Oil and gas exploration in East China Sea officially launched

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The start of the East China Sea oil and gas exploration project is facing the dual challenges of politics and economy, and the technical team needs to push forward the operation in the face of capital reduction and political turmoil.

's "Sikapila" drilling platform, owned by Norwegian offshore giant Seadrill, is officially in the disputed waters of the East China Sea today, marking a key step in South Korea's energy independence. The 228-meter deep-sea giant ship, built by Samsung Heavy Industries, is anchored 50 kilometers southeast of Busan and is expected to start its first drilling operation within this week. Geological exploration data show that the potential oil and gas reserves of the target block range from 3.5 billion to 14 billion barrels. The sampling analysis will take two months, and the interpretation of the results will be completed as soon as the first half of 2025.

The promotion of project comes at a time of many events in South Korea politics. The budget just passed by Congress slashed 49.7 billion won ($34.5 million) in special funding, adding to the constitutional crisis triggered by President Yoon Seok-yok's impeachment last week. Industry insiders analyze that the technical team needs to operate accurately in the face of tight funding and political uncertainty to ensure the steady progress of the exploration plan. As a key project led by the South Korea National Petroleum Corporation, this deep-sea drilling operation not only carries the strategic mission of energy security, but also becomes a touchstone for testing the government's ability to respond to crises.

The operation ship "Sikapila" has completed its offshore positioning this month, and its advanced drilling system will operate under complex geological conditions. Despite the pressure of budget cuts, the project team said it would address the challenge by optimizing operations and improving drilling efficiency. The exploration results will directly affect the South Korea's future energy strategic layout, if the successful discovery of commercial reserves, will significantly enhance the national energy reserve capacity.

the current international energy market volatility intensifies, the South Korea government urgently needs to reduce its dependence on foreign countries through independent exploration. As a national strategic project, the progress of the East China Sea project is not only restricted by geological conditions, but also deeply bound to the political and economic environment. In the coming months, the technical team will need to maintain operational continuity under multiple pressures to ensure the achievement of national strategic goals.

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