【ECF Weekly】Prof. Yi Shen Wins SEG Special Commendation
ECF China Shale Week Report - May 31, 2025
【Prof. Yi Shen Wins SEG Special Commendation】 Professor Yi Shen from China University of Petroleum (East China) has been awarded the 2025 SEG Special Commendation by the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, becoming the first Chinese woman to receive this prestigious honor. Shen, a Stanford PhD and former Shell researcher, is recognized for her outstanding contributions to geophysics, energy transition, and public engagement. She leads the GEET group and serves as Executive Editor of Lithosphere, actively organizing international geoscience conferences. The SEG Special Commendation is among the highest honors in geophysics, with only one recipient globally this year. Exploration & Production 【Wuqi Oil Plant Boosts Output with Fracturing Innovation】 In 2025, Wuqi Oil Production Plant of Yanchang Oilfield accelerated technological innovation to meet production goals. By implementing refined fracturing techniques—like “old-fracture re-fracturing + inter-well densified perforation + dual-packer single bridge”—the WuPing-4 Well saw output jump from 1.7 to 11.7 tons per day, setting a benchmark for horizontal well reformation. The team developed differentiated re-fracturing parameters for various reservoirs, successfully boosting cumulative oil output by 1800 tons. Comprehensive well recovery projects also revitalized multiple shut-in wells. With a focus on safety, cost, and production, the plant continues to drive high-efficiency oilfield development. 【Sinopec Achieves Breakthrough in Ultra-Deep Shale Gas】 Sinopec’s Jianghan Oilfield has achieved a major ultra-deep shale gas breakthrough with well Hongye 9HF in the Wujia Ping Formation, yielding a high industrial gas flow of 257,200 m³/day. Located in Enshi, Hubei Province, this boundary well confirms significant reserves in the northern Hongxing area. Leveraging integrated geology-engineering collaboration, the team reached a 93.06% optimal trajectory rate and adopted real-time feedback fracturing strategies. The well unlocks over 400 billion m³ of shale gas resources in the 4500–5000m depth range, laying the foundation for a trillion-cubic-meter reserve expansion and guiding exploration in western Hubei and eastern Chongqing. Technology & Equipment 【Major Breakthrough in Small Fracture-Cavity Reservoir Development】 Sinopec's Petroleum Exploration and Development Research Institute and Northwest Oilfield formed a joint R&D team to tackle the development challenges of small fracture-cavity reservoirs. They advanced technologies in fracture prediction and diffraction wave imaging, achieving high-precision characterization at depths over 6000 meters. New methods improved oil-gas enrichment assessment, moving from qualitative to semi-quantitative prediction. A novel classification system for unexploited reserves based on enrichment and economic thresholds was also established. These achievements mark significant progress in the precise development of complex reservoirs in China. 【Breakthrough in Cementing Deep Fractured Gas Reservoir】 Southwest Petroleum Engineering Company has successfully cemented the production casing of the Mianzhu-1 Well, achieving 100% zonal isolation. This marks a breakthrough in tackling the technical challenge of cementing in deep, high-pressure, fractured gas reservoirs in Western Sichuan. The expert team developed a three-dimensional technical system integrating slurry optimization, process innovation, and precision execution. Key innovations included a dual-protection cement slurry system, low-rate multi-stage circulation with pressure monitoring, and a multi-layer anti-gas migration strategy. These ensured pressure control and sealing of complex fractured formations, setting a new benchmark for deep cementing operations.
