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China has begun shale gas exploration and mining technology
The **National Science and Technology Major 2012 Annual Report**, released by China's Ministry of Science and Technology, highlighted significant progress in the development of unconventional natural gas resources, particularly shale gas. The report revealed that China has made initial breakthroughs in both exploration and production technologies within the "Large Oil and Gas Fields and Coalbed Methane Development" major projects. These advancements have laid the foundation for future shale gas resource exploitation and have led to the establishment of two national-level demonstration zones for shale gas development.
One of the key achievements was the development of a comprehensive evaluation process for shale gas resources. According to the report, China's marine shale gas potential is estimated at 32.22 trillion cubic meters, with recoverable reserves reaching 11.46 trillion cubic meters. In southern China, 11 marine shale layers are considered the most promising areas for exploration. Additionally, a national-level research and development center for shale gas was established to support further innovation and technological advancement.
In Sichuan’s Changning-Weiyuan and Yunnan’s Zhaotong regions, two national demonstration zones were set up. These areas have successfully implemented vertical well fracturing and horizontal well sectional fracturing technologies. As of the report, 27 wells had been drilled in the Changning-Weiyuan area, with 19 completed. Vertical wells produced between 0.2 to 3.3 million cubic meters per day, while horizontal wells achieved outputs ranging from 10,000 to 160,000 cubic meters daily.
Shale gas, a type of natural gas trapped within fine-grained sedimentary rock, has become an important source of energy due to its long-term production potential. Unlike conventional gas, shale gas reservoirs are typically widespread, thick, and rich in gas, allowing for sustained production over many years. This makes it a valuable asset for long-term energy planning.
The U.S. shale gas boom has been called an energy revolution, prompting countries worldwide to explore their own shale gas potential. China, too, has included shale gas in its 12th Five-Year Plan as a priority for developing unconventional energy resources. On February 27, 2013, the “973†project titled “Basic Research on the Efficient Development of Marine Shale Gas in Southern China†was launched in Beijing. Led by PetroChina, this initiative aims to fill gaps in domestic research and provide theoretical guidance for future developments.
China possesses vast shale gas reserves, especially in the southern Paleozoic region, where about three-quarters of the technically recoverable resources are concentrated. Initial discoveries have been made in Sichuan, Chongqing, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Hunan. However, compared to North America, China faces unique geological challenges, such as complex tectonic structures, deep burial, and difficult surface conditions, which make foreign technologies less applicable.
In 2013, the Ministry of Science and Technology issued guidelines emphasizing the need for research into multi-scale unconventional reservoir characterization, non-linear seepage mechanisms, and multi-field coupling theories. This led to the formal initiation of the “Basic Research on the Effective Development of Marine Shale Gas in South China.†A consortium of institutions, including the China Petroleum Exploration and Development Research Institute, the China Petroleum Drilling Research Institute, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Xi’an Jiaotong University, and PetroChina Southwest Oil and Gas Field, is working together to develop the scientific and technical foundations needed for large-scale shale gas industrialization in China.