[DUMBGRUNT]

China's shale basins contain gas trapped in high-pressure formations more than 10,000 feet deep. They're generally hotter, farther underground and more complex than those in the major U.S. shale plays.

Is it local condition, locally produced equipment or the operators inexperience that slows them down?

[thackney]

Lack of equipment, lack of experience using that equipment is the biggest problem. But even if that matched the US, the last sentence you copied shows it would be harder and more expensive.