Inpex: Drilling starts offshore Japan

Japan’s Inpex has started drilling an exploration well offshore Japan. The well was spudded on Sunday, June 5.

The drilling operations are 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” as announced on July 30, 2015.

The drilling operations are being carried out at a location about 130km northwest of Shimane Prefecture and approximately 140km north of Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Going forward, Inpex says it plans to determine the presence of hydrocarbon deposits in the area by conducting a detailed analysis and evaluation of data obtained through the exploratory drilling.

The company is using the Transocean M.G. Hulme Jr. semi-submersible drilling rig for the drilling operation.