China/South China Sea: China Finds Sizable Natural Gas Field in South China Sea

Feb 10, 2015 | Associated Press
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China said its recent gas discovery in the politically volatile South China Sea could yield 100 billion cubic meters of natural gas, underlining Beijing's determination to extract resources from waters claimed by several nations.

The Lingshui 17-2 gas field was discovered 150 kilometers south of China's southernmost island of Hainan, and the Ministry of Land and Resources has approved it as a large-scale find, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

It cited the country's main offshore oil and gas producer, China National Offshore Oil Corp. Calls to the company's press office rang unanswered Tuesday.

Xizhou Zhou, senior director and head of China for IHS Energy, said that 100 billion cubic meters was a "decent amount but not that substantial," and equivalent to about six to seven months of Chinese gas supply currently.