius Hydrogenation Process and the Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis Process. At the present time nine synthetic oil plants using the Bergius process are in operation, with an annual capacity of more than three million tonnes, and a further three plants are under construction or projected at the present time. Six plants using the Fischer-Tropsch process have been completed, with a nominal capacity of 480,000 tonnes per annum, with an additional one plants under construction. These facilities include:
Bergius Hydrogenation Plants
Braunkohle Benzin AG --- Magdeburg Rothensee --- 20,000 tonnes per month
Braunkohle Benzin AG --- Schwartzheide --- Building
Braunkohle Benzin AG --- Troglitz bei Zeitz --- 25,000 tonnes per month
Braunkohlen und Großkraftwerk Böhlen AG --- Böhlen --- 25,000 tonnes per month
Gelsenberg Benzin AG --- Gelsenberg --- 35,000 tonnes per month
Hydrierwerk Moosbierbaum AG --- Moosbierbaum --- 7,500 tonnes per month
Hydrierwerk Scholven AG --- Scholven --- 20,000 tonnes per month
Hydrierwerke Pölitz AG (completed July 1940) --- Pölitz --- 50,000 tonnes per month
Interessen Gemeinschaft Farbenindustrie AG --- Blechhammer --- Building
Interessen Gemeinschaft Farbenindustrie AG --- Leuna --- 50,000 tonnes per month
Oppauer Stickstoffwerkes AG --- Ludwigshafen Oppau --- Building
Union Rheinische Braunkohlen Kraftstoff AG Werk Welheim --- Welheim --- 17,000 tonnes per month
Union Rheinische Braunkohlen Kraftstoff AG Werk Wesseling --- Wesseling --- 17,000 tonnes per month
Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis Plants
Braunkohle Benzin AG --- Schwarzheide --- 18,000 tonnes per month
Essener Steinkohlenbergwerke AG --- Essen --- 5,500 tonnes per month
Hoesch Eisen und Stahlwerk GmbH --- Dortmund --- 5,500 tonnes per month
Rheinpreußen Gewerkschaft KG --- Rheinpreussen --- 5,500 tonnes per month
Ruhrchemie AG --- Oberhausen Holten --- 5,500 tonnes per month
Vereinigte Industrieunternehmungen AG --- Bochum --- 5,500 tonnes per month
Section IV – Specialised Oil Industry Installations
In 1937 agreements were reached between the Ethyl Gasoline Corporation (a subsidiary of the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey) and the Ammoniakwerke Merseberg AG (a subsidiary of Vereinigte Industrieunternehmungen AG) regarding the production in Germany of tetraethyl-lead additives for high octane motor and aviation fuels. Under the agreements a new firm, Ethyl GmbH, was created in which each partner held a fifty percent interest.
Ethyl GmbH in turn built two facilities for the production of tetraethyl-lead, the first, at Berlin-Gapel (1,200 tons annual capacity) entering production in 1938. The second facility, at Nachterstad-Frose, was completed in October 1939. It also has an annual capacity of 1,200 tons.
Section V – Oil Storage Facilities – Commercial Control
Under the provision of German laws relating to the petroleum industry, the refiners and marketers of petroleum products are required to establish and maintain facilities for the storage of crude oil and refined petroleum products. These reserves can be used to buffer delays in the delivery of crude oil and thus maintain steady refinery operations, but they are principally intended to form a part of the national strategic materials reserve in the event of disruption of the international trade in petroleum products.
