1950 Commerced development at Yabase oil field, Akita, Japan 1959 Kubiki oil and gas field commenced production 1962 Completed Japan's first long-distance natural gas pipeline between Tokyo and Niigata Prefecture[9] 1965 Completed development at Minami-Aga oil field 1970 Higashi-Kashiwazaki gas field commenced production 1975 Completed development of overseas project at Democratic Republic of Congo 1980 West Bakr block of Egypt commenced production (sold in 2012 after cumulative production of approximately 50 million barrels of oil)[10]