On June 2, 2024, it was learned that the construction of Mabei Gas storage, the first gas storage facility on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, had recently begun. The project is located in Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, and is one of the important projects of petrochina Qinghai Oilfield Company.

Qinghai oilfield is located in high altitude and extremely cold Tibetan-related area, and the demand for natural gas by surrounding users varies greatly in season. Therefore, the construction of gas storage has become a scientific and effective way to solve the contradiction between time and space in natural gas production and demand. There is a growing demand for clean energy in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and natural gas, as a kind of clean and efficient energy, has a broad application prospect in this region. The construction of Mabei gas storage will help improve the local gas supply capacity and stability.

The underground drilling, surface construction and related supporting projects of Mabei gas storage have been fully started. The operation of project comprehensive control and other work starts synchronously. Among them, the first MBK2 injection and production well in Mabei 8 well area has been drilled up to 1577 meters and entered the completion stage such as cementing. This has accumulated valuable experience for the subsequent drilling of new injection-production Wells, the drilling of monitoring Wells and the utilization of more old Wells.

The construction of gas storage will help to improve the energy supply capacity and stability of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau region, and is of great significance to ensure national energy security. The project will adopt environmentally friendly technologies and facilities to reduce the impact on the surrounding environment and help promote the construction of ecological civilization in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau region. The construction of the project will drive the development of local related industries and promote employment and economic growth.Editor/Zhang Liyuan