China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec Group) announced on Jan 17 that the Hexingchang gas field’s proven geological reserves of natural gas of 133 billion cubic meters have been certified by the country’s Ministry of Natural Resources.
It marked the birth of an ultra-deep tight sandstone natural gas field with 100 million-level proven reserves, which is expected to support China’s national energy security.
A view of the construction site of the Xinsheng 201 platform at the Hexingchang gas field in Southwest China’s Sichuan Province [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Located in Deyang and Mianyang, Southwest China’s Sichuan Province, the Hexingchang gas field was first found to have rich reserves in 1988. Its depth, high pressure and extremely low porosity and tight sandstone features made its effective development somewhat difficult.
Relying on technology development projects and the endeavors of generations of geologists, a regular and effective technology for natural gas development of such land forms was developed.
So far, Sinopec Group has drilled 21 new exploration wells in the recently certified area. The substantial proven geological reserves lie about 4,500 meters to 5,500 meters below the surface.
The Sichuan Basin is home to rich natural gas resources. For the past few years, Sinopec Group’s oil and natural gas development in the region has promoted construction of a natural gas base with 100 billion output capacity in Sichuan and Chongqing Municipality.
So far, Sinopec Group has confirmed nearly 3 trillion cubic meters of geological natural gas reserves in Sichuan Basin and has produced more than 200 billion cubic meters of natural gas in the region.
The company also developed the Puguang gas field, the largest marine facies rich sulfur-bearing gas field in China; the Yuanba gas field, the world’s first 7,000-meter ultra-deep high sulfur-bearing bioherm gas field; and the Fuling shale gas field, China’s first shale gas field with output capacity of 10 billion cubic meters; as well as the Weirong shale gas field, China’s first ultra-deep shale gas field with over 100 billion cubic meters of proven geological reserves.
(Executive editor: Xie Yunxiao)
