CNOOC has achieved a significant milestone in its exploration efforts in the South China Sea, with the discovery of a new oil and gas pay zone. This follows the successful WZ10-5-1Sa exploration well, which revealed a 283-meter pay zone at the Weizhou 10-5 oil and gas field in the Beibu Gulf. The company’s recent exploration well, WZ10-5S-2d, has now encountered a 211-meter oil and gas pay zone, with a total drilled depth of 3,362 meters.
Zhou Xinhuai, CNOOC’s Chief Executive Officer, lauded the achievement, calling it a “major breakthrough” in the exploration of metamorphic buried hills in deep plays offshore China. He emphasized that this discovery sets an important precedent for advancing exploration in these challenging environments. “This marks the first major success in metamorphic sandstone and slate buried hills exploration in China’s offshore areas. It serves as a model for advancing deep play exploration and buried hills oil and gas projects,” said Zhou.
According to the company, test results from the WZ10-5S-2d well reveal daily production rates of 165,000 cubic feet of natural gas and 400 barrels of crude oil. This outcome underscores the significance of the breakthrough and its potential impact on future energy development in the region. The Weizhou 10-5 South field is located in the Beibu Gulf, approximately 37 meters below sea level.
CNOOC’s Chief Geologist, Xu Changgui, highlighted the company’s ongoing commitment to innovation and overcoming technical challenges in buried hill and deep play exploration. “In recent years, we have made remarkable strides in exploring Paleozoic granite and Proterozoic metamorphic sandstone and slate buried hills in the Beibu Gulf Basin. These achievements showcase the vast untapped potential of buried hill formations and signal the start of large-scale exploration in this area.”
CNOOC’s recent exploration success is part of a broader strategy to boost oil and gas production. In the past month, the company launched two significant offshore oilfield development projects—one in the South China Sea and another in the western Pearl River Mouth Basin—further strengthening its presence in the region and enhancing production capabilities.
Looking ahead, CNOOC plans to continue its focus on deep play exploration, investing in research and technology to support long-term growth in reserves and production. The company aims to ensure a stable supply of oil and gas to meet both domestic and international energy demands.
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