The shallow methane hydrate research expedition leave Shimonoseki
On June 24, the Shallow Methane Hydrate Research Consortium (Meiji University, Akita University, Shinshu University, Chiba University, the University of Tokyo, Osaka University, Kyushu University and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology), which is led by the Gas Hydrate Research Laboratory of The Organization for the Strategic Coordination of Research and Intellectual Properties, boarded marine resources research vessel Hakurei (which is equipped with an excavation rig) and began a shallow subsurface methane hydrate excavation survey in the Sea of Japan, offshore in the Joestu Region and at the Mogami Trough.
The survey will be carried out as part of the Japan Sea Shallow Methane Hydrate Resources Volume Survey, which has been implemented since FY2013 as a central government project to promote the development of methane hydrate.
