CNPC Completes Drilling of Moshen-1 Onshore Well in Junggar Basin

The China National Petroleum Corporation has reported that its Moshen-1 well, which is located in the hinterland of the Junggar Basin, has been completed while formation testing of the well continues.

The Moshen-1 well is the deepest onshore exploration well in China with a designed depth of 7,380m and was completed at a depth of 7,500m. By using a drilling rig developed by the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), the well was drilled by crew from the Karamay Drilling Company which is affiliated to the CNPC-owned Western Drilling Engineering Corporation.

The drilling of the well began in August 2006. During the third spud-in section between 4,463m and 6,500m, the drilling crew faced major challenges in mud selection, oil and gas control, and prevention and handling issues due to high bottomhole temperature.

Successful and efficient drilling of the well was realized due to high pumping pressure and large displacement, optimized drilling parameters, the high-temperature high-pressure KDF water-based drilling fluid system and poly-crystalline diamond drilling bits.