Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Crude Oil and Natural Gas Liquids Country Notes

China

Proved recoverable reserves (crude oil and NGLs, million tonnes)	2 212
Production (crude oil and NGLs, million tonnes, 2005)	180.8
R/P ratio (years)	12.2
Year of first commercial production	1939

The first significant oil find was the Lachunmia field in the north-central province of Gansu, which was discovered in 1939. An extensive exploration programme, aimed at self-sufficiency in oil, was launched in the 1950s; two major field complexes were discovered: Daqing (1959) in the north-eastern province of Heilongjiang and Shengli (1961) near the Bo Hai gulf.

As the Chinese WEC Member Committee was unable to contribute any data for the present Survey, oil reserves are based upon published material. The major sources appear to be approaching a degree of consensus: World Oil, OPEC and BP all quote a level in the vicinity of 16 billion barrels, whilst Oil & Gas Journal has reduced its estimate from 18.25 billion at end-2005 to 16 billion at end-2006. OAPEC quotes 18.25, possibly echoing OGJ's earlier figure.

China's oil reserves are by far the largest of any country in Asia: oil output is on a commensurate scale, with the 2005 level accounting for about 40% of the regional tonnage. China exported 8.1 million tonnes of its crude oil in 2005.