In 2017, China’s geological survey made remarkable progress: successful trial extraction of offshore natural gas hydrates, discovery of high-yield ancient shale gas flows in Hubei Province, drilling of high-temperature dry-hot rocks in Qinghai Province, the official launch of Geological Cloud 1.0, and the initiation of geological surveys in the Xiong’an New Area... Throughout the year, major media outlets increasingly focused on the achievements of geological surveys, and attention from all sectors of society and the general public toward geological survey work grew ever stronger.

　　Through the Geological Survey’s 2017 buzzwords, the Land and Resources Daily invites everyone to look back on the major events in the field of geological surveys this past year and to share together the joy of the China Geological Survey Bureau as it strides forward toward becoming a world-class, cutting-edge geological survey agency.

　　Trial Extraction of “Combustible Ice” in Marine Areas

　　News Replay: On May 18, 2017, China's first trial extraction of offshore natural gas hydrates ("combustible ice"), organized and implemented by the China Geological Survey under the Ministry of Natural Resources, achieved stable gas production for eight consecutive days in the Shenhu area of the South China Sea, marking a complete success. The entire trial extraction lasted 60 days, during which a total of 309,000 cubic meters of gas was produced, averaging over 5,000 cubic meters per day. This trial yielded several major breakthroughs, including the longest continuous gas production period, the largest total gas output, stable gas flow, and environmental safety. It also set world records for both the duration and total volume of gas production.

　　Commentary: The successful trial extraction of “combustible ice” in offshore waters, captured on television news footage, has ignited nationwide enthusiasm for the development of new energy sources and drawn global attention. Although China’s exploration and exploitation of natural gas hydrates started relatively late, it has made rapid progress. The first successful trial extraction of offshore natural gas hydrates marks a complete breakthrough in independent innovation—covering theory, technology, engineering, and equipment—and represents a historic leap for China from being a “follower” to a “leader” in the exploration and development of this new, green energy source. This achievement is a source of pride for the geological survey sector and, more importantly, for China itself. Recently, based on big data from 1 billion Chinese internet users’ search trends, Baidu’s “Baidu Hotspot List” was freshly released. Among the entries, “Offshore ‘Combustible Ice’ Trial Extraction” was named one of the “Top Ten National Pride” items.

　　The world’s oldest shale gas

　　News Replay: On July 7, 2017, the China Geological Survey under the Ministry of Natural Resources held a seminar on the major breakthrough in shale gas exploration at Well Eyiye-1 in Yichang, Hubei Province. The seminar revealed that Well Eyiye-1 not only yielded a high-production shale gas flow from the Shuijingtuo Formation of the Cambrian System, which formed 500 million years ago, but also, for the first time, discovered a shale gas reservoir in the Doushantuo Formation of the Sinian System, which dates back approximately 600 million years—a shale gas reservoir found in the world’s oldest geological strata.

　　Commentary: China has proposed a revolution in energy production and consumption, calling for the continuous increase of the share of clean energy and the enhancement of its energy self-sufficiency. Thanks to its abundant reserves, large-scale, contiguous distribution, and mature development technologies, China’s shale gas resources are uniquely positioned to become the main driver of incremental natural gas production. The significant discovery at Well Eyi-1 has broken the previous pattern of concentrated shale gas exploration and development in the Sichuan Basin and its surrounding areas, and holds promise for establishing new shale gas resource bases. This development is undoubtedly of great significance for strengthening China’s energy self-sufficiency and enhancing its influence in the international energy market.

　　Geological Survey of the Xiong'an New Area

　　News Recap: On June 14, 2017, drilling commenced simultaneously on three engineering geological standard boreholes in Dawang Town, Anxin County, Xiong'an New Area, marking the official launch of the geological survey for the Xiong'an New Area, supported and facilitated by the China Geological Survey. On August 23, the China Geological Survey handed over to the Management Committee of the Xiong'an New Area the data from the first phase of the geological survey, including more than 900,000 records covering various aspects of geological surveys such as engineering geology, land quality, groundwater and land subsidence, and shallow geothermal energy. Currently, the second phase of the geological survey for the Xiong'an New Area has been initiated.

