Gov't to test-drill for oilfield in Sea of Japan

How long until China asserts a claim over Sadogashima :p

Don't think China would even dare make a claim on an island this close to Japan.

Congrats!

Did they learn nothing from Deepwater Horizon? These things are dangerous, even more so in seismically active regions. By it's description, it's halfway between Sado and Toyama, where people fish for trout, yellowtail, shrimp, and squid. These things should be nowhere near Japan, or you could end up having to evacuate most cities on the Sea of Japan for fear that the fumes are toxic.

It has been said that Japan has no natural resources, but it seems to have a lot of crude oil, natural gas and especially there are enormous amount of methane hydrate around Japan.

Tokyo to test-drill for oilfield in Sea of Japan

Tokyo <> Japan. Please don't confuse the two. There's a huge difference.

I wonder what the other prefectures would say if Tokyo claimed independence though...

Why is China taking so long to claim Japan is part of their territory?

Bound to happen any day now...

If its saves imports it's good for JP but I hope JP continues to invest in Eco technologi for the sake of the whole planet and future income.

Now lets wait for China to claim Sadogashima as part of their territory. They must have some claim somewhere.....

China would claim the moon is theirs if there was oil on it....

Congratulations to Japan! Keep China away.

ReformedBasher

Tokyo <> Japan. Please don't confuse the two. There's a huge difference.

I wonder what the other prefectures would say if Tokyo claimed independence though...

You're being far too literal. The Tokyo-To, the city/prefecture isn't doing this, the Government of Japan is and "Tokyo", since it is the capital, is simply used in the headline to represent the country just like news stories often refer to Washington doing this or Washington doing this when they are reporting on the US Government doing something.

Now, we're talkin'...

there will be a shooting war between china and the rest of asia over sea of japan assets.

USNinJapan2Jun. 19, 2012 - 11:03AM JST : Typically that is Kasumigaseki, NOT Tokyo. At least that is the official styleguide that AFP loves to avoid.

basroil

No. I have never seen the GOJ referred to as Kasumigaseki in an English MSM article.

Kasumigaseki = White House Ishigaya = Pentagon Tokyo = Washington Government of Japan = US Government

btw, JT has added East Sea on the article. it seems propaganda works well.

@USNinJapan2

You're being far too literal.

I don't think so. Considering Tokyo recently acting as though it's a power in it's own right (Ishihara), I think that it's good to discern between the two.

Let's stick with Sea of Japan not "East Sea," shall we?

LagunaJun. 19, 2012 - 03:15PM JST : IHO finally say it's the Sea of Japan. (East Sea) is therefore a deliberate mistake on the part of Reuters.

Japan has a large reserve of gas in 100m deep water on the east side of japan. The front end engineering has been completed and the plan was to connect the gas into the old existing pipeline that was connected to the Iwaki Oki platform. Its an INPEX project I believe but I don't understand why they can't make this happen. It could be producing in just over 1 year.

Just an afterthought I understand the local fishing industry have immense power and a nightmare to deal with when it comes to drilling offshore.

It is not just the fishing industry that controls the waters here, but the surfing schools control territory as well.

China is also drilling in the same area

They both will rely on foreign oil for their economic needs obviously.. even when they do find oil here.

especially now that nuclear power generation has been limited, I guess Japan will start looking everywhere for new resources to supply its energy needs...

anglootakuJun. 19, 2012 - 06:25PM JST

They both will rely on foreign oil for their economic needs obviously.. even when they do find oil here.

No since Japanese Trade Houses such as Sojitz, Mitsui, Sumitomo and/or Mitsubishi have a very long history of holding junior partners in oil fields management all around the world such as Northern Seas, Brazil, Iran and so on.

They have the technological expertise not to mention the financial might to develop it by themselves.

@Darren Brannan

I do believe that Japan may be able to do it right ... they do have big oil and gas construction companies (JGC, Chiyoda, Mitsubishi, etc), oil exploration and production companies (JAPEX, Inpex, Nippon Oil, etc) and trade houses (as SamuraiBlue stated) that have been operating in the Middle East and other parts of the world for many years now. But as you imply, Tokyo may still mess this up, specially in the awarding of contracts and operations.

@SamuraiBlue

I didn't refer to drilling or the technology.. but the actual oil itself.. any foreign country drilling in other oil rich countries, only receive concessions of less then 30% ownership of the land. Cause this will be on Japanese sea territory it is different, however China is now already drilling in the same area if you had not known.. so this will cause friction soon..

Why else do you think the Tokyo Governor wants to buy that small island off the coast..

For a country so heavily dependent on seafood they are sure interested in killing it.

SOLAR, THERMAL, and WIND!!!