China’s first national onshore shale oil demonstration zone, the PetroChina Jimsar Project in Xinjiang, has achieved cumulative production of over 5 million tons of shale oil.
Located more than 3,800 meters underground with extremely low permeability, the site posed formidable technical challenges. After years of research and innovation, engineers have established over 40 industry standards and developed 30 core technologies, including “golden target identification” and “wide-area propped fracturing.”
These breakthroughs have boosted per-well output from 25,000 to 35,000 tons and shortened drilling time by 5 percent. In 2025 alone, 48 wells have been completed with a success rate of 89 percent, yielding 1.35 million tons – 79 percent of the annual target.
The Jimsar project stands as a national benchmark for large-scale shale oil development and a milestone in advancing China’s energy self-sufficiency and technological capability.
Source: People’s Daily, October 1, 2025
http://finance.people.com.cn/n1/2025/1001/c1004-40575859.html