China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) has revealed that the Tiebei 1HF well at its Project Deep Earth – Sichuan and Chongqing Natural Gas Base reached a vertical depth of more than 5,300m.
This breakthrough in ultra-deep shale gas exploration sets a new record for the deepest vertical shale gas well in China.
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Sinopec tested the Tiebei 1HF well at a high daily output of 314,500m³ of industrial gas flow, enhancing gas reserves and production efficiency in the Puguang area. The well reached a horizontal section of 1,312m.
The company said this achievement contributes to the development of ultra-deep shale gas in the Sichuan Basin.
The Puguang gas and oil field, which has been developed for two decades, is the country’s first extra-large deep and high-sulphur gas field with large-scale development.
Sinopec said that it is continuously looking for new resources and has focused on the Puguang Upper Permian to achieve long-term stable shale gas production.
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By GlobalDataThe majority of resources are situated in ultra-deep fields with a burial depth of more than 4,500m, often considered a “forbidden zone” because of quick changes in strata velocity.
To overcome the challenge, Sinopec carried out extensive research and technological innovations, achieving a 100% drilling encounter rate of high-quality shale in the horizontal section, compared with “threading a needle in the deep underground”, successfully drilling the Tiebei 1HF well.
Sinopec’s self-developed 175 MPa ultra-high-pressure fracturing equipment is claimed to dynamically optimise parameters on-site, with tailored strategies for every section.
Sinopec is currently working on a comprehensive exploration and development plan at Zhongyuan Oilfield for the Upper Permian shale gas in Puguang to aid in resources transformation.
Sinopec is a large-scale oil and gas producer in China. It ranks first in China with respect to refining capacity.
Last month, Sinopec discovered more than 140 million tonnes of proven geological reserves in the Shengli oilfield in east China’s Shandong province.
