China Achieves the First 10,000m Ultra-Deep Drill
China has reached a significant milestone in scientific exploration with the completion of the “Shendi Ta’ke-1” ultra-deep drilling project. Breaking records for both the deepest vertical drill in Asia and the shortest time taken to drill beyond 10,000 meters, this achievement marks a new era for China’s drilling industry.
A Remarkable Feat of Engineering
The “Shendi Ta’ke-1” drilling project, led by the PetroChina oil group, is situated in the Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang. Designed to reach a depth of 11,100 meters, this drilling site is located in the Tarim basin, an area rich in oil and gas reserves, making it a crucial asset for China’s energy needs. However, the extreme terrain and complex underground conditions make it one of the most challenging regions to explore.
Cutting-Edge Technologies
To complete this drilling project, China had to drill through 13 geological layers. Since its initiation on May 30, 2023, China has utilized its first self-developed ultra-deep automatic drilling rig, along with advanced technologies such as high-temperature drilling fluids and high-temperature-resistant screws. After 279 days, they have successfully drilled into the 12th layer, which formed approximately 500 million years ago.
Unlocking New Frontier for Resources
According to experts, there is a belief that high-quality oil resources exist at the 10,000-meter depth. This notion is supported by Tôn Long Đức, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, who stated, “Currently, we believe there is oil at 10,000 meters, which is why we need to explore this depth. Despite the challenges, it provides us with a ‘battlefield’ to advance to 10,000 meters and tackle major scientific issues deep underground.”
High-Quality Oil Potential
Scientific analysis suggests that the oil resources found at 10,000 meters could potentially be of high quality. Tôn Long Đức also confirms this, saying, “It is a type of light oil – a highly refined chemical feedstock. It can be directly poured into an engine without the need for filtration or processing.”
Expanding China’s Energy Reserves
Onshore deep and ultra-deep oil resources currently account for around 34% of China’s total oil reserves, with this percentage increasing each year. In recent years, PetroChina has made significant progress in extracting deep oil resources from the Tarim basin, successfully drilling over 140 wells with depths exceeding 8,000 meters, often referred to as the “Everest beneath the earth.” In 2023, PetroChina’s Tarim Oilfield produced a record-breaking 19.57 million tons of ultra-deep oil, making it the largest deep oil production base in China.
China had originally set a target of drilling the “Shendi Ta’ke-1” well to a depth of 11,100 meters within 457 days. With this achievement, China has demonstrated its expertise and determination to unlock valuable resources from the depths of the Earth.
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