BEIJING, Nov. 13 -- ABB, a leading power and automation technology group, will work to support production in the Sinopec Fuling Shale Gas Project, according to an announcement on Thursday.

ABB announced a deal with China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) to provide automation and engineering services for Phase I of Sinopec's Shale Gas Project in Jiaoshiba Block in Fuling, Chongqing, over the next three years.

A type of unconventional natural gas trapped in a free or adsorbed state in shale or mud-stone formations, shale gas is mainly composed of methane. It is considered a type of clean and new energy resource.

According to the "Shale Gas Development Plan" released by the Chinese government in 2012, China will actively promote the development and use of unconventional oil and gas resources, including shale gas.

This is expected to alleviate natural gas supply shortage in the country, as well as optimize China's energy structure, promote energy conservation and cut emissions.

The Fuling field, discovered in 2012, has reserves of 2.1 trillion cubic meters of shale gas, according to Sinopec.