China’s PetroChina Unlocks Coal Rock Gas to Boost Gas Supply

Thousands ?of meters below China’s vast coal basins, PetroChina is leading a multi-billion-dollar effort to tap into coal rock gas (CRG) as a new source of natural gas. By 2035, PetroChina aims to produce 30 billion cubic meters of CRG, surpassing last year’s shale gas output. This move aligns with Beijing’s goal of diversifying its energy mix and reducing dependence on imports, a strategy that has shielded China from energy disruptions despite being the world’s top energy importer. The development of CRG, a technology currently unique to China, involves horizontal drilling and fracking. PetroChina, a top gas producer in the…