By the end of 1999

there are 171 discovered hydrocarbon gas fields in China(not including Taiwan Province;the same below).Their total geological reserves amount to 20 635×10

8

m

3

recoverable reserves 13 049×10

8

m

3

the remaining recoverable reserves 10 213×10

8

m

3

.Ever since 1981 natural gas reserves have increased by 7.9 times.due to the enhancement of exploration and researches

as well as the application of the theory of coal measure gas.Large or medium size gas fields with proven geological reserves over 100×10

8

m

3

are 47.Their total proven geological reserves are up to 15 171×10

8

m

3

and covers 74% of total proven geological reserves in China.Within 6 largest gas fields with proved geological reseves over 500×10

8

m

3

the first fields 4 are coal-formed gasfields

indicating the importance of coal-formed gas field in China's gas reserves.Newly estimated conventional gas resources in China are 50.6×10

12

m

3

with 13.3×10

12

m

3

recoverable reserves.By the end of 1999

only 9.8% of the recoverable resources are proved.If the proved rate can be as high as that of Canada

the proved rate could be 41.9%

proved recoverable reserves would be 5.58×10

12

m

3

.It is estimated that annual gas production will reach 500×10

8

m

3

in the year 2005 and 1 000×10

8

m

3

in the year 2015 in China.The ratio of reserve to production of Romania

ltaly

Mexico

and German were only 14～27 when its production reached 120×10

8

m

3

and this production kept for 30 year or even more.Compared with them

Tarim Basin can insure 30 years of stable gas production of 120×10

8

m

3

per year with its 3 397×10

8

m

3

remaining recoverable gas reserves.(the reserve-production ratio is 28).So the gas reserves in Tarim Basin is ready for the "West-East Gas Pipeline Project".