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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

China's petroleum potential

Journal Article · · World Pet.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6541898

Between 1949 and the end of 1974, the People's Republic of China increased its crude oil production from an approximate 2,450 bpd to about 1.3 million bpd. The rate of 1 million bpd was attained and surpassed during the last quarter of 1974. These current figures include about 50,000 bpd of shale oil. Gas production during the same time period increased from a few thousand cubic feet per day (Mcfd) to about 800 million Mcfd. However, this came from many sources. It is concluded that ultimate recovery of onshore reserves will not be less than 20,000 million bbl, and it may reach 40,000 million bbl. If a recovery of 30,000 million additional bbl for the offshore is assumed, then China's ultimate potential could be on the order of 70,000 million bbl. If this overview is correct, China's ultimate productivity of oil and gas is small by the standards required for major nations of the world. China will have to turn increasingly outward for fuel supplies or she will have to develop an alternate energy source within a comparatively brief period of time.

OSTI ID:
6541898
Journal Information:
World Pet.; (United States), Journal Name: World Pet.; (United States) Vol. 21; ISSN WOPTA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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