-- Metropolitan CCS said Wednesday it secured approval to begin offshore drilling in Chiba, advancing plans to store carbon dioxide as part of a broader Carbon Capture and Storage initiative.
Metropolitan CCS is a joint venture between Inpex and Kanto Natural Gas Development, combining upstream expertise with regional energy infrastructure capabilities.
The approval was granted by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, designating the joint venture as operator for exploratory drilling in the Kujukuri offshore area, the company said.
The permit falls under Japan's Carbon Dioxide Storage Business Act following the designation of the Chiba offshore zone and a competitive application process.
Metropolitan was selected to conduct drilling to assess underground formations suitable for CO2 storage, the company added.
The company said the broader project aims to capture emissions from industrial sources, including Nippon Steel's East Nippon Works and facilities in the Keiyo Industrial Complex.
Captured carbon dioxide will be transported via pipeline and stored offshore, with operations targeted to begin in the early 2030s, according to the company.
Exploratory drilling will include two wells offshore Kujukuri, with the first expected to take about four months and the second about three months, the company added.
The first well is planned at about 1,900 meters below sea level, while the second will reach about 1,600 meters, according to the company.
Drilling will be conducted using a jack-up barge, initially about 5 kilometers offshore before relocating roughly 13 kilometers for the second well.
The company said it will prioritize safety, including coordinating with local fisheries and deploying guard vessels to prevent disruptions to nearby marine traffic.