China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has taken a significant step forward in its energy expansion by commencing production at the billion-tonne Bozhong 26-6 Oilfield Development Project (Phase I) located in the northern Bohai Sea.
Situated offshore in the central Bohai Bay with an average water depth of 20 meters, the Bozhong 26-6 Oilfield is set to become a major player in the global oil market. The project is projected to reach a peak production of approximately 22,300 barrels of oil equivalent daily by 2025, primarily extracting light crude oil.
Phase I of the project features state-of-the-art facilities, including a new central processing platform and an unmanned wellhead platform. Liu Jingliang, director of Bozhong 26-6 Oilfield at CNOOC's Tianjin Branch, stated, \"We plan to develop 33 wells and achieve a peak daily production of oil and gas equivalent exceeding 3,500 cubic meters.\"
The Bozhong 26-6 Oilfield boasts an accumulative petroleum reservoir of 200 million cubic meters, earning it the title of the world's largest metamorphic oilfield. The reservoirs are embedded in seabed hills, thousands of meters below the surface, and are predominantly composed of metamorphic rocks.
The project's rapid advancement, achieved through standardized engineering practices, allowed the oilfield to transition from discovery to production in just three years. This swift development highlights CNOOC's capability to efficiently convert reserves into active production.
The broader Bohai Oilfield region is a powerhouse of energy production, featuring over 50 oil and gas fields and more than 200 production facilities. In 2024, production remained steady, with crude oil output surpassing 30 million tonnes for three consecutive years and cumulative oil and gas equivalent production exceeding 600 million tonnes. Additionally, recent explorations have uncovered six billion tonnes worth of oil and gas fields, further cementing the region's importance in the global energy landscape.
As CNOOC continues to develop its assets in the Bohai Sea, the Bozhong 26-6 Oilfield stands out as a testament to China's growing prowess in offshore oil extraction and its commitment to meeting the world's energy demands.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
