Staff members work at Kela-2 gas field of the Tarim Oilfield in Aksu, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Photo: Xinhua

The Tarim Oilfield, operated by the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), China's top oil and gas producer, saw its annual oil and gas production reach 33.1 million tons in 2022, hitting a record high, the company said on Sunday.

In 2022, the oilfield produced 7.36 million tons of crude oil and 32.3 billion cubic meters of natural gas. 

Its total output grew by 1.28 million tons compared with the previous year, posting growth of more than 1 million tons for six consecutive years, according to a statement released by CNPC on Sunday.

By adhering to technological innovations, the Tarim Oilfield has seen the Fuman oilfield in the Tarim Basin produce over 3 million tons of oil and gas in 2020 and supports the country's first ultra-deep gas drilling in steadily producing 15 billion cubic meters of natural gas for the fifth straight year, greatly contributing to the country's energy security, the company said.

Located in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the Tarim Oilfield is the largest ultra-deep oil and gas field in China, and a significant natural gas source of the country's West-to-East Gas Transmission Pipeline project.

The ultra-deep crude and gas resources in the basin account for 60 percent of the country's onshore ultra-deep oil and gas resources, and 19 percent of the global total, the company said.

In 2022, the Tarim Oilfield stepped up efforts to expand its production capacity, with 115 new oil wells being dug, which all have entered operation. A total of 30 8,000-meter extra-deep wells have completed drilling, also a record high, the state broadcaster CCTV reported in November, citing CNPC.

Despite the negative impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tarim Oilfield has supplied over 50 billion cubic meters of natural gas to support economic development in southern Xinjiang. More than 3,000 kilometers of pipes have been installed, providing natural gas to 42 counties and cities in southern Xinjiang, and 73 gas-supply stations have been set up, according to the company.

Global Times