Research Projects

The mission of Fuel Resource Geology Research Group

○ Elucidation on the Origin of Fuel Resource Deposits and Potential Evaluation in Fuel Resources for Stable Supply.
○ Exploration and Technological Developments for Fuel Resource Assessment.

Fuel resources deposits are formed through a complex process such as accumulation of organic matters, burial, maturation, emission, migration, and conservation. Fuel resource exploration requires wide knowledge and technique of earth science. Our group is composed of geologist, sedimentologist, marine geologist, geothermologist, organic geochemist, and coal geologist. We are researching in cooperation with Geomicrobiology research group, Geo-environmental evaluation research group, and Exploration geophysics research group.

Ongoing major research projects

Exploration and Evaluation of Unconventional Resources

Methane hydrate
The global demand for natural gas has been increasing owing to environmental load than oil and coal. Methane material is a solid hydrate in which a large amount of methane gas being a main component of a natural gas. It is estimated that high amount of methane hydrate in the seas around Japan. Therefore, Methane hydrate is considered a potential energy resource in the future. We provide technical support for resource assessment and develop a production technology of methane hydrate through activities such as a submarine topographical and geological structure survey, seabed observation and thermal structure modeling of under the seabed using AUV and ROV.

Other Unconventional Resources (Shale gas/oil, coalbed methane)
The production quantity of unconventional resources such as shale gas and coalbed methane are growing fast by technological innovation. It is expected that the of unconventional resources is higher than conventional resources. However, a survey on unconventional resources quantity is inadequate. We are examining the potential evaluation of shale gas/oil in Japan.

Exploration and Evaluation of Conventional Resources

To understand fuel resources, it is important to clarify the origin of fuel resources deposits. An evaluation technique of fuel resources is necessary due to information about the origin of resource deposits lead to efficient petroleum exploration. We conduct field work, organization analysis of coal, organic geochemical analysis and heating experiment in cooperation with private companies, aiming to elucidate the conventional resources deposits and development of fuel resource assessment.

Global Environmental Science

Global environments are closely related to the formation of fuel resources deposits. It is important to improve the level of fundamental research on natural environments for developments of petroleum exploration technology. We investigate about environmental science underpinning technological development of petroleum exploration.