China's Daqing Oilfield surpasses one million tonnes in shale oil output

An aerial drone photo shows a flare at a national-level demonstration zone of continental shale oil of Daqing Oilfield in Daqing, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Dec. 4, 2025. Daqing Oilfield, one of China's largest energy production bases, announced Friday that the yearly output of the shale oil in the demonstration zone has exceeded one million tonnes. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

HARBIN, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Daqing Oilfield, one of China's largest energy production bases, announced on Friday that its Gulong shale oil block in northeast China has surpassed one million tonnes in annual output this year, marking the site's successful transition to scaled production.

Shale oil, defined as liquid hydrocarbons trapped within shale rock formations and extractable for refining, represents a widely distributed energy resource with reserves significantly exceeding conventional oil sources. It is vital to China's stable oil production and energy security.

In 2021, Daqing Oilfield established China's national demonstration zone for lacustrine shale oil at the Gulong block. Through five years of dedicated research and development, the operator has successfully developed five core technologies specifically designed for large-scale shale oil production, achieving a multiplied increase in output for five consecutive years.

As a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), Daqing Oilfield has played a pivotal role in shaping China's modern petroleum industry. Since its discovery in 1959 in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang, it has produced over 2.5 billion tonnes of crude oil, accounting for 36 percent of the country's total onshore output.

An aerial drone photo shows operators carrying out inspection work on oil production equipment at a national-level demonstration zone of continental shale oil of Daqing Oilfield in Daqing, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Dec. 4, 2025. Daqing Oilfield, one of China's largest energy production bases, announced Friday that the yearly output of the shale oil in the demonstration zone has exceeded one million tonnes. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

Operators carry out inspection work on oil and gas processing equipment at a national-level demonstration zone of continental shale oil of Daqing Oilfield in Daqing, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Dec, 4, 2025. Daqing Oilfield, one of China's largest energy production bases, announced Friday that the yearly output of the shale oil in the demonstration zone has exceeded one million tonnes. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

An operator carries out inspection work on oil and gas processing equipment at a national-level demonstration zone of continental shale oil of Daqing Oilfield in Daqing, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Dec, 4, 2025. Daqing Oilfield, one of China's largest energy production bases, announced Friday that the yearly output of the shale oil in the demonstration zone has exceeded one million tonnes. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

An aerial drone photo shows a view of a national-level demonstration zone of continental shale oil of Daqing Oilfield in Daqing, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Dec. 4, 2025. Daqing Oilfield, one of China's largest energy production bases, announced Friday that the yearly output of the shale oil in the demonstration zone has exceeded one million tonnes. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

An aerial drone photo shows a view of a national-level demonstration zone of continental shale oil of Daqing Oilfield in Daqing, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Dec. 4, 2025. Daqing Oilfield, one of China's largest energy production bases, announced Friday that the yearly output of the shale oil in the demonstration zone has exceeded one million tonnes. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

An aerial drone photo shows a view of a national-level demonstration zone of continental shale oil of Daqing Oilfield in Daqing, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Dec. 4, 2025. Daqing Oilfield, one of China's largest energy production bases, announced Friday that the yearly output of the shale oil in the demonstration zone has exceeded one million tonnes. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

A staff member presents a shale oil sample at a national-level demonstration zone of continental shale oil of Daqing Oilfield in Daqing, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Dec. 4, 2025. Daqing Oilfield, one of China's largest energy production bases, announced Friday that the yearly output of the shale oil in the demonstration zone has exceeded one million tonnes. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

Technicians check the operating parameters of the oil and gas processing equipment at a national-level demonstration zone of continental shale oil of Daqing Oilfield in Daqing, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Dec. 4, 2025. Daqing Oilfield, one of China's largest energy production bases, announced Friday that the yearly output of the shale oil in the demonstration zone has exceeded one million tonnes. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

Operators carry out inspection work on oil and gas processing equipment at a national-level demonstration zone of continental shale oil of Daqing Oilfield in Daqing, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Dec, 4, 2025. Daqing Oilfield, one of China's largest energy production bases, announced Friday that the yearly output of the shale oil in the demonstration zone has exceeded one million tonnes. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

Operators carry out inspection work on oil production equipment at a national-level demonstration zone of continental shale oil of Daqing Oilfield in Daqing, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Dec, 4, 2025. Daqing Oilfield, one of China's largest energy production bases, announced Friday that the yearly output of the shale oil in the demonstration zone has exceeded one million tonnes. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

Operators carry out inspection work on oil and gas processing equipment at a national-level demonstration zone of continental shale oil of Daqing Oilfield in Daqing, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Dec, 4, 2025. Daqing Oilfield, one of China's largest energy production bases, announced Friday that the yearly output of the shale oil in the demonstration zone has exceeded one million tonnes. (Xinhua/Wang Song)