作为确认日高地区天然气存在计划的一部分，JAPEX 开始在北海道近海钻探一口勘探井。

该井于 3 月 24 日开钻，位于离岸约 50 公里处，水深约 1070 米，位于 2019 年钻井活动先前钻探位置的西北约 5 公里处。

该钻探计划将收集数据，以评估天然气资源和储层特征，如果发现碳氢化合物，计划进行生产测试，以评估未来的开发潜力。

预计运营将持续到 2026 年 5 月下旬。

JAPEX started drilling an exploratory well offshore Hokkaido as part of a program to confirm the presence of natural gas in the Hidaka area.

The well was spudded on 24 March and is located approximately 50 km offshore in water depths of around 1,070 m, about 5 km northwest of a previously drilled location from a 2019 campaign.

The drilling program will gather data to evaluate natural gas resources and reservoir characteristics, with plans to conduct production testing if hydrocarbons are encountered, in order to assess future development potential.

Operations are expected to continue through late May 2026.