Japan drill to prepare to exploit gas in the seabed

On February 15, Japan National Petroleum and Petroleum Group (JOGMEC) began drilling for the trial operation of Methane Hydrate in Pacific waters off Aichi Prefecture, Central Japan , after delayed by 1 day due to bad weather and need time to check the operation of machinery and equipment.

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The well-known exploration ship ' Earth Chikyu' (Earth) of the Marine-Earth Science Agency and Technology began drilling in deep waters about 1,000 meters away from the Atsumi Peninsula 70-80km south.

This ship will drill 4 wells deeper than 260m from the seabed. One of the four wells will be used to test the Methane Hydrate and the remaining three will be used to monitor potential changes in the environment during the project implementation.

If the project is successful, it will be the first time in the world that humans have exploited and produced Methane Hydrate at the bottom of the sea and this will be a new energy source for Japan. JOGMEC plans to conduct the trial of Methane Hydrate from March 1-3, 2013.

Methane Hydrate is Methane gas that freezes in high pressure and low temperature environments, such as the seabed and underground. Methane itself is an element of natural gas.

Methane Hydrate sediments on the bottom of the sea in southern central Japan are estimated to have a reserve of about 1,000 billion cubic meters, enough to meet Japan's natural gas consumption needs for more than 10 years.