Jiqing Oilfield in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the country’s first national-level demonstration area for continental shale oil, has seen its shale oil production reach 215,000 tons in the first quarter of this year, setting an all-time high, according to China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).
The daily output of shale oil in the field has also surged to an all-time high of 2,800 tons, increasing 46 percent over the same period last year, said the CNPC, China's largest oil and gas producer and supplier.
Shale oil, an unconventional oil and gas resource, is stored in tight, low-permeability formations and is poor in liquidity. It is one of the most hard-to-exploit oil resources.
The Jiqing Oilfield operation area covers an area of 1,278 square kilometers with estimated resource reserves exceeding one billion tons.
Since the beginning of this year, the Jiqing Oilfield operation area has drilled 53 new wells, with an average drilling cycle of 34 days, a 5 percent improvement compared to the same period last year.
A total of 27 drilling wells are currently operating simultaneously, which is the largest production capacity since the construction of the operating area.
"According to the plan, the operation area is expected to complete the drilling of 100 wells this year, reaching the highest construction capacity in history. By 2025, [shale oil] production is projected to reach 1.4 million tons," said Wang Wei, senior engineer of petroleum engineering in the Jimusaer Shale Oil Operation Area of Xinjiang Oilfield.
By the end of 2023, the Jiqing Oilfield operation area had completed the construction of 252 shale oil production wells, with an annual shale oil production capacity reaching 1.293 million tons.
China’s first shale oil demonstration area breaks record with 215,000 tons of production in Q1
The direct flights between the Chinese capital of Beijing and Cuba's Havana resumed on Friday as an Air China plane took off from Beijing Capital International Airport early in the morning.
The Beijing-Havana route, with a stopover in Madrid, Spain, is the only air route between China and Cuba. Its resumption provides an opportunity to enhance the exchanges between the people of the two countries.
"It's my first time to visit Cuba. I'm leading a group of 20 people, including me. Cuba is a socialist country and China and Cuba are good brothers. The reopening of the flight will help promote economic and cultural exchanges between the two countries," said a Chinese passenger.
"Cuban cigars and Ernest Hemingway's 'The Old Man and the Sea' attract me to visit Cuba and learn more about Cuba. At my age I am more interested in local customs, history and architecture," said another Chinese tourist.
Air China plans a frequency of two flights a week. The flight from Beijing will depart on Tuesdays and Fridays, and return flights from Havana are scheduled on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
The resumption of the route plays a positive role in promoting connectivity between China and Cuba. Cuban destinations could see significant increases in visits from Chinese tourists, who are also benefit from a new visa exemption.
"This flight, which we hope can increase in frequency, means an increase in both economic and commercial relations. But it will also mean an increase in visitors from this friendly country to our island. That's important for us because we have a great appreciation and attraction for the Chinese. That is to say, the good diplomatic relations that exist between the two countries is more than evident," said Elizabeth Vela Jaime, Cuba's Tourism Counselor in Asia.
"As a Cuban, I'm very happy that this flight exists. Many more Chinese can come to Cuba and get to know us better, just as many Cubans can reach China. Because even if it seems otherwise, we are very similar nations, we are fraternal nations. Cuba was the first country to establish diplomatic relations with China in Latin America. It is very important that there are links of this kind that there is a flight that can connect cultures, friends and stories," said Thalia Fuentes, a journalist for the news website Cubadebate.
On May 4, Cuban authorities officially announced the visa exemption for Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports who enter, transit, exit or stay in the country for up to 90 days.
The visa waiver and the restart of the China-Cuba flight seek to strengthen trade ties and cooperation between the two countries, in addition to boosting the tourism sector on the Caribbean island. Cuban officials expect at least 3.5 million tourists to arrive this year.
Direct flights between Beijing, Havana resume
