According to a report by the Science and Technology Daily from Anda on May 26 (reporter Xie Hong), “The Songliao Basin Deep Continental Scientific Drilling Project—also known as Well Songke-2—has successfully completed its mission, exceeding its original target.” This announcement was made on the morning of the 26th at the Well Songke-2 site in Anda City, Heilongjiang Province, by Li Jinfafa, Deputy Director of the China Geological Survey under the Ministry of Natural Resources and head of the Well Songke-2 Project Leading Group. The International Continental Scientific Drilling Program sent a congratulatory letter. Attendees at the event included Meng Xianlai, former member of the Party Leadership Group of the former Ministry of Land and Resources and former Director of the China Geological Survey; Zhang Hongtao, Counselor to the State Council and former Chief Engineer of the former Ministry of Land and Resources; Roland Oberhaensli, former President of the International Union of Geological Sciences; and academicians Li Tingdong, Wang Chengshan, Gao Rui, and Yang Jingsui from the Chinese Academy of Sciences; as well as academicians Xie Heping and Wu Qiang from the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
The photo shows the site of the Songliao Basin Continental Deep-Drilling Project, also known as the Songke-2 Well Project in Anda City, Heilongjiang Province.
The Songke-2 well was spudded on April 13, 2014. To date, it has been completed at a depth of 7,018 meters, making it the deepest continental scientific drilling project ever undertaken by an Asian country and the deepest borehole ever drilled under the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) since its establishment 22 years ago. On May 20 of this year, the achievements of the Songke-2 well project were officially evaluated and approved by academicians and experts. Academicians Li Tingdong, Kang Yuzhu, Wu Qiang, Hou Zengqian, Yang Jingsui, and other relevant experts unanimously agreed that these achievements represent major breakthroughs in theory, technology, engineering, and equipment. They underscore the significance of this project in opening up new frontiers for deep-energy exploration and development in China, leading research on Cretaceous paleoclimate, and supporting the construction of the "Centennial Celebration." Overall, the project has reached an internationally advanced level, with its deep-drilling technologies and Cretaceous terrestrial paleoclimate research attaining an internationally leading position.
The photo shows deep-earth core samples retrieved from Well Songke-2 at a depth ranging from 7,003.57 meters to 7,018 meters.
“The project has overcome key technical challenges, including ultra-high-temperature drilling and large-diameter core sampling, and has generated 4.15 million sets of deep-earth experimental data totaling 24 terabytes—exceeding the originally set targets. It has also achieved four major breakthroughs and advancements in geological science and technology,” said Wang Chengshan, chief scientist of the Songke-2 well project and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in an interview with a reporter from Science and Technology Daily. “First, we have set four world records in deep-earth drilling technology and achieved two significant breakthroughs. We’ve established four world records: the longest continuous core sampling at a diameter of 311 millimeters; the longest single-trip core sampling at three different diameters; and the first-ever development and successful application of large-diameter single-trip core sampling technology, which has doubled the drilling speed. We’ve also successfully developed high-temperature-resistant drilling technology, setting a new national record for drilling under the highest domestic temperature conditions—241℃.”
Second, it has been discovered that deep shale gas and geothermal energy in the Songliao Basin represent two promising clean, low-carbon energy sources with excellent exploration and development potential. In the deep faulted Shahezi Formation and Huoshiling Formation (beneath 3,350 meters) of the basin, 43 shale gas anomalies have been identified, with a cumulative thickness of 102 meters; methane accounts for an average of 86% of the total hydrocarbon components. At well depths ranging from 4,400 to 7,018 meters, high-temperature dry hot rock bodies with temperatures between 150°C and 240°C have been found, along with two strata exhibiting anomalies in uranium—a highly radioactive element.
Third, we have obtained three key pieces of evidence regarding the evolutionary patterns of terrestrial paleoclimate during the Cretaceous period. For the first time globally, we have achieved a highly detailed, centimeter-scale, high-resolution characterization of the most complete and continuous terrestrial strata from the Cretaceous epoch (145 to 65 million years ago). We have also, for the first time, reconstructed the climate evolution history of the Cretaceous terrestrial environment on timescales ranging from millions to tens of thousands of years, and uncovered crucial insights into how large-scale volcanic eruptions releasing carbon dioxide triggered dramatic fluctuations in terrestrial climates.
Fourth, we have achieved three major breakthroughs in fundamental geological research. We have established the terrestrial stratigraphic reference section—the “Jinzhu Zi”—in the Songliao Basin; developed a new mechanism for the evolution of intracontinental basins, characterized by bidirectional convergence during the early stages and subsequent extension and reversal in later phases; and proposed a novel understanding that multiple marine transgressions have led to greater enrichment of organic matter in the basin.
The photo shows: The derrick of the Songke-2 Well Project.
The successful implementation of the Songke-2 well project has provided crucial technologies and equipment for deep-Earth exploration, opening up new frontiers for the exploration and development of clean energy resources such as deep shale gas and geothermal energy in the Songliao Basin. It has also spearheaded global research on Cretaceous terrestrial paleoclimate, significantly enhancing China’s international influence in the field of geological and paleoclimatic studies. Gao Ping, the principal official in charge of science and technology at the Ministry of Natural Resources, pointed out that the scientific contributions of the successful completion of the Songke-2 well will be recorded in the annals of China’s deep-earth science development and have set a new record in continental scientific drilling projects.
It is understood that the Songke-2 Well Project is a major science and technology innovation project organized and implemented by the China Geological Survey under the Ministry of Natural Resources, and also an important component of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program. The project is organized and implemented by the China Geological Survey, with joint participation and execution by the Institute of Exploration Technology, the Center for Deep Earth Exploration, along with numerous other institutions including China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Jilin University, and Daqing Oilfield.
According to reports, the China Geological Survey will deepen research and application of results from the Songke-2 well project, further advance theoretical and technological research on deep-Earth exploration and its practical applications, and organize and implement targeted scientific and technological efforts focused on clean, low-carbon energy resources such as shale oil (gas) in the Songliao Basin, deep-layer hydrocarbons, sandstone-type uranium deposits, and enhanced geothermal systems. These efforts will help drive the exploration and development of replacement resources for the Daqing Oilfield. The agency will also accelerate the preparation and submission of proposals for the "Major Project for Deep-Earth Exploration," as well as the construction of the National Laboratory for "Deep-Earth Exploration and Energy Resource Security" and the National Major Scientific Infrastructure for "Deep Underground Observation and Experimentation." Furthermore, it will develop a series of domestically produced ultra-deep drilling equipment capable of reaching depths of 15,000 meters, and ensure the successful site selection and implementation of China's ultra-deep continental scientific drilling projects and large-scale scientific drilling projects in major oil-and-gas-bearing basins.