Methane hydrate test drills set to begin

The Yomiuri Shimbun

Chikyu, a deep-sea drilling vessel, is seen preparing for a test drilling of methane hydrate Tuesday morning about 70 kilometers off the Atsumi Peninsula, Aichi Prefecture.

Work toward prospective drilling for methane hydrate began at sea about 70 kilometers off Atsumi Peninsula, Aichi Prefecture, on Tuesday morning.

It is hoped that methane hydrate will become the "next generation" energy for Japan.

The operation marks the first-ever attempt to drill into the ocean floor for the energy source.

Should the commercialization of an underwater methane hydrate well be realized, it could greatly contribute to solving Japan's natural resource problem, as the country currently depends on imports for energy resources such as natural gas.

Chikyu, an about 56,700-ton deep-sea drilling vessel, started preparations for the test drilling in the morning.

A full-scale test drilling was scheduled to start by nightfall, according to Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation.

The independent administrative institution was entrusted by the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry to oversee the test drilling.

Methane hydrate is a crystalline compound formed by water and methane gas.

The undersea methane hydrate-bearing layer extends from Shizuoka Prefecture to Wakayama Prefecture.

It is estimated the layer contains 1.1 trillion cubic meters of methane hydrate reserves, the equivalent of 13 years of domestic natural gas consumption.