A new production facility in the Xijiang 30-2 oilfield, operated by the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) Shenzhen company, began operations Tuesday, 65 days ahead of schedule.
The project stands out as the most productive of the South China Sea's oilfields this year, with an anticipated peak output of more than 3,600 tons of crude oil per day.
The Xijiang 30-2B platform is situated approximately 142 kilometers southeast of Shenzhen in waters with an average depth of 98 meters. The platform, designed to accommodate 23 production wells, is a multifunctional structure that combines drilling, production, and living quarters.
Its impressive scale includes a height of nearly 198 meters, weight exceeding 30,000 tons, and a deck area of over 3,600 square meters — nearly the size of 10 standard basketball courts.
Since production began in 1994, the Xijiang Oilfield has been a cornerstone of China's offshore energy production. It has a commendable track record, producing at least 2 million cubic meters of crude oil annually for 28 consecutive years, amounting to a cumulative production exceeding 100 million cubic meters.
It has earned the distinction of being the South China Sea's highest cumulative producer.
With the platform in operation, the number of operational production facilities in the Xijiang Oilfield has increased to seven, bolstering the nation's energy security.
According to CNOOC, the platform's key equipment is completely designed and built domestically. The platform boasts a digital coverage rate of 95% for core operations and is equipped with sophisticated systems such as an intelligent production and operation system, a typhoon-proof unmanned production mode, regional power networking, and 5G connectivity.
CNOOC focuses on oil and gas exploration and production in China's offshore waters. It has developed into an international company with operations in 20 countries. CNOOC earned US$164.76 billion in revenue in 2023, ranking 42nd on Fortune's Global 500 companies list.