Beijing — China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), the country’s biggest oil and gas producer, said on Monday that oil and gas output at its Changqing field rose to a record in 2020 of over 60 million tonnes of oil equivalent.
Crude oil output at Changqing, in China’s Ordos basin, was 24.52 million tonnes as of Dec. 27, while natural gas production totalled 44.53 billion cubic metres (bcm), according to a statement on CNPC’s website.
Changqing is China’s biggest gas field. CNPC previously aimed to produce 25 million tonnes of crude oil and 42 bcm of natural gas in 2020.
“Facing the dual challenges of the coronavirus and low oil prices this year, Changqing oilfield has… increased proven oil and gas reserves by 361 million tonnes and 305.8 bcm, respectively,” said the statement.
Shale oil production has exceeded 1 million tonnes in Changqing, it said.
In a separate statement on CNPC’s website, the company’s General Manager Li Fanrong added that oil and gas output at its Tarim oilfield surpassed 30 million tonnes of oil equivalent in 2020.
The company will steadily increase domestic crude oil production and ensure “rapid growth” in natural gas output and “grasp the initiative of national energy security,” said Li.
(Reporting by Min Zhang and Shivani Singh; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
