At the 2018 National Geological Survey Work Conference held on January 23, Wang Yan, Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of the China Geological Survey, systematically summarized the geological survey work since the 18th National Congress in his work report.

Over the past five years, the China Geological Survey has taken safeguarding energy and resource security as its primary responsibility, meticulously implemented major scientific and technological campaigns, and achieved new breakthroughs in energy surveys of new areas, new strata, and new types.

First, historic achievements have been made in the exploration and development of marine natural gas hydrates. Two natural gas hydrate deposits each exceeding 100 billion cubic meters were discovered in the northern South China Sea, and the potential assessment of China's marine natural gas hydrate resources was preliminarily completed. The trial production of natural gas hydrates in the Shenhu area of the South China Sea was successful, setting world records for the longest continuous gas production time and the largest total gas production, and the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council sent a special congratulatory message.

Second, major breakthroughs have been made in shale gas surveys in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Well Anye 1 in Zunyi, Guizhou, in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, obtained a high-yield industrial gas flow of 102,200 cubic meters per day; Wells Eyiye 1 and Eyanyangye 1 in Yichang, Hubei, in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, both obtained high-yield industrial gas flows, which were evaluated by academicians and experts as major breakthroughs of historic and milestone significance; important discoveries were made in shale gas exploration in Xuancheng, Anhui, in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, realizing the strategic expansion of shale gas surveys from the upper reaches of the Yangtze River to the middle and lower reaches.

Third, significant progress has been made in conventional oil and gas surveys in new areas and new strata. Well Xinwendi 1 in Wensu, Xinjiang, obtained a high-yield industrial oil flow of more than 40 cubic meters per day, opening up new areas and new strata for oil and gas exploration in the Tarim Basin. Well Tucan 1 in the Tuquan Basin obtained light crude oil, and high-yield industrial oil flow was obtained for the first time in the Fuxin Basin, which is expected to provide new resources for the revitalization of the old industrial base in Northeast China and for economic transformation and development.

Fourth, important progress has been made in surveys of other energy sources such as shale oil and coalbed methane. Wells Yangmeican 1 in Liupanshui, Guizhou, and Chuangaocan 1 in Yibin, Sichuan, both obtained high-yield industrial gas flows of coalbed methane, with a maximum daily gas production of 8,307 cubic meters. Organized jointly with the Department of Land and Resources of Qinghai Province, a high-temperature high-quality hot dry rock body at 236°C was drilled in the Gonghe Basin of Qinghai, marking an important breakthrough in hot dry rock exploration in China.