China Energy/Power Technology, Strategic Layout of Resources: News & Discussions

[JSCh]

China starts construction of ultra-high voltage power transmission line to deliver clean energy
Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-07 19:26:16|Editor: Liu


XINING, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Construction of an ultra-high voltage power transmission line to deliver clean energy began Wednesday.

The 1,587-km-long transmission line starts in Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in northwest China's Qinghai Province and ends in Zhumadian City in central China's Henan Province, connecting Qinghai, Gansu, Shaanxi and Henan provinces.

According to the plan, the transmission line, with a capacity of eight million kilowatts, will be put into operation in 2020 and deliver electricity generated from solar power, wind and water from Qinghai to central China.

With an investment of 22.6 billion yuan (3.26 billion U.S. dollars), the transmission line is estimated to deliver electricity of 40 billion kilowatt-hours each year, which will help replace 18 million tonnes of raw coal, reduce 14,000 tonnes of dust emission, 90,000 tonnes of sulfur dioxide emission and 29.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emission.

 

[JSCh]

World's highest! 380m-high power towers completed in China
New China TV
Published on Oct 2, 2018

A pair of transmission towers, which are 56 meters higher than the Eiffel Tower, have been completed in Zhoushan, east China.

Helicopter connects cables to world's tallest power pylon in Zhejiang
China Plus Published: 2018-11-10 20:09:05

A helicopter crossing the sea as part of work to connect the cables for the world's tallest power pylon. The construction of the giant pylon was completed in August. It is four times the height of London's Big Ben, breaking the world record for the tallest power pylon. [Xinhua]

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[JSCh]

84 new wells in Tarim oilfield provide energy support for natural gas projects
November 12, 2018

Abstract : 84 new wells put into operation this year in Tarim oilfield of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) have provided energy support for the west-east natural gas transmission project.

BEIJING, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- 84 new wells put into operation this year in Tarim oilfield of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) have provided energy support for the west-east natural gas transmission project, with a combined daily output of 1,921 metric tons (tonnes) of oil and 2.6318 million cubic meters of natural gas.

Tarim oilfield currently has seven gas fields serving as the main gas sources for the west-east natural gas transmission project, with an annual gas supply capacity of 25 billion cubic meters, benefiting nearly 400 million residents in 15 provinces and cities along the route.

According to CNPC's plan, by 2020, Tarim oilfield will be built into a world-class oil and gas field with an annual oil and gas output hitting 30 million tonnes of oil equivalent.

The oil and gas production of Tarim oilfield will reach 26.45 million tonnes of oil equivalent this year. (Edited by Gu Shanshan)

 

[JSCh]

Work starts on China’s deep-water natural gas field in S.China Sea
Source:Global Times Published: 2018/11/12 21:28:40

Work starts on first deep-water natural gas field in S.China Sea

CNOOC's logo is displayed in front of the company's Beijing headquarters. Photo: VCG

Construction work has started on China's first deep-water self-operated gas field in the South China Sea, which an expert said shows China has successfully mastered the technology of the subsea production system, and could help the country shake off its energy dependence on other countries.

It will also effectively promote production of deep-water oil and gas resources in the South China Sea, experts said.

Lingshui 17-2, China's first subsea deep-water project officially entered the stage of substantive development and construction, China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) announced on Monday.

Once put into operation, the field will produce about 3 billion to 3.5 billion cubic meters gas for South China's Guangdong Province, Hainan Province and Hong Kong every year. The gas supply quota for residents in Hong Kong will be determined according to the contracts they signed, CNOOC said.

The project is developed by the company, with water depths of as much as 1,500 meters.

Lin Boqiang, director of the China Center for Energy Economics Research at Xiamen University, told the Global Times on Monday that the development shows that China has successfully mastered the design, construction and installation technology of the subsea production system.

"This will strongly promote the production of deep-water oil and gas in the South China Sea, and have a positive impact on the construction of the 'South China Sea large gas zone'," Lin said.

The Lingshui 17-2 gas field is located 150 kilometers off Hainan Province in the west waters of the South China Sea. The region is also China's major offshore gas storage area. CNOOC has already developed the Yacheng and Dongfang gas fields there, which are both included in China's program for the "South China Sea large gas zone."

The deep-water areas have become the major new source for global oil and gas production. 70 percent of the oil and gas resources in the South China Sea are found in deep water.

China's breakthroughs in deep-water self-operated gas production will ensure the country's energy security, Lin noted.

"China has pledged to pursue clean development, so the consumption of clean energy like gas is growing fast. It's necessary to lower imports and dependence on other countries," Lin added.

Yang Hua, chairman of CNOOC, said that the zone will meet industrial demand and support living standards in South China.

To increase the supply of clean natural gas, improve China's environment, optimize the energy structure, and promote economic and social development are tasks of great significance, Yang added.

