Japan Petroleum Exploration (JAPEX) announced that the production of heavy crude oil commenced today from the Takinoue Formation (“the shallow reservoir”), which is located above the current producing reservoirs of the Yufutsu Oil and Gas field at Tomakomai City, Hokkaido.

The presence of crude oil in the shallow reservoir was confirmed by a production testing in 2013, and since economic viability was secured by workover of existing wells and diversion of idle production facilities, the company decided the development of the shallow reservoir in June 2017. Subsequently, workover of the existing wells, installation of production equipment for wellheads and the processing facilities for heavy oil were being conducted, and after completion of production testing and commissioning in June 2020, commercial production of crude oil began today.

The initial production rate of crude oil from the shallow reservoir is approximately 200 kiloliters per day. JAPEX will continue reservoir evaluation based on the analysis of production data and will examine the possibility of the further development potential in the shallow reservoir.

KeyFacts Energy: JAPEX Japan country page