China has started digging world’s deepest hole on Earth to learn more about what’s beneath the Earth’s surface. They began drilling the hole in a desert called the Tarim basin in Xinjiang, a region in the northwest of China. The hole will be about 11,100 meters deep and will go through different layers of rocks dating back 145 million years.
This project is important because it will help scientists understand how the Earth is structured and how it has changed over time. The China National Petroleum Corporation, which is a big oil and gas company in China, is leading this project. They expect to finish drilling in about 457 days.
However, this is not an easy task. The conditions deep underground are very difficult, with high temperatures and pressure. The equipment they are using is very heavy and has to be able to withstand these tough conditions. The Tarim basin is also a challenging place to work because it is a very hot and dry desert.
This project is part of China’s efforts to explore new places in space and underground. The Chinese president has encouraged scientists to explore different areas, including the deep Earth.
China is also looking for more sources of energy, and Xinjiang is known for having a lot of minerals and oil.
China’s scientific explorations & progress
China is becoming really good at science. They are the second-largest economy in the world, and they are working hard to be leaders in scientific research. They recently drilled a hole into the Earth and sent their first civilian astronaut into space on the same day!
In 2021, China’s President, Xi Jinping, gave a speech to a group of top scientists in China. He talked about the great progress they have made in exploring the Earth in-depth. This exploration aims to find energy resources hidden deep inside the Earth’s crust.
China believes that by exploring deep into the Earth, they can find new sources of energy that haven’t been discovered before. This is important for their development and making sure they have enough energy for the future.
By investing in science and research, China wants to be a leader in the world of science. They want to make important discoveries and use them to help their economy and technology grow even more.
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The Deepest Hole Ever Dug By Humans-Kola Superdeep Borehole
Can you visit the kola superdeep borehole? Watch this video
How Deep is Kola Superdeep Borehole?
It’s interesting to note that the deepest hole ever dug by humans is the Kola Superdeep Borehole in Russia, which is about 12,262 meters deep.
The Kola Superdeep Borehole in Russia was once dubbed as “the entrance to hell.”
The Kola Superdeep Borehole was a really deep hole that the Soviet Union dug in Russia. They wanted to study the Earth’s crust and learn more about its rocks and structure. The hole had many smaller holes branching out from a central one, and the deepest hole, called SG-3, went down 12,263 meters (40,230 feet). That’s taller than Mount Everest and Mount Fuji stacked together!
Drilling started in 1970 and went on for many years until 1992. They had to stop because it became too hot at the bottom of the hole, much hotter than they expected. Since then, the site has been left empty, with only a rundown building and a sealed pipe.
The Kola Superdeep Borehole provided scientists with a lot of valuable information. They learned about the Earth’s history going back 1.4 billion years. They were surprised to find water in rocks so deep, and they even found some ancient microorganisms and valuable minerals like gold, copper, and nickel.
In the end, the Kola Superdeep Borehole was an important scientific project that helped us understand more about our planet.
Why Did the Russians Seal Up the Kola Superdeep Borehole?
The Russians sealed up the Kola Superdeep Borehole for a few reasons. First, they had to stop drilling in 1992 because it became too expensive and difficult to continue. This happened because the Soviet Union fell apart, causing political changes and money problems.
Another reason was that the drilling went deeper than expected, and the temperature at the bottom of the hole became extremely hot—much hotter than they thought it would be. This made it dangerous and challenging to keep drilling.
As time passed, the site became neglected and started falling apart. Some people said they wanted to destroy the hole, and there are rumors that it might have been filled with concrete. We don’t know for sure what happened to it now.
In the end, a combination of money problems, safety concerns, and changes in the government led to the decision to seal up and abandon the Kola Superdeep Borehole.
Why is China drilling 10,000 meter hole?
To discover whether there is still the occurrence of oil and gas in the ultra-deep depths and also it will help scientists understand how the Earth is structured and how it has changed over time.
Why can’t we dig deeper into the Earth?
Because the temperature in the crust increase about 15 °C per kilometer, making it impossible for humans to exist at depths greater than several kilometers.
