NEW DELHI: After launching its about 10,000-metre deep drilling project into Earth’s crust to study internal structures in May 2023, China has initiated its second ultra-deep drilling venture this year. This time, the Chinese project aims to explore natural gas reserves at extreme depths.
The endeavor is led by China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), which commenced drilling the Shendi Chuanke 1 Well in Sichuan province with an intended depth of 10,520 meters (approximately 6.5 miles), as reported by Xinhua News Agency.
The Kola Superdeep Borehole, situated in north-west Russia, holds the distinction of being the world’s deepest man-made hole, reaching an astonishing depth of 12,262 meters.
While the previous well in Xinjiang had an experimental focus, primarily testing drilling technologies and gathering data on the Earth’s internal structure, the current undertaking in Sichuan specifically aims to discover ultra-deep natural gas reserves, as stated by Xinhua.
Sichuan, a southeastern province renowned for its spicy cuisine, breathtaking mountain scenery, and pandas, is also home to some of China’s largest shale gas deposits. However, extracting these resources has posed challenges due to the rugged terrain and complex geological conditions.
In recent years, China’s government has urged energy companies to enhance fuel security by boosting domestic production in response to power shortages, geopolitical tensions, and global price fluctuations. The quest for ultra-deep natural gas reserves is part of the nation’s efforts to address these concerns and bolster its energy security.
The Xinjiang region is reported to be rich in mineral deposits and oil.
The endeavor is led by China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), which commenced drilling the Shendi Chuanke 1 Well in Sichuan province with an intended depth of 10,520 meters (approximately 6.5 miles), as reported by Xinhua News Agency.
The Kola Superdeep Borehole, situated in north-west Russia, holds the distinction of being the world’s deepest man-made hole, reaching an astonishing depth of 12,262 meters.
While the previous well in Xinjiang had an experimental focus, primarily testing drilling technologies and gathering data on the Earth’s internal structure, the current undertaking in Sichuan specifically aims to discover ultra-deep natural gas reserves, as stated by Xinhua.
Sichuan, a southeastern province renowned for its spicy cuisine, breathtaking mountain scenery, and pandas, is also home to some of China’s largest shale gas deposits. However, extracting these resources has posed challenges due to the rugged terrain and complex geological conditions.
In recent years, China’s government has urged energy companies to enhance fuel security by boosting domestic production in response to power shortages, geopolitical tensions, and global price fluctuations. The quest for ultra-deep natural gas reserves is part of the nation’s efforts to address these concerns and bolster its energy security.
The Xinjiang region is reported to be rich in mineral deposits and oil.