Japan Oil , Gas And Metals National Corporation Research Articles

Achievement for Pilot Test of Excavating and Ore Lifting Conducted for Seafloor Polymetallic Sulphides

Seafloor Polymetallic Sulphides (PMS) is deep sea mineral that is confirmed to exist within Japanese exclusive economic zones and expected to develop as a new supply source for Japan. However, deep sea minerals including PMS have not been commercially developed so far, although various countries are eagerly working it. Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) has been commissioned by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) to conduct practical study on PMS for commercialization. As part of the efforts, JOGMEC implemented “Excavating and Ore-lifting Pilot Test” from the middle of August to end of September 2017. In the test, JOGMEC succeeded in consecutive lifting of ore and sea water in a state of solid-liquid flow from a depth of approximately 1,600m for the first time in the world. Through the test, it became clear that there are still many technical challenges left to be resolved for development of PMS such as improvement in durability of equipment, system optimization, adjustability of ore grain size and slurry concentration and so on. JOGMEC will continue efforts aimed at commercialization of PMS from a long-term perspective.

On availability analysis for pilot test of excavating and ore lifting conducted for seafloor polymetallic sulphides

Building the technologies to commercialize the mining of seafloor polymetallic sulfides which is promising mineral resource is necessary. Based on the both the Basic Plan on Ocean Policy (approved by the cabinet on April 26, 2013) and the Plan for the Development of Marine Energy and Mineral Resources (formulated by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)), METI and JOGMEC (Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation) started the national seafloor polymetallic sulfides developing project and planed to demonstrate the pilot test in actual sea to validate the technologies for especially excavating and ore lifting, which is the first test in the world. Usually testing in actual sea is not safety and economical because the marine condition is severe for the operation. Therefore three years studies to ensure both safe and availability were conducted which led the pilot test to succeed. This paper shows our procedure of the availability analysis for the pilot test with the results of numerical simulation, model experiments and operational window analysis. To investigate the accuracy of the numerical simulation and confirm the effectiveness of the operational window analysis, the comparison with the measurements in the actual sea is also shown.

コバルトリッチクラストからの金属回収技術の現状と課題

The cobalt rich manganese crusts are distributed on the flat top or the slope of seamounts in the economic zone and the open sea around Minami Torishima Island. Cobalt rich manganese crust and manganese nodule are iron manganese oxide mainly composed of oxide of Mn and Fe. However, their distribution condition and composition are different. Manganese nodule contains some 2.0% of copper and nickel together. On the other hand, the cobalt rich manganese crust includes less copper and nickel than manganese nodule does, but contains a higher level of cobalt and platinum. Metal Mining Agency of Japan (MMAJ), which is current Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC), has selected“ Smelting and Chlorine Leaching” as the most suitable technique from the viewpoint of nickel, cobalt and copper's recovery from the manganese nodule. (Kojima, in 1996) For the treatment of cobalt rich crust, JOGMEC has established an improved metal recovery technology, which is called the“ Improved Smelting and Chlorine Leaching”, after the investigation from 2003 through 2008. . In the“ Improved Smelting and Chlorine Leaching”, JOGMEC has introduced“ slag cleaning” process for cobalt and another process for platinum in order to enhance the recovery level. Also JOGMEC found technique to recover metal using bioleaching effectively.

超臨界水を用いた超重質油改質 (SCWC) 技術

Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) announced that Alberta's annual raw crude bitumen production will rise to 4,100,000 barrels per day by 2023 twice as much as 2,100,000 barrels per day of the present. It is an infallible situation to continue to put a lot of energy into production of bitumen as an Alberta state government.However, the production of bitumen is not easy because of its viscosity. A lot of steam is needed for production and diluents (such as condensate and naphtha) about 30 % of bitumen are needed for transportation. So the supply cost of bitumen is higher than that of crude oil.Moreover, much of diluent is import from U.S. and also a large number of the “Dilbit” (bitumen with diluent) are exported to U.S. As a result, increasing of production is dependent on U.S., so it is problem from a viewpoint of energy security in Canada.Partial upgrading technology is one of solution to the needs. Partial upgrading technology converts bitumen into synthetic crude oil which can be transported on pipeline. But synthetic crude oil is different from product of refinery such as gasoline.In the presentation, the Supercritical Water Cracking (SCWC) technology (one of the Partial upgrading technology) will be described for the one of solution for the needs. This technology is developed by Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) and JGC. It is focused on its merit and the present status of technology development.

