China confirms first large-scale ultra-deep shale gas field in Sichuan

A massive shale gas field with over 200 billion cubic meters of ultra-deep reserves has been confirmed in southwest China's Sichuan Basin, taking the country's exploration push into uncharted territory more than 4,500 meters underground.

China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) announced on Wednesday that its Ziyang Dongfeng shale gas field has secured official certification from the Ministry of Natural Resources. The field holds proven geological reserves of 235.687 billion cubic meters, marking the birth of China's first ultra-deep shale gas field of this size.

The breakthrough began in 2024, when the Ziyang 2 well tested at a daily industrial gas flow of 1.257 million cubic meters, marking a major milestone in the exploration of Cambrian Qiongzhusi Formation, the earth's oldest commercial shale layer which formed 540 million years ago.

Since then, technical teams have ramped up exploration and appraisal efforts, achieving increasingly higher test outputs and identifying a large, contiguous gas field buried between 4,500 and 5,200 meters deep.

"We conducted nearly one kilometer of systematic coring and more than 22,000 experimental analyses, allowing us to characterize the geology at the micrometer level. We integrated artificial intelligence into our geophysical technologies to clarify key features such as stratigraphy, sedimentation, and reservoir properties," said Zhang Zhuang, manager of the Oil and Gas Exploration Management Department at Sinopec's Southwest Oil and Gas Company.

"We also mastered ultra-deep shale gas drilling and fracturing technologies, forming a fully independent technological system for Cambrian ultra-deep shale gas exploration and development," said Zhang.

The Cambrian Qiongzhusi Formation, with its thick, hard-to-drill rock layers, poses enormous engineering challenges. Despite harsh downhole conditions of high temperature and high pressure, Chinese engineers achieved key technological breakthroughs and figured out how shale gas accumulates within the formation. This achievement opened a new chapter for shale gas exploration in China.

China confirms first large-scale ultra-deep shale gas field in Sichuan

Chinese Premier Li Qiang emphasized advancing agricultural modernization and ensuring food security when making investigation in northeast China's Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces from Monday to Wednesday.

In Heilongjiang Province, Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, visited a state farm and observed the growth of soybean, corn, and rice crops. He stressed that autumn grain accounts for the bulk of annual output, calling for stepped-up farmland management and policy support to ensure grain harvest.

Visiting an agricultural science park and a rice research institute, Li asked about seed breeding innovation and black soil conservation, highlighting the importance of science and technology in pursuing higher yields and calling for further efforts in seed breeding, advanced machinery, and smart farming.

At a major water conservancy project, Li reviewed construction progress, urging faster completion to improve flood control, irrigation, and ecological benefits while supporting stable, high-yield harvests.

In Jilin Province, Li visited an agricultural cooperative and learned about its operations. He called for developing diverse forms of appropriately scaled agricultural operations and improving services for agriculture to help smallholders connect with modern agriculture.

At a grain processing plant, Li inspected a corn oil production line and called for boosting intensive processing of agricultural products to extend industrial chains and raise value.

Li also visited the Chagan Lake and learned about the ecological fisheries. He called for actively developing modern eco-aquaculture, promoting integrated development of the farming, forestry, livestock, and fishing industries as well as the development of eco-tourism.

Chinese premier stresses agricultural modernization, food security