World Energy Outlook 2007

which close to 90% are onshore (Table 10.4). Most production to date has
come from onshore associated reserves, which are estimated to be about 35%
depleted. Onshore non-associated gas reserves are largely untapped.
Table 10.4: China’s Natural Gas Reserves as of End-2005
Onshore Offshore On/offshore Total
Total gas
Number of fields 745 129 15 889
Proven and probable
reserves (bcm) 4 391 549 18 4 958
Cumulative production
to date (bcm) 713 41 17 771
Non-associated gas
Number of fields 306 44 – 350
Proven and probable
reserves (bcm) 3 538 445 – 3 983
Cumulative production
to date (bcm) 256 32 – 288
Associated gas
Number of fields 439 85 15 539
Proven and probable
reserves (bcm) 853 104 18 975
Cumulative production
to date (bcm) 457 9 17 483
Sources: IHS Energy databases; IEA estimates.
10
Reserves are mainly located in five sedimentary basins: Ordos (27%),
Sichuan (23%), Tarim (19%), Bohai Gulf (8%) and Songliao (7%). The
remaining 16% are distributed in small reservoirs in about ten basins. The
Ordos, Sichuan, Tarim and Songliao basins together hold the bulk of onshore
non-associated gas and, therefore, form the core of potential future
production. Gas reserves from the Bohai Gulf are mostly associated with oil
in mature fields. Bohai Gulf is located closest to the consuming areas of the
country and is, unsurprisingly, the most depleted. In the last ten years, a total
of 227 natural gas fields have been discovered – equal to about 35% of the
number discovered before 1997 (Figure 10.7). Yet the reserves in the recently
discovered fields exceed those of all the previously discovered fields. The
biggest recent discovery, the Sulige field found in 2000, has proven and
probable reserves of 466 bcm.
Chapter 10 - Reference Scenario Supply Projections 329