The company will drill one exploratory well for the Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry Natural Resources and Energy Agency’s Heisei 26~28 domestic offshore drilling program, to assess the presence of potential hydrocarbon reserves.
Inpex plans to start drilling at the exploratory well located approximately 140km north of Yamaguchi Prefecture and approximately 130km northwest of Shimane Prefecture, in May 2016 and complete in August. The well is located in water depths of 210m.
A site will be surveyed in August to map the subsea surface and observe currents at the location.
The drilling project is expected to contribute to the improvement of Japan’s energy self-sufficiency.
In 2011, the Japanese Government undertook a geophysical survey at the Yamaguchi and Shimane prefectures. as part of its domestic oil and natural gas exploration project.
Based on the results of this survey, a 3D geophysical survey was conducted in the area by Inpex in 2013.
At present, Inpex is undertaking development and production activities, as operator, at the Minami-Nagaoka gas field located in Niigata Prefecture .
The company is also conducting oil and natural gas production activities in Akita and Chiba prefectures.
