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On September 14th， according to media reports， the Fengcheng Oilfield， a subsidiary of PetroChina Xinjiang Oilfield Company， has officially commenced operations for its 37th heavy oil high-temperature solar thermal utilization pilot project. This groundbreaking project marks a significant technological advancement for China in the realm of green and low-carbon transition for heavy oil extraction.
Situated in the northwestern edge of the Junggar Basin in Xinjiang， the project boasts an impressive array of 23，712 heliostats. It has achieved an overall solar-to-thermal conversion efficiency of 53%. Notably， this is the world’s first demonstration project employing a parabolic trough concentrated solar power (CSP) system to directly replace fossil fuels for ultra-heavy oil recovery operations. This initiative is set to redefine how heavy oil is extracted in a more environmentally sustainable manner.
Fengcheng Oilfield is renowned for holding the largest reserves of heavy oil in China， characterized by its superior quality and highest viscosity. Currently， the dominant extraction method relies on high-temperature steam injection. This process effectively reduces the viscosity of the heavy oil， enhancing its flowability and enabling efficient recovery. However， this reliance on thermalflooding methods poses significant environmental challenges.
The conventional steam injection technique is heavily dependent on fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. This leads to substantial annual consumption， with the field using nearly 1 billion cubic meters of natural gas and approximately 300，000 tons of raw coal per year. In alignment with the national imperative for green and low-carbon development， Fengcheng Oilfield is proactively undertaking a crucial transition in its energy structure.
The newly operational project， spanning 150，000 square meters with a light-collecting area of 51，500 square meters， integrates a tower-type CSP system with a solar field utilizing water circuits and SAGD (Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage) for thermal energy storage. This sophisticated system employs heliostats to precisely concentrate solar radiation onto a receiver located at the top of a tower. The concentrated solar energy generates high-quality superheated steam at 305°C， which is then directly channeled into the heavy oil thermal recovery process. The system has an annual steam supply capacity of 52，000 tons， thereby achieving zero-carbon emissions during the oil extraction phase. This innovative approach not only addresses the environmental concerns but also provides a sustainable energy source for a critical industrial process.
Upon full operation， this project is projected to substitute 3.92 million cubic meters of natural gas annually. This substitution is expected to result in a reduction of 8，500 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year， which is equivalent to the carbon sequestration capacity of planting 470，000 trees. The environmental benefits are substantial and contribute significantly to China’s carbon reduction goals.
