CNOOC Ltd has commenced production at the Xijiang Oilfields 24 Block Development Project, marking the company's ninth startup in the South China Sea for 2023. This project, situated in the Pearl River Mouth Basin, is projected to add approximately 18,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed) to the company's output by next year.
The development leverages existing infrastructure from the nearby Huixi Oilfields along with a new unmanned platform, which is the first of its kind in China designed for high-temperature fluid cooling and export. CNOOC plans to drill a total of 10 wells for this initiative. In addition, the company recently announced the start of production at the Weizhou 11-4 Oilfield Adjustment and Satellite Fields Development Project, which is expected to peak at around 16,900 boed by 2026.
Last year, the South China Sea contributed nearly 600,000 boed to CNOOC Ltd’s overall output of 1.93 million boed. In 2025, the company anticipates more expansions, including projects in the Bohai Sea and several overseas initiatives.