　　Commentary: Grounded in high starting points and stringent standards, the blueprint for Xiong'an New Area—and how the city is to be built—urgently calls for geological studies to provide sound geological foundations. Since the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council issued a notice on April 1, 2017, deciding to establish the Xiong'an New Area in Hebei Province, the China Geological Survey has responded swiftly. Focusing on four key objectives—building a world-class “Transparent Xiong'an,” creating a global model for geothermal resource utilization, establishing a demonstration base for multi-factor urban geological surveys, and providing comprehensive geological solutions throughout the entire process of planning, construction, and operational management of the New Area—the first-phase geological survey, completed in just two months, has already yielded a number of significant findings and new insights, which were promptly submitted for use by the Xiong'an New Area Management Committee. As pioneering and foundational geological work, the Xiong'an New Area geological survey is now offering answers to the question of how such work can play a pivotal role in regional planning and development.

　　Geological Cloud

　　News Replay: On November 6, 2017, China’s comprehensive geological survey information service platform, “Geological Cloud 1.0,” was officially launched and began providing services. “Geological Cloud 1.0” has established a richly endowed data layer and a systematic framework of geological information products, and it is designed to serve four user groups—geological surveyors, management personnel, professionals, and the general public. It has initially achieved intelligent capabilities in the collection, aggregation, management, and submission of geological survey data, thus exploring a new model for geological surveys in the cloud environment of the new era.

　　Comment: If in the past, the informatization of geological surveys was concentrated within a single department or institution, then the launch of “Geological Cloud 1.0” signifies the arrival of a brand-new working model for China’s one-stop cloud-based geological information services. Dubbed the “Chinese Geological Taobao,” “Geological Cloud 1.0” comprises 19 “stores”—including the Development and Research Center of the China Geological Survey, six regional geological survey centers, and 12 specialized geological survey institutions. Its data “treasures” cover ten major professional categories, enabling users to conduct one-stop online searches and download physical data.

　　Hot dry rock

　　News Replay: On August 26, 2017, the geothermal exploration project for enhanced geothermal systems in the Gonghe Basin of Qinghai Province—jointly conducted by the China Geological Survey and the Qinghai Provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment—successfully passed expert review. The project successfully drilled five enhanced geothermal system exploration wells in the Gonghe Basin of Qinghai Province, all of which penetrated enhanced geothermal reservoirs. Among them, well GR1, with a depth of 3,705 meters, reached a bottom-hole temperature of 236°C, and the average geothermal gradient below 3,366 meters was 8.8°C per 100 meters. This marks the first time that China has drilled into an enhanced geothermal reservoir that is both the shallowest and the hottest, representing a major breakthrough in China's enhanced geothermal exploration efforts.

　　Comment: With significant breakthroughs in exploration, enhanced geothermal systems (EGS)—or dry-hot rocks—are beginning to attract public attention. Among all geothermal resources, EGS holds the greatest potential. Indeed, from virtually any corner of the globe, the rock layers just a few kilometers beneath our feet serve as a natural heat source. Compared with conventional fossil fuels, EGS represents a clean and renewable energy source; and when contrasted with other clean energy sources, EGS can deliver a stable, reliable, and safe energy supply. However, since China’s development of EGS is still in its early stages, both theoretical research and technological breakthroughs face numerous challenges. Thus, realizing large-scale, efficient utilization of EGS remains a long way off, requiring continued efforts from geoscientists.

　　Urban Geological Survey

　　News Replay: At the 2017 National Geological Survey Work Conference, it was proposed to launch pilot demonstration projects for multi-factor urban geological surveys. On November 15, the China Geological Survey Bureau convened the National Urban Geological Work Conference and released the "Overall Plan for Urban Geological Surveys (2017–2025)," which emphasized focusing on major issues related to urban planning, construction, and operational management; establishing a multi-party collaborative mechanism; vigorously promoting multi-factor urban geological surveys covering spatial, resource, environmental, and disaster-related aspects; tackling key scientific and technological challenges; building three-dimensional urban geological models; and establishing a geological resources and environmental monitoring and early-warning system.

　　Comment: Accelerating the reform of the ecological civilization system and building a Beautiful China place higher demands on urban geological work. In the 2017 Report on the Work of the Central Government, strengthening urban geological surveys was included for the first time. Both the Ministry of Natural Resources and the China Geological Survey have designated urban geological work as a strategic priority and are speeding up its deployment and implementation. Driven by both national and societal needs, geological work is now penetrating comprehensively and deeply into all aspects of urban management and development, providing crucial support and services to promote green, low-carbon, circular, safe, intensive, and smart urban development. We believe that as urban geological surveys accelerate, urban development will become greener, safer, and smarter, and urban life will be even better.