Production of methane from hydrate deposits beneath the Nankai Trough

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has estimated there is upwards of 100,000 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of global methanehydrate resources, worldwide (Collett, 2011). The Japan Oil Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) has been actively evaluating the potential of developing methane hydrate marine sediments as a resource. There have been trials in onshore Canada in 2007 and 2008; and, there are plans to test offshore production in the next few years. Existing plans involve two well tests in the eastern Nankai Trough, offshore Japan. An initial short-term well test of up to one month will be followed by an extended well test of up to six months. The production method trialled in Canada and planned for the offshore well tests is depressurisation. This involves drilling from the surface (or seabed) to a subsurface methane hydrate zone and reducing the formation pressure to a point where the methane hydrates dissociate to methane and water. The gas and water are then transferred to the surface, the water is treated for disposal and the gas is treated for exportation. Recent research was done to confirm the technical feasibility of the planned offshore well tests. This research examined: production mechanism and flow assurance; production host functional specification; subsea equipment including flowlines, production riser and electro-hydraulic umbilical; topsides well test equipment; and, procurement and installation methodology. The main conclusion made was confirmation of the technical feasibility of the proposed offshore well test. The key challenges, uncertainties and areas for future focus in the lead up to the proposed offshore well tests were also highlighted.

ＣＯ２攻法による増進回収とＣＯ２地中貯留への展望―ＪＮＯＣ‐ＪＯＧＭＥＣの事例―

Carbon-dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS) has been topical research since CO2 is required to reduce from atmosphere as one of greenhouse gas. CO2 geological sequestration can be learnt from the CO2 enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR) technologies applied to the oil industry since there are many projects and developments around the world. In this paper, the pilot tests and their related research conducted by Japan National Oil Corporation (JNOC) and Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) are reviewed in order to contribute to the CCS technologies. The pilot tests conducted in Kubiki, Ikiztepe and Sarukawa oil fields with the reservoir simulation studies, laboratory experiments and facility designs are mainly discussed. In addition, some feasibility studies for Kuwaiti, Abu Dhabi and Mexican oil fields are also reviewed. Most of the technologies reviewed in this paper are also useful to the CCS and give the shortcut to successful CCS projects.Carbon-dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS) has been topical research since CO2 is required to reduce from atmosphere as one of greenhouse gas. CO2 geological sequestration can be learnt from the CO2 enhanced oil recovery (CO2-EOR) technologies applied to the oil industry since there are many projects and developments around the world. In this paper, the pilot tests and their related research conducted by Japan National Oil Corporation (JNOC) and Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) are reviewed in order to contribute to the CCS technologies. The pilot tests conducted in Kubiki, Ikiztepe and Sarukawa oil fields with the reservoir simulation studies, laboratory experiments and facility designs are mainly discussed. In addition, some feasibility studies for Kuwaiti, Abu Dhabi and Mexican oil fields are also reviewed. Most of the technologies reviewed in this paper are also useful to the CCS and give the shortcut to successful CCS projects.

Characteristics of Moho Reflections Identified by MCS Reflection Records in the Western Pacific Ocean and Effects of Moho Transition Zone Properties

