China Starts Production at Major Oil Field in Bohai Sea

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

China's state-owned oil and gas firm China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has brought online the Kenli 10-2 oil field (Phase I), the largest shallow lithological oil field offshore China.

The project is located in southern Bohai Sea, with an average water depth of about 20 meters.

The main production facilities include a new central platform and two wellhead platforms, which leverages the adjacent existing facilities for development.

According to CNOOC, 79 development wells are planned to be commissioned, including 33 cold recovery wells, 24 thermal recovery wells, 21 water injection wells and one water source well.

The project is expected to achieve a peak production of approximately 19,400 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2026. The oil property is heavy crude.

Kenli 10-2 oil field is the first lithological oilfield with proven in-place volume of 100 million tons discovered in the shallow depression zone of the Bohai Bay Basin.

It is being developed in two phases. CNOOC has adopted an innovative combined development approach of ‘conventional water injection combined with steam huff and puff and steam flooding’, providing strong technical support for the efficient utilization of oil reserves.

The project’s platform integrates both conventional cold production and thermal recovery systems, and is equipped with over 240 sets of key equipment. It is one of the most complex production platforms in the Bohai region and the first large-scale thermal recovery platform for heavy oil in southern Bohai Sea, CNOOC claims.

“The successful commencement of production of this project marks a new stage in the development of complicated heavy oil reservoirs offshore China. It will strongly support the Company’s Bohai Oilfield to achieve the annual gross production target of 40 million tons, contributing to the Company’s high-quality development through high-level operations,” said Yan Hongtao, President of CNOOC.

CNOOC holds 100% interest in this project and is the operator.

Categories: Deepwater Shallow Water Well Operations Workover FPSO Shale LNG Maintenance Support Vessel Construction Vessel Floating Production Industry News Activity Production Asia Bohai Bay Oil and Gas

Related Stories

Petronas, CNOOC Ink LNG Sale and Purchase Agreement

Blackford Dolphin Semi-Sub to Keep Drilling Offshore India

Pakistan Greenlights TPOC-Led Offshore Exploration in Block-C

MODEC Forms Dedicated Mooring Solutions Unit

Seatrium Maintains $12.8B Order Book on Renewables and FPSO Progress

Petrobras’ New FPSO Sets Sail From South Korea to Brazil's Santos Basin

Eni-Petronas Gas Joint Venture Up for Launch in 2026

Timor Gap Boosts Stake in Finder Energy’s Timor-Leste Oil Fields

PV Drilling Takes Ownership of Noble Corporation’s Stacked Jack-Up Rig

DOF Secures Moorings Hook-Up Job in Asia Pacific

Current News

Offshore Rig Outlook: As 2025 Challenges Fade, Path Ahead Brightens

Offshore Energy and Boosting the Energy Efficiency of Water Processes

Low Demand, High Supply Keeps Asia LNG Spot Prices Flat

Following Big Loss in 2025, Oil Steadies

Saipem Lands $425M Turkish Gas Contract in Sakarya Expansion

OE’s 2025 Top of the Festive Video Pops: Santa Goes Offshore

India Seeks $30B from Reliance, BP Over Gas Shortfall at Offshore Fields

PV Drilling’s Jack-Up Rig Returns to Asia Ahead of April Drilling Ops

South Korean Firm Buys Into Indonesian Offshore Oil Block

Petronas, CNOOC Ink LNG Sale and Purchase Agreement

Subscribe for AOG Digital E‑News

AOG Digital E-News is the subsea industry's largest circulation and most authoritative ENews Service, delivered to your Email three times per week

https://accounts.newwavemedia.com