Sichuan-Chongqing natural gas field, or Chuanyu field, under China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) became the first base ever to produce more than 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas a year in China, according to Southwestern China Petroleum Administration.

Southwestern Sichuan Province and Chongqing Municipality have been in great demand for natural gas, a result of soaring oil prices and relatively stable natural gas prices.

Meanwhile, a major section of China's West-to-East Natural Gas Pipeline, Zhongwu Pipeline, is expected to be put into use in the near future in the country's southwestern part.

To cope with the situation, Sichuan-Chongqing natural gas field has mapped out its production targets in the near future: 10 billion cubic meters in 2005, 13 billion cubic meters in 2007 and 15 billion cubic meters in 2010.

Sichuan and Chongqing have been traditionally rich in natural gas deposits, with 240 billion cubic meters of natural gas in reserve.

So far, more than 100 natural gas fields have been detected with about 10,000 kilometers of pipeline laid.