Why is China drilling a hole more than 10000 metres deep?

China has embarked on an ambitious drilling project in Sichuan, with the aim of exploring a significant natural gas reserve. PetroChina Southwest Oil and Gasfield Company has begun drilling the Shendi Chuanke-1 well in the challenging Sichuan basin.

With a designed depth of 10,520 meters (34,500 feet), this ultra-deep well poses significant technical challenges, making it one of the most difficult drilling projects in the oil and gas engineering industry. The effort represents a crucial step in the country's search for energy resources and potential discoveries in the region.

While the previous project in Xinjiang focused on experimentation, testing drilling technologies, and studying the Earth's internal structure, the current undertaking in Sichuan has a more specific objective: to explore and potentially extract ultra-deep reserves of natural gas.

Sichuan, known for its spicy cuisine, stunning mountain landscapes, and pandas, is also home to some of China's vast shale gas reserves. However, extracting these resources has proven challenging due to the difficult terrain and complex underground geology.

China drills ultra-deep well for gas exploration

China is embarking on its second ultra-deep drilling project as part of the Deep Earth drilling initiative. The first project, which began on May 30, explored Asia's deepest well in the oil-rich Tarim Basin region of Xinjiang province. Now the focus shifts to the Chuanke-1 well in Sichuan province, known for its significant shale gas reserves.

The Deep Earth drilling project serves as critical infrastructure, laying the foundation for future scientific research and development of China's oil and gas resources. As of 2021, China has become the world's fourth largest natural gas producer, with natural gas supply exceeding that of oil.

Amid geopolitical conflicts, energy shortages, and global price volatility, energy security has become a pressing concern for China. The country aims to meet more of its energy needs domestically by 2025, advocating increased oil and gas production and clean energy cooperation with other nations.

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