This paper is the result of hydrogeological survey engineering.

Objective With the rapid development of the new energy industry in recent years, shallow brine extraction has become increasingly inadequate to meet industrial demands. Consequently, deep brine development has gained significant attention. A comprehensive analysis of the key challenges in deep brine extraction and the proposal of corresponding solutions are crucial for advancing exploration and extraction technologies for deep brine resources.

Methods This paper addresses the challenges associated with deep brine reservoirs, including low permeability, low water yield, poor continuity, high salinity, and high viscosity. Through an extensive literature review, it systematically analyzes the current difficulties in geological exploration, extraction techniques, and drilling/completion technologies for deep brine. Specific solutions are proposed, and future technological development directions are outlined.

Results The study concluded that: (1) High-quality geological exploration is the primary prerequisite for efficient extraction. Conducting targeted theoretical research on deep brine metallogenic geological models and innovating efficient exploration methods that integrate regional geological background with geophysical prospecting technologies are key to identifying favorable target zones. (2) Scientifically efficient well-flushing techniques, appropriate reservoir permeability enhancement, rational increases in water flow area, and optimized pumping drawdown are all promising methods for enhancing brine extraction efficiency. (3) Targeted technologies—including wellbore stability control for deep brine extraction wells, specialized drilling fluids and cement slurry systems, completion techniques for weakly cemented plastic formations, and anti-corrosion/anti-scaling technologies for down hole tools in deep brine reservoirs—can provide essential technical safeguards for deep brine extraction.

Conclusions With the future advancement of technologies such as efficient adsorption or membrane separation, combined with reinjection techniques, novel integrated approaches are expected to emerge as more efficient, eco-friendly, and low-carbon methods for deep brine extraction. These include: integrated deep brine extraction-adsorption-reinjection technology (eliminating the need for salt evaporation ponds) and synergistic deep brine extraction combined with shallow soluble salt mining and CO₂ sequestration.