氷海域の石油探鉱―グリーンランドとカヌマス・プロジェクトの例

抄録

Activities by man-kind are limited in the Arctic, high latitude place more than North 66°33′, because of its hostile environment. Only military base, scientific observation station, resources production sites and ethnic community exist. Oil and gas E&P activities have been made in limited area such as Timan-Pechora area and Yamal peninsula in Russia, Mackenzie delta in Canada, North-Lope in Alaska and Barents Sea. Especially for offshore exploration activities in Arctic, it is highly affected by sea ice. As observed by satellite image in Arctic, no or less ice affected areas are defined such as Barents Sea and Norwegian Sea. Ice covered area in the Arctic and near of the Arctic requires serious counter measures against sea ice for putting oil and gas exploration into execution. In this lecture, recent oil and gas exploration activities in the ice covered Arctic offshore area are reviewed. In addition, history and challenge for future on new exploration license area in northeast offshore Greenland, where Greenland Petroleum Development Ltd. (GPX), Japanese Joint Venture Company established by JOGMEC, INPEX, JX, JAPEX and MOECO, are discussed. Although increase of exploration activities in Arctic is expected in the days to come, there are several technical challenges and difficulties for matter of environmental protection. It is an important mission for E&P companies to overcome those challenges and difficulties and to promote frontier oil and gas exploration in the Arctic area.