China's first continental shale oil demonstration zone sets production record in 2024

A staff member works at China's first national-level continental shale oil demonstration zone in Jimsar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Nov. 26, 2024. (Photo/China News Service)

(ECNS) -- China's first national-level continental shale oil demonstration zone in Jimsar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, has achieved a record-breaking production of over 1.01 million metric tonnes in 2024, according to the Xinjiang branch of PetroChina on Tuesday.

This milestone set a new national record for the country's continental shale oil production.

Established in 2020 in the eastern Junggar Basin, the Jimsar demonstration zone is aiming to complete construction by 2025 and achieve an annual shale oil production of 1.7 million metric tonnes.

Annual shale oil production in the zone has nearly tripled, marking a historic breakthrough in shale oil development over the past four years. Since 2020, the demonstration zone has drilled 306 wells,producing2.08 million metric tonnes.

Shale oil refers to oil-bearing shales, or underground rock formations that contain trapped petroleum. Extracting this oil is challenging due to its complex composition.