2021–2025 is a period of great development of China's natural gas industry: Suggestions on the exploration and development of natural gas during the 14th five-year plan in China

Abstract

Among the world's 10 major gas producing countries, only the United States (USA), Russia and Iran have annual gas production of 250 × 109 m3 or more. China is expected to have gas output of 250 × 109 m3 in 2025. There are three advantages for the great development of natural gas industry in China. Firstly, the natural gas resources are rich and the proved rate is low and only 8.6%, so it has the resource advantage for faster development; Secondly, over the past 35 years, natural gas production continues to grow, with the growth advantage for faster development; Finally, since 2006, the remaining recoverable reserves of natural gas have been increasing year by year, showing the reserve advantage for faster development. In recent 10 years, China's annual natural gas production growth rate, remaining recoverable reserves and reserve-production ratio of natural gas support that China's annual gas production in 2025 will reach 250 × 109 m3. Suggestions for accelerating natural gas exploration and development during the 14th Five-Year Plan Period: (1) Opening new exploration and development fields of Carboniferous-Permian shale gas in the Ordos Basin; (2) Exploring three potential large gas districts with hidden coal measures in the northern Tianshan Piedown Depression, Qaidam Depression, and Xihu Sag; (3) Accelerating the development of seven large gas fields with proved reserves over 100 × 109 m3, such as Lingshui 17–2 Gas Field; (4) Increasing the drilling of gas wells and ultra-deep exploration wells.