Project developers plan to traverse more than 10 continental layers, reaching the Cretaceous system in the Earth’s crust, which contains rocks about 145 million years old.
China began drilling its first super-deep scientific exploration well on May 30 in the country’s northwest, in the Tarim Basin, reports the Chinese state-run People’s Daily newspaper. The trench, with a target depth of 11,100 meters, is located in China’s largest desert, the Takla Makan.
During the drilling process, the heavy equipment of more than 2,000 tons, including bits and drill pipes, will traverse more than 10 continental layers, reaching the Cretaceous system in the earth’s crust, which contains rocks about 145 million years old.
The Tarim Basin is one of the most difficult areas to explore due to the harsh environment on land and complex underground conditions. “The difficulties of implementing this drilling project can be compared to those of drive a big truck on two thin steel cables“said Chinese Academy of Engineering academic Sun Jinsheng.
The deepest man-made drilling remains the Russian super-deep Kola well, which reaches 12,262 metres.
Source: RT
