Chinese major CNOOC discloses ‘major exploration breakthrough’ with natural gas play in South China Sea
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China National Offshore Oil Corp. , the Chinese energy major and with international and domestic LNG interests, has claimed a “major exploration breakthrough” with a natural gas play in ultra-deep waters of the South China Sea.
The Lingshui 36-1 gas field is located in the western South China Sea with an average water depth of around 1,500 metres.
The main gas-bearing play is the Ledong formation with an average burial depth of 210 metres.
CNOOC said the field has been tested to produce over 10 million cubic metres per day of open flow natural gas.
“The exploration in ultra-deep water ultra-shallow gas plays in the South China Sea is faced with world-class engineering and technical challenges,” the company explained.
Success
CNOOC Chief Executive and President Zhou Xinhuai said the successful testing of Lingshui 36-1 was a breakthrough for the exploration in such plays.
“The company will continue to tackle the challenges on the exploration and development of the resources in such plays, to expedite the utilization of natural gas in deep waters,” he added.
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“The successful testing of Lingshui 36-1 further expands the resource base for the development of a trillion-cubic-metres gas region in the South China Sea,” stated Zhou.
CNOOC said in May 2024 that production started at its largest natural gas field in the central Bohai Sea offshore China.
CNOOC said start-up was at the Bozhong 19-6 Gas Field in Block 5 .
The Bozhong 19-6 natural gas and condensate field phase I development project is the first 100 Bcm field in Bohai Bay to be put into production.
CNOOC said the field would provide the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and Bohai Rim regions with “a more stable and reliable” supply of clean energy.
The company is also using the development to promote the green and low-carbon aims of China.
The main production facilities include a wellhead platform with 10 development wells planned to be commissioned and full production reached by 2026.
CNOOC holds 100 percent interest in the Bozhong 19-6 project and acts as the operator.