 

[TaiShang]

State Grid to intensify efforts for overseas expansion
China Daily, October 27, 2018

State-owned State Grid Corp of China, the largest utility company in the world, is looking to make further inroads in global markets after its success with energy and transmission projects in Brazil, Australia and the Philippines, a top official said on Friday.

Shu Yinbiao, chairman of State Grid, addresses the 82nd annual conference of the International Electrotechnical Commission in Busan, South Korea. [Photo/Xinhua]

Shu Yinbiao, chairman of State Grid, said the company will strive to further strengthen its grid construction efforts, including power transmission and transformation engineering construction, to get actively involved in local power projects. He said this while attending the 82nd annual conference of the International Electrotechnical Commission in Busan, South Korea.

The company's total overseas assets under management were $65.6 billion to date, while the total overseas construction contract value was $41 billion. According to Shu, the company has been able to achieve this due to its world-leading technology and abundant engineering experience in long-distance power transmission, large-scale grid construction and operation, and smart grids and micro grids.

Meanwhile, Shu was elected head of the IEC at the Busan meeting, making him the first from China to head the organization in its 112-year history. IEC is the world's leading organization for the preparation and publication of international standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies, which are known collectively as electrotechnology.

According to Shu, State Grid is planning to step up cooperation with partners from abroad to jointly set up international standards in high-voltage electricity transmission, smart grids and electric vehicle charging.

The company has set up 10 transnational transmission lines with neighboring countries and is currently pushing forward new transmission projects including the China-Mongolia transmission project. Most of the projects adopt Chinese standards, said Shu.

In the traditional industrial sector, the international standards are usually led by developed countries including the United States, Germany and Japan. However, China, with advanced standards in emerging sectors of strategic importance including high-speed train, nuclear, high-voltage clean power lines and new energy, has been slowly rising up the ranks.

Frans Vreeswijk, IEC general secretary, said China's technologies in ultra-high-voltage transmission were significant not only for the country, but for the rest of the world also.

China has realized ultrahigh voltage transmission of more than 3,000 kilometers, which is a historic initiative that promotes sustainability through connectivity and integration, he said.

Joseph Jacobelli, a senior analyst of Asian utilities and infrastructure at Bloomberg Intelligence in Hong Kong, said Chinese companies have advanced technology in distributed photovoltaic power grid technology as well as renewable energy technology.

"State Grid has accumulated investment knowledge from its many projects in various continents in the past few years and has the strength to help several nations in building their grid networks," he said.

http://www.china.org.cn/business/2018-10/27/content_68447458.htm

 

[JSCh]

China's Yunnan likely to see 130 billion kWh power to east regions in 2018
Xinhua Finance in BEIJING
2018-11-26 16:07

Southwest China's Yunnan Province is expected to transmit power of more than 130 billion kWh to east regions this year under China's west-east power transmission program, estimated Yunnan Power Grid Corporation.

From the beginning of this year to the end of October, Yunnan Power Grid reported a power transmission of 122.398 billion kWh, an increase of 15.21 percent year on year, setting a record high.

It is reported that since the flood season of this year, Yunnan has seen more rainfalls, leading to sufficient water supplies in rivers and the jump in the hydropower generation capacity.

Meanwhile, Yunnan Power Grid has also upgraded the power transmission technologies and expanded the maximum capacity of power transmission to Guangdong Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to 31.15 million kilowatts, 19 percent more than at the end of 2017.

 

[JSCh]

China successfully tests world's first deep-earth grounding electrode
By Gao Yun
2018-11-27 15:46 GMT+8

China has successfully completed the verification for the world's first deep-earth grounding electrode, according to the state-owned China Southern Power Grid (CSG).

The success marks that China has independently mastered the technologies in the deep-earth grounding electrode, and also a breakthrough in the field of direct-current transmission.

A grounding electrode, a metallic conductor in direct contact with soil, is the passage of current into the earth and a vital part of direct-current transmission system.

Traditionally, grounding electrodes are horizontally arranged, covering an area of nearly one square kilometer, leading to difficulties in site selection or land acquisition, especially in economically-developed regions.

"This time, we make the horizontal grounding electrode vertical, going down into the earth one kilometer, which both largely saves land resources, and provides a more secure, reliable and environmental friendly operation mode," said Rao Hong, chief technical expert of CSG.

"It brings a new technical plan for the following direct-current project," Rao added.

The grounding electrode "plays a significant role in China's west-east electricity transmission project and can ensure the whole system's normal operation," said Cai Hansheng, a senior technical expert of CSG.

 

[JSCh]

China's northeast bordering province sees surge in oil import from Russia
Source: Xinhua| 2018-12-03 21:29:29|Editor: Li Xia


HARBIN, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- China imported 23.37 million tonnes of crude oil from Russia through the China-Russia oil pipeline in the first ten months of 2018, up 71.35 percent year on year, authorities said Monday.

