China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) Launches Sustainable Oilfield Development Project

The Chinese state-owned oil and gas giant, China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), has initiated production from the Wenchang 9-7 oilfield development project off the coast of China. This project showcases a move towards more sustainable hydrocarbon production practices.

Located in the western Pearl River Mouth Basin, the Wenchang 9-7 oilfield development project operates in an average water depth of approximately 120 meters, producing light crude oil. As the sole owner and operator, CNOOC has introduced a new drilling and production platform as the main facility, utilizing existing infrastructure for development. The project plans to commission 25 development wells, including 18 production wells and 7 gas injection wells.

Anticipated to reach a plateau production of around 12,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2027, CNOOC emphasizes its commitment to resource efficiency and sustainable development. The project marks a significant milestone as the first offshore low-permeability oilfield to adopt miscible gas flooding technology, enhancing oil recovery from challenging reservoirs.

Furthermore, CNOOC’s focus on efficient gas recovery and utilization is evident in the establishment of a comprehensive gas network in the Wenchang oilfields. By interconnecting pipelines and recovering flare gas and waste heat, the Wenchang 9-7 oilfield achieves ‘zero flaring’ with the world’s first 5MW offshore high-temperature flue gas ORC power generation unit.

This innovative approach is projected to generate up to 40 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 33,000 tons per year. The project commencement follows recent successes for CNOOC, including production launches at the Caofeidian 6-4 oilfield and Wenchang 19-1 oilfield Phase II, as well as a notable discovery at the Weizhou 10-5 oil and gas field in the South China Sea.