China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), the country’s state-owned energy giant, has announced a significant oil discovery in the deep and ultra-deep waters of the South China Sea. The newly identified reserves, estimated at over 100 million tons of proven in-place oil equivalent, mark a major breakthrough in offshore exploration.
The discovery was made at the Huizhou 19-6 oilfield, situated in the eastern region of the South China Sea, where water depths average around 100 meters. According to CNOOC, the primary oil-bearing formations are the Paleogene Enping Formation and Wenchang Formation, both known for their high-quality light crude oil.
The exploration well HZ19-6-3 was drilled using the Haiyangshiyou 943 rig and reached a total depth of 5,415 meters. During drilling, a substantial 127-meter oil and gas pay zone was encountered. Production tests confirmed the well’s daily output capacity at 413 barrels of crude oil and 2.41 million cubic feet of natural gas.
Xu Changgui, CNOOC’s Chief Geologist, highlighted the significance of this find, stating:
“This discovery represents the largest integrated clastic oilfield in the northern South China Sea in terms of original oil in place. It challenges traditional geological theories and underscores the vast exploration potential of deep and ultra-deep plays in China’s offshore basins.”
CNOOC’s CEO, Zhou Xinhuai, emphasized the strategic importance of the eastern South China Sea, calling it a key driver of offshore oil and gas production. He noted that this marks the second consecutive year in which oilfields with reserves exceeding 100 million tons have been discovered in the area.
Beyond this discovery, CNOOC has been actively ramping up production. Earlier this month, the company successfully launched operations at the Caofeidian 6-4 oilfield comprehensive adjustment project and Wenchang 19-1 oilfield Phase II, further strengthening its offshore portfolio.