By Shi Jun and Sun Xingwei
BEIJING, Nov.5 -- The PLA’s pilot project of drilling wells for water extraction in the permafrost of the alpine plateau turned out to be a success recently. The results of the pilot project will thereafter be promoted and applied widely in China. Combined with traditional water supply methods, it will provide China’s border defense troops with more durable and reliable water supply.
Besides vehicle transporting, Chinese military units at all levels have tried various measures, such as fetching water from canals or springs, melting ice and snow, or installing water purification devices, to tackle water supply shortage for troops in plateau and alpine areas over the years. Since the beginning of 2020, the Logistic Support Department of the Central Military Commission (CMC) has piloted a project of digging wells for some plateau and alpine border defense posts.
During the process, the task forces from the CMC Logistic Support Department, the PLA Army, and the Military Commands of Xinjiang and Tibet have successfully dug three wells at an elevation of 5,000 meters and ten wells at an elevation of 4,000 meters. In particular, the use of electric heating devices and specialized submersible pumps, as well as the technology of gas injection disturbances, has effectively solved the freezing problem of the tube wells and the external water pipes in permafrost.
It is reported that in recent years, the Chinese PLA has continuously improved its field camping water supply capability, including drilling wells at points 4,000meters above sea level, effectively solving the permafrost construction problems, and developing a plateau freeze-free water supply device, which have basically ensured rapid and stable water supply in plateau and alpine regions and met the daily water needs of border defense troops in such areas.
