China’s relentless pursuit of energy independence ventures to new depths as the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) embarks on drilling an ultra-deep well in Sichuan, plunging 10,520 meters (6.5 miles) below the surface. The target: abundant natural gas reserves. This audacious move in the northwest of the Sichuan Basin is fueled by the promise of high-quality reservoirs concealed in the ultra-deep layers of the region.
Breaking records is nothing new for Chinese oil drillers, as earlier this year, they achieved an astonishing well depth of 9,396 meters (30,827 ft or 5.8 miles) in the Taklamakan desert, marking the deepest oil well in Asia. Now, the focus shifts to harnessing natural gas through the Sichuan project.
Notably, the Sichuan province holds substantial shale gas resources, with a new shale gas field boasting 146 billion cubic meters (bcm) of certified proven reserves, as reported by the state energy giant, Sinopec.
While the allure of abundant shale gas beckons, China faces formidable challenges in unlocking this potential. The deeper location of shale gas reserves adds complexity to the extraction process, surpassing the U.S. in technical difficulty.
Despite holding a vast volume of shale gas resources, China’s shale gas boom is yet to materialize fully. Unlike the U.S., where the shale industry thrives, China grapples with complex geography and inadequate infrastructure, particularly in remote mountainous regions where the majority of Chinese shale resources lie. Extracting shale gas necessitates deeper wells and presents fracturing complexities due to the rugged terrain and geological constraints.
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