China's largest coalbed methane field sees record daily output

TAIYUAN -- China's first large-scale coalbed methane field, the Daning-Jixian block in North China's Shanxi province, has reached a record daily production capacity of 11 million cubic meters, said PetroChina Coalbed Methane Co Ltd on Sunday.

Located on the eastern margin of the Ordos Basin, the field is a national demonstration project for deep coalbed methane exploitation. Construction of the field, which has proven reserves of 400 billion cubic meters, began in 2019.

In 2025, the field produced a cumulative 3.05 billion cubic meters of coalbed methane, making it the largest of its kind in the country to date.

The second phase of capacity expansion at the block is currently underway and is expected to add 1.5 billion cubic meters of annual production capacity.

As an unconventional natural gas, coalbed methane is considered a clean and strategic energy resource. Its utilization can help reduce mining risks, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and ease gas shortages.

It is widely distributed across China's major coal-bearing basins, including the Ordos Basin, Sichuan Basin and Junggar Basin. The resource is considered abundant in China, with estimated reserves exceeding 40 trillion cubic meters.