Inpex to Upgrade Facilities at Japan's Minami-Nagaoka Gas Field

Inpex Coprporation on Friday announced it will upgrade facilities at its Koshijihara Plant in Niigata Prefecture to enhance the rate of natural gas and condensate recovery at the Minami-Nagaoka gas field, one of Japan’s largest natural gas fields.

The move will increase the field’s recoverable reserves and extend its production life, allowing the company to make efficient and effective use of Japan’s energy resources, and provide a stable supply of energy to the Japanese market, Inpex added.

Operations will include reinstalling a compressor and separator to improve the efficiency of gas processing systems.

Inpex stated that the upgrade is expected to increase recoverable reserves of natural gas and condensate by roughly 20%, and extend the life of the Minami-Nagaoka Gas field by nearly 20 years beyond current estimates.

Since 1984, Inpex has consistently produced natural gas and condensate at the Minami-Nagaoka gas field, where the company has been involved in development and production activities as operator.

The gas field is located 10 km southwest of the city of Nagaoka, and produces approximately 123 million standard cubic feet of natural gas, as well as approximately 3,100 barrels of condensate per day.