Abstract

The Chinese government and its agencies were trying in order to solve the unstability of resource supply and
demand. Ministry of Land and Resources of China(MLR) carried out a lot of national-level policy and planning for
estimating the domestic mineral and energy resources potential and recoverable reserves, as the Chinese land and
resources survey plan(1999~2010), the Chinese mineral resource survey and exploration plan(2008~2020),
announcement for shale gas industry policies of China, the Chinese shale gas resources evaluation and selection
project for its development priority areas(2012), and the plan for Chinese shale gas development(2011~2015). The
two large sedimentary basins of Chinese shale gas reserves are Sichuan and Tarim basins with excellent potential,
accounting for majority of the estimated national reserves. Recoverable gas-bearing shale of China was surveyed to
be widespread. The volume of recoverable shale gas reservoirs in China has been estimated to be around 31 trillion
cubic meters(1,115 trillion cubic feet). China is one of only three countries with the US and Canada to produce
shale gas in commercial quantities. China is concentrating on technology development to enhance commercial
production of shale gas, and on survey and exploration activities to increase its recoverable reserves. The trends
related to shale gas development and R&D activities in China to respond to changes in international oil market
should be actively monitored based on analysis of Chinese policies and technology.

Keywords shale gas, China, Ministry of Land and Resources of China, resources potential, recoverable reserves.