China looks west to solve energy riddle

Xinjiang has potentially huge untapped reserves, but exploration in the desert province presents complex geological and political challenges

Chinese NOCs are forging ahead with challenging ultra-deep drilling and shale projects in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, underlining the far western province's potential importance to the country's drive to meet ambitious energy security plans. PetroChina, one of China's ‘big three' NOCs, completed Luntan 1, Asia's deepest well at 8,882m, in the Tarim basin at the end of July, saying it had taken a year to drill due to complex geology and difficult ultra-high-temperature and ultra-high-pressure conditions. It was the latest completed of 27 ultra-deep wells drilled at the Shunbei field. Xinjiang momentum is building. Despite the region's severe weather and remote desert conditions, major