The thickness of the Moho transition zone (MTZ) at the boundary between the Earth's crust and the subjacent mantle has a significant effect on seismic responses from the Moho. We examined the seismic characteristics of Moho reflections (hereafter PmP) using Multi-Channel Seismic (MCS) records obtained from high-quality seismic experiments in the western Pacific by Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC). The MCS records show clear reflections at ∼6-10km in depth from the ocean bottom in the north and south of Ogasawara Plateau; however, considering horizontal variations in PmP intensity, the nature of the MTZ varies by location. In seismic profile D00-D, across Ogasawara Plateau in the N-S direction, the PmP abruptly disappears far from the nearby seamount where the overlain sedimentary section shows less change. In another case, shown in D00-C located 130km west of D00-D, the PmP clearly shows a high-amplitude continuous reflection near the seamount's flank. Data acquisition is relatively constant for the Ogasawara MCS reflection lines; therefore, the difference in PmP intensity between D00-D and D00-C might relate to the nature of the Moho. We calculated synthetic seismograms to evaluate the effects of MTZ thickness on seismic reflection records. The results suggest that if the thickness of the Moho transition zone is less than 1km for the dominant frequency of 4Hz, then PmP can be observed with the current MCS survey equipment. If the dominant frequency of the MCS reflection survey is ∼15Hz, penetrating down to the Moho depth, then the thickness of the Moho required to identify the PmP should be less than a few hundred meters. Moreover, anisotropy assuming a strong olivine preferred orientation in peridotite might affect the change of PmP intensity. The MCS reflection records in the western Pacific and the western Philippine Sea Basin suggest that the thickness of MTZ varies from ∼100m to more than a few kilometers. This is consistent with petrological observations in Oman ophiolite, sections of oceanic crust, and possible mantle rock, showing that the thickness of the mafic crust to ultra-mafic mantle transition varies from an order of meters to a few kilometers. The next target of the IODP seems to be to obtain the mantle constituent materials below the Moho and to explore the nature of the Moho. Considering the large heterogeneity of MTZ even in the oceanic region, the IODP drilling site to drill to the Moho depth should be carefully selected based on an understanding of the geophysical background of the proposed sites.

Thematic Section: Geology and geophysics of the Philippine Sea and adjacent areas in the Pacific Ocean

Thematic Section: Geology and geophysics of the Philippine Sea and adjacent areas in the Pacific Ocean

中間処理プロセス・業界の現状と課題 ハイブリッドカー用電池のリサイクル技術開発

Hybrid vehicles production is increasing year by year coping with the concern about the increase of carbon dioxide emission, and is estimated 2.5 million in 2010. Nickel metal hydride battery is mainly used for these vehicles, and 23,750t of nickel, 8,375t of rare-earth elements and 2,875t of cobalt would be contained in these batteries, in maximum, in that year. The technology development will be necessary for the recycling of these batteries at the end of use. Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) has carried out the technology development for five years, financed by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Japan, to recover nickel, rare earths and cobalt from the nickel metal hydride batteries for the hybrid vehicles. The battery modules are crushed after cooling in liquid nitrogen, and separated with density, particle size and magnetism into positive and negative active materials, nickel and cobalt hydroxides and the nickel-rare earths-cobalt alloy, steel and plastics. The recovered positive active material is leached with sulfuric solution, neutralized for the selective removal of rare-earths and iron, and separated to the nickel and cobalt solutions by solvent extraction. The recovered negative active material is passed the screen or the magnetic separator for iron removal, and decarburized with hydrogen after reduction of the entrained positive active materials, to prevent from the oxidation of rare-earths. The both recovered active materials are verified to be re-usable for the battery production. The demonstration runs with capacity of one ton of battery modules a day were carried out in 2006 successfully and the high recovery rates of those metal elements were achieved.

ＪＯＧＭＥＣによる金属鉱物資源の探査・環境事業と技術開発 坑廃水処理コストの分析と鉱害防止技術開発

In this study, operating costs of mine drainage treatment plant in Japan were analyzed by using the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) database, and the effectiveness of the technologies developed by MMAJ/JOGMEC was evaluated.Mine drainage treatment cost analysis showed that,-the unit operating cost (yen/m3) of the plants on ferrous mine drainage correlates with both the volume of treatment water (m3/min.) and the acidity (CaCO3 mg/L).-it is possible to make trial calculation on the change of annual treatment cost depending on the change of treatment water volume and the change of acidity.The technologies developed, so far, by the former Metal Mining Agency of Japan (MMAJ) and the JOGMEC were evaluated in view of effectiveness. The results showed that the vegetation technology, tunnel plugging technology, sludge backfill technology, and sludge densification technology were most effective.This study provided a basic data set to consider more effective ways on mine drainage control and treatment, but still the data to be improved. It is recommended that more detailed mine drainage data and analysis is required to improve technologies to prevent and treat the mining related pollution.

