Sinopec, one of China's leading oil companies, has announced a significant discovery of over 165 billion cubic meters of proven shale gas reserves. This finding, made at the intersection of Hubei Province and Chongqing Municipality, marks a noteworthy advancement in the country's energy landscape.

The newly identified reserves are part of the Hongxing shale gas field, as reported by Xinhua News Agency. This development highlights the continual exploration efforts and resource development initiatives within China.

Sinopec indicated that these shale gas reserves are situated at depths ranging from 3,300 to 5,500 meters, posing notable challenges in terms of exploration and extraction due to the complex geological formations present in the field.

Technological advancements have played a crucial role in this discovery, enabling the Hongxing shale gas field to achieve a significant increase in production volume. The current single-well test production rate has climbed to 323,500 cubic meters per day, up from the initial figure of 89,000 cubic meters.

This discovery comes at a time when China is making strides to enhance its oil and gas output to meet increasing domestic demand. The recent announcement aligns with a broader trend of newly discovered oil and gas reserves across the nation.

In a related development, the China National Offshore Oil Corporation revealed that its Deep Sea No.1 Phase II project in the South China Sea is now fully operational. This project marks the completion of the largest offshore gas field in China, which boasts proven natural gas reserves exceeding 150 billion cubic meters.

According to the National Energy Administration, China aims to sustain crude oil production at over 200 million tons and plans to continue expanding natural gas production steadily by 2025. This strategic goal underscores the nation's commitment to improving energy security.

Lin Boqiang, an expert in energy economics at Xiamen University, emphasized the importance of enhanced exploration efforts in supporting China's energy supply. These initiatives are critical in ensuring reliable energy resources for the country's needs.

Recent data from the National Energy Administration indicates that China's oil and gas production has shown stable growth in the first half of 2025. Industrial crude oil production reached 108 million tons, representing a year-on-year increase of 1.3 percent.

Additionally, natural gas output from companies above the designated scale reached a record high of 130.8 billion cubic meters, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 5.8 percent. This growth trend reinforces China's ongoing efforts to bolster its energy infrastructure.