Methane hydrate flow established off Japan

Japan Oil, Gas & Metals National Corp. (Jogmec), Tokyo, said it has produced methane from methane hydrates during tests of a well drilled in about 1,000 m of water offshore the Atsumi and Shima peninsulas of Japan.

The well, operated by Japan Petroleum Exploration Co., produced methane by depressurization of hydrates in a layer 270-330 m below the seabed.

Jogmec said it was the first offshore test of methane hydrate flow ever conducted.

It didn’t specify the production rate, which it called noncommercial. The test was part of a second phase of methane hydrate research, the first phase of which was conducted during 2001-08.

The Chikyu drillship drilled the well.

Jogmec said it will conduct a second offshore production test under the second phase of research, a project of the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry.

Commercial production is contemplated under a third phase during 2016-18.

4 Comments on "Methane hydrate flow established off Japan"

BillT on Wed, 13th Mar 2013 1:36 am 



Playing with extinction dynamite! Are the Japanese committing harakiri for all of us?

actioncjackson on Wed, 13th Mar 2013 3:21 am 



I hope they’re wearing their radiation suites.

MrEnergyCzar on Wed, 13th Mar 2013 3:51 am 



Anyone know the EROEI for methane hydrates? I heard it’s better than drilling for oil, on Titan.

MrEnergCzar

Kenz300 on Wed, 13th Mar 2013 2:26 pm 



Anything that help Japan move away from Nuclear energy is a good thing.

They need to ramp up the use of wind, solar, geothermal and wave energy. All of these have projects under construction in Japan.

Fukushima…radiation so high – even robots not safe – YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwO3MDfUeRo