China Commences Drilling a New 10,000-Meter Hole for an Undisclosed Purpose
In recent years, the Chinese government has been urging energy companies to strengthen fuel security by increasing domestic production, applying pressure to achieve this goal.
For the second time this year, China has commenced drilling a 10,000-meter hole in its quest for ultra-deep natural gas reserves. China National Petroleum Corp. initiated the drilling of the Shendi Chuanke 1 Well in Sichuan province on Thursday, with a planned depth of 10,520 meters (approximately 6.5 miles), according to a report from Xinhua News Agency.
Following a comparable-sized well that CNPC initiated in Xinjiang in May, which was touted as the deepest drilling project ever undertaken in China at that time.
Although the previous well was characterized as an experimental venture, aimed at testing drilling technologies and collecting data on the Earth’s internal structure, the current project in Sichuan, as reported by Xinhua, is specifically targeting the exploration of ultra-deep natural gas reserves.
Sichuan, a southeastern province renowned for its spicy cuisine, breathtaking mountain landscapes, and iconic pandas, also houses significant shale gas reserves in China. Despite these valuable resources, the nation’s state-owned oil giants have faced challenges in effectively extracting them due to the region’s intricate underground geology and challenging terrain.
In response to a series of power shortages, geopolitical tensions, and global price fluctuations, the Chinese government has been urging energy companies in recent years to bolster fuel security through increased domestic production.
