-- Last month, the Jianghan Petroleum Administration found geophysical evidence that there are excellent prospects for gas exploration in many parts of Wuhan, including such areas as Hannaqu in the Jiangxia District, Zhuankou and Caidian Districts, as well as Jiayu, Honghu, Xiantao, and others. If exploration of these gas reserves proves successful, Wuhan will rewrite the history of oil and gas resources, as the Changjiang Daily reported Monday (April 2, 2007).

According to experts from the Jianghan Oilfield Geophysical Exploration Company, the reserves are like "covered traps," the newspaper said. In geological theory, the general structure of marine oil and gas resources are shaped like an overturned pot, creating a pocket that encloses a reserve of recoverable oil.

A 2006 topographic map of the region shows a core area of 300 square kilometers as the area cited for reserve exploration, the newspaper said. The top of the oil pocket is only 70 kilometers away from Wuhan, the newspaper said.

According to a reliminary expert analysis, the region may hold from 140 to 250 billion cubic meters of natural gas reserves, which would rank it among the top in the nation, the newspaper reported. Jianghan Petroleum Authority has decided to officially open drilling exploration, drilling more than 7,000 meters down. In addition, three-dimensional seismic exploration will also continue. If the find is confirmed and has no cracks or gas leaks, large-scale development will begin, the newspaper said.