PetroChina Tarim Oilfield Company has discovered a natural gas field with a proven reserve of more than 130 billion cubic meters in Baicheng County, north-west China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The gas field, with an estimated daily output capacity of 286,000 cubic meters, will join force with two other fields in Xinjiang to provide gas for the country's west-to-east gas transmission project, China News Service reported on Wednesday.

The field is believed to be the third one with reserve over 100 billion cubic meters in the region, following Kela II Gas Field in Baicheng, and Dina II Gas Field in Kuche County, which are the current suppliers of the west-east pipeline.

Xinjiang is rich in energy resources, accounting for more than one-fourth of China's total land-based oil and gas reserves. Last year, Xinjiang produced over 24 million tonnes of crude oil, ranking third in China, while its output of natural gas was first in the nation.

(Xinhua News Agency October 10, 2007)