China’s first large-scale shale gas field produces over 10 billion cubic meters of gas

According to Sinopec Group on March 21, the Fuling shale gas field in southwestern China's Chongqing has produced more than 10 billion cubic meters of gas, signifying a new phase of China’s shale gas commercial development, Gmw.cn reported.

The field's rapid development is of great significance when it comes to promoting the adjustment of energy structure, speeding up energy conservation and controlling air pollution. The Fuling shale gas field reserve is estimated at 380.6 billion cubic meters, which is the world’s largest outside of North America.

China has become the world’s third country to achieve commercial exploitation of shale gas. Currently, sales of shale gas from the Fuling field are up to 16 million cubic meters, which is equivalent to the daily demand of 32 million households. The field can produce 7 billion cubic meters of shale gas, and is expected to reach 10 billion cubic meters in 2017.

The Fuling shale gas field, as an immensely important resource, provides clean energy to the Yangtze River economic belt, benefiting more than 70 large and medium-sized cities, 1,000 enterprises and 200 million inhabitants in the region. In addition, China’s commercial development of shale gas has formed a complete industrial chain.