On February 20, 2025, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) proudly announced the successful completion of drilling Asia’s deepest vertical oil well , the Shenditake 1 well . This engineering breakthrough was achieved in the Taklimakan Desert of Xinjiang Autonomous Region and has become a crucial achievement for oil and gas exploration at depths of over 10,910 meters.
Advanced Deep Earth Oil and Gas Exploration
Drilling began in May 2023 and, after 580 days of intense work, has passed through a dozen geological formations that include rocks dating back more than 500 million years .
This feat has implications for oil exploration and has yielded valuable insights into the Earth’s geological evolution, marking a significant advance in understanding subterranean strata.
Global impact and scientific contribution of the oil well
With the drilling of the Shenditake 1 well, CNPC has achieved more than just setting a new record. The well has enabled the extraction of rock cores of great scientific value, including 12.64 meters of rock from over 10,000 meters deep , providing a solid foundation for future scientific research into underground geology and natural resources .
According to experts, this data will contribute to improving geological theories about deep-sea oil and gas, as well as opening up new opportunities in energy exploration in Asia and the rest of the world.
The technology behind drilling
The Shenditake 1 well has also set several engineering records , including the world’s deepest pipe cementation and the fastest drilling depth to exceed 10,000 meters , according to Xinhua. This project represents a crucial breakthrough in deep well drilling technology , and puts China at the forefront of innovation in the global energy industry.
In addition to its scientific and technological implications, the drilling of the Shenditake 1 well is an important step toward improving China’s energy security, especially in the search for deep-sea resources that have traditionally been overlooked.
This achievement could lay the groundwork for future strategic oil and gas discoveries, strengthening CNPC’s role in global energy exploration.
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Source and photo: Xinjiang
