On June 19, PetroChina successfully completed its first multi-pulse high-energy gas-based waterless fracturing trial in the northern Shaanxi region of Changqing Oilfield. The trial represents a major technological breakthrough in waterless fracturing stimulation and offers a new solution to the long-standing challenge of fracture height control in bottom-water reservoirs.

The test was jointly executed by Changqing Downhole Operations Company of Chuanqing Drilling Engineering and the 42nd Institute of the Fourth Academy of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation.

To address problems such as uncontrolled fracture growth, water breakthrough, and low recovery efficiency in bottom-water reservoirs, the technical team introduced innovations integrating "multi-stage pulse, surface area-enhancing combustion, and energy control" processes, upgrading all key aspects of the waterless fracturing approach. The multi-pulse high-energy gas fracturing technology leverages aerospace-grade rocket propellant, releasing energy in multi-stage pulses over approximately 20 milliseconds. This approach reduces peak formation pressure, enhances near-wellbore flow paths, activates more natural fractures, and expands the effective drainage area around the well—resulting in significantly higher production potential.

To ensure the successful deployment of this new technique, the Changqing Downhole team spent a full year on dedicated R&D, investigating key areas such as rock fracturing mechanisms with high-energy gas pulses, well and layer selection, and customized fracturing design and execution protocols. A rigorous field testing plan was developed accordingly. On test day, the project lead and R&D team oversaw the entire process, successfully completing precise tool deployment and ignition operations. The operation was safe and well-controlled, validating the stability of the equipment and feasibility of the method.

After seven days of fluid drainage, the test well achieved a daily oil output of 21 tons—over three times higher than that of conventional proppant fracturing in the same zone. Moving forward, the Changqing Downhole Company will continue refining and advancing this multi-pulse gas-based waterless fracturing technology to further support the development of unconventional reservoirs.