The technology, developed by the research institute of oil recovery in cooperation with an oil refinery of the Shengli Oilfield, will be used to pump air into oil reserves to stir up microbes so as to reduce water content of the oil reserves and enhance oil recovery.

Experiments show that the air-aided microbe oil displacement technology is expected to help increase the oilfield's daily output by 25 percent, according to researchers with the institute.

The new process of oil displacement is easy to operate and environmentally friendly, with low cost and no harm to stratum, the researchers said.

China's second onshore oilfield with an average daily output of 520,000 barrels, the Shengli Oilfield has a history of more than 40 years, but faces the challenges of an accelerated rate of progressive reduction in oil production, low oil recovery efficiency and difficulties in stabilizing production.

China has become a net importer of oil since 1993. Last year the nation imported nearly 100 million tons of crude oil, with its reliance on the world oil market up to 34 percent.

(Xinhua News Agency June 29, 2004)