Shale oil output in northeast China hits 1mln tons with tech breakthroughs, green transition

The annual output of the Daqing Gulong continental shale oil national demonstration zone in northeast China has exceeded the million-ton mark for the first time, marking a success in tackling extraction challenges and reshaping the production chain through green innovation, the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) said on Friday.

Located on the northern part of the Songliao Basin within Daqing City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, the Gulong continental shale oil national demonstration zone covers 2,778 square kilometers, designed to have 500 horizontal wells.

As a "testing ground" for China's continental shale oil development, the Daqing Gulong national demonstration zone has achieved leapfrog growth in just a few years, scaling up from an initial output of 15,000 tons in 2021 to surpassing the 1-million-ton target in 2025.

Behind this surge in production lies not only technological breakthroughs across the entire development chain, but also the key to this traditional energy base's transition toward green and low-carbon development.

Shale, named for its thin, leaf-like or laminated structure resembling layered pages of a book, is the rock formation that houses shale oil resources.

At the shale oil transfer and processing site of the Daqing Oilfield Gas Production Branch Company, oil produced from over 2,000 meters underground undergoes initial separation.

Unlike traditional black crude, Gulong shale oil is golden in color and characterized by light oil quality, low density, and few impurities.

While the extraction technology for Daqing Gulong shale oil is complex, the oil produced holds outstanding economic value.

These premium qualities allow shale oil to proceed directly to refining without complex pretreatment, making it an ideal raw material for producing high-value-added products like polyester fiber, high-end plastics, aviation kerosene, and premium gasoline.

"Daqing Gulong shale oil is buried at great depths, making extraction extremely challenging. However, the quality of the produced oil is excellent, with a high light-fraction content. During the refining process, it yields less residual oil and boosts refining efficiency by 15 percent to 20 percent, significantly increasing the added value of the products," said Chen Gang, deputy party secretary of Daqing Oilfield Gas Production Branch Company of the CNPC.

Green extraction technology is the key to turning its superior advantages into tangible value.

In the core development stage of fracturing, the demonstration zone has innovatively applied new carbon dioxide (CO2) fracturing fluids and oil displacement technologies.

Simply put, CO2 collected from industrial processes is purified, liquefied, and injected underground. This approach both utilizes industrial carbon emissions and promotes crude oil extraction.

"Carbon dioxide (CO2) can be more easily injected into the nanoscale pore spaces in shale. Its rapid expansion, pressurization, and cooling can generate numerous micro-fractures in the shale, allowing the trapped crude oil to be fully released. Additionally, CO2 also replenishes reservoir energy and improves oil fluidity, thereby further enhancing recovery rates," said Cui Baowen, technical advisor of Daqing Oilfield.

The green concept extends not only beyond the oil extraction process but also to the energy supply itself.

The demonstration zone has built a new energy microgrid that integrates wind, solar, natural gas, and energy storage systems.

Through intelligent dispatch, it achieves multi-energy complementarity, providing low-cost clean energy for key processes like drilling and fracturing, with significant emission reduction results.

"Our shale oil operations have generated a cumulative 3.178 million kWh of green electricity. Nearly 60 percent of key processes now use electricity or natural gas to replace oil in cleaner operations. We have cumulatively sequestered 511,400 tons of CO2 and obtained a carbon footprint certificate, truly achieving a 'win-win outcome for development and environmental protection'," said Chen Lin, executive deputy commander of the shale oil exploration and development headquarters of Daqing Oilfield.

From technological breakthroughs that overcome extraction challenges to green innovations that reshapes the production chain, the development practice of Daqing Gulong shale oil has not only provided a replicable "Daqing Solution" for the scaled development of China's continental shale oil, but also marks a solid step forward for this traditional energy base on the path toward low-carbon transformation.

Shale oil output in northeast China hits 1mln tons with tech breakthroughs, green transition

After the devastating fire at the housing complex Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the central government, Hong Kong authorities, and people from across China have joined forces in a massive outpouring of relief and support.

The blaze, the deadliest Hong Kong had witnessed for decades, broke out at around 14:50 on Nov 26 at the eight-towered residential estate Wang Fuk Court, which was under renovation, in Tai Po district. The fire quickly engulfed seven of the towers, leaving at least 159 dead, 79 injured and thousands of families homeless.

According to the latest official update, the Support Fund for Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, established by the HKSAR government, has received 3 billion Hong Kong dollars in external donations. Together with the HKSAR government's start-up capital of 300 million Hong Kong dollars, the fund stands at around 3.3 billion Hong Kong dollars in total. It will be used to help residents rebuild their homes and provide long-term support.

Following the fire, the HKSAR government has made comprehensive, multi-tiered rescue and resettlement efforts.

On the night of the blaze, the government promptly established temporary shelters at multiple locations across Tai Po district, coordinating accommodations in youth hostels, hotels, and transitional housing for affected residents. Emergency subsidies and living allowances were distributed to those impacted, while support was also provided through a "one household, one social worker" mechanism.

People from across Hong Kong have joined volunteer efforts, hoping to bring warmth to the wounded community, with donated supplies such as clothing, food, drinking water continuously arriving at temporary shelters.

Many taxi drivers have also volunteered to provide free rides.

"We work here from 08:00 in the morning to past 22:00 at night. We only leave when there are no passengers. That's how it is. It does affect earnings a bit. It definitely has an impact. But that's not important. The most important thing is to help others first," said Wong Chi-chuen, a taxi driver .

At the request of the HKSAR government, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council has coordinated the Ministry of Emergency Management to provide batches of supplies for the Tai Po fire relief effort, including portable outdoor charging stations, heavy-duty conveyors, blowers, respirators, goggles, protective suits, headlamps, and waterproof boots.

Mainland companies and residents, and various sectors in Macao also provided support following the devastating fire in Hong Kong, donating funds and supplies for emergency relief and post-disaster recovery.

"A large amount of supplies was collected and delivered to our disaster-stricken areas in a very short time. It made me realize what it means to be bound by blood. Because this kind of bond runs deep. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone," said Peter Lam, chairman of Tai Po Rural Committee.

Support from across China pours in after devastating fire in Hong Kong