Deep within the vast Taklamakan Desert, a mature oilfield with a 37-year history of energy extraction is undergoing a profound green transformation, reshaping the development trajectory of the traditional oil and gas industry—this is the Lunan Oilfield of the Tarim Oilfield. couplingsOn November 8, at the highly anticipated International Carbon Neutrality and Green Investment Conference, Lunan Oilfield achieved the prestigious title of "Zero Carbon Factory" pilot standard in China, becoming the sole oil and gas field among the 12 pilot units.This recognition not only signifies high acclaim for its transformative efforts but also marks a landmark step in China's traditional energy sector toward green and low-carbon transition.As a crucial oil and gas production base in western China, Lunan Oilfield once faced common industry challenges such as high energy consumption in aging oilfields and difficulties in carbon emission management. couplingsHowever, under the guidance of the "dual carbon" goals, the oilfield did not stick to conventional practices but instead embraced an innovative spirit to pioneer a zero-carbon transformation system characterized by "multi-technology synergy and end-to-end decarbonization."The abundant solar resources in the desert region became the core driving force for the oilfield's transition.  couplingTailoring solutions to local conditions, Lunan Oilfield established a complementary photovoltaic power supply network combining centralized and distributed systems: a 6-megawatt centralized photovoltaic power station rose from the vast 150-acre "sand-gobi wasteland," with rows of blue solar panels gleaming under the desert sun; simultaneously, 1.45 megawatts of distributed photovoltaic panels were precisely installed at 15 single-well stations, achieving "local power generation and local consumption. " This photovoltaic system generates an annual output of 1.08 billion kilowatt-hours,couplings not only fully meeting the daily production electricity needs of the oilfield—from oil extraction equipment operation to office and residential power supply—but also transmitting surplus electricity back to the national grid.  This initiative significantly raised the proportion of non-fossil energy consumption to 29.79%, truly realizing the goal of "converting sand into electricity and reducing carbon through power."In terms of energy-efficient utilization, Lunan Oilfield has also made significant efforts. To address the substantial waste heat generated by equipment such as compressors during oil extraction, the oilfield has established an advanced waste heat cascade utilization system.Through specialized heat exchange equipment, the high-temperature waste gas with an outlet temperature of up to 130°C from the compressors is recovered and efficiently exchanged with heating return water, thereby meeting the winter heating demands of the oilfield's office and residential areas.This initiative saves 970,000 cubic meters of natural gas annually, corresponding to a reduction of 2,097 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. It not only avoids energy waste but also reduces fossil fuel consumption,achieving a green upgrade of "turning waste into treasure.".The core of achieving "negative carbon operation" in Lunnan Oilfield is the large-scale application of CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage) technology.During the production process,couplings oil fields produce a certain amount of carbon dioxide, which is captured and purified by advanced carbon capture equipment,  and then injected into deep underground geological structures through dedicated pipelines for permanent storage. Only in the first 10 months of 2025, Lunnan Oilfield successfully injected 17500 tons of carbon dioxide through CCUS technology. These stored carbon dioxide not only do not enter the atmosphere and cause greenhouse effect, but also play a role in oil displacement underground,indirectly improving crude oil recovery and achieving a win-win situation of "emission reduction and production increase"In addition to reducing carbon emissions in the production process, Lunnan Oilfield has also extended its green concept to the entire operation and maintenance scenario. In daily inspections and material transportation of oil fields,8 new energy electric vehicles have fully replaced old fuel vehicles. At the same time, two photovoltaic carports have been built to use solar energy to charge electric vehicles, forming a closed loop of "photovoltaic power generation green travel".This small change can save over 100 tons of gasoline and reduce carbon emissions by 304 tons annually, allowing low-carbon concepts to permeate every operational detail.coupNowadays, the Lunnan Oilfield has long bid farewell to the old label of "high energy consumption and high emissions".Data is the most powerful proof: the annual carbon emissions of oil fields have successfully transitioned from 17000 tons before the transformation to a negative carbon operating state, with a reduction of 8.11 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions per ton of crude oil produced.By the first 10 months of 2025,a total of 192000 tons of zero carbon crude oil have been produced here, and over 9.93 million kilowatt hours of green electricity have been exported, demonstrating that "traditional oil fields can also achieve zero carbon production" with tangible results.Looking towards the future,couplings the green transformation path of Lunnan Oilfield has not stopped. According to the plan, the oilfield will further expand the scale of photovoltaic power supply and build a new 8.5 MW photovoltaic power station,couplings allowing the proportion of non fossil energy to continue to increase; At the same time, expand the application scope of CCUS technology, couplingsimprove the efficiency of carbon capture and storage, and strive to become the first oil and gas field with negative carbon emissions in the whole region in the Tarim Basin.couplings The practice of Lunnan Oilfield not only provides replicable and promotable technological paths and management experience for the low-carbon transformation of many old oil fields in China,couplings but also demonstrates to the world the determination and ability of China's traditional energy industry to implement the "dual carbon" goal, contributing valuable Chinese solutions to the green transformation of the global oil and gas industry. In the depths of the desert, this' zero carbon oil field 'is writing a new chapter of harmonious coexistence between energy and the environment with its thriving green vitality.

Author of this news: Ding Shuhan

Date: November 18, 2025