On October 30, Academician Sun Huanquan of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Chief Engineer of China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) led an expert team to the production front line of Xinchun Company to conduct research on two major projects: the development of ultra-heavy oil shallow-layer multi-branch horizontal wells and the deep utilization of produced water from thermal recovery in Shengli’s western heavy oil fields. The team examined the progress of heavy oil produced-water treatment technologies and the current application of multi-branch horizontal wells, offering guidance for the next stage of work.

The team first visited the heavy oil produced-water deep utilization facility. According to the project lead, the research team has verified the feasibility of resource-based deep utilization technology centered on the efficient reuse of heavy oil produced water. Through concurrent studies on multifunctional microbial mechanisms and composite-phase crystallization systems, the team focused on developing core extraction technology for high-value metals such as lithium in produced water. A pilot field test has been completed, with plans to scale up for industrial application—breaking international technological barriers, promoting localization of core technologies, and addressing key bottlenecks in heavy oil produced-water resource utilization.

Later, Sun and the experts held a research meeting at the Chunfeng No. 2 Joint Station, chaired by Yang Haizhong, Deputy Chief Geologist of the oilfield branch and Executive Director and Party Secretary of Xinchun Company.

At the meeting, Liu Jiangtao, Member of the Party Committee, Deputy Manager, and Chief Engineer of Xinchun Company, presented a detailed report titled “Development and Application Practice of Shallow Ultra-Heavy Oil Multi-Branch Horizontal Wells.” He reviewed the technical development process, current progress, and key challenges, as well as proposed solutions.

Yang Haizhong outlined Xinchun’s targeted strategies for addressing oilfield development bottlenecks. For shallow and thin reservoirs, nitrogen injection and oilfield chemical technologies are applied alongside physical cooling to meet development needs in low-reserve areas, enhancing recovery through nitrogen’s energy-boosting and insulation effects. To improve equipment adaptability, parameters are being optimized to enhance product compatibility. To mitigate steam channeling, low-cost plugging using fly ash from the company’s coal-fired stations has been developed, achieving significant results in mature fields.

Sun Huanquan highly commended Xinchun Company’s achievements, praising its innovation capacity and forward-thinking approach in both produced-water resource utilization and multi-branch well applications. He noted that Xinchun’s “open-minded and breakthrough-oriented” mindset offers valuable lessons for upstream enterprises.

Regarding ultra-heavy oil development in shallow layers, Sun proposed five key directives:

1. Strengthen fundamental research — leverage national research projects and the National Natural Science Foundation to refine reservoir characterization, geological modeling, and optimization design.

2. Deepen engineering and process management — improve process systems to handle complex conditions and integrate geology, engineering, and R&D with production.

3. Establish multi-thermal composite flooding pilot zones — to enhance recovery rates through innovative heat-driven displacement methods and well-type collaboration.

4. Enhance monitoring and regulation — use multiple tools to map temperature, pressure, and saturation fields, advancing reservoir and production management.

5. Promote industrial application — plan and scale up operations based on reservoir distribution to ensure long-term, stable production in western fields.

Sun also praised the western team’s spirit of resilience and innovation, expressing confidence that Xinchun Company will continue to achieve excellence as the 14th Five-Year Plan concludes.

Moving forward, Xinchun Company will rigorously implement the academicians’ directives, advancing work in five areas—fundamental research, engineering breakthroughs, demonstration zones for composite thermal flooding, enhanced monitoring, and industrial application—to ensure steady progress and continuous improvement in heavy oil recovery technology.