Record geothermal well completed in Jiangsu Province, China
Picture: Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China (source: flickr/ Jordi Payà Canals, CC BY-ND 2.0)
Alexander Richter
12 Nov 2025
China’s Jiangsu Province reports record geothermal drilling success with 109°C water and over 4,000 tonnes daily flow at 3,500 metres depth.
A new geothermal well in Jiangsu Province, eastern China, has achieved record-breaking results for temperature and output, marking a major step forward for the region’s geothermal exploration.
According to the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Natural Resources, the “Yangshen 1” well in Xiaoyangkou, Rudong County, reached a depth of 3,501.66 metres — the deepest hydrothermal well ever drilled in Jiangsu. The recorded bottom-hole temperature reached 112.82°C, with reservoir temperatures of 108.96°C and a daily water output exceeding 4,080 cubic metres. Both the temperature and flow set new benchmarks for geothermal development in China’s southeastern coastal zone.
Advanced drilling and mapping technologies
The well was drilled as part of the “High-Efficiency Comprehensive Utilization of Clean Geothermal Energy Demonstration Project,” a provincial initiative integrating geothermal and mineral resource development. The project used homegrown “thermal wave resistance” site-selection technology and a hybrid “surface rotary table + downhole screw drill” system, which overcame common drilling challenges in deep, water-covered, and hard-rock formations.
Researchers identified geothermal reservoir characteristics within five kilometres of Xiaoyangkou, mapped ten major heat- and water-controlling fault zones, and pinpointed four favourable reservoir sections before selecting the final 3,500-metre drilling target.
Laying the foundation for clean energy use
Jiangsu lies in a high heat-flow anomaly belt along China’s eastern coast, known for its strong geothermal gradients. Officials from the Jiangsu Department of Natural Resources stated that the results will guide future geothermal power development and support integrated cascade-use applications — including power generation, district heating and cooling, and facility agriculture.
The achievement reinforces Jiangsu’s position as one of eastern China’s most promising geothermal regions and a model for clean energy innovation in coastal provinces.
Source: Xinhua News Agency (in Chinese)