According to Harbin customs, the main impetus behind the increase is the second line for the China-Russia oil pipeline that began commercial operation in January, raising China's annual import capacity of Russian crude oil through the pipeline from 15 million to 30 million tonnes.

The second line starts from Mohe, which borders Russia, to the city of Daqing in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, passing north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The first line was put into use on Jan. 1, 2011, with an annual capacity of 15 million tonnes, starting from the Russian city of Skovorodino to Daqing.

The China-Russian oil pipeline has reduced costs and raised the efficiency of China's oil imports from Russia, which had previously relied on rail transport.

 

[JSCh]

PetroChina strikes large oil and gas flows in exploration well at Tarim basin

SINGAPORE, Dec 13 (Reuters) -

* PetroChina Co Ltd struck sizeable oil and gas flows in an exploration well in the Tarim basin of the remote northwestern region of Xinjiang, marking a breakthrough in exploring an earlier untapped region, parent CNPC said on Thursday

* Zhongqiu-1 well tested a daily natural gas flow of 330,000 cubic metres and 21.4 cubic metres of condensate, a super light crude oil, CNPC said on its news portal news.cnpc.com.cn

* The well is located in the southern part of Kuche trough in the Tarim basin and part of an exploration zone with a size of 5,200 square kilometres

* PetroChina aims to build by 2020 an annual output of 30 million tonnes of oil equivalent in the Tarim basin, including about 26 billion cubic metres of natural gas production, the CNPC report said


* CNPC said last month newly discovered oilfield Mahu in the Junggar basin of Xinjiang, is expected to produce 3 million tonnes of oil in 2021, tripling this year’s estimated rate

* China’s national oil and gas producers have pledged to expand domestic oil and gas exploration and production following an instruction from President Xi Jinping to boost national energy security (Reporting by Chen Aizhu; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)


PetroChina strikes large oil and gas flows in exploration well at Tarim basin | Reuters

 

[JSCh]

Yamal LNG project reaches full production capacity
New China TV
Published on Dec 15, 2018

The multinational Yamal liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, the world's largest one of its kind within the Arctic Circle, has officially commissioned the third or last production line in Sabetta, Russia and thus reached its full capacity.

 

[JSCh]

Zhongwei compressor station starts operations
CGTN
Published on Dec 20, 2018

The West-East Gas Pipeline's Zhongwei compressor station started operations in northwest China. The station is a key project at the western section of the third pipeline for transmitting gas from China's west to east. At the station, three 20 megawatt centrifugal compressor units powered by electricity were established. The pipeline measures 7,378 kilometers in length and crosses 10 provinces and regions.

 

[cirr]

Well hints at gas drilling breakthrough

2018-12-21 14:48:41

China Daily/Xinhua Editor : Mo Hong'e

Employees of a petroleum exploration company work at a newly established drilling platform in Aksu, the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. (Photo/Xinhua)

Sichuan project first in region that extracts clean energy from volcanic stratum

A new well that pumps natural gas from volcanic stratum has been successfully dug in China's southwestern Sichuan province, becoming the first of its type in the region, according to PetroChina.

During initial tests last week, the well produced 225,000 cubic meters of natural gas per day, and reserves in the area are estimated to be huge, said PetroChina Southwest Oil and Gasfield Co, which operates the project.

The well looks to extract gas trapped in the volcanic stratum, a rock formed by hardened magma. More than 330 basins in over 20 countries and regions have reported oil or natural gas reserves in volcanic stratum, according to Sinopec News.

Energy analysts said the project's success could lead to more potential resources being tapped across the rest of the country.

"The successful gas drilling in the Sichuan basin's volcanic stratum proves geologists' judgment that abundant gas is contained in the Sichuan basin's thick volcanic stratum," said Han Xiaoping, chief analyst with China Energy Net Consulting.

"It also gives evidence-based support to the theoretical assumptions of how to explore natural gas in similar geographical structures across the country, such as that in Northeast China and Hainan province."

The huge reservoir of natural gas in the volcanic stratum is also significant to secure China's national gas supply and will help build a lower-carbon energy future, according to Han.

Considering the tests, Han estimates the first well is able to produce more than 80 million cu m of natural gas annually, although that would naturally rise as more wells are added. That compares to the 100 to 200 million cu m of natural gas. which can support an average Chinese city for a year, he said.

The breakthrough is especially important given that China is replacing coal with clean energy sources to combat air pollution, Han said. It also comes as natural gas imports are rising, currently accounting for about 40 percent of domestic consumption.

If natural gas can form during the creation of volcanic stratum, it may also exist in deeper layers of the earth crust, which indicates a much greater space to explore and utilize natural gas, he added.

