Chongqing Initiative Named to China's First Batch of Landmark Major Application Scenarios for Improving Shale Gas Development Efficiency

Recently, Chongqing's Huadi Company, part of the Chongqing Geology and Mineral Resources Group, has achieved national recognition: its "Full-Process Application Scenario Project for New Technologies and Equipment in Efficient Shale Gas Development" has been selected into China's first batch of landmark major application scenario projects. A total of 136 projects were selected nationwide, including three from Chongqing.

Chongqing accounts for about 30% of China's proven shale gas reserves and serves as a core pillar of the Sichuan-Chongqing natural gas production base with a capacity of 100 billion cubic meters. Aimed at common industry pain points — insufficient reservoir sweet spot identification accuracy, high single-well development costs, and high dependence on foreign high-end core equipment — the project has joined forces with oil and gas producers, equipment manufacturers, and universities and research institutes to form a collaborative innovation alliance. Around five core domains — exploration and evaluation, intelligent drilling, precision fracturing, efficient drainage and production, and green and safe operations — it focuses on nine major categories of intelligent extraction equipment, striving to build a full-chain, independent and controllable "Chongqing Solution" that integrates geological exploration, engineering implementation, and production operation and maintenance. The project's selection stems precisely from its focus on common industry pain points: in real exploration and development settings, it puts an independent and controllable technology and equipment solution to the test — validating technologies, establishing standards, and spurring the industrial chain, rather than merely building engineering facilities.

▲ File photo of shale gas extraction. Provided by the interviewee

According to reports, once completion and commissioning, the project will effectively boost shale gas exploration and development efficiency in Chongqing, significantly lower overall development costs, and advance the shift of shale gas development toward intelligent and green operations. It will support the stable supply of natural gas in the region, speed up domestic substitution of oil and gas equipment, and help secure the energy security baseline for Southwest China.

"Application scenarios" serve as real-world proving grounds where frontier technologies and new products can be validated and commercially trialed. They answer three practical questions — whether a technology is usable, whether it performs well, and whether it is affordable — and in doing so close the loop from technological breakthrough to industrial application. Spanning five major categories — new fields and new tracks, industrial transformation and upgrading, sector-specific applications, social governance and services, and livelihood-related fields — the first batch of the list brings together more than 1,700 new technologies, over 1,200 new products, and more than 2,200 new standards and specifications. The list is also notable for its multi-level leadership: central government ministries and commissions lead 25 items, central state-owned enterprises lead 21, and provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities, and cities with independent planning status lead 90. Projects on the list are eligible for support through policy tools including central investment and government procurement, and will receive preferential allocation of funding and production factors.

Source: Chongqing Daily