CNOOC Limited announced on Tuesday that Kenli 10-2 Oilfields Development Project (Phase I) has commenced production, marking the production launch of the largest shallow lithological oilfield 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 2 wellhead platforms, which leverages the adjacent existing facilities for development. The project is expected to achieve a peak production of about 19,400 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2026. The oil property is heavy crude.

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

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.

"The successful commencement of production of this project marks a new stage in the development of complicated heavy oil reservoirs offshore China," said Yan Hongtao, president of the company.

"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."

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

zhengxin@chinadaily.com.cn