INPEX has announced that the drilling operations on an exploratory well offshore Shimane and Yamaguchi prefectures that began on 5 June, 2016 were concluded on 26 October, 2016.
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. INPEX also encountered unexpected, strong gas indications suggesting the presence of a high pressure gas column in the deepest zone.
Based on the findings of a gas reservoir in the shallow zone and gas indications in the deeper and deepest zones in this area, which has not been drilled since the 1980s, INPEX will conduct a detailed analysis and evaluation of data obtained through the drilling operations in order to continue the exploration of prospects in this area.
The operations consisted of drilling to a depth of 2900 m below the sea floor at a location approximately 130 km northwest of Shimane Prefecture and approximately 140 km north of Yamaguchi Prefecture where the water is approximately 210 m deep, as part of a project commissioned by the Agency of Natural Resources and Energy of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan for the agency’s “Heisei 26~28 Domestic Offshore Drilling Program in Japan” and with the understanding and cooperation of the local communities.