Inpex Corporation TSE:1605
Inpex : Metropolitan CCS Joint Venture Granted Approval for CCS Exploration Drilling Off Pacific Coast of Chiba Prefecture, JapanOpen a PDF
Source: MarketScreener
April 15, 2026
Metropolitan CCS, LTD INPEX CORPORATION
Kanto Natural Gas Development Co., Ltd.
Metropolitan CCS Joint Venture Granted Approval for CCS Exploration Drilling Off Pacific Coast of Chiba Prefecture, Japan
Metropolitan CCS, LTD. (Metropolitan CCS), a joint venture between INPEX CORPORATION (INPEX) and Kanto Natural Gas Development Co., Ltd., (Kanto Natural Gas Development) announced today that it has received approval from Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry to conduct exploratory drilling offshore Kujukuri along the east coast of Chiba Prefecture, Japan, supporting carbon capture and storage (CCS). This approval designates Metropolitan CCS as the operator responsible for conducting drilling operations to identify geological formations suitable for the storage of CO2 within a specified area.
This 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 Metropolitan Area CCS Project is a CCS initiative that involves capturing CO2 emitted from multiple industrial sources, including 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 commencement of CO2 storage by the early 2030s under the "Engineering Design Work for Advanced CCS Projects1" commissioned by the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC).
Metropolitan CCS 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.
1Initiative intended to support the dissemination and expansion of CCS projects, involving feasibility studies and the implementation of "Design Work within the CCS Value Chain," which includes detailed engineering design related to CO₂ separation, capture, transportation and storage, as well as the "Evaluation of Storage Potential at Prospective CO₂ Storage Sites," which includes exploratory drilling surveys.
Overview of exploratory drilling operations
Location | Offshore Kujukuri Town, Sanbu District, Chiba Prefecture |
Well Name | First well: Kujukuri-Oki A (tentative) Second well: Kujukuri-Oki B (tentative) |
Scheduled timeline | First well: approximately 4 months Second well: approximately 3 months |
Target formations | 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 |
Target depths | First well: Approximately 1,900 meters below sea level Second well: Approximately 1,600 meters below sea level |
Drilling format | 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. |
Safety measures for surrounding areas | Prior to the installation of the drilling barge and the commencement of drilling operations, explanations regarding the scope of work and relevant precautions will be provided to fisheries operators conducting activities in the surrounding waters. During drilling operations, guard vessels will be deployed to prevent other vessels navigating in the vicinity from inadvertently approaching the drilling barge. |
Media contacts
Metropolitan CCS: External Affairs Group, Website) https://mccs.inpex.co.jp/
※Japanese only
INPEX: Public Relations Group, Tel) +81-3-5572-0750
Kanto Natural Gas Development: General Affairs Group, Tel) +81-475-23-1313