JAPEX begins drilling second exploratory CCS well in Tomakomai

Japan Petroleum Exploration (JAPEX) began drilling its second exploratory well in the Tomakomai area of Hokkaido, Japan.

The operation aims to confirm the presence of geological formations suitable for carbon dioxide (CO₂) storage as part of the Tomakomai carbon capture and storage (CCS) project.

JAPEX is carrying out the drilling under a permit obtained from the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

The new well employs extended-reach drilling using a rig located in Masago-cho, Tomakomai City, aiming below the seabed.

JAPEX will use data from this well, together with information from the first exploratory well, to support a final investment decision on the CCS project for the Tomakomai area.

A spud-in ceremony attended by 27 participants was conducted in August 2025, before drilling commenced, and included representatives from government, local authorities and project stakeholders.

The Tomakomai CCS Project involves plans to separate and capture CO₂ from Idemitsu Kosan's Hokkaido refinery and Hokkaido Electric Power's Tomato Atsuma power station.

JAPEX intends to handle the underground injection and storage of the captured CO₂.

The companies are targeting the start of CO₂ storage by fiscal year 2030, supported by engineering design work commissioned in fiscal year 2024 by the Japan Organisation for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC).

A previous phase, the Tomakomai CCS Demonstration Project, operated between 2016 and 2019.

It captured and stored CO₂ produced during hydrogen manufacturing at a coastal oil refinery on Hokkaido Island using an amine process.

Approximately 100,000t of CO₂ was captured and stored annually, reaching the demonstration objective of 300,000t by the end of 2019, after which injection activities concluded as scheduled.

Monitoring of the underground CO₂ continues in the post-injection period.

The demonstration was managed by Japan CCS. It was commissioned by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and, from 2018, by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation.

In October 2024, JAPEX, Idemitsu Kosan and Hokkaido Electric Power partnered with JOGMEC on a CCS project in Tomakomai.

"JAPEX begins drilling second exploratory CCS well in Tomakomai" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.