By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Sept. 24 -- China's CNOOC Ltd. has begun activities associated with Phase I development of Dongfang (DF) field 1-1, which, with 90 billion cu me of reserves is the company's largest independent gas field and China's second largest offshore gas field after Yacheng.
The project is part of China's revived offshore exploration program (see special report and map, OGJ, Dec. 17, 2001, p. 58). CNOOC is operator with 100% interest in the field.
DF 1-1, in the Yinggehai basin off Hainan province, is about 110 km from Dongfang in the western South China Sea. Average water depth is 70 m.
CNOOC said it would develop DF1-1 in two phases: In Phase I, it will drill 12 wells and construct a central platform, a production platform, and an onshore processing terminal. Designed production capacity will be 154.8 MMcfd.
Natural gas will be piped to Hainan province customers, including a fertilizer plant, a power plant, and city gas customers.
CNOOC expects to move up Phase II development to 2006 from 2008. After its completion, the field's production capacity will increase to 232 MMcfd.
