China’s Largest Ultra-Deep Oil and Gas Production Base Sets New Output Record

On January 19, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) announced that the Tarim Oilfield, the country’s largest ultra-deep oil and gas production base, has reached a record output of 20.47 million tons in 2024. This is the equivalent of over 20 million tons of oil and gas produced from depths below 6,000 meters, setting a new high for the field.

Source: CCTV News

On January 19, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) announced that the Tarim Oilfield, the country’s largest ultra-deep oil and gas production base, has reached a record output of 20.47 million tons in 2024. This is the equivalent of over 20 million tons of oil and gas produced from depths below 6,000 meters, setting a new high for the field.

The Tarim Basin, China's largest oil and gas reserve, is known for its rich deposits of ultra-deep resources. The Bozi North Gas Area of the Tarim Oilfield, a newly developed hub for deep natural gas production, has seen its output grow steadily for five consecutive years. According to Zhou Jianping, Chief Engineer of the Bozi Oil and Gas Production Management District, "Currently, nighttime temperatures in the gas area drop as low as -20°C. With 123 wells in operation, we extract nearly 30 million cubic meters of natural gas daily from deep underground."

The Tarim Oilfield now operates five key deep and ultra-deep natural gas production areas along the southern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains and within the heart of the Taklamakan Desert. These areas collectively produce more than 90 million cubic meters of natural gas per day, the majority of which is extracted from layers 7,000 to 8,000 meters deep. Thanks to advancements in drilling technology, the ability to drill to depths of 9,000 meters has become increasingly viable. This progress has also laid the foundation for developing the key technologies and equipment necessary for drilling wells at depths of 10,000 meters.

In 2024, the Tarim Oilfield successfully drilled over 50 wells deeper than 8,000 meters, including China’s first-ever 10,000-meter scientific exploration well, the Shendi Take-1 well. This well not only surpassed the 10,000-meter mark but also became the second deepest onshore well in the world and the deepest in Asia, marking a major milestone in China’s deep-earth exploration efforts.