Shanxi Province Unveils Over 100 Billion Cubic Meters of Deep Coalbed Methane Reserve

North China's Shanxi Province has confirmed a significant deep coalbed methane reserve, exceeding 100 billion cubic meters of 'unconventional gas'. This discovery is a major step forward in the exploration and development of deep coalbed methane, which will boost the nation's energy security.

Deep coalbed methane refers to natural gas stored in coal seams at depths exceeding 1,500 meters. The Sanjiaobei block in Shanxi Province has been found to have coal seams lying at depths of 1,900 to 2,150 meters.

Zhang Lei, deputy chief geologist of PetroChina Coalbed Methane Co, said that the team overcame challenges such as complex geological conditions and built a full-chain system covering drilling, fracturing, and production. The company is carrying out geological evaluation and pilot tests in the Sanjiaobei block.

The team has successfully extracted gas from two pilot test horizontal wells, producing a stable daily output of 50,000 cubic meters each. A single well is expected to yield up to 50 million cubic meters over its entire life cycle, according to Guo Bingzheng, deputy general manager of PetroChina Coalbed Methane Co.