Japex Starts Drilling Offshore Hokkaido

Japan Petroleum Exploration (Japex) has started exploratory drilling offshore Hidaka area of Hokkaido April 13, it said April 16.

The project has been commissioned by the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (ANRE). Japex is aiming to evaluate the presence of oil and natural gas resources in the area based on the analysis to be conducted through the result from this exploration well, the company said. The location of the well is approximately 50 km offshore of Hidaka area with the depth of approximately 1,070 metres.

Japex completed the preparatory works including a preliminary seabed survey at the location in October 2018, it said.

The exploratory drilling is expected to be carried out until late July, and the data obtained through the operations will be later utilised for analysis and evaluation purposes.