The first drilling of the East Sea oil and gas field was selected as the 'Great Whale'...Let's get started next month.

Among the seven promising structures, the "great whale" structure is the "most appropriate"
Concluding internal procedures...Preparation for full-scale drilling begins next month
100 billion won for one borehole...First Drilling Successful

[Anchor]
The so-called "Great Whale" project, which develops deep-sea oil and gas fields around Yeongilman Bay in Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do, has decided to set the first drilling location and start preparation work in earnest.

Expectations and concerns are intersecting as people have been talking a lot and having a lot of troubles over the selection of advisors.

Reporter Hwang Hye-kyung reports.

[Reporter]
The location of the first drilling in the East Sea deep-sea gas field has been selected.

It is the 8th and 6-1th northern areas of Gwang-gu, the so-called 'Great Whale'.

In the meantime, experts have discussed seven locations with high potential for oil reserves
It was agreed that the structure of the 'Great Whale' was the most appropriate drilling site for the first time in
.

The Ministry of Industry plans to start drilling in earnest next month once the internal procedures are completed.

[Ahn Deok-geun/ Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy: Drilling will enter Busan Port in the middle of next month and proceed with preparation procedures such as loading equipment and fuel injection. Although there is a possibility of change depending on weather conditions, it is expected to take about two months overall.]

It is a 30cm-thick drill to dig up to 3,000m under the sea to secure samples, but the possibility of failure cannot be ruled out due to the high difficulty.

As it costs about 100 billion won to drill a single borehole, the government is making every effort to succeed in the first drilling.

[Ahn Deok-geun / Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy (appeared on YTN on the 19th): There is a possibility that it may not be possible to dig one.. In particular, the part of drilling in the future plans to attract foreign investment and drill jointly with technologically advanced foreign companies.]

The government expects up to 14 billion barrels of oil and gas reserves, and at least early next year, the size and business feasibility of the store will be checked.

Attention is focusing on whether the "Great Whale Project," which opened its first shovel after twists and turns, will be able to overcome controversy and concerns to achieve results.

I'm YTN Hwang Hye-kyung.