China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has discovered a major oilfield in the South China Sea. According to Xinhua news agency, the oilfield holds over 100 million tonnes of proven reserves.

Location and Production

Huizhou 19-6 lies within China’s Exclusive Economic Zone. It is about 170 km (106 miles) off Shenzhen’s coast in Guangdong Province. Moreover, the water depth is around 100 meters. Notably, test drilling has already produced 413 barrels of crude oil and 68,000 cubic meters of natural gas per day.

Challenges in Exploration

However, offshore drilling presents several challenges. Deep and ultra-deep exploration involves high temperatures, extreme pressure, and complex geological conditions. Despite these difficulties, Huizhou 19-6 is China’s first large-scale clastic oilfield in such extreme conditions.

China’s Energy Goals

As part of its energy strategy, China aims to reduce its reliance on imported oil. Furthermore, officials predict crude oil imports may peak next year as transportation fuel demand begins to decline.

Rapid Progress in Exploration

Meanwhile, China continues to make significant discoveries. According to CNOOC CEO Zhou Xinhuai, the country has identified multiple oilfields exceeding 100 million tonnes in reserves over the past two years.