BEIJING -- The China National Petroleum Corporation said Wednesday that its Mahe gas field in Northwest China has produced more than 4 billion cubic meters of natural gas since it started commercial operations in 2007, setting regional production records.

The gas field, situated in the southern rim of Junggar Basin in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, comprises seven gas wells. Well 001, the largest, has a daily production of 656,000 cubic meters of gas, according to a statement on CNPC's website.

The continuous flow of natural gas from the field to Urumqi, Shihezi and other industrial cities has greatly reduced the strain on energy supplies in northern Xinjiang, the statement said.

The field, which was tapped in September 2006, has total gas reserves of nearly 30 billion cubic meters.

Xinjiang is CNPC's major focus for oil and gas exploration, as the energy-rich region accounts for over a quarter of China's total onshore reserves.

CNPC's Xinjiang branch said in March that it aims to produce three billion cubic meters of natural gas and 13 million tons of crude oil every year by 2015. The Mahe field will play a key role in helping the branch meet the target, according to the statement.