Recently, as the morning dew lingered over Aojiawan Village in Xingxian County, Shanxi Province, technicians at the Xingxian Compressor Station of the Second Shaanxi-Beijing Pipeline slowly opened valve 2902, marking the official commissioning of the station’s new gas uploading project. This milestone signifies the successful integration of locally produced coalbed methane (CBM) into the national trunk pipeline system, opening a new channel for the export of Shanxi’s unconventional natural gas and advancing the county’s journey from a historic revolutionary base to a modern low-carbon energy hub.

Shanxi is a core area for unconventional natural gas resources in China, with proven reserves of about 20 trillion cubic meters—8% of the national total. Xingxian, due to its favorable geological structures, has become a key region for CBM development, with current daily gas output exceeding 6 million cubic meters. In recent years, the provincial government has vigorously advanced strategies to expand reserves and boost unconventional gas output, leading to a rapid production increase from 11.33 billion m³ in 2022 to 16.72 billion m³ in 2024—a 47% surge over two years.

The Shanxi branch of China Oil & Gas Pipeline Network Corporation (PipeChina) capitalized on this momentum, aligning closely with the province’s unconventional gas development plans and designating gas uploading as a strategic breakthrough. “This project opens a crucial new path for Shanxi’s gas export,” said Wang Quanle, a company representative. Once fully operational, it will deliver 175 million to 500 million standard cubic meters of unconventional gas annually to other provinces, improving utilization of local resources and optimizing the national energy supply-demand structure.

To ensure smooth commissioning, the technical team conducted multiple field inspections and verified all processes, safety protocols, and operational conditions. Risk analysis meetings were held to define safety control points and responsibilities, with detailed supervision protocols established. On launch day, staff followed the commissioning plan step-by-step—gas replacement, pressurization, and debugging—culminating in stable gas delivery to Henan’s development gas station, all executed safely and in an orderly manner.

“This project meets customer needs and brings tangible market benefits,” noted He Ming, Director of the Marketing Department. It enhances the outbound flow of Shanxi’s unconventional gas and increases first-hand resource input into the national pipeline, injecting new momentum into regional energy optimization.

“Completing the project within a month is a testament to our team's unity and resolve,” said Chang Pingliang, head of the Xingxian Operations Area. Facing tight schedules, the team formed a task force, braved summer heat and worked through the night to meet the June 30 target, exemplifying the “new-era Shaanxi-Beijing speed.”

Huosheng Xinneng Gas Group’s Xingxian Branch, the upstream party, also praised the collaboration. “The national pipeline’s efficiency is truly inspiring. This outlet has turned Xingxian’s underground resources into flowing wealth. We’ll continue working with the network to bring Shanxi gas to more regions,” said company head Huo Xiaoliang.

Following commissioning, the Shanxi branch initiated a 72-hour trial monitoring period to ensure safe, stable supply, while conducting post-launch reviews to accumulate practical experience for future projects.

Supporting the project is the Xingxian operations team, rooted in the Lüliang Mountains. As a vital node on the Second Shaanxi-Beijing Line, the Xingxian area manages two stations (compressor and distribution) and five valve chambers across 70.27 km of pipeline spanning two counties and 50 villages—acting as an energy artery connecting upstream and downstream markets.

Since its commissioning in October 2009, the Xingxian Compressor Station has played a critical role in transporting gas from Yulin to downstream stations. Equipped with three 17.2 MW electric-driven compressor units (two operational, one standby) and a 110 kV power system, it boasts an annual capacity of 17 billion Nm³, serving as a key hub for Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei gas supply.

To manage risks such as equipment failure and third-party interference, the team has embedded safety within a “Red Engine” management framework. Leveraging Xingxian’s revolutionary legacy—the area is known as “Little Yan’an” in Lüliang—the Party branch established the “Shining Red Star” brand to forge a “steel” team across five dimensions: ideological grounding, strict discipline, professional empowerment, resilient style, and accountable leadership. Red education and on-the-job training have nurtured a team of “Iron-Blood Red Star Warriors” with strong discipline, technical skill, and commitment to protecting China’s energy lifeline.

Xingxian’s operations area has earned multiple honors, including “Standardized Demo Operations Area,” “Youth Safety Model Post,” “Outstanding Party Branch,” and “Digital Transformation Benchmark Team.” These accolades reflect their adherence to core values of loyalty, integrity, and responsibility in safeguarding energy security.

From red soil to green energy, Xingxian is now writing a new chapter in energy development by linking revolutionary heritage with clean energy transformation. With stable operation of the Shaanxi-Beijing uploading project, this historic town continues to contribute “Jin Gas” power to national energy restructuring, making the march toward green development more robust and determined.