Sinopec (formerly China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation) has announced a major milestone in shale gas exploration, revealing that its Tiebei 1HF well at Project Deep Earth – Sichuan and Chongqing Natural Gas Base reached a vertical depth of more than 5,300 metres, setting a new national record for the deepest vertical shale gas well in China.
The well, which features a horizontal section of 1,312 metres, was tested at a high daily output of 314,500 cubic metres of industrial gas flow.
This breakthrough is expected to significantly enhance gas reserves and production efficiency in the Puguang area, further solidifying the region’s role in China’s energy strategy.
Sinopec’s achievement is a key step in the development of ultra-deep shale gas resources in the Sichuan Basin.
The Puguang gas and oil field, developed over the past two decades, is China’s first extra-large deep and high-sulphur gas field with large-scale production.
The company is actively seeking new resources, focusing on the Puguang Upper Permian to ensure long-term, stable shale gas production.
Most of the region’s shale gas resources are located at ultra-deep depths exceeding 4,500 metres — a zone traditionally considered a “forbidden zone” due to rapid changes in strata velocity and extreme technical challenges.
Sinopec overcame these obstacles through extensive research and technological innovation, achieving a 100 per cent drilling encounter rate of high-quality shale in the horizontal section.
The company likened the precision required for this accomplishment to “threading a needle in the deep underground”.
A key enabler of this success was Sinopec’s self-developed 175 MPa ultra-high-pressure fracturing equipment, which dynamically optimises parameters on-site and allows for tailored fracturing strategies for each well section.
The company is also advancing a comprehensive exploration and development plan at Zhongyuan Oilfield for the Upper Permian shale gas in Puguang, aiming to further transform resources into production.
Sinopec, China’s leading oil and gas producer with the country’s largest refining capacity, continues to expand its resource base.
Last month, the company announced the discovery of more than 140 million tonnes of proven geological reserves in the Shengli oilfield in Shandong province.
This latest achievement underscores Sinopec’s leadership in ultra-deep shale gas exploration and its commitment to meeting China’s growing energy needs through innovation and advanced technology.
