It has been a long time dream of Japan Petroleum Explolation Co., LTD (JAPEX) and local energy sectors to have a large oil and gas field in Hokkaido. In Hokkaido, nearly a hundred wildcats have been drilled by JAPEX since late 1950's. In 1988, JAPEX finally discovered a large gas field by the well “Minami-Yufutsu SK-1” which is located a few kilometers northeast of Tomakomai-City. Since then, JAPEX has drilled ten wells and discovered three gas pools. The field is now called Yufutsu Gas Field.
Though there were some technical difficulties in drilling, analizing reservoir performance and handling waxy oil to develop this field, the field was successfully developed in 1996 by applying some cutting edge technologies and some new concepts.
This lecture briefly outlines how those difficulties were overcome.