CNOOC Limited finds major coalbed methane field in southern China

The CBM field has reserves of over 100 billion cubic metres (BCM) of gas.

CNOOC Limited discovered the Shenfu deep coalbed methane (CBM) field in China, adding proven geological gas reserves of over 100 billion cubic metres.

Located in Yulin over the Shaanxi Province, the CBM field is China’s first large deep CBM field of its scale.

CNOOC’s discovery well SM2-33-CH1 identifies 16.5 metres of coal seam with a burial depth of an estimated 2,011 metres. The methane field is projected to produce 19,000 cubic metres on every fracturing operation.

“The discovery lays a solid foundation for the company to build a large onshore gas production base, which will tap up to one trillion cubic metres of proved gas in place," Zhou Xinhuai, CEO and president of CNOOC, said.

"To that end, we will continue to step up our efforts in the exploration and development of onshore unconventional gas, to increase our reserves and production, and to contribute to the high-quality development of the company,” he added.

ALSO READ: Russia, strengthens ties with China via new gas pipelines

The gas exploration company pushed its innovations on the research of coalbed methane formation, reservoir transformation and drainage technology, leading to the discovery of the Shenfu CBM field.

The Shenfu CBM field set another major discovery by CNOOC Limited since its location in Linxing, Shanxi Province, which had similar proved gas in-placed volumes.