Associated with Petroleum Refineries
Deutsch-Amerikanische Petroleum Gesellschaft --- Hamburg-Harburg --- 270,000 tonnes capacity
Deutscher Mineralöl-Verkaufsverein GmbH --- Hamburg-Petroleumhaven --- 95,000 tonnes capacity
OLEX Deutsche Benzin- und Petroleum-GmbH --- Hamburg-Petroleumhaven --- 210,000 tonnes capacity
Ölwerke Julius Schindler KG --- Hamburg-Petroleumhaven --- 40,000 tonnes capacity
Rhenania-Ossag Mineralölwerke AG --- Hamburg-Harburg --- 270,000 tonnes capacity
Rhenania-Ossag Mineralölwerke AG --- Hamburg-Grasbrook --- 121,000 tonnes capacity
Deutsche Erdöl AG --- Emden --- 275,000 tonnes capacity
Deutsche Erdöl AG --- Heide --- 72,000 tonnes capacity
Deutsche Gasolin AG --- Dollbergen --- 36,000 tonnes capacity
Erdöl-Raffinerie Deurag-Nerag GmbH --- Misburg --- 235,000 tonnes capacity
Vacuum Oel AG –-- Oslebshausen --- 152,000 tonnes capacity
Wintershall Raffinerie Hannover AG --- Hannover --- 35,000 tonnes capacity
Wintershall Raffinerie Salzbergen AG --- Salzbergen --- 35,000 tonnes capacity
Ostmärkische Mineralölverwaltung --- Wien-Floridsdorf --- 20,000 tonnes capacity
Ostmärkische Mineralölverwaltung --- Wien-Lobau --- 20,000 tonnes capacity
Ostmärkische Mineralölverwaltung --- Wien-Schwechat --- 20,000 tonnes capacity
Raffinerie Korneuburg AG --- Korneuburg --- 10,000 tonnes capacity
Raffinerie Vösendorf AG --- Vösendorf --- 10,000 tonnes capacity
Vacuum Oel AG --- Wien-Kagran --- 20,000 tonnes capacity
Associated with Petroleum Importers and Distributors
Baltisch-Amerikanische Petroleums Import GmbH --- Elbing --- 60,000 tonnes capacity
Baltische Mineralölhandels und Tankanlagen AG --- Elbing --- 60,000 tonnes capacity
Deutsche Vertriebsgesellschaft für Russische Ölprodukte AG --- Wismar --- 60,000 tonnes capacity
Naphthaindustrie und Tankanlagen AG --- Lübeck --- 30,000 tonnes capacity
Naphthaindustrie und Tankanlagen AG --- Mainz-Winterhafen --- 30,000 tonnes capacity
Danuvia Mineröl GmbH --- Wien --- 60,000 tonnes capacity
The total storage capacity associated with oil refiners represents approximately thirty-three percent of the nominal annual refining capacity of the industry, and constitutes a 90-day supply under normal demand.
Section VI – Oil Storage Facilities – Government Control
Under the administration of the Strategische Material Reserve-Verwaltung (Strategic Materials Reserve Administration) there exist a number of oil and petroleum product depots holding national reserves of crude oil, refined petroleum and lubricating oils for the maintenance of the economy and the armed forces. These facilities were built to a standard form, with a normal capacity of 75,000 cubic metres of petroleum and 10,000 cubic metres of lubricants, but with a war reserve capacity of 100,000 cubic metres and 18,000 cubic metres respectively. Where possible, the facilities are located underground. Rail transfer facilities capable of handling thirty rail cars of 20 cubic metre capacity per hour are provided for each depot. The depots are maintained by state corporations under the direction of the Reserve-Verwaltung
Maintained by Schlesische Industriegemeinschaft AG: Ebersdorf, Silesia; Falkenberg, Silesia; Ludwigsdorf, Silesia
Maintained by Vereinigte Tanklager und Transportmittel GmbH: Derben, Hesse; Erbach, Rheinland-Pfalz; Freiham, Bavaria; Hitzacker, Lower Saxony; Lehesten, Thuringia; Loccum, Lower Saxony; Marienburg, Lower Saxony; Nienburg, Saxony-Anhalt; Nordhausen, Thuringia; Staßfurt, Saxony-Anhalt; Würzburg, Franconia
The combined capacity of these state-controlled oil depots is approximately 1,000,000 cubic metres of fuel and 140,000 cubic metres of lubricants. It is reported that construction of additional reserve depots is projected.
The reserves controlled by the Reserve-Verwaltung do not include the war reserves of the Heer or the Kriegsmarine, which are under control of the respective military services.
[1] The Deutsch-Amerikanische Petroleum Gesellschaft is a subsidiary company of the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey Inc. (USA)
[2] The Rhenania-Ossag Mineralölwerke AG is a subsidiary company of the N.V. Koninklijke Nederlandse Petroleum Maatschappij
[3] The Vacuum Oel AG is a subsidiary company of the Standard Oil Company of New York Inc. (USA)
WesWorld »
Encyclopedia »
Europe »
Monday, April 29th 2024, 1:21am
Go to the top of the page
