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Methane hydrate (*1) receives attention as one of the unconventional gas resources in the future. During the period from FY2001 to FY2008, which is Phase 1 of the “Japan's Methane Hydrate R&D Program” (*2) (Program), seismic surveys and exploitation drillings were conducted at the eastern Nankai trough, off the coast from Shizuoka-pref. to Wakayama-pref., as the model area, where a considerable amount of methane hydrate deposits is confirmed (*3).
In Phase 2 of the Program starting from FY2009, aiming to develop a technology to extract natural gas through dissociation of methane hydrate, this is the first offshore test ever conducted (*4).
The first offshore production test is planned over a span of two years. In February and March last year, the preparatory works including drilling a production well and two monitoring wells were conducted. From June to July, the pressured core samples were acquired from methane hydrate layers. In this operation, a flow test through dissociation of methane hydrate is conducted after the preparatory works including drilling and installing equipments for the flow test.
<Outline of First Offshore Production Test>
-Duration: from February 2012 until August 2013 including preparatory drilling, flow test, well abandonment
-Operation Site: Daini Atsumi Knoll off the coasts of Atsumi and Shima peninsulas
-Project Owner: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)
-Relating Parties: JOGMEC (Implementing Body), JAPEX (Operator)
-Operating Vessel: Deep Sea Drilling Vessel “Chikyu”
-Progress
Preparatory drilling started: February 15, 2012
Came back to Shimizu Port: March 26, 2012
Operation to acquire pressured core samples: from June 29 to July 7, 2012
Started the operation at the test site: January 28, 2013
Started the flow test and confirmed gas production: March 12, 2013
-Schedule
Ending the flow test, retrieving test equipments: until end of March
Retrieving remained equipments from the site: August, 2013
Although the first offshore production test is not a commercial production and is an experimental operation as an
activity in research, it will be a big progress in research and development of methane hydrate as a resource since
precious data including dissociation behavior of methane hydrate under the sea floor, impact to the surrounding
environment, and so on, would be obtained once this test ends in success. Based on accomplishment of the
production test, it is also planned to proceed with the second offshore production test scheduled in Phase 2 and
establishing the technological platform toward future commercial production in Phase 3 which is scheduled from
FY2016 until FY2018.
< Safety at the Site>
Since this is a flow test of flammable gas, please do not approach to the site because of the safety reason.
The produced gas from this test will be basically combusted at a burner at the stern of the ship (1. in the picture
below). During the flow test, there may be situations where the produced gas is not combusted due to weather
condition such as wind and when transparent flammable gas may be exhausted from the vent tower (2. in the picture
below). Since this is a test dealing with flammables, when you approach to the site, please keep away from “Chikyu”
by more than 2km or approximately 1nm for the safety of ship and yourself.
Also, please keep listening air band frequency of 129.6MHz or marine VHF band channel 16 all the time so that you
will be able to receive instruction from “Chikyu,” and please follow the instruction. In the case that approaching
aircrafts or vessels are found, the flow test may have to be interrupted to maintain the safety.
Once video or picture of flaring is available, they will be on the HP of JOGMEC.
