emirates7 - China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) announced on Tuesday the commencement of production at a newly developed oilfield in the Bohai Sea, marking a major milestone in the nation's offshore energy exploration efforts.
The Kenli 10-2 oilfield, situated in the southern part of the Bohai Sea, is the largest lithologic oilfield ever discovered in China's offshore regions, boasting proven geological reserves of over 100 million tonnes.
During the first phase of development, 79 wells will be drilled, with production expected to reach a peak daily output of 3,000 tonnes of oil and gas equivalent. A second phase of development is also planned.
Although the field lies in relatively shallow waters—about 20 meters deep—it poses significant technical challenges due to its complex heavy oil composition.
To address these difficulties, CNOOC developed an advanced reservoir development technology specifically designed for heavy oil extraction. According to CNOOC expert Cai Hui, the system enables precise mapping of underground reservoir formations and uses high-temperature steam injection to enhance recovery.
Yan Hongtao, Vice President of CNOOC, described the successful launch of Phase I as a major breakthrough in the development of offshore heavy oil fields in China, and an important step toward achieving this year’s goal of producing 40 million tonnes from the Bohai oilfields.
The Kenli 10-2 oilfield, situated in the southern part of the Bohai Sea, is the largest lithologic oilfield ever discovered in China's offshore regions, boasting proven geological reserves of over 100 million tonnes.
During the first phase of development, 79 wells will be drilled, with production expected to reach a peak daily output of 3,000 tonnes of oil and gas equivalent. A second phase of development is also planned.
Although the field lies in relatively shallow waters—about 20 meters deep—it poses significant technical challenges due to its complex heavy oil composition.
To address these difficulties, CNOOC developed an advanced reservoir development technology specifically designed for heavy oil extraction. According to CNOOC expert Cai Hui, the system enables precise mapping of underground reservoir formations and uses high-temperature steam injection to enhance recovery.
Yan Hongtao, Vice President of CNOOC, described the successful launch of Phase I as a major breakthrough in the development of offshore heavy oil fields in China, and an important step toward achieving this year’s goal of producing 40 million tonnes from the Bohai oilfields.