China’s Offshore Drilling Exceeds 1,000 Wells in 2024, Marking Major Technological and Safety Advances
In 2024, China’s offshore drilling operations surpassed 1,000 wells for the first time, with key indicators such as drilling efficiency and operational time reaching record highs. This milestone significantly propelled offshore oil and gas exploration and development. Offshore drilling is characterized by high risks, costs, and technological demands. Since the "14th Five-Year Plan," China has made continuous breakthroughs in drilling and completion technologies, with an average annual drilling increase of over 60% compared to the "13th Five-Year Plan" period. In 2024, the Enping 21-4-A1H well set two national records for the deepest well and the longest horizontal displacement, underscoring China’s advanced drilling and completion technologies in near-sea areas.
The achievement of drilling over 1,000 wells is attributed to optimized production design and the implementation of the "fewer wells, higher output" philosophy. Through technological innovation and results transformation, China has developed four technical series and over ten key technologies, addressing challenges such as stable production and the development of low-quality reserves. Innovations in shallow water drilling and completion operations have been achieved, while deepwater operations completed the second phase of the "Deep Sea No. 1" project, with total well depth exceeding 60,000 meters and 100% operational quality. In high-temperature and high-pressure fields, precise pressure control technologies have been successfully applied in the Caofeidian 23-6 oil field.
In terms of safety management, the "Sky Eye Project," leveraging machine vision technology, has enhanced safety monitoring, contributing to 345,000 man-hours of "zero accidents" in drilling and completion projects. Looking ahead, China will continue to adhere to innovation-driven and technology-led approaches, focusing on "fewer wells, higher output" to boost marine oil and gas reserves and production.
