STORY: China completes drilling of Asia's deepest vertical well
SHOOTING TIME: recent footage
DATELINE: Feb. 20, 2025
LENGTH: 00:01:49
LOCATION: URUMQI, China
CATEGORY: SCIENCE/ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the "Shenditake 1" vertical well and staff working
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): WANG CHUNSHENG, Chief expert of the Tarim Oilfield of China National Petroleum Corporation
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): SUN JINSHENG, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering

STORYLINE:

China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) announced Thursday that it has completed the drilling of the deepest vertical well in Asia, as a borehole reached a depth of 10,910 meters in China's northwestern desert.
   
Located in the heart of the Taklimakan Desert in the Tarim Basin, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the well, known as "Shenditake 1," is a scientific exploration project.

According to CNPC, it took over 580 days to complete the 10,910-meter drilling. The well has penetrated 12 geological formations, ultimately reaching rock layers that date back over 500 million years.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): WANG CHUNSHENG, Chief expert of the Tarim Oilfield of China National Petroleum Corporation
"As we went beyond 9,000 meters, everything about the layers below became a mystery. With no past experience to draw on, it was completely uncharted territory. We couldn't see or predict what was down there, so we had to take it step by step."

Beyond the search for oil and gas resources, the well is also designed to advance the study of the Earth's evolution and deep-Earth geology.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): SUN JINSHENG, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering
"The deep well can address many challenges for both the country and humanity as a whole: First, the discovery of natural gas at a depth exceeding 10,000 meters could unlock a strategic replacement zone in the Tarim Basin, with reserves potentially reaching trillions of cubic meters. This would enhance China's oil and gas self-sufficiency and strengthen national energy security. Second, the collection of valuable rock cores from deep within the Earth will play a crucial role in advancing research on key basic scientific issues, including the Earth's deep structure, composition, evolution, and climate change."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Urumqi, China.
(XHTV)