China has seen another technological breakthrough at an ultra-deep well on the edge of the Taklamakan Desert in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region by setting a new daily drilling record of 2,006 meters in a single day, the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) said on Wednesday.
The announcement came as drilling work was completed at the "Ha 13-H9" well in the Tarim Oilfield, located in Shaya County of Aksu Prefecture, reaching a final depth of 7,341 meters, with the daily record being achieved earlier during the drilling process at this site.
More than 120 cities in 15 provincial-level regions across China have been benefited by the natural gas supplied by the CNPC's Tarim Oilfield and staff say the increased drilling speed helps vastly improve overall efficiency of operations.
"Two years of technological research have reduced the drilling time for this block from 138.76 days in 2022 to 120.4 days in 2023. This means we can save 18 days when drilling an 8,000-meter well," said Zou Bo, a CNPC staff member.
The record is attributed to the considerable developments made in key technical equipment, including high-strength drill pipes, high-temperature-proof drilling fluid that can withstand heat of up to 220 degrees Celsius, and state-of-art logging tools capable of operating thousands of meters below the surface level.
These advancements have provided essential technical support for developing deep-earth oil and gas exploration in China.
"We have developed a domestic 175 Mpa gas wellhead equipment with a casing head, allowing us to address the challenges of exploring and developing ultra-deep gas. This significantly reduces our dependence on foreign equipment and lowers production costs," said Zhang Bao, director of the Oil and Gas Extraction Department at the CNPC Tarim Oilfield branch.
Chinese drilling technology digs record-breaking 2,000 meters in single day
Chinese drilling technology digs record-breaking 2,000 meters in single day
As the Qingming Festival approaches this Friday, various traditional folk activities have been held across China, celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the occasion.
With a 2,500-year history, Qingming Festival, or the Festival of Pure Brightness, observed in early April, uniquely combines ancestral worship with the celebration of spring. Falling on the 15th day after the spring equinox, this ritual-rich observance reflects China's enduring values of ancestral veneration and inspires deep introspection about what gives life meaning.
In Sijia Village, Huayin City, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, a unique swing festival is held to mark the occasion. Eighteen different types of traditional swings, such as the spinning wheel swing, the Bagua swing reminiscent of a rotating carousel, and the balance swing designed for two people, have attracted many visitors.
Historically, Sijia Village served as a military post guarding the strategic Tongguan pass, a former mountain pass and fortress located south of the confluence of the Wei and Yellow Rivers. The swing tradition in the village has its origins in military training exercises like climbing and river crossing. The local swing culture further developed as regional trade flourished, eventually evolving into the "swing festival" that continues today.
"It's very exciting and tests your skill, endurance, and most importantly, your arm strength. You need to maintain balance," said Qu Xiangyang, a visitor.
In Rudong County, Nantong City, east China's Jiangsu Province, another traditional Qingming activity takes place - kite flying.
Flying kites as a way of making wishes is an age-old Qingming custom in this region. As a result, the Qingming Festival in Nantong is also known as the "Kite Festival."
The local Banyao whistling kite making skills is listed as one of the first national intangible cultural heritage items.
According to a folk culture expert, people traditionally write the names of diseases or misfortunes on paper, attach it to a kite, and release it into the sky. This practice is believed to drive away illness and disaster, while also serving as a way to make wishes.
In south China's Guangdong Province, a large tug-of-war competition is underway in Maoming City. Teams from different towns and streets are competing, attracting many locals to cheer on their teams.
Tug-of-war, which originated during the late Spring and Autumn period (770 BC - 476 BC), became part of Qingming customs during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty once organized large-scale tug-of-war competitions for the festival.
"Tug-of-war became very popular in the Tang Dynasty, even emerging as the national sport. It originated in the Jingchu region and later spread across the country. In ancient Lingnan (Southern China), tug-of-war games were a common tradition. Through these events, people seek to pray for peace, prosperity, and abundant harvests," said Yao Guojun, vice dean of the College of Arts and Law, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology.
Traditional folk activities held for Qingming Festival
