A new benchmark for drilling speed has been established at China's Xinjiang Jimsar shale oil field. The JHW91-13 well was successfully completed yesterday, achieving a total drilling cycle of just 7.75 days to reach a depth of 5,501 meters, with a true vertical depth of 4,031 meters. This sets a new national record for the shortest drilling cycle for a shale oil well at this depth, bringing drilling efficiency up to advanced international standards for similar shale oil operations.
The shale oil resources in Xinjiang's Jimsar region are considered a typical example of difficult-to-extract continental shale oil in China. The formation presents significant challenges, including strong reservoir heterogeneity and interbedded layers of mudstone. These conditions make drilling operations prone to complications such as wellbore instability and downhole sticking, posing world-class development difficulties. They also place high demands on drilling precision, on-site management capabilities, and collaborative problem-solving efforts.
The efficient completion of the JHW91-13 well represents a major breakthrough for China's first national continental shale oil demonstration zone in Xinjiang. It signifies significant progress in integrated geological engineering and close collaboration between the operator and service contractors. This successful project creates a replicable and scalable practical model for the optimized and rapid drilling of deep shale oil reservoirs within the country.
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