China's Shale Gas Output to Top 5 bcm in 2015

China's shale gas output is expected to top 5 billion cubic meters (bcm) in 2015, said Guo Jiaofeng, a researcher with the Development Research Center of the State Council, reported Xinhua Finance on Tuesday.

By 2020, the shale gas output of the country is likely to exceed 30 bcm, accounting for 15 percent of China's total gas output, Jiaofeng said adding that country’s shale gas industry is ready for massive commercial development after ten years of exploration experience, technology breakthrough and theoretical approach.

Meanwhile, Sinopec on Monday announced start up of shale gas transmission pipeline connecting Fuling field in southwest China's Chongqing municipality. The 136-km pipeline will be able to transit 6 bcm of shale gas each year out of the Fuling field.

Sinopec plans to build 63 platforms with 253 wells and form 5 billion cubic meters of shale gas production capacity in Fuling by the end of 2015, Xinhua Finance said.

Last year, Sinopec’s Fuling field was verified by Chinese government as country’s largest shale gas play. The Ministry of Land and Resources verified proven reserves of nearly 107 billion cubic metres (bcm) in the Fuling shale gas field.