NEWS

Short Term Flow Test in Amemasudake-area

October 5, 2015 Project

October 5, 2015

Press Release

Idemitsu Kosan Co.,Ltd.
INPEX CORPORATION
Mitsui Oil Exploration Co., Ltd.

Short-term Flow Test of Exploratory Wells for Geothermal Energy Development

in Amemasudake Area, Hokkaido, Japan



Idemitsu Kosan Co.,Ltd. (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: Takashi Tsukioka), INPEX CORPORATION (Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President & CEO: Toshiaki Kitamura) and Mitsui Oil Exploration Co., Ltd. (Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Mitsuo Hidaka) are pleased to announce that a short-term flow test ("Test") of geothermal exploratory wells have been conducted at the Amemasudake area (Akaigawa Village, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan) as a part of the joint geothermal energy development study ("Study") since 2011.

1. Purpose and outline of the Test
The short-term flow test was started on October 1, 2015, at two of the four geothermal exploratory wells which have been drilled since 2013 : geothermal exploratory well AME-1 and AME-3 were drilled in 2013 and 2015, respectively.
The purpose of the Test is to confirm in detail the capacity (the volume of steam) of the wells, underground temperature, chemical composition of the fluid, and permeability of the formation around the wells.

2. Outline of the Study
(1) Phase 1 (completed in FY2011):
Surface study (geological survey, gravity survey and electro-magnetic survey)
(2) Phase 2 (FY2012-2016 (scheduled)):
(i) Drilling of geothermal exploratory wells and improvement of service road etc.
Geothermal exploratory wells are drilled to confirm the geological structure, underground temperature, and permeability of the formation.
(Geothermal exploratory wells AME-1, AME-2 and AME-3 are completed. Drilling of AME-4 is now under operation)
(ii) Monitoring of hot springs
Monitoring temperature, flow rate and chemical composition of hot springs around the area.

3. Future plans
Phase 3 study including test well, production and injection tests, evaluation of the geothermal reservoirs and environmental impact assessment will be conducted based on the result of the Test and other study results in the Phase 2 study.

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For inquiries regarding this press release, please contact:
Public Relations Section, Public Relations & CSR Affairs Office, Idemitsu Kosan Co.,Ltd.
Public Relations Group, INPEX CORPORATION
Corporate Planning & Information System Division, Mitsui Oil Exploration Co., Ltd.