Gas output at PetroChina's Kela II tops 10 bcm

BEIJING, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Natural gas output at PetroChina's (0857.HK)(PTR.N)(601857.SS) Kela II field in the northwestern Xinjiang region has risen this year to more than 10 billion cubic metres (bcm) as of Thursday, a company newspaper said.

The field, one of the largest and with among the best gas quality in China, began operating in late 2004 and has produced a total of 22 bcm of gas.

The field could maintain annual output of 10.8 bcm for 16 years and provide ample supplies to China's flagship West-East gas pipeline, reported the China Petroleum Daily.

The West-East pipeline, which has annual capacity of 17 bcm, pumps gas from remote Xinjiang to coastal regions in the east.

China has stepped up development of the clean energy source to power its fast-growing economy, as its domestic oil production is rising slowly due to limited proven reserves.

In the first 10 months of this year, the country produced 20 percent more gas compared with a year earlier at 56 bcm, while oil production rose only 1.4 percent. (Reporting by Jim Bai; Editing by Edmund Klamann)