Deep Digging in the Desert: China Drills for Earth's Secrets

29th March, 2024 CHIRANJIT MITRA CHIRANJIT MITRA

[{"selector":"#anim-52f2bc61-f814-4996-ab40-a5f960ed53da [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-1.5690415492645537%, -22.457967180984678%) scale(1.4545454545454546)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3ce0ff46-0609-488e-96ca-ff2cc143fad1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dd00ad46-2f63-41e3-b3df-64741cb960a6","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] China embarks on a mega project – drilling a record-breaking hole in the heart of a desert! Learn more

[{"selector":"#anim-0fc94223-e8e5-47c9-9d45-42f4c93b5cef [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(53.97194253277794%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9846fc89-ce7f-47a5-96a9-08e4ec5fc887","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-54635471-e7bb-4e76-a8a8-06153be10879","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] The drilling site is in the Tarim Basin in the vast Taklamakan Desert in northwest China.

[{"selector":"#anim-b2260afb-6fe1-458a-9526-81066692810f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(60.206613971807556%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5b345b05-6c21-4df1-b08d-2aa55abad4e0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-67d87480-e19d-4ada-bb72-4f33ce4895df","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Why Go So Deep? Scientists aim to reach over 36,000 feet, peering deep into Earth's crust.

[{"selector":"#anim-263a8cb1-c9e6-4a7c-a376-b9397e48b03b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-28.70706133241979%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-512ab89b-f326-46fb-b0c0-cf7cfdbf77c4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-25a0f8f8-c269-4960-a449-7adf6d14872f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Goals Galore: This project seeks to unravel geological mysteries and potentially discover new oil and gas reserves.

[{"selector":"#anim-72634ffe-a813-431f-919c-9e86b379fccd [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-22.999702771837164%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3e62f152-2cb1-4b46-b560-2d2f14026f08","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ba608f88-361e-44b3-a75d-01e175089856","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Pushing the Limits: The borehole could be one of the deepest ever drilled, surpassing even Russia's Kola Superdeep Borehole.

[{"selector":"#anim-2468d668-3d7f-4009-a838-4a0a49af1e7c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-7.580862292190732%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b9dcd156-3b4a-40a6-877a-64dbd1d7dae9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7d3ef035-228a-47e3-a507-8a283eed3012","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Unlocking the Past: Studying rock formations at such depths could offer insights into Earth's history and formation.

[{"selector":"#anim-3b878434-7e76-4241-861e-0b6b9ac58acc [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-23.093942822382093%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3a483b79-baee-4cf3-839d-249bc18473ce","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d108da1a-18d8-4c1d-9977-5d4c56f9d2bb","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Energy Exploration: New oil and gas reserves at these depths could be a significant energy source for China. Learn more

[{"selector":"#anim-483fe054-bbc6-43a9-8225-1f01a1df0a8f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-37.39410878886743%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b7f1c985-0519-453f-b554-d4a59ad45b9e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a5bb0a93-1113-4390-8550-e158071290fe","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] This deep dive promises exciting discoveries about our planet, with a potential energy bonus. Let's stay tuned! Learn more