High output at Daji Gas Field reduces need for imports

China's largest coal-rock methane field, the Daji Gas Field, has reported strong production growth this year, with cumulative gas output reaching 1.412 billion cubic meters as of Tuesday, a year-on-year increase of 38.6 percent, said its operator China National Petroleum Corp.

The gas field is currently maintaining daily output of 11 million cubic meters, demonstrating a sustained upward momentum in production.

Coal-rock gas is an unconventional form of natural gas found either adsorbed or free within deep seams of coal, typically at depths exceeding 1,500 meters.

As a key player in China's unconventional natural gas development, the Daji Gas Field is seen as pivotal in boosting the country's clean energy supply and advancing deep-earth engineering strategy.

Between 2023 and 2025, the Daji field achieved a multi-stage surge in production, leading the development of China's unconventional gas industry. The breakthrough underscores China's efforts to enhance energy security by tapping into deep, unconventional reserves to offset its reliance on energy imports.

zhengxin@chinadaily.com.cn