China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) announced on Monday the discovery of its first deep coalbed methane (CBM) field with proved geological reserves exceeding 110 billion cubic meters in China's Shaanxi province.

The discovery of the Shenfu deep CBM field, located in Yulin, Shaanxi province, at the eastern edge of Ordos Basin, will further facilitate the growth of China's reserves and production of unconventional oil and gas, it said.

CBM refers to natural gas that is stored within coal seams and those found at depths exceeding 1,500 meters is referred to as deep CBM. China has abundant CBM resources, with that at depths within 2,000 meters exceeding 30 trillion cubic meters and deep CBM accounting for about one-third of this total, said CNOOC.

Xu Changgui, deputy chief exploration engineer of the company, said the discovery of the deep CBM field demonstrates the broad prospect of exploration and development in the eastern edge of the Ordos Basin.

The discovery provides important guidance for exploration in similar basins and facilitates the growth of our reserves and production of unconventional oil and gas, he said.

zhengxin@chinadaily.com.cn