The Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC) is gearing up for a groundbreaking exploratory drilling operation in the East Sea, which will target the development of the Blue Whale gas field.
According to the KNOC on Monday, the site selection for the initial drilling has been finalized, and the drilling vessel West Capella is set to sail for Korean waters this month.
Operations are slated to commence in mid-December within the promising Blue Whale structural area. The results of this pioneering exploration, expected in the first half of next year, will be a critical milestone in assessing the project’s economic viability.
Industry insiders report that KNOC has meticulously prepared a comprehensive drilling plan with precise coordinates for the initial drilling site. The corporation is poised to present its final report to the Minister of Trade, Industry, and Energy for approval.
The chosen drilling location for the first exploratory drilling lies within the BlueWhale structure, one of seven promising geological formations believed to harbor substantial gas and oil reserves.
These promising structures, identified through seismic analysis during the physical exploration phase, represent terrains with high potential for buried oil and gas.
Upon receiving KNOC’s approval application, Minister Ahn Duk Geun of the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy is expected to convene a strategic meeting on East Sea deep-sea gas field development. This meeting, which will include private experts, will review and ultimately grant final approval for the drilling plan.
