URUMQI, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- A massive gas reservoir with expected reserves of over 100 billion cubic meters was found in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, according to PetroChina's local branch.

[caption id="attachment_54369" align="alignnone" width="900"] Photo shows the construction site of a gas well in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Dec. 19, 2020. (Photo by Zhou Jianling/Xinhua)[/caption]

A preliminary probe indicates the reservoir, covering an area of 156 million square meters beneath the middle of the southern rim of the Junggar Basin, contains 109 billion cubic meters of gas, said Huo Jin, general manager of PetroChina's Xinjiang branch, on Friday.

[caption id="attachment_54370" align="alignnone" width="900"] A staff member works at the construction site of a gas well in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Dec. 19, 2020. (Photo by Zhou Jianling/Xinhua)[/caption]

It is expected to be capable of producing 610,000 cubic meters of natural gas and 106.3 cubic meters of crude oil per day, according to Huo.

[caption id="attachment_54371" align="alignnone" width="900"] Photo shows the site of a gas well in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Dec. 18, 2020. (Photo by Zhou Jianling/Xinhua)[/caption]

"The discovery marks a major breakthrough in gas exploration in the southern rim of the Junggar Basin, which will further guarantee the gas supply of our company and contribute to the stability and prosperity of the region," he said.

[caption id="attachment_54372" align="alignnone" width="900"] Staff members work at the construction site of a gas well in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Dec. 19, 2020. (Photo by Zhou Jianling/Xinhua)■[/caption]