Japan by the Japanese/Chapter 18.9

The last few years have seen a great development in the production of petroleum from the oil-fields of Japan, and in 1901 the output was valued at £227,841. No sooner was it ascertained that oil was present in considerable quantities than special experts were despatched to Russia and to America to gain first-hand knowledge of the subject. The Government arranged for a special survey of the oil territory by the Geological Survey of Tokyo, at an expense of 10,000 yen. The fact that Japan consumes 60,000,000 gallons of oil, of which the greater portion is imported, makes the Government anxious to encourage the development of the Japanese oil-fields. In this work the Japanese have been assisted by American capital and American machinery. The Standard Oil Company of America has considerable interest in the oil-fields of Japan. These oil-fields are principally situated in the province of Echigo, but also extend from Tornioso in the south to Hokkaido in the north. Until a few years ago only the Echigo fields were largely worked.

The oil is found chiefly in the upper Eocene of the Tertiary formation, although it is found in small quantities in the diluvium and alluvium. It is contained in shale and sandstone between impervious layers under pressure, so that it escapes sometimes under considerable force. The wells vary in depth from 300 feet to 2,000 feet.

The Japanese crude oil resembles more closely Russian and Californian oil than Pennsylvanian. It may be taken to provide 50 per cent. of burning oil. The following are the principal oil districts now being developed:

​The Amaze field, on the western coast, which comprises the Amaze, the Miyagawa, and Gendoji wells; the Nagaoka field, which comprises the Hirei, Kitatani, and Katsudo wells; the Miitsu field; and the Hiyama field.

There are many small refineries with a daily capacity of 4,214 barrels but they are not very well equipped. The International Oil Company’s refinery at Naoetsu, controlled by the Standard Oil Company, is really efficient, and capable of refining more oil than has ever been supplied to it. There are already 150 miles of pipe lines in existence, owned by five different companies, while one of the most enterprising firms—the Japan Oil Company—is considering the advisability of laying 200 miles of 5 and 6 inch pipes between the Echigo fields and Tokyo.

Every year new fields are discovered and developed. In 1886 the output was 40,113 kokus, in 1896 it was 208,400 kokus, and in 1901 it had reached 983,799 kokus.