In a breakthrough for global energy markets, Sinopec has confirmed a massive 165 billion cubic meters of proven shale gas reserves at the newly named Hongxing field straddling Hubei Province and Chongqing Municipality. This discovery cements China’s role as a major player in unconventional gas exploration and underscores the power of innovation in the energy sector.
Exploring resources buried between 3,300 and 5,500 meters deep, engineers faced complex geological formations that once made large-scale development seem out of reach. By deploying advanced horizontal drilling, real-time seismic sensors, and precision hydraulic fracturing, the team boosted single-well test output from an initial 89,000 m³/day to 323,500 m³/day.
This success adds to Sinopec’s rapidly growing portfolio. The company already operates the Fuling shale gas field with over one trillion cubic meters of reserves, plus three other deep fields surpassing 100 billion m³ each. Hongxing now joins that elite group, expanding China’s unconventional resource base and strengthening domestic energy security.
For young entrepreneurs and tech enthusiasts, the Hongxing project highlights opportunities in drilling technologies, digital monitoring systems, and sustainable resource management. Thought leaders and changemakers will note its potential to reduce carbon footprints by replacing coal with cleaner-burning natural gas. And global citizens can appreciate how energy innovation reshapes geopolitical and environmental landscapes.
As Sinopec pushes deeper into unconventional gas, keep an eye on how these cutting-edge approaches drive the next wave of energy transformation—both in China and around the world.
Reference(s):
China discovers large shale gas reserves of 165 billion cubic meters
cgtn.com
