'The extension connects to the Tokyo Line in Honjo City, Saitama Prefecture, enhancing the stability and efficiency of natural gas supplies to the region'. Image by Denis Shevchuk via iStock
INPEX Corp. has completed a project to lengthen the Shin Tokyo Line natural gas trunk pipeline, which links Joetsu City in Niigata Prefecture and Fujioka City in Gunma Prefecture, by about 16 kilometers (9.94 miles) toward Tokyo.
The pipeline now stretches around 229 kilometers (142.29 miles) after the completion of the fifth-stage extension project, which started construction 2022. "The extension connects to the Tokyo Line in Honjo City, Saitama Prefecture, enhancing the stability and efficiency of natural gas supplies to the region", the Japanese oil and gas explorer and producer said in an online statement.
Running parallel to the Shin Tokyo Line, the 324-kilometer (201.32 miles) Tokyo Line connects Joetsu City in Niigata Prefecture and Adachi Ward in Tokyo Metropolis.
"INPEX seeks to make its energy supply infrastructure more resilient by strengthening and expanding its natural gas pipeline network, while thoroughly managing the safety of the network", it said.
In other company developments, INPEX said Friday it has entered an agreement to farm down its majority stake in the AC/RL7 block offshore Australia.
Taiwan's state-owned CPC Corp. is buying 2.625 percent through subsidiary OPIC Australia Pty. Ltd. Osaka Gas Ichthys Pty. Ltd., a subsidiary of Osaka Gas Co. Ltd., will acquire 1.2 percent. Toho Gas Ichthys Development Pty. Ltd., a subsidiary of TOHO GAS Co. Ltd., will get 0.42 percent.
The divestments will reduce INPEX's interest to 69.755 percent. Total Energies Exploration Australia Pty. Ltd. holds the remaining 26 percent.
Spanning 418 square kilometers (161.39 square miles) off the northern coast of Western Australia, AC/RL7 has yielded natural gas and condensate discoveries. The owners see it as a potential source for Ichthys LNG.
In other upstream activities INPEX announced last week it had signed a deal with Seascape Energy Asia PLC to acquire the latter's subsidiary Longboat Energy (2A) Ltd. and consequently own a 42.5 percent stake in the Block 2A production sharing contract off the coast of the Malaysian state of Sarawak.
"INPEX will assume operatorship of the block where it will engage in hydrocarbon exploration activities alongside partners Topaz Number One Limited (Topaz), a wholly owned subsidiary of Seascape, PETRONAS Carigali Sdn. Bhd. and Petroleum Sarawak Exploration & Production Sdn. Bhd.", INPEX said December 2.
"INPEX's operatorship is expected to provide it with long-term access to promising exploration prospects in the region", it added.
Separately INPEX signed an agreement with Indonesia's state-owned PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) for a joint geothermal study in the Southeast Asian country with a view to joint development.
"INPEX will accelerate its initiatives aimed at its geothermal power generation business, which can utilize the technologies cultivated by the company through oil and natural gas development", INPEX said.
The memorandum of understanding was signed between PT PLN Indonesia Power and INPEX Geothermal Ltd.