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Who is permitted to engage in the development of natural gas resources?
Under Japanese Law there are legal restrictions that require any person or company intending to develop the natural gas resources to comply with various regulations. First, they must register a specific mining lot with the regulatory authorities. It will granted permission to develop the natural gas resources only after ensuring compliance with all necessary requirements. After development, an operator is also required to comply with the Mine Safety Law whose objectives are to ensure safety and prevent mining-induced pollution, as well as with other rules and regulations.
How does natural gas differ from city gas so far as use in the home is concerned?
Natural gas developed by KNG is also distributed to consumers by city gas companies. However, LNG imported from overseas accounts for a large proportion of the gas supplied by city gas companies. The composition of the gas we develop and that of imported LNG are virtually the same. For city gas, propane and other ingredients are added to adjust the calorific value and an artificial odor is also added to as an accident prevention measure (methane gas is odorless and colorless).
How are the recoverable reserves calculated?
The term “recoverable reserves” refers to the amount of natural gas in a deposit that it is technically feasible to extract. The “recoverable reserves” are calculated by subtracting the “cumulative production quantity”, which is the quantity already extracted from the deposit, from the “original gas reserve”, which is the initial quantity of natural gas in the deposit, and multiplying by the “technically recoverable rate.” In this connection, our recoverable reserves are approximately 100 billion cubic meters. (This figure is calculated by the volumetric method of Japanese Industrial Standard (M-1006-1992).)
Are any companies other than Kanto Natural Gas Development developing natural gas resources and producing iodine?
Currently, in Chiba prefecture 7 other companies are developing natural gas resources and 5 other companies are producing iodine. We have developed fruitful relationships with these companies through collaborative research on natural gas development and the exchange of information.
Can gas be extracted from beneath the ocean floor?
The Southern Kanto gas field extends beneath Tokyo Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The development of natural gas resources located beneath the ocean floor involves the drilling of wells, construction of pipelines, complex maintenance, etc. It requires heavy investment and a great deal of effort. Our current plans do not include the development of natural gas resources located beneath the ocean floor.
