China shale output jumps

China recorded a 50.5% year-on-year increase in shale gas production in March, data from the National Bureau of Statistics released on Monday showed.

Last month, the country’s shale output was seen at 1.15 bcm (40.6 bcf). Measured over the first quarter of the year, Chinese shale production came out at 2.67 bcm (94.3 bcf), up 17.4% over the same period in 2016.

China National Petroleum Corporation’s Changning-Weiyuan national-level shale gas pilot project contributed the most to the rise in shale gas production, the National Bureau of Statistics said.

First-quarter gas production was up as well, growing 3.4% over 2016 to reach 38.74 bcm (1.37 tcf). Oil output over the mentioned period was down 6.8% to 3.91 million bopd. The figure for March was 3.92 million bopd, 4.6 % less compared with last year.

In related news, CNPC has signed off on the Chengzhuang (GCZ) coalbed methane development, project partner Green Dragon Gas announced on Tuesday.

Located in the Qinshui basin, development will see 147 production wells drilled over the next 24 months pending approval from the National Development & Reform Commission.

Annual output is forecast to reach 85.2 mcm (3.01 bcf) by year-end 2017 and 91.5 mcm (3.23 bcf) the following year.