China's manned submersible Shenhai Yongshi (Deep-sea Warrior) on display in Beijing on October 24, 2021 Photo: IC

China's scientific research ship Explorer 2 and the 4,500-meter manned submersible Shenhai Yongshi (Deep-sea Warrior) returned to Sanya, South China's Hainan Province on Sunday, after they smoothly completed the in-situ observation of deep-sea geology and sea trial tasks of domestic equipment in the South China Sea. 

With the 4,500-meter manned submersible Shenhai Yongshi, the sea trial voyage completed the in-situ observation and obtained important project survey data of the underwater mooring system, the subsea production system, the typical deep water well site in continental slope area and the "Seahorse" cold spring area of Shenhai-1, China's first self-run deep-sea gas field located 150 kilometers from Hainan Island. 

The deep-sea well has been the most difficult site to exploit. It serves as an important source of clean energy for the Hainan Free Trade Port and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. 

Meanwhile, the scientific research personnel used Shenhai Yongshi to conduct functional tests on the self-developed airtight sampler for sediments in the deep sea with heat-and-pressure-retaining functions and deep-sea three-dimensional sensing equipment and other devices. 

The sea trial voyage started on September 16 was focused on the direction of deep-sea development in the South China Sea. 

A total of 60 scientific research personnel departed from Sanya in Hainan to carry out the scientific research tasks of the deep-sea abyssal research and equipment sea trials voyage which was organized by the Hainan Deep-Sea Technology Innovation Center, Hainan University and China University of Petroleum.  Another 14 institutes including the China University of Geosciences, participated in the voyage. 

This was the second shared voyage conducted by the Hainan Deep-Sea Technology Innovation Center in 2022. 

Global Times