Determined to keep Japan鈥檚 lights burning despite scarce natural resources and uncertain energy security, the country鈥檚 government says it is to begin commercial test drilling of methane hydrates as early as the first half of next year.
The coastal waters around Japan contain an estimated 7.4聽trillion cubic metres of methane, which equates to around 100 years鈥� worth of natural gas at today鈥檚 rate of usage. But it is only recently that an economically feasible way to extract the stuff has been developed.
The gas is locked beneath the ocean bed in methane hydrates, a sorbet-like substance consisting of methane trapped in ice. In 2002, a team of geologists from Japan and Canada investigated whether it was possible to release the gas using hot water to melt the ice. The demonstration was successful, but used too much energy to be practical.
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Further experiments by the team in 2008 found a more economical approach. Holes were drilled into the methane deposits, decreasing the pressure on the ice and so raising its melting temperature. This allows the methane to separate out from the ice-like material and flow up to the wellhead.
It is this approach which will now be further tested in Japan鈥檚 coastal waters by a consortium led by the government and the . According to a government statement, the main area of study is the coastal region stretching 400聽kilometres from Tokyo to the western tip of Honshu Island 鈥� a region thought to hold enough reserves to supply Japan with natural gas for nearly 14聽years.
