Knowledge and experience from the rapid progress in natural gas development in Sichuan and Chongqing gas fields

Since implementing the reform and reorganization 10 years ago,the PetroChina Southwest Oil and Gasfield Company has stepped into a new era of great-leap-forward development in natural gas discovery and production,and has become the first giant oil and gas company in China who owns a giant gas-dominated field with the productivity of oil and gas over 10 million tons since 2006.The productivity of natural gas in this company increased from 7.5 bcm in 1999 to 14.8 bcm in 2008,with an annual growth rate of 10% in the last decade.An overview of the 10 years of experience shows that the achieved success is attributed to the innovation in three aspects:a.Innovative thinking helps the company to explore more new areas in gas exploration and development.Guided by new exploitation strategies,more industrial shows have been explored from the Xujiahe Formation low-permeability gas reservoirs;by many improved exploitation means,high sour gas fields have been developed in a safe,cost-effective and environmentally friendly way,and more gas has been found from mature gas fields by the way of three-dimensional and progressive exploration and development.b.Innovative technology impels the company to develop its five integrated technical series in the enhancement of gas recovery,the industrial-scale development of low-permeability gas reservoirs,safe,the cost-effective and environmentally friendly development of high sour gas fields,the increase of ROP,and the ground construction.c.Innovative management drives the company to optimize resource distribution.The integrated exploration and exploitation fastens the speed of gas development,fine management stimulates mature gas fields to maintain their steady production,overall planning and fast construction keep the gas production system under smooth operation,the deepened reform and the optimized operation improve the profit of gas field,and the integrated management of gas production,transportation and marketing guarantees gas supply and helps the company to implement its political,social and economic responsibilities.