information about Fukushima published in English in Japanese media info publiée en anglais dans la presse japonaise
9 Juin 2013
June 8, 2013
Methane hydrate test-drilling in Sea of Japan
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20130608_03.html
Japanese government researchers started a survey on the amount of methane hydrate in the Sea of Japan on Saturday. The purpose is to extract natural gas from the frozen substance.
Methane hydrate takes on the appearance of ice and is formed from methane and water. It's found on the seabed, often at great depths.
Researchers are using sonar to survey the distribution and amount of methane hydrate off the coast of Niigata Prefecture.
In March, the government successfully extracted natural gas from frozen methane hydrate under the sea off the Pacific Ocean coast. The drilling took place hundreds meters beneath the seabed.
Areas to be surveyed will be increased from next year. It's hoped that such methane hydrate deposits can be commercialized in 5 years