Worker at a gas pressure regulating station in Jiujiang city
China’s gas production grows apace
State firms saw their gas production gains outpace those of crude in the first nine months of 2021
China’s economy and energy demand rebounded in 2021 as the country emerged from the worst of the pandemic disruption. In response, state oil companies Cnooc, Sinopec and Petrochina—a subsidiary of CNPC—have continued their programmes of upstream expansion, with a particular emphasis on gas and domestic production, in line with Beijing’s stated energy security and emission reduction goals. Cnooc’s gas and liquids production rebounded in 2021, with combined output increasing to 422mn bl oe over the first three quarters of the year, up by 8.5pc from 389mn bl oe over the same period in 2020. Gas production climbed by 6.6pc, to 495bn ft³ (14bn m³, or 51.3mn m³/d), while—in contrast to the other t
Also in this section
2 April 2026
Alongside a rapid continued build-out of renewables, China’s latest five-year plan stresses the value of domestic hydrocarbon production for energy security and calls for increased Russian gas imports
2 April 2026
The government is taking important steps to revive domestic production, lift investment and benefit from the geopolitical crisis even if more needs to be done in the longer term
1 April 2026
Golden Pass’s startup offers QatarEnergy a timely boost but may also force a difficult choice between honouring disrupted contracts and capitalising on soaring spot LNG prices
1 April 2026
It is not a case of if or when, but the length and magnitude of economic damage from elevated oil prices
