LONDON, UK: BP Plc said that it has signed a second production sharing contract (PSC) for shale gas exploration, development and production with China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC). The PSC covers an area of approx 1,000 square kilometres at Rong Chang Bei in the Sichuan Basin, China. In March 2016, BP and CNPC signed their first shale gas PSC on the adjoining Neijiang-Dazu block. As with the earlier contract, CNPC will operate the Rong Chang Bei PSC.
This PSC marks another achievement under BP and CNPC’s framework agreement on strategic cooperation that was signed in October 2015 during the visit to the UK of The president of The People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping. In addition to unconventional resource exploration and development, the framework agreement covers possible future fuel retailing ventures in China, potential new oil and LNG trading opportunities globally and carbon emissions trading, as well as sharing of knowledge around low carbon energy and management practices.
As the world’s largest developing country, China plays a vital role in the transformation of the global energy mix and aims to increase the proportion of gas in its overall primary energy consumption. As a new strategic focus for China, the exploration, development and production of shale gas is expected to significantly benefit the country’s energy mix in the long term.
“We are pleased to be making further progress in our strategic partnership with CNPC and deepening our business in China. This second shale gas PSC in China builds on the successful cooperation we are already seeing with the Neijiang-Dazu PSC signed in March,” said Bob Dudley, BP Group chief executive.
"China is important for global energy markets and for all BP’s businesses. With this new PSC sealed, we want to further expand our presence in this vital market. The two recently-signed shale gas PSCs not only underline BP’s continued confidence in the Chinese market, but also reaffirm our dedication to support China in unlocking its potential for more sustainable energy development,” said Edward Yang, BP China president.
“CNPC and BP's existing cooperation covers various areas including upstream and retail business in China, overseas upstream exploration and development and international trading. Building upon the framework agreement on strategic cooperation signed last year, the two unconventional resource PSCs signed this year are manifestation of our deepening cooperation. By leveraging the parties' complementary advantages, CNPC and BP will jointly realise the efficient development of unconventional resources,” added Wang Yilin, chairman of CNPC.
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BP, CNPC sign first shale gas production contract in China