　　“Ocean Six” Makes Its Antarctic Debut

　　News Replay: On the evening of December 31, 2016, China’s research vessel “Ocean Six” fired the first shot in a series of seismic surveys in waters near the Antarctic Peninsula at 61°S. This marked China’s resumption of specialized marine geological and geophysical surveys in Antarctica after a gap of 26 years. On January 5, 2017, “Ocean Six” entered Maxwell Bay on the Antarctic Peninsula and successfully rendezvoused with the research vessel “Xuelong,” which was already conducting unloading operations there. This was the third time China has achieved a simultaneous operation involving two vessels in Antarctic scientific expeditions, signaling that China’s polar research is entering a brand-new phase characterized by multiple vessels and multiple stations.

　　Comment: In the quest to explore Antarctica, China is a latecomer, and its level of polar research still lags significantly behind that of several major powers. As China advances its goal of becoming a “maritime power,” in addition to the comprehensive research efforts conducted by the “Xuelong” ship, more specialized research vessels will join the Antarctic scientific expedition community. More Chinese research ships will soon be seen sailing together in Antarctic waters, marking significant strides forward for China on the path toward advancing Antarctic research and building itself into a true maritime power.

　　Precise poverty alleviation

　　News Recap: Land quality surveys are guiding farmers toward prosperity through specialty agriculture; hydrogeological surveys are ensuring safe drinking water in poverty-alleviation areas; geological hazard assessments are keeping local residents away from the threat of disasters; and geological heritage surveys are boosting the development of locally distinctive tourism industries. As a result, the China Geological Survey has forged a uniquely distinctive new path for poverty alleviation—“Geological Survey Plus.” According to available information, from 2011 to 2016, the China Geological Survey invested a total of 9 billion yuan, providing geological services to 14 impoverished regions and benefiting over 30 million impoverished people, thereby helping tens of millions of individuals escape poverty.

　　Commentary: General Secretary Xi Jinping has clearly stated that the key to poverty alleviation and development lies in precision—precision is paramount, and success or failure hinges on precision. The China Geological Survey has identified the urgent needs of local regional development and poverty alleviation efforts for geological survey work, pinpointed critical entry points, and translated the demands and objectives of targeted poverty alleviation into concrete geological survey projects. By precisely implementing “order-based” geological survey projects, the Survey ensures that geological work truly addresses and alleviates genuine poverty.

　　Technological innovation

　　News Replay: At the 2017 National Geological Survey Work Conference, Zhong Ziran, Director of the China Geological Survey, emphasized that, for 2017 and for a considerable period thereafter, the overarching guiding principle for geological survey work is to leverage scientific and technological innovation to transform, lead, and support geological surveys, and to accelerate the building of a world-class, new-type geological survey bureau. On December 7, the Southwest Geological Innovation Center—the first regional innovation center within the China Geological Survey’s Geological Science and Technology Innovation Center system—was officially established, aiming to better serve the nation’s and the southwestern region’s economic and social development as well as ecological civilization construction.

　　Comment: The China Geological Survey has been promoting the deep integration of geological surveys and scientific and technological innovation. In 2017, it broke down institutional and systemic barriers, taking the first step toward strengthening the scientific and technological innovation capabilities of regional geological survey institutions. Geological science and technology innovation is no longer confined to a single entity; rather, it involves collaborative innovation among research institutes, universities, geological exploration units, mining enterprises, and relevant international organizations, enhancing cooperation and exchanges to unleash innovative vitality.

　　New Member of the Ocean Geological Survey Vessel

　　News Recap: On February 28, 2017, the survey vessels “Haiyang Dizhi No. 8” and “Haiyang Dizhi No. 9” were successfully launched in Shanghai; on June 28, the survey vessel “Haiyang Dizhi No. 10” was smoothly launched in Dongguan, Guangdong Province. The survey vessel “Haiyang Dizhi No. 8” is the world’s first six-cable, high-precision, short-offset seismic cable 3D geophysical exploration vessel, capable of meeting the requirements of hydrate surveys across all sea areas, regional geological surveys, and oil-and-gas resource explorations. The survey vessel “Haiyang Dizhi No. 9” is an internationally advanced, multi-functional integrated geophysical (geological) survey vessel. The survey vessel “Haiyang Dizhi No. 10” is a high-precision, multi-functional, integrated geological survey vessel independently designed and built by China.

　　Commentary: The deep sea harbors Earth’s mysteries that remain largely unknown to humanity. To truly understand the ocean, we must venture deeper into its “deep blue” expanses. The launch of all three survey vessels marks the beginning of a new era for China’s Geological Survey Bureau’s marine geological surveys—a “nine-vessel ocean exploration” framework. Together, these survey vessels have established China’s comprehensive three-dimensional technical system for deep-sea exploration, signaling that China’s integrated marine geological survey capabilities have now risen to among the world’s leading ranks.