China digs 8,300 metres beneath Xinjiang desert: What is hidden in the desert below?

China is digging ultra-deep to extract oil and gas as it seeks to boost domestic energy supplies amid growing uncertainty in global energy markets. In Xinjiang, PetroChina’s Hade-Fuman oilfield has produced more than 26 million tonnes of oil equivalent from reservoirs located over 6,000 metres underground, CCTV reported on Monday.

Located in the Taklamakan Desert, the Hade-Fuman oilfield consists of the Hade and Fuman fields. Wells extending beyond 6,000 metres are generally classified as ultra-deep, where drilling and extraction become particularly difficult because of the extreme pressure and temperatures encountered underground.

Fuman oil field reserves

The Fuman field contains more than one billion tonnes of oil and gas resources, according to PetroChina, making it a major ultra-deep resource base for the company. The reserves were discovered in 2021 after advances in geological understanding and exploration techniques enabled the company to identify and access complex reservoirs buried deep beneath the desert.


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PetroChina said it subsequently developed specialised drilling equipment and technologies for the field. Wells drilled in Fuman have reached an average depth of more than 8,300 metres, roughly comparable to the height of Mount Everest.

The Hade-Fuman development has so far yielded more than 26 million tonnes of oil equivalent from reservoirs deeper than 6,000 metres, according to CCTV.

Energy security drives domestic exploration

China’s push into ultra-deep resources comes as its oil and gas companies increase exploration within the country to bolster domestic supply. Global energy disruptions, including those affecting the Strait of Hormuz, a major route for Gulf oil and gas exports, have further highlighted the risks facing international supply chains.

Under a dedicated five-year plan for the oil and gas sector, China has set a target of producing 440 million tonnes of oil equivalent domestically by 2030. The plan also calls for the construction of 20,000 km of new long-distance oil and natural gas pipelines, taking the country’s total network to 220,000 km.

That network would be long enough to circle the Earth more than five times.

China’s combined oil and gas production reached a record 420 million tonnes of oil equivalent last year, while crude oil output alone rose to a record 216 million tonnes.

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Offshore development adds to production push

China is also applying advances in extraction technology to offshore resources. The Liuhua oilfield off the coast of Zhuhai in Guangdong province is among the fields being developed as part of this broader effort.

The field was discovered in the late 20th century and entered a new redevelopment phase in late 2024. Improvements in China’s deepwater development capabilities have helped increase extraction efficiency under difficult offshore conditions.

CCTV reported that cumulative crude oil production from Liuhua had crossed two million tonnes as of Saturday, adding another milestone to China’s efforts to expand domestic oil and gas output from increasingly challenging resources.