n a significant step forward for China’s offshore oil sector, China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has announced the commencement of production at the Jinzhou 23-2 oilfield, marking the country’s first offshore multi-layer heavy oil thermal recovery project.

Located in the northern part of the Bohai Sea, approximately 13 meters beneath the surface, the Jinzhou 23-2 project aims to bolster energy supply to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. This project employs an innovative method—“steam stimulation+chemical auxiliary steam flooding”—to reduce the viscosity of crude oil, enhancing the extraction and utilization of reserves in this challenging offshore heavy oil field.

The Jinzhou 23-2 development includes two new central processing platforms and will see the installation of 67 wells, including 65 production wells and two water source wells. The project is expected to reach a peak production of 17,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2027.

In addition to its technological advancements, the project is also notable for its subsea cable installation, which has been described as the longest inter-platform connection in Bohai Bay. Fulan Offshore, the contractor responsible for this milestone, confirmed the completion of this critical infrastructure work earlier this month.

CNOOC’s aggressive expansion strategy continues to push forward, following recent project launches such as the Huizhou 26-6 oilfield development in the South China Sea. In addition to these, the company kicked off production at a new oilfield in Bohai Bay just two months ago and began natural gas production from another major development in the South China Sea, where total proved reserves exceed one trillion cubic meters.

This latest achievement reinforces CNOOC’s commitment to boosting China’s energy security while advancing technological innovation in the oil and gas sector.

Key Facts:

•Project: Jinzhou 23-2 offshore heavy oil thermal recovery project

•Location: Bohai Sea, China

•Production Start: December 2024

•Peak Production: 17,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (2027)

•Technology: Steam stimulation + chemical auxiliary steam flooding

•Infrastructure: Longest inter-platform subsea cable in Bohai Bay

As CNOOC continues to expand its footprint, industry leaders are closely watching the company’s ability to scale new technologies and increase production capacity in the offshore oil and gas sector.

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