CNOOC Limited, a leading offshore oil and gas producer, has announced the commencement of production at the Liuhua 11-1/4-1 Oilfield Secondary Development Project. Located in the eastern South China Sea, this project is a testament to CNOOC’s innovative approach to deepwater oilfield development. The project consists of two oilfields, Liuhua 11-1 and Liuhua 4-1, situated at an average water depth of approximately 305 meters. The project’s infrastructure includes a newly constructed deepwater jacket platform, named ‘Haiji-2’, and a cylindrical FPSO (Floating Production, Storage and Offloading) unit, known as ‘Haikui-1’. These facilities support the development of 32 production wells, with a projected peak production of 17,900 barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2026. The oil produced is characterized as heavy crude.
CNOOC’s CEO and President, Mr. Zhou Xinhuai, highlighted the project’s innovative ‘Deepwater Jacket Platform + Cylindrical FPSO’ mode as a first-of-its-kind deployment in Asia. The company has overcome numerous technological challenges to bring the project to fruition, demonstrating its expertise in deepwater oilfield development. This new approach not only revitalizes the deepwater oilfields with original oil in place exceeding 100 million tons but also significantly reduces construction and production costs. Mr. Zhou Xinhuai stated, “This project provides a Chinese solution for the efficient development of similar deepwater oil and gas fields.”
CNOOC Limited holds a 100% interest in this project and acts as the operator. This significant development further solidifies CNOOC’s position as a leading force in offshore oil and gas exploration and production, demonstrating its commitment to sustainable resource development and technological advancements.
