Metropolitan CCS joint venture receives approval to drill CO2 storage wells offshore Japan

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry granted approval to the Metropolitan CCS joint venture—comprising INPEX and Kanto Natural Gas Development—to drill two offshore CO2 storage wells in the Kazusa Group formations off Chiba Prefecture. The drilling program targets geological formations at depths of 1,900 meters and 1,600 meters below sea level using a jack-up drilling barge, with the first well expected to take four months and the second three months to complete. The CO2 storage project is part of a broader initiative to capture emissions from industrial sources in the Keiyo Industrial Complex, transport CO2 via pipeline, and store it offshore, with operations slated to begin in the early 2030s. The Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security is supporting engineering and design work for the initiative. The project aligns with Japan’s carbon dioxide storage legislation and aims to advance the country’s carbon capture and storage infrastructure.

Counterparts (5)

Developer

M

Metropolitan CCS

company · 1 deals

Investor

J

Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security

company · 1 deals

Tokyo-based Japanese government agency focused on ensuring stable supply of metals and energy resources through resource development support, strategic stockpiling, and technology development across oil, gas, coal, metals, hydrogen, CCS, geothermal, and offshore wind sectors.

Partner

K

Kanto Natural Gas Development

company · 1 deals

Inpex

company · 3 deals

Tokyo-based global oil and gas exploration and production company with significant assets in LNG, oil, and natural gas. Actively diversifying into renewable energy, CCUS, and hydrogen projects, leveraging its expertise in large-scale energy development.

regulator

J

Japan Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

company · 1 deals