China Exploration & Production

CNOOC charts course for deep water in South China Sea

By Li Xin and Zhang Yiping 15 December 2014
CNOOC is considering linking Lingshio 17-2 to a pipeline that carries gas from the Yacheng 13-1 field. (CNOOC) CNOOC is considering linking Lingshio 17-2 to a pipeline that carries gas from the Yacheng 13-1 field. (CNOOC)

State-owned China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) is looking to ramp up exploration in the South China Sea, with the goal of finding a single deepwater field that could equal its entire domestic output in 2013.

CNOOC aims to find a deepwater oil and gas field in the South China Sea with production capacity of 40-50 million tons of oil equivalent (mtoe), said former company Vice President Zhou Shouwei at an industry event in Shanghai last month. CNOOC has pumped 50 mtoe from Chinese waters every year since 2010.