Methane hydrate to be test drilled in Sea of Japan

Japanese researchers are to start test drilling for methane hydrate in the Sea of Japan.

Natural Resources and Energy Agency officials said they were following up on March's successful extraction of the gas off the coast of Aichi and Mie Prefectures. That was the first extraction of this type recorded in the world.

Methane hydrate is a kind of natural gas locked in ice-like crystals on the seabed, often at great depth.

The officials said the test drilling will take place in the coming months off the coast of Niigata and Ishikawa Prefectures.

Researchers plan to assess the amount of methane hydrate in the area.

They said the reserves there could potentially supply Japan's domestic requirements for 100 years.
[link to www3.nhk.or.jp]
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