China creates Asia's deepest vertical well
China has achieved a significant milestone by drilling the deepest vertical well in Asia. This accomplishment underscores the country's advancements in drilling technology and geological exploration. The drilling operation has garnered attention for its depth and the potential resources it might unveil. As China continues to enhance its capabilities in this field, the implications for energy exploration and environmental considerations are significant. The project not only reflects China's commitment to tapping into its natural resources but also contributes to discussions on energy security in the region.
TroibNews 
The China National Petroleum Corporation announced on Thursday that it has successfully drilled the deepest vertical well in Asia, with a borehole reaching 10,910 meters in the northwestern desert of China.
Situated in the Taklimakan Desert within the Tarim Basin in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the well, named "Shenditake-1," is part of a scientific exploration initiative.
This vertical well, the second of its kind worldwide, also achieved significant global engineering advancements, including the deepest liner cementing, deepest wireline imaging logging, and the fastest onshore drilling to surpass 10,000 meters.
"Every meter drilled at depths exceeding 10,000 meters poses a challenge," remarked Wang Chunsheng, chief technical expert of the Tarim oilfield branch of PetroChina, China's largest oil and gas producer.
"We have overcome difficulties such as ultra-heavy loads, wellbore instability, drill bit fatigue, tool failure and well leakage within the formation," Wang further noted.
To facilitate this project, CNPC developed the world’s first 12,000-meter automated drilling rig along with a range of advanced ultra-deep well logging tools.
Drilling commenced on May 30, 2023, and it took only 279 days to reach a depth of 10,000 meters. However, the subsequent drilling of the additional 910 meters took 300 days, as reported by China Media Group. According to Wang, the drill has traversed 12 continental strata in the Tarim Basin and accessed high-quality oil-and-gas-bearing rocks between 10,851 meters and 10,910 meters.
Currently, China's onshore deep and ultra-deep oil and gas resources amount to 67.1 billion tonnes of oil equivalent, which makes up 34 percent of the nation's total oil and gas resources. Nevertheless, only 3 billion tonnes of oil equivalent have been confirmed in the country's ultra-deep formations. To date, over 300 wells drilled in the Tarim Oilfield have reached depths greater than 8,000 meters, resulting in a total production of 19.57 million tonnes of ultra-deep oil and gas.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
Situated in the Taklimakan Desert within the Tarim Basin in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the well, named "Shenditake-1," is part of a scientific exploration initiative.
This vertical well, the second of its kind worldwide, also achieved significant global engineering advancements, including the deepest liner cementing, deepest wireline imaging logging, and the fastest onshore drilling to surpass 10,000 meters.
"Every meter drilled at depths exceeding 10,000 meters poses a challenge," remarked Wang Chunsheng, chief technical expert of the Tarim oilfield branch of PetroChina, China's largest oil and gas producer.
"We have overcome difficulties such as ultra-heavy loads, wellbore instability, drill bit fatigue, tool failure and well leakage within the formation," Wang further noted.
To facilitate this project, CNPC developed the world’s first 12,000-meter automated drilling rig along with a range of advanced ultra-deep well logging tools.
Drilling commenced on May 30, 2023, and it took only 279 days to reach a depth of 10,000 meters. However, the subsequent drilling of the additional 910 meters took 300 days, as reported by China Media Group. According to Wang, the drill has traversed 12 continental strata in the Tarim Basin and accessed high-quality oil-and-gas-bearing rocks between 10,851 meters and 10,910 meters.
Currently, China's onshore deep and ultra-deep oil and gas resources amount to 67.1 billion tonnes of oil equivalent, which makes up 34 percent of the nation's total oil and gas resources. Nevertheless, only 3 billion tonnes of oil equivalent have been confirmed in the country's ultra-deep formations. To date, over 300 wells drilled in the Tarim Oilfield have reached depths greater than 8,000 meters, resulting in a total production of 19.57 million tonnes of ultra-deep oil and gas.
Sophie Wagner contributed to this report for TROIB News
