This year, PetroChina's Xinjiang Oilfield Company has been fully developing the Jimsar shale oil field, which boasts 1 billion tons of shale oil reserves, Xinhua reported.

The company has mobilized 36 drilling rigs, started drilling on 47 wells and completed eight wells till now. The daily drilled footage surpassed 2,000 meters and the total drilled footage reached 160,000 meters.

PetroChina has ramped up exploration efforts on Bohai Bay Basin, Songliao Basin, Ordos Basin and Junggar Basin in recent years and shale oil was listed as one of the four exploration goals. Dagang Oilfield, Xinjiang Oilfield, Tuha Oilfield and Changqing Oilfield have been set as important demonstration zones.

Xinjiang Oilfield Company said it planned to mobilize 45 drilling rigs this year to finish drilling nearly 100 wells.