Li Li, energy research director at market consultancy ICIS China, said the success would help generate technical experience and new technologies, which can be applied to other natural gas projects later.

She said the operation also demonstrated the company's determination to expand domestic natural gas production, a strategy pursued by other Chinese industry players.

China has discovered a number of natural gas and oil reserves from volcanic stratum in the deep layers of basins across the country since 2002. The one in the Sichuan basin, first detected in 2017, is among the largest.

PetroChina Southwest Oil and Gasfield Co said it applied new technologies to dig the first well in the volcanic stratum area, increasing the drilling speed and reducing blockage of the gas storage layer.

The company said it has detected natural gas reserves of two trillion cu m in the past decades, improving natural gas utilization in Sichuan province and Chongqing municipality.

http://www.ecns.cn/news/economy/2018-12-21/detail-ifzaxhck8715829.shtml

 

[JSCh]

Three Gorges Dam generates record amount of power
By Zhang Jie | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2018-12-21 11:32

The Three Gorges Dam, a gargantuan structure straddling the Yangtze River in China's Hubei province. [Photo/IC]

The electricity generated by the Three Gorges Dam, a gargantuan structure straddling the Yangtze River in China's Hubei province, exceeded 100 billion kilowatt hours this year, the news outlet The Paper reported on Friday.

The figure set a record for a single hydropower station in China, and also outperformed the dam's 2018 target of 92.3 billion kilowatt hours.

By the end of this year, the accumulated power will total close to 1.2 trillion kilowatt hours, said The Paper, quoting Wang Lin, general manager of China Three Gorges Corp.

In 2018, the upper reaches of the Yangtze River received a large amount of rainfall. The company managing the dam was able to recycle small and medium-sized floods by promoting forecast capacity on water and rain conditions, analyzing the coming water volume, and enhancing scheduling ability.

This year, the generator ran for 1,184.37 hours, including 352.38 hours at full capacity, and the accumulated power added 5.2 billion kilowatt hours under conditions that conserved water.

The 100 billion kilowatt hours of electricity generated by the dam is equivalent to a reduction of 31.9 million tons of coal and 85.8 million tons of carbon dioxide, Wang said.

He also said the 100 billion kilowatt hours of electricity can support the creation of a GDP in China worth 1.2 trillion yuan ($170 billion).

The Three Gorges Dam is the world's largest hydropower project, and a power supplier in China that bears the task of facilitating west to east electricity transmission and south and north power complementation. It has a combined generating capacity of 22.5 million kilowatt hours and a designed annual generation capacity of 88.2 billion kilowatt hours.

The dam has contributed to the maintenance and promotion of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, driven clean energy production, and served the country's energy structure adjustment, Wang Lin said.

 

[TaiShang]

China's power use continues stable growth
Xinhua, December 21, 2018

China's power consumption saw stable growth in November.

Electricity use increased 6.3 percent year-on-year last month, slightly slower than the 6.7 percent in October, according to the National Energy Administration on Thursday.

In the first 11 months, power use totaled 6.22 trillion kilowatt hours, up 8.5 percent from a year ago.

Power consumption by the service sector and households maintained double-digit growth in Jan.-Nov., up 12.8 percent and 10.5 percent, respectively.

Industrial sectors contributed to more than two-thirds of power consumption and saw an increase of 7.1 percent. Power use in agriculture was up 10 percent.

China's power generation has become greener as nuclear and wind power registered rapid growth in stalled capacity, up by 16.6 percent and 12.2 percent year on year, respectively. Hydropower went up 1.2 percent, while thermal power gained 3.4 percent.

http://www.china.org.cn/business/2018-12/21/content_74298495.htm

 

[JSCh]

Sichuan Province Is Now China's Largest Shale Producer
XU WEI
DATE : DEC 25 2018/SOURCE : YICAI

Sichuan Province Is Now China's Largest Shale Producer​

(Yicai Global) Dec. 25 -- Sichuan province in southwest China has become the country's largest shale producer after China National Petroleum bumped its daily output to 20.1 million cubic meters.

CNP production in the province now makes up 4.2 percent of natural gas production across the country, local news site Sichuan Online reported yesterday. Daily output increased by over 119 percent last year at the base, which is run by CNP subsidiary PetrolChina Southwest Oil and Gasfield. The facility has produced nearly 4.1 billion cubic meters of shale gas so far this year, a 40 percent gain over last year, the report added.

China has the largest shale gas reserves in the world but geological conditions make it difficult to explore and develop, it continued. The shale gas field in southern Sichuan, the province's main production area, spans across the cities of Yibin, Luzhou and Neijiang.

CNP was China's first shale gas producer and it has built national demonstration zones in nearby Changning and Weiyuan counties, benefiting from a gradual reduction in mining costs and a rapidly expanding production capacity.