The largest coal and rock gas field in China, located in Shanxi, has an annual production capacity of over 4 billion cubic meters, becoming an important replacement resource for China's natural gas production growth.

Coal rock gas is an unconventional natural gas resource that adsorbs or dissociates in deep underground coal seams, typically buried at depths exceeding 1500 meters, with broad prospects for exploration and development. The first coal rock gas demonstration zone project in China, Daji Gas Field, is located in the southwest of Shanxi Province. Since the beginning of this year, 16 new wells have been drilled in the Daji gas field, with a new production capacity of 250 million cubic meters, promoting the daily gas production of the gas field to exceed 11 million cubic meters, a year-on-year increase of 32%.

Compared with conventional natural gas, coal rock gas is buried deep, has complex geological conditions, and has a high threshold for mining technology. It has long been regarded as a "deep forbidden zone" for oil and gas exploration and development. In 2019, China Petroleum carried out technological research and development, and the first coal rock gas well, Daji 3-7, obtained industrial gas flow. In December 2021, the daily production of Jishen 6-7 wells exceeded 100000 cubic meters, becoming China's first "breakthrough well" for efficient development of coal and rock gas.

Daji Gas Field is the first large-scale coal rock gas field developed in China, with an average burial depth of 2130 meters and a proven geological reserve of 400 billion cubic meters. At present, the gas field has an annual production capacity of 4 billion cubic meters, accounting for over 80% of the total coal and rock gas production in China.Editor/Yang Meiling