China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has announced the start of production at the Dongfang 1-1 gas field 13-3 Block Development Project.

This is the first offshore natural gas project offshore China to tackle high-pressure, high-temperature conditions in a low-permeability environment. The project is located in the Yinggehai Basin, where the average depth of water is around 67m.

The main production facility includes a new unmanned wellhead platform that utilises the current processing infrastructure of the Dongfang gas fields.

With six development wells planned, the project is scheduled to reach a peak production of around 35 million cubic feet per day of natural gas by next year.

By using existing facilities to connect the Dongfang 1-1 and Dongfang 13-2 gas fields, CNOOC has created an integrated offshore gas production network in the Yinggehai Basin.

This network is set to ensure a consistent supply of natural gas across the area, thereby underpinning the economic and societal growth of Hong Kong, Guangdong and Hainan.

CNOOC has full ownership of the project and serves as the operator.

The company initiated production at the Dongfang 29-1 gas field development project in the South China Sea in January of this year, aiming to enhance China's energy supply.

This field, also situated in the Yinggehai basin, is at an average water depth of 68m and is wholly owned and operated by CNOOC.

Earlier this month, the company began production at phase one of the Kenli 10-2 Oilfields Development Project, a significant achievement for China's largest shallow lithological oilfield offshore.

Additionally, CNOOC uncovered oil and gas reserves in metamorphic buried hills off the coast of China for the first time.