If a single from the reserves of shale gas, China is considered the worlds first "shale gas power", the reserves may reach about 2 times the USA. But in fact, in Chongqing Chinese inland, state-owned enterprises is just the start of shale gas production. But, recently Chinese government suddenly shale gas production target of 2020 cut in half. From this point of view, Chinese appears to be from the development of shale gas in the dream wake up, gradually from the unrealistic to face reality.
Looking for China shale gas
At a distance of about 3 hours drive from downtown Chongqing, Fuling District, China Petrochemical Group of state-owned enterprises (Sinopec) is promoting the exploitation of shale gas. According to the Fuling district said, the light is in the area of Jiao Shi Zhen, had dug 29 shale gas wells, in the year to February, of which 16 wells have already started production. But the details are still hard to know.
"What are you looking for?" When we are in mountainous area, the village looking for shale gas well, suddenly appeared and asked a man speaking standard mandarin. In the suburbs of Chongqing dialect is heavy, general rarely heard someone speak mandarin. So, we asked: "you are Sinopec staff?". The man did not answer, but repeatedly urged to say: "to the left".
We finally found the shale gas wells. The edge of the well rack with drilling derrick tens of meters high, dressed in red overalls of the workers in the busy work of sinopec. In the mountain slope fields of corn, mechanical operation of the voice resounded through the quiet village.
In the global, shale gas development as the center to American is promoting energy supply structure, trade and industry existence big changes, this is the so-called "shale gas revolution". And Chinese also in order to ensure a stable supply of energy, the dream in the country set off a similar revolution. However, Chinese engaged in related development, only to find the reality facing the more and more serious.
The yield target down to half the following
In August this year, China National Energy Bureau Director Wu Xinxiong said the goal in 2020 Chinese shale gas production is 30000000000 cubic meters, and the Department has proposed in 2012 to 2020 will be too ambitious goal of shale gas production increased to 600 ~ 1 hundred billion cubic meters. Just over 2 years, will yield target down to half the following.
The biggest obstacle to shale gas development is the high cost Chinese. Shale gas development cost China is considered to be 3 to 4 times American. The main reserves of shale gas concentration in the mountains, the terrain is very complex. In addition, even in the Jiao Shi Zhen mountain, there are more farmland, farmers in this life, so it is difficult to expand the scale of development America swoop like that. In addition Chinese shale layer than American deep, it increases the cost of exploitation.
In addition, for chronic water shortage China, how to solve the problem of water is also a headache problem in the exploitation of shale gas at. Even the introduction of shale gas mining technology USA advanced, because of Geology and topography are different, is also very difficult to solve all the problems.
In fact, 2 years ago China proposed unrealistic production targets, we already know these problems. Familiar with the situation of energy Chinese Japanese oil and gas metal mineral resources sector (JOGMEC) analysis of the Takehara Mika said, "the estimate is in the actual start after mining, just down to a more realistic and practical goals".
China will become the largest natural gas consumption in China
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) data, the next 5 years China natural gas consumption will double, to become the worlds largest consumption country. Even if China domestic shale gas production from 200000000 cubic meters in 2013 increased to 30000000000 cubic meters, the supply is inadequate consumption 1/10.
In order to replace the pollution to the atmosphere of coal, and 60% from the Middle East and other overseas markets need to rely on imported oil, China is stepping up to ensure that the origin of natural gas. Although the domestic shale gas resources development is considered to be the key measure to cut energy related imports, but at least from the forefront of the development of Chongqing, we have not yet heard the horn Chinese "shale gas revolution".