[Reading Science] "Exploration of the 7th Block Also Possible" ... The Dream of Tamhae 3

Launch of Tamhae 3, the Seabed Resource Exploration Vessel of the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources
Highest Performance Among Related Vessels Built Worldwide in the Last 10 Years
Accelerating Exploration of Seabed Resources Such as Oil
Exploration of Block 7 May Yield Results If Korea-Japan Agreement Is Reached

"If the 7th Offshore Oil Block is explored using Tamhae 3, the results could be different from the past. The exploration preparations are ready."

On the 23rd, while sailing with HJ Heavy Industries off the coast of Busan, Kim Byung-yeop, Director of the Marine Geology and Energy Research Division at the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, spoke confidently to reporters about Tamhae 3, the state-of-the-art 3D/4D physical exploration research vessel. He implied that if given the opportunity, South Korea could confirm its potential as an oil-producing country through Tamhae 3, which will vigorously navigate not only the waters near the Korean Peninsula but also seas worldwide.

Tamhae 3 officially began its research voyage after its commissioning ceremony at 2 p.m. on the 31st of last month at Yeongilman Port in Pohang. Lee Pyung-gu, President of the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, stated at the ceremony, "I am confident that Tamhae 3 will become a national representative-level ocean research institute that showcases the excellence of our seabed resource exploration technology to the world."

Tamhae 3 is a high-function 3D/4D physical exploration research vessel weighing 6,862 tons, capable of conducting seabed resource exploration in all ocean areas worldwide, including continental shelves, oceans, and polar regions. It is a large-scale R&D infrastructure project with a total budget of 167.8 billion KRW. After passing a preliminary feasibility study in 2016, construction began at HJ Heavy Industries in January 2021, followed by a launching and naming ceremony and sea trials last July, culminating in its official commissioning on this day.

Tamhae 3 boasts exploration capabilities incomparable to Tamhae 2, which served for 27 years since 1996. Equipped with streamer winches, airgun winches, seismic sources, seabed node seismic exploration systems, P-cable exploration equipment, and piston-type sediment core samplers, Tamhae 3 has excellent ability to precisely analyze underwater geology and locate resources, especially oil.

The Tamhae 3 vessel conducting marine seismic reflection surveys. Photo by Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources

Compared to Tamhae 2, Tamhae 3 has increased the seismic receiver streamer by eight times and the airgun system, which generates powerful pressure waves, by 1.5 times. It is also equipped with 400 seabed node-type receivers (OBN) that are deployed on the seabed to record waves.

Choi Yoon-seok, Director of the Marine Geological Exploration Research Center, explained, "If the exploration range of Tamhae 3 is mapped onto a map of Seoul, it corresponds to the straight-line distance from Mapo Bridge to Hannam Bridge." Deploying eight 6 km-long streamers into the sea can cover an area 1.5 times the size of Yeouido or equivalent to 590 soccer fields on the seabed.

Although not an icebreaker, Tamhae 3 is equipped with ice-resistant and dynamic positioning control functions, enabling exploration in extreme environments such as oceans and polar regions. Director Kim emphasized, "Tamhae 3 has secured the best performance among all state-owned seabed geological exploration vessels launched worldwide in the past decade. Compared to other comprehensive research vessels, it has about 50% higher proportion of exploration equipment, truly making it a research institute on the sea."

3D Elastic Wave Survey Results Enabled by Tamhae-3

Before the commissioning ceremony, Tamhae 3 revealed its inner workings to reporters. After a 20-minute boat ride around Yeongdo from Busan Port, Tamhae 3 was found anchored on the sea.

Its massive appearance elicited a sigh of awe. Tamhae 3’s unique shape stood out. Unlike typical ships that are slender and long, the lower part of the hull protrudes significantly, resembling a toad floating in water. This design is specialized for seabed geological exploration, where seismic waves must be sent into the seabed.

Director Kim explained that this design was adopted to prevent the seismic wave equipment from shaking even when waves hit. Since once the equipment is deployed, exploration lasts about a week, this shape is also suitable for fuel efficiency.

The lower hull was filled with massive streamer equipment that emits seismic waves. This equipment is lowered into the sea through the rear space of the ship. Inside, there was a control room with a high ceiling rarely seen on ordinary ships. This room houses servers and storage devices that manage various secured exploration data. The data is sent via the internet to researchers for analysis to confirm the presence of resources on the seabed.

A researcher of Tamhae-3 is explaining the exploration equipment. Photo by Baek Jongmin

Staff from the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources who boarded Tamhae 3 expressed satisfaction, saying, "Compared to Tamhae 2, the space is larger, improving living conditions, and exploration and research performance have greatly improved, along with enhanced safety." Since Tamhae 3 can sail for up to three months per voyage, comfortable bedrooms, dining areas, and rest facilities are essential to relieve crew fatigue.

Tamhae 3 conducts joint exploration of oil and gas resources on the domestic continental shelf, CCS monitoring exploration, as well as global seabed resource exploration, identification of seabed geological disaster factors, and seabed geological information construction. It also plans to significantly expand its exploration scope, including international joint exploration of Arctic resources.

The first exploration mission of Tamhae 3 will begin in June in the Gunsan Basin in the West Sea. The primary task is to conduct 3D seismic exploration to find promising CO2 storage sites on the seabed, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality through climate change mitigation.

Additionally, following the recent discovery of seabed rare earth elements in the Pacific Ocean's international waters, plans are underway to acquire information on rare earth deposits in seabed sediments across the Pacific by 2025 and select precise exploration candidate sites for rare earth resource development. Director Kim mentioned that the U.S. Geological Survey has also proposed joint research with Tamhae 3.

Kim Jin-ho, Director of the Exploration Vessel Construction Project Group, stated, "Tamhae 3 is a world-class physical exploration research vessel equipped with state-of-the-art research equipment," adding, "It is expected to enhance South Korea’s national prestige by performing various research functions such as seabed energy resource exploration, marine geology and topography research, and marine environmental change studies in all ocean areas worldwide."

A researcher boarding Tamhae No. 3 is explaining the control room. Photo by Baek Jongmin

When asked about using Tamhae 3 for oil exploration in the 7th Offshore Oil Block, Director Kim said, "The 7th Offshore Oil Block has not been explored for decades. Considering the vastly improved exploration capabilities compared to the past, it is worth challenging by deploying Tamhae 3."

The 7th Offshore Oil Block was jointly explored by Korea and Japan twice until the 1990s under the 'Korea-Japan Continental Shelf Joint Development Agreement' signed in 1974. However, at that time, it was deemed economically unfeasible, and both countries returned their exploration rights in 1993, effectively halting exploration. Since then, Japan has not responded to Korea’s survey requests. After June 2025, Japan may unilaterally declare the termination of the agreement. After that, even if South Korea wants to use Tamhae 3 for exploration in the 7th Offshore Oil Block, it will be impossible.

Lee Yong-seon, a member of the National Assembly (Democratic Party), argued, "If we have advanced equipment capable of exploring the 7th Offshore Oil Block, it is appropriate to request Japan for joint exploration."