CNOOC starts production at Wenchang 9-7 field

• CNOOC started production at the Wenchang 9-7 Oilfield Development Project in western Pearl River Mouth basin.
• The project is the first offshore low permeability oilfield that utilizes miscible gas flooding.

CNOOC Ltd. started production at the Wenchang 9-7 Oilfield Development Project in western Pearl River Mouth basin in about 120 m of water.

Main production infrastructure consists of a new drilling and production platform which leverages the adjacent existing infrastructure for development. A total of 25 development wells are planned to be commissioned, including 18 production wells and 7 gas injection wells. The project is expected to achieve a plateau production of about 12,000 boe/d in 2027. The oil property is light crude.

The project is the first offshore low permeability oilfield that utilizes miscible gas flooding, enhancing recovery in this low permeability reservoir development, the operator said. CNOOC has built a gas network in Wenchang oilfields to recover and use associated gas. The pipelines are interconnected, and flare gas and waste heat is recovered. Wenchang 9-7 Oilfield has zero flaring, CNOOC said. 

Wenchang 9-7 Oilfield is equipped with the first 5 Mw offshore high-temperature flue gas ORC power generation unit which is expected to generate up to 40 million kw-hr of electricity and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 33,000 tons/year.

CNOOC is operator of Wenchang 9-7 Oilfield and holds 100% interest.