China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has made deep coalbed methane (CBM) field discovery in norther China.

Located in Yulin, Shaanxi Province at the eastern edge of Ordos Basin, the Shenfu CBM field has estimated proven geological reserves of more than 100 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas.

The discovery well, named SM2-33-CH1, encountered 16.5 metres (m) of coal seam gas at about 2,011m depth. The well is part of the Shenfu coal seam gas field.

Following fracturing operations, the well is tested to produce about 19,000 cubic metres per day of CBM.

The proved gas in place of more than 110 billion cubic metres has been assessed and approved by the Chinese government authorities, CNOOC said.

The field’s coal seam is about 2,000m deep while a single layer thickness is between 6.2m and 23.3m. The average gas content per tonne of coal reaches 15m^³, reported Xinhua news agency.

CNOOC deputy chief exploration engineer Xu Changgui said the Shenfu deep CBM field discovery demonstrates the broad exploration and development prospect in the eastern edge of the Ordos Basin.

Changgui added: “It will provide important guidance for our exploration in similar basins and facilitate the growth of our reserves and production of unconventional oil and gas.”

CNOOC CEO and president Zhou Xinhuai said: “The discovery lays a solid foundation for the Company to build a large onshore gas production base, which will tap up to one trillion cubic meters of proved gas in-place.”

The company plans to undertake further exploration and development of onshore unconventional gas to increase its reserves and production.

Xinhuai was cited by Xinhua as saying that the Shenfu deep CBM field is expected to contribute to China’s energy security.