Inpex Finds Gas Offshore Japan

Japanese Inpex October 26 completed the drilling operations on an exploratory well offshore Shimane and Yamaguchi prefectures that began on June 5, 2016 calling it a gas find.

The drilling operations resulted in the findings of a thin gas reservoir in a shallow zone as well as some gas indications in deeper zones, the company said October 28. Inpex also encountered “unexpected, strong gas indications suggesting the presence of a high-pressure gas column in the deepest zone.”

The well was drilled to a depth of 2,900 metres below the sea floor about 130 km northwest of Shimane prefecture and 140 km north of Yamaguchi prefecture where the water is 210 m deep. The project is part of government’s “Heisei 26~28 Domestic Offshore Drilling Program in Japan”.

The company said it will conduct detailed analysis and evaluation of data obtained.

Japan is almost entirely dependent on imports for its gas supplies and has been experimenting with the production of gas from hydrates, which form under certain conditions on the seabed.

Shardul Sharma