CNOOC has started production at Bohai Bay’s Bozhong 26-6, the world’s largest buried metamorphic hill oilfield.Producing light crude, it aims for 22,300 barrels per day at peak this year. The field holds over 200 million cubic meters of proven oil and gas. CNOOC achieved production just three years after discovery.CNOOC plans 33 wells at Bozhong 26-6, including 22 for production.
Facilities include a central processing platform and an unmanned wellhead platform.President Yan Hongtao calls Phase I a milestone in developing deep buried hill reservoirs and Bohai’s CCUS base.CNOOC has begun production at Bohai Bay’s Bozhong 26-6, the world’s largest buried metamorphic hill oilfield, targeting 22,300 barrels per day at peak.The project includes 33 wells and CCUS technology to store 1.5 million metric tons of CO₂. CNOOC plans more start-ups in 2025, aiming for over 2 MMboed.CNOOC Ltd. has officially begun production at Bohai Bay’s Bozhong 26-6, the world’s largest buried metamorphic hill oilfield. Producing light crude, the field is expected to reach a peak output of 22,300 barrels of oil equivalent per day this year.
With an average water depth of about 20 meters (65.62 feet), Bozhong 26-6 holds over 200 million cubic meters (7.06 billion cubic feet) of proven oil and gas reserves.The company, majority-owned by China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC), emphasized its rapid development timeline, bringing the field from discovery to production in just three years through standardized engineering practices.Advanced CCUS ImplementationAs part of its commitment to reducing carbon emissions, Bozhong 26-6 is one of CNOOC’s demonstration carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) projects in the Bohai region. The project employs advanced technology to capture and separate carbon dioxide from crude oil extraction before reinjecting it into the reservoir, enhancing oil recovery while reducing emissions.
The company expects this CCUS initiative to store approximately 1.5 million metric tons of CO₂ throughout the field’s life cycle.Development Plan and InfrastructureCNOOC is developing Bozhong 26-6 with 33 wells, including:22 production wells10 gas injection wells1 water access wellInfrastructure for the project includes a new central processing platform and an unmanned wellhead platform, marking a significant step in the company’s ability to develop complex buried hill reservoirs.CNOOC Ltd.
President Yan Hongtao highlighted the project’s importance, stating that Phase I of the Bozhong 26-6 development strengthens the company’s expertise in offshore deep play reservoirs and contributes to the construction of the Bohai CCUS base. He also noted its role in boosting energy supply and supporting low-carbon initiatives across the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and Bohai Rim regions.
Expanding Global Production
Bozhong 26-6 is CNOOC’s third hydrocarbon production start-up in 2025, following:
Panyu 11-12/10-1/10-2 Oilfield Adjustment Joint Development Project (South China Sea)
Dongfang 29-1 Gas Field (South China Sea)The company also plans to begin production this year at:
Kenli 10-2 Oilfields Development Project (Phase I)
(China)Buzios7 Project (Brazil)Yellowtail Project (Guyana)
According to CNOOC’s 2025 strategy, the company aims to increase net production to over 2 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (MMboed).Production Growth TargetsCNOOC Ltd. achieved record-high output for six consecutive years, with 2024 production reaching 720 MMboe.
Future targets include:2025: 760-780 MMboe (69% from China)2026: 780-800 MMboe2027: 810-830 MMboeExploration and Technology InvestmentsCNOOC is actively seeking large and medium-sized oil and gas fields to support continued reserves and production growth.
Key 2025 exploration plans include:China: Focus on crude oil reserves and expansion of natural gas reserves, led by the development of three trillion-cubic-meter gas regions in the South China Sea.Overseas: Continued drilling in Guyana, rolling exploration in Nigeria, and seismic surveys in Mozambique and Iraq.Global asset expansion: Seeking high-quality acreage, with an emphasis on operating assets.
To accelerate reserve-to-production conversion, CNOOC is promoting exploration-development integration and engineering standardization. The company also remains committed to advancing digital intelligence through its proprietary “Hi-Energy” artificial intelligence model, aiming for optimized management across its oil and gas operations.
Diversification into New EnergyCNOOC plans to integrate its hydrocarbon operations with emerging new energy sectors, aligning with China’s broader strategy to balance energy security with sustainability.Through these efforts, CNOOC continues to solidify its position as China’s top offshore petroleum and natural gas producer, with an aggressive focus on production growth, innovation, and decarbonization.
