Hainan Island, China, August 2024 – The China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) has announced a groundbreaking discovery at the Lingshui 36-1 offshore gas field, located southeast of Hainan Island province. With over 100 billion cubic meters (Bcm) of proven gas reserves, this find is being hailed as the world’s first major ultrashallow gas field discovered in ultradeep waters.
Key Details of the Lingshui 36-1 Gas Field
Reserves: The field boasts more than 100 Bcm (3.5 trillion cubic feet) of proven gas reserves.
Production Potential: Flow tests indicate that the field could produce over 10 million cubic meters per day (m3/D), equivalent to 353 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscf/D).
Location: Situated within the Central Sag, a subsection of the Qiongdongnan Basin, the field lies at an average water depth of approximately 1,500 meters, with a reservoir depth of just 210 meters below the mudline, categorizing it as an ultrashallow reservoir in ultradeep waters.
A New Frontier in Offshore Exploration
The certification of Lingshui 36-1 as an ultrashallow gas field in ultradeep waters represents a significant achievement in offshore exploration. Traditionally, shallow gas-bearing formations in deep waters were not considered viable due to the lack of structural traps needed to store significant gas volumes. However, recent seismic surveys and studies conducted by CNOOC have revealed the presence of these critical traps in sections of the Qiongdongnan Basin.
Overcoming Challenges in Exploration
Exploring and developing ultrashallow gas reservoirs in deep waters presents world-class challenges, but CNOOC has employed innovative exploration concepts and advanced technological approaches to address these difficulties. According to Xu Changgui, CNOOC’s chief geologist, these new methodologies have been crucial in unlocking the potential of the Lingshui field.
CNOOC’s Expanding Resource Base
CNOOC has been active in the Qiongdongnan Basin for decades and has reported several significant gas discoveries in the region, including in the Pearl River Mouth and Yinggehai Basins. Collectively, these findings represent an estimated 1 trillion cubic meters of gas reserves, solidifying CNOOC’s position as a leader in offshore gas exploration.
Zhou Xinhuai, CEO and president of CNOOC, emphasized the importance of the Lingshui discovery, stating, “The completion of the trillion-cubic-meters gas region embodies the enormous achievements CNOOC Limited has accomplished in the South China Sea over the past 40 years. We have now embarked on a new journey to further expand the company’s resource base.”
The Lingshui 36-1 gas field is expected to open up new opportunities for deepwater exploration, contributing to China’s growing energy needs and furthering the country’s ambitions in the global energy market.
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