A CNOOC oilfield in Bohai Sea Photo: Courtesy of CNOOC

China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) announced on Wednesday a new 100-million-ton discovery in the shallow Neogene formations of China’s Bohai Sea — the Qinhuangdao 29-6 Oilfield. 

This marks the 7th consecutive 100-million-ton oilfield discovered in China’s largest crude oil production base, the Bohai Oilfield, since 2019, China Media Group reported. 

The discovery further strengthens China's offshore oil and gas reserves and is of great significance to safeguarding national energy security, said the report.

According to the report, the Qinhuangdao 29-6 Oilfield is located in the central Bohai Sea and represents another hundred-million-ton lithologic oilfield in the region following the major discovery of the Qinhuangdao 27-3 Oilfield in recent years. Testing shows that a single well can produce approximately 370 tons of crude oil per day, demonstrating strong exploration potential.

An official from CNOOC said that the company has strengthened innovation in the hydrocarbon migration and accumulation models and technologies for the shallow Neogene slope zones, leading to the recent discovery. 

This achievement challenges the conventional understanding that slope areas merely serve as pathways for hydrocarbons rather than sites for substantial accumulation, demonstrating the significant exploration potential of uplifted peripheral slopes, said the report.

Global Times