Annual output is expected to reach 30 billion cubic meters by 2020 and then jump to a range of 80 to 100 billion cubic meters in another ten years, according to a document released by the National Energy Administration (NEA).

China's exploitable shale gas reserves are estimated at 21.8 trillion cubic meters, with 544.1 billion cubic meters discovered.

Currently, only the United States, Canada, China and Argentina commercially produce shale gas.