It is well-known that oil, as one of the most sought-after strategic materials internationally, is also quite rare.

However, there are many types of oil, and shale oil is one of them.

It can be said that the United States has "made its fortune" with shale oil.

Last year, the U.S. shale oil production was 414 million tons.

So, what is the shale oil production of our country?

"Oil is the blood of industry" - this cliché still applies today.

But when we talk about oil, do you think of oil fields in the Middle East or offshore drilling platforms?

If so, it might be time to update your knowledge.

There is a special kind of oil that is like a treasure hidden in the crevices of rocks, waiting for humans to explore.

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That is shale oil.

Imagine if the Earth is likened to a huge cake, then shale oil is the cream sandwiched between layers of the cake, hidden between shale, impermeable mudstone, or siltstone, quietly waiting for us to mine.

You might ask how much of this "cream" is there?

The answer might surprise you.

According to geologists' estimates, the global shale oil reserves are as high as 11 trillion to 13 trillion tons!

What concept is this number?

Let's compare: the currently proven global conventional oil reserves are only a meager 24 billion tons.

It can be said that the reserves of shale oil are nearly 50 times that of conventional oil!

It's like you thought you had only one small treasure trove at home, only to suddenly discover 50 treasure troves of the same size in the basement.

What an exciting discovery.

So, what makes shale oil so special?

What is the difference between it and the oil we are familiar with?

Simply put, there is not much difference in essence between shale oil and conventional oil; they are both high-quality crude oil.

The difference lies in their "hiding places."

Conventional oil is like a lake lying underground, which can flow out continuously as long as a hole is drilled, while shale oil is more like water soaked in a sponge, which requires special methods to be squeezed out.

This is why it is much more difficult to extract shale oil than conventional oil.

So, how did the United States turn around with "shale oil"?

If shale oil is a treasure buried underground, then the United States is undoubtedly the most successful treasure hunter.

In 2023, the United States created a number that attracted the world's attention: 414 million tons, which is the shale oil production of the United States in that year.

However, the miracle of U.S. shale oil was not achieved overnight.

It is like an inspiring entrepreneurial story, full of hardships, innovation, and persistence.

After the global financial crisis in 2008, the economy was in turmoil.

At this seemingly worst moment, the United States quietly planted a seed - to develop shale oil on a large scale.

This decision was like sowing in a storm.

At that time, many people thought it was a crazy idea.

After all, the cost of shale oil extraction is high, and the technical difficulty is great.

Who would take this risk during an economic downturn?

However, the Americans proved their foresight with action.

They invested a lot of money in technology research and development, continuously improving hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling technology.

With technological breakthroughs, the cost of shale oil extraction gradually decreased, and the output began to soar.

In 2015, the United States made an astonishing decision: to lift the 40-year ban on crude oil exports.

This was like opening a long-closed door, and the U.S. shale oil began to flow continuously to all parts of the world.

In 2018, a miracle happened.

The United States surpassed Saudi Arabia and Russia to become the world's largest crude oil producer.

It was like an unknown athlete suddenly winning a gold medal at the Olympics, shocking the world.

It can be seen that the U.S. shale oil revolution has not only changed the energy pattern of the United States itself but also had a profound impact on the global oil market.

So, what achievements does China have in shale oil?

While the United States is making great strides in the field of shale oil, China is not idle.

In 2023, China's shale oil production broke through 4 million tons.

At first glance, this number seems unremarkable, especially compared to the United States' 414 million tons.

However, the potential behind this number is not to be underestimated.

Although there is still a significant gap compared to the United States, in fact, this 4 million tons is already an impressive achievement for China.

What is more worth noting is that the output of 4 million tons increased by about 20% compared to the previous year.

This is like a child who has just learned to walk suddenly starting to sprint.

This growth rate indicates that China's shale oil industry is growing rapidly.

However, China's road to shale oil is not smooth sailing.

It is like exploring a new route in complex terrain.

China faces unique challenges in shale oil development.

First, China's shale oil is mainly terrestrial shale, which is like a tough bone to crack.

Compared to the marine shale mainly developed in the United States, China's shale oil is more dispersed, has lower maturity, and is more difficult to extract.

Second, China's shale oil development started late, and there is a lack of technological accumulation.

This is like a novice just entering the game, facing the need to learn and catch up quickly with the old players who have already reached the highest level.

However, the Chinese have always been fearless in the face of difficulties.

Faced with challenges, Chinese oil companies are undaunted and continue to break through technological bottlenecks.

In 2023, Sinopec made a major breakthrough in shale oil exploration in the Sichuan Basin, with an additional proven reserve of more than 300 million tons.

This breakthrough is like finding a new passage in a maze.

It not only increases China's shale oil reserves but more importantly, proves that China has the ability to successfully explore and develop shale oil under complex geological conditions.

This undoubtedly gives a strong boost to China's shale oil industry.

It is believed that in the future, China will not only make new breakthroughs in shale oil but also achieve new results in all oil fields.

So, after talking about the shale oil production of China and the United States in 2023, we can actually find that the development of the two countries in shale oil and even oil is completely different.

So, what are these differences?

When we shift our focus from shale oil to the entire oil industry, the comparison between China and the United States is like a dramatic picture.

The two countries have similar reserves but have taken completely different paths.

It is well-known that China is the world's second-largest oil consumer, like a dragon that is never full.

Every year, this dragon needs to consume about 700 million tons of oil.

However, China's own "food" production is far from enough.

China's annual oil production is only about 200 million tons, like a small vegetable garden that cannot meet the needs of a large family.

As a result, China has to "buy vegetables" from outside every year.

This leads to China's oil dependence on foreign countries exceeding 70%, like a family that needs to buy 70% of its food from outside, which is undoubtedly a worrying situation.

In contrast, the situation in the United States is very different.

The United States has not only achieved energy self-sufficiency but has also become an oil-exporting country.

It is like a farmer who can not only support himself but also sell grain to his neighbors.

What is even more surprising is that the United States has not only become the world's largest oil producer but also the largest exporter.

It is like a person who once needed to borrow money everywhere and suddenly became a banker, starting to lend money to others.

This transformation undoubtedly has had a profound impact on the global oil market.

So, what has caused such a huge difference between China and the United States?

The answer lies in the development of shale oil.

However, it is worth noting that although the United States has achieved great success in shale oil development, this path is not without challenges.

Environmental issues, market fluctuations, and other factors may affect the future development of shale oil.

It is like a high-yield crop that may bring problems such as soil erosion and needs to be treated with caution.

China also needs to weigh the pros and cons in the process of catching up and find a development path suitable for itself.

After all, copying the American model does not necessarily fit China's national conditions.

In general, although the development paths of China and the United States in the oil field are different, the goal is the same: to ensure energy security and promote economic development.

In this process, both countries are facing opportunities and challenges.

The huge differences in shale oil development between China and the United States reflect the differences between the two countries in terms of energy strategy, technical level, and resource conditions.

Facing the future, whether it is to continue developing traditional energy or to vigorously develop new energy, the key is to ensure national energy security and promote sustainable economic development.

Let us look forward to China finding its place in this revolution in the near future and contributing new strength to the world's energy pattern.