China's domestic super drilling rig completes first mission

A worker conducts machinery check on the Crust 1 land-based drilling rig system in the Songliao Basin in northeast China, June 1, 2018. [Photo: Xinhua/Xu Chang]

Crust 1, a land-based drilling rig, concluded its first mission on Saturday, putting China among the frontrunners in onshore drilling, along with Germany and Russia.

The Crust 1 land-based drilling rig system is seen at night in the Songliao Basin in northeast China, June 1, 2018. [Photo: Xinhua]

The four-year mission Songke 2, drilled a 7,018-meter borehole -- the first in the world to pass through the continental stratum of the Cretaceous period -- in the Songliao Basin in northeast China.

This aerial photo taken on June 2, 2018 shows the Crust 1 land-based drilling rig system during a mission in the Songliao Basin in northeast China. [Photo: Xinhua/Xu Chang]

Jointly developed by Jilin University and Sichuan-based Honghua Group, Crust 1 can dig as deep as 10,000 meters and is China's most advanced land-based drilling rig.

Plans are afoot to increase its drilling capability to up to 15,000 meters, according to Professor Sun Youhong, director of the Crust 1 project.  

A worker makes preparations to operate the Crust 1 land-based drilling rig system in the Songliao Basin in northeast China, June 1, 2018. [Photo: Xinhua/Xu Chang]