China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) is stepping up the pace of shale gas development at its flagship Chang-ning asset in south-west China’s Sichuan basin, mobilising dozens of rigs in a campaign aiming to boost daily gas throughput by 50% by the end of this year.

CNPC is on track to complete 88 new development wells at the Changning shale gas play, covering the Gongxian, Xingwen, Junlian and Changning areas.