In a significant leap for energy exploration on the Chinese mainland, officials have officially confirmed the discovery of a massive ultra-deep shale gas field in Ziyang City, located in the southwest province of Sichuan. This discovery marks a critical transition in the country's energy strategy, moving from deep to ultra-deep formation exploration.
The energy giant Sinopec announced that the Ziyang Dongfeng shale gas field has received official certification from the Ministry of Natural Resources. The field is estimated to hold proven geological reserves of 235.687 billion cubic meters, representing the first ultra-deep shale gas field of this scale in the country. The discovery extends exploration capabilities into geological layers exceeding 4,500 meters.
Located within the Sichuan Basin, the field's potential was first highlighted in 2024 during the exploration of the Ziyang-2 well, which recorded a daily industrial gas flow of 1.257 million cubic meters. This represented a major breakthrough in the exploration of the Cambrian Qiongzhusi Formation—one of the Earth's oldest commercial shale layers, dating back approximately 540 million years. Following this success, technical teams expanded their evaluation, discovering a large, contiguous gas field at depths ranging from 4,500 to 5,200 meters.
The achievement is not without its challenges. Engineers faced extreme conditions, including thick, hard-to-drill strata and underground environments characterized by extreme high temperatures and high pressure. To overcome these hurdles, researchers innovated new geological theories and developed specialized core technologies.
By systematically clarifying the accumulation pattern within the Cambrian Qiongzhusi Formation, the team has laid a strategic foundation for future shale gas exploration. This milestone is expected to provide valuable insights for business professionals and investors monitoring the energy landscape in Asia, as it enhances the region's capacity for resource self-sufficiency and technological innovation in the energy sector.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
