On a mission to support carbon capture and storage (CCS), Metropolitan CCS, a joint venture (JV) between Inpex Corporation and Kanto Natural Gas Development, has secured the green light from Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry to undertake exploratory drilling offshore Kujukuri along the east coast of Chiba Prefecture.

The approval was granted under the Act on Carbon Dioxide Storage Business (CCS Business Act), following the designation by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry in September 2025 of a specified area offshore Kujukuri, Chiba Prefecture, and the subsequent acceptance of applications for exploratory drilling permits within that area, whereupon Metropolitan CCS was selected as the successful applicant.

The go-ahead designates the joint venture as the operator responsible for conducting drilling operations to identify geological formations suitable for CO2 storage within a specified area. The Metropolitan Area CCS project is a carbon capture and storage initiative that involves capturing CO2 emitted from multiple industrial sources.

This includes the Kimitsu Area of Nippon Steel Corporation’s East Nippon Works and other industries in the Keiyo Industrial Complex, transporting the captured CO2 via pipeline, and storing it offshore Kujukuri. Metropolitan CCS is currently working toward the start of CO2 storage by the early 2030s under the ‘Engineering Design Work for Advanced CCS Projects’ commissioned by the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC).

The JV explains that it will proceed with drilling operations, prioritizing safety while conducting studies and engineering work with a view to commercializing the project, with the understanding and cooperation of local fisheries and other community stakeholders, as well as relevant local governments and organizations.

The first well, Kujukuri-Oki A, is anticipated to be drilled within approximately four months, followed by the second well, Kujukuri-Oki B, around three months later. The target formations are the cap rock of the Ohara Formation within the Kazusa Group, as well as the reservoir and cap rock formations ranging from the Namihana Formation to the Kurotaki Formation.

While the first well is expected to be drilled approximately 1,900 meters below sea level, the second well is anticipated to reach 1,600 meters below sea level. The drilling will be conducted using a jack-up drilling barge.

After drilling the first well at a location approximately 5 kilometers offshore Kujukuri Town, the drilling barge will be relocated to a position approximately 13 kilometers offshore, where the second well will be drilled.

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