Oil production from Daqing peaked at about 1.1m barrels per day (b/d) in 1997.

That is even more expensive than it sounds, because each well produces only a small amount: perhaps 180 b/d, compared with as much as 7, 000 b/d from some Persian Gulf wells.

Of that, some 1m b/d is sold at subsidised prices at home or to regional allies, leaving just 1.25m b/d for full-price exports.