The Chinese Academy of Sciences held a kick-off meeting yesterday for the CAS Class A Strategic Pilot Science and Technology Project "Intelligent Drilling Technology and Equipment System and Related Theoretical Research" (referred to as the "Intelligent Drilling" Pilot Project). The intelligent drilling technology and equipment system integrates petroleum geology theory, geophysical exploration, and exploration and development technologies, and combines high-end technologies such as sensing, transmission, control, and precision manufacturing. It reflects a country's high-end manufacturing level and is a symbol of scientific and technological innovation. Mastering the intelligent drilling technology and equipment system and related theories can not only advance the development and utilization of China's deep oil and gas and geothermal energy, but also provide core technologies for future unconventional oil and gas and overseas oil and gas exploration and development. At the same time, it supports the development of deep mineral resources and underground space, thereby solving the challenges of deep oil and gas exploration and development, seizing the strategic high ground of international energy, and is expected to significantly increase China's oil and gas production. This is of great significance for reducing China's dependence on foreign oil and gas and ensuring national energy security.
China is currently facing an energy dilemma of increasing dependence on foreign oil and gas year by year and severe shortage of backup reserves in existing major oilfields. China's deep oil and natural gas resources have enormous potential, accounting for 52% and 28% of total geological resources, respectively, making them a breakthrough for future energy. Horizontal wells are a key technology for deep and ultra-deep oil and gas exploration and development. However, the core technical equipment involved in horizontal well development is mainly monopolized by large oilfield service companies such as Schlumberger, Halliburton, and Baker Hughes, which occupy about 90% of the global high-end service market. They have long imposed a technology blockade on China, not selling high-end products but only providing "packaged services." Due to the complex physical and chemical conditions at depth, weak steering capability in deep horizontal drilling, incomplete test data under high-temperature and high-pressure environments, long drilling cycles, high development costs, and poor economic benefits, these have become major scientific challenges and technical bottlenecks constraining the exploration and development of deep and ultra-deep oil and gas resources. The "Intelligent Drilling" Pilot Project is led by the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Institute of Earth Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences (under preparation), in collaboration with the Institute of Acoustics, Shenyang Institute of Automation, Institute of High Energy Physics, Institute of Mechanics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, and other institutes within CAS, as well as external units such as Sinopec Petroleum Exploration and Production Research Institute, China Oilfield Services Limited, CNPC Drilling Research Institute, CNPC Petroleum Exploration and Development Research Institute, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, China University of Petroleum, China University of Geosciences, and Jilin University. The project starts from deep petroleum geology theory, supplemented by high-precision reservoir characterization, and uses a precision geosteering system while drilling as a means, through new rotary steerable drilling tools, to achieve intelligent "cruising" in deep drilling. Through theoretical innovation and technical breakthroughs, the project aims to reveal the formation and occurrence mechanisms of deep oil and gas, establish a prediction theory for the distribution of deep oil and gas resources, and develop an "intelligent drilling system" with China's independent intellectual property rights, achieving "accurate identification," "accurate positioning," and "accurate drilling," and forming an overall technical solution for the development of deep (6000 meters) oil and gas resources.
More than 150 people attended the kick-off meeting of the "Intelligent Drilling" Pilot Project, including Vice President Xiang Libin of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Director Wang Yuechao of the Bureau of Major R&D Programs, Director Zhou Dejin of the Bureau of Science Communication, Deputy Director Gao Jun of the Bureau of Facility Support and Budget, Deputy Director Jiao Daqing of the Science and Technology Department of China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, Director Wu Fuyuan of the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, CAS, and the Institute of Earth Sciences, CAS (under preparation), Academician Zhu Rixiang, the project leader, and Researcher Wang Zili, the chief scientist of the project, as well as news media.