China Petroleum and Chemical Corp. (CPC) has made a new discovery described as a landmark in shale gas exploration, confirming geological reserves exceeding 124 billion cubic meters in the Yongchuan field in southwest China.
The state-owned company, known as Sinopec, said this brings the field's total proven reserves to approximately 148 billion cubic meters, enhancing domestic energy security and paving the way for further expansion of exploration and production activities, according to China Daily.
The new field's main layers lie at depths exceeding 3,500 meters in the complex geologically structured South Sichuan Basin, making it a strategic addition to China's unconventional energy resources.
This is part of China's efforts to boost its energy production to meet rising domestic demand in recent years, including intensifying exploration and development of unconventional resources, such as shale oil and gas