– Sinopec completed drilling China’s deepest geothermal exploration well
– Milestone reveals mechanism of deep geothermal formation in South China
– Sinopec to establish platform for research, education, and experimentation on deep geothermal resources in South China
China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (Sinopec) has achieved a significant milestone by completing the drilling of China’s deepest geothermal exploration well, the Fushen-1 Well in Hainan, with a well depth of 5200 m. This accomplishment has helped uncover the mechanism of deep geothermal formation and enrichment in South China. The breakthrough in exploring hot dry rock in terms of demographic region and depth is crucial for the large-scale development and utilization of geothermal resources in South China, contributing to the adjustment of the energy structure in the region.
The exploration of the granite dated 250 million years ago in the Fushen-1 Well began in August 2023. Sinopec employed innovative technologies such as dual-drive drilling and high-pressure injection to reach the temperature limit of hot dry rock specified by national energy industry standards. The company will now focus on research and field tests at Fushen-1 Well to establish a platform for deep geothermal research, education, and experimentation in South China.
Deep geothermal holds promising prospects as a stable, reliable, green, and low-carbon renewable energy resource with large reserves and wide distribution. Chinese geological surveys indicate that hot dry rock geothermal resources within specific underground ranges are substantial, demonstrating the potential to meet a significant portion of China’s energy consumption. This achievement aligns with China’s goal of achieving a ‘Dual-Carbon’ strategy.