ＪＯＧＭＥＣによる金属鉱物資源の探査・環境事業と技術開発 資源機構による海外金属資源探査と今後の展望

The Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC), a non-profit Incorporated Administrative Agency, succeeded all the overseas exploration programs of former Metal Mining Agency of Japan (MMAJ) on February 29th, 2004. A wide range of exploration activities from grass-root to pre-feasibility in both developed and developing countries are conducted for assisting and encouraging Japanese companies for their upstream projects in contribution to stable supply of nonferrous metals.Overseas exploration program of JOGMEC currently consists of three categories: (1) 'Overseas (Joint) Geological Surveys' which directly assist mineral exploration activities by Japanese private companies; (2) 'Technical Cooperation for Mineral Exploration: Government-to-Government Surveys (GG Surveys)' which mainly intend to transfer Japanese exploration skill to governmental organization in developing countries and (3) 'Joint Basic Exploration Scheme (JBES)' which is a joint venture exploration program usually under a farm-in agreement to acquire equity interest of the properties from overseas public or private corporations in developing countries. Such equity interest by JBES will be transferred to Japanese private companies for further explorations and development. Recent three successful exploration projects are introduced to show JOGMEC's approach and contribution. The Stone-boy project, Alaska, a large grass-root regional exploration program, delineated Pogo gold deposits of 9.9 Million tones with average grading 14.1g/t Au which is planned to commence production from 2006. Two GG surveys of the Kokpentinskaya placer-ilmenite deposit in Kazakhstan and the Dong Pao rare-earth deposit in Vietnam, successfully expanded their original geologic ore reserves nearly double to be a positive economic valuations.As a future perspective of JOGMEC's metals survey, the JBES will be the most efficient survey program due to realizing both flexibility in project selection and security of tenure in the area of interest.

ＪＯＧＭＥＣによる金属鉱物資源の探査・環境事業と技術開発 豊羽鉱山におけるペースト充填導入試験とペースト充填が持つ省エネ効果・コスト削減効果について

The paper describes the first attempt of introducing paste backfill in Japan at the Toyoha mine. In 1997, the Metal Mining Agency of Japan (MMAJ), which was reorganized in February of 2004 and currently works as the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC), launched a five year long research program to innovate mining technologies and systems required to save and efficiently use energy in mines. As a part of the program, studies on paste backfill technology and its implementation in Japan were involved.The Toyoha mine was selected as the site for testing paste backfill, since the mine is being operated under an extremely high rock temperature environment. In order to improve the underground climate, the mine decided to introduce paste backfilling and effectively reduce heat flows from mined-out stopes.The first flow test was performed on surface in 1998 and the second flow test was carried out underground in 2001 after having installed the paste fill plant and underground pipelines. The underground test was, however, abruptly discontinued by a mechanical failure, which happened to the PPSM thickener whose bolts holding the drive head at the top of the thickener were broken.After the unpredicted interruption of the paste backfilling test, we have carried out a series of ventilation analyses to evaluate the energy saving effects with paste backfilling under a high rock temperature condition. And we have clarified that remarkable energy saving can be expected by reducing heat flows from mined-out stopes and energy consumption required for underground refrigeration. In addition, it is found that significant cost saving can be also anticipated by curtailing volume of the tailings impoundment and its construction cost.

深海用ボーリングシステムの開発・導入・運用

The Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC), which is the former Metal Mining Agency of Japan (MMAJ), has developed the deep-sea Boring Machine System (BMS) to detect vertical distributions of hydrothermal deposits and cobalt-rich manganese crusts for better understanding of the occurrence of deep-sea mineral resources.From 1999, the BMS, a unique cabled remote control submarine multi corer, was installed on the R/V Hakurei-maru No.2 and utilized for the deep-sea mineral exploration. Since then, continuous improvement of the BMS and systematic operation with other survey equipment by the engineers of JOGMEC, Deep Ocean Resources Development Co., Ltd., (DORD) and Ocean Engineering & Development Co., Ltd., (OED) has achieved remarkable progress of submarine exploration technologies, which will contribute to estimate ore reserves of deep-sea minerals deposits as well as to accumulate scientific knowledge.The role of the BMS will become more important, because it is supposed to be the only one sampling device in the world that can recover in-situ samples, which is indispensable for an effective application of expansion of Japanese continental shelf to the UN.