Chasing Chinese gas dreams
Both the country's unconventional production and reserves are set to soar
By late 2017, it was official. Sinopec has turned the Fuling field in the southwest municipality of Chongqing into the most productive shale gas area in China. According to a statement by the state-owned group, last year it drew more than 6bn cubic metres from the field, up 20% on 2016. That's below Sinopec's original target of 10bn cm set in 2014, but it's a lot more than almost anybody expected when production began three years ago. The result, demonstrates once again how quickly China can move when Beijing combines with industry to chase a goal considered to be in the nation's long-term interests. Learning from North America and Australia, where Chinese companies have stakes in groups spe
Also in this section
19 March 2026
The regional crisis highlights the undervalued role of fixed pipelines in the age of tanker flexibility
18 March 2026
Rising LNG exports and AI-driven power demand have raised concerns that US gas prices could climb sharply, but analysts say abundant shale supply and continued productivity gains should keep Henry Hub within a range that preserves the competitiveness of US LNG
18 March 2026
Risks of shortages in oil products may cause world leaders to panic and make mistakes instead of letting the market do what it does best
17 March 2026
The crisis in the Middle East has put LNG’s ability to offer security and flexibility under uncomfortable scrutiny
