China Gains Breakthrough in Extremely-Viscous Crude Development

Steps to further develop the Lvda 5-2 oil field – the world's first offshore extremely-viscous oil field – recently got underway. It was a milestone of China's large-scale development of the crude oil industry.

Developed by a research institute