China has achieved a significant milestone in offshore drilling, with the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) setting a new daily drilling record of 2,138 meters at a project in Hainan Province. This accomplishment not only marks a breakthrough in drilling speed but also underscores China's commitment to advancing its offshore oil exploration capabilities.
Offshore drilling presents numerous challenges, including complex geological conditions, high risks, and substantial costs. Improving drilling speed is essential for operational efficiency and maximizing resource extraction. The record-setting well, a natural gas exploration project, faced considerable technical hurdles. With a design depth exceeding 3,600 meters and bottom-hole temperatures reaching 162 degrees Celsius, the drilling team had to navigate through diverse geological formations and address challenges such as abnormal formation pressure gradients.
"In the design stage, we optimized the wellbore structure, which shortened the entire well construction process," explained Liu Peikai, director of the conventional exploration well project at CNOOC (China) Limited Hainan Branch. "At the same time, we improved the drilling tool based on formation conditions during operation and created a special drilling tool with higher efficiency."
Maintaining safety and quality was paramount throughout the project. The drilling team employed innovative tools and leveraged digital technologies, including big data analytics, to enhance efficiency while upholding rigorous standards.
Zhang Botao, a project manager of the conventional exploration well project at CNOOC (China) Limited Hainan Branch, highlighted the role of CNOOC's independently developed drilling optimization system. "Relying on the drilling optimization system independently developed by CNOOC, we can promptly compare historical drilling data from oil and gas wells across various sea areas, make accurate analyses and judgments of downhole conditions in advance, and make better scientific decisions in the face of complex well conditions," Zhang said. "This approach effectively improves operational efficiency and the success rate."
This achievement reflects China's ongoing efforts to enhance its offshore oil exploration technologies and processes, contributing to the nation's energy security and economic development.
Reference(s):
China sets new record in offshore oil exploration drilling speed
cgtn.com
