Shanxi: By the end of May, China’s first large-scale coalbed methane field, the Daning-Jixian block in north China’s Shanxi Province, has seen its cumulative gas production exceed 3.6 billion cubic meters, equivalent to over 2.8 million tonnes of oil and gas, according to its developer. This milestone marks it as the country’s first coalbed methane field to achieve such a cumulative oil and gas equivalent.

According to Namibia Press Agency, this significant achievement has been reported by PetroChina Coalbed Methane Co., Ltd. Coalbed methane, as an unconventional natural gas, is viewed as a clean and strategic energy resource. Its utilization is beneficial in reducing mining risks, cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and alleviating gas shortages.

Shanxi Province is rich in coalbed methane reserves, with an estimated 8.31 trillion cubic meters of resources located at depths of less than 2,000 meters, which accounts for nearly one-third of the national total. In recent years, continuous advancements in coalbed methane development technology have led to a steady increase in the production capacity of the Daning-Jixian block.

In 2024, the field’s coalbed methane production reached 1.96 billion cubic meters, making it the first in the world to achieve an annual output of 2 million tonnes of oil and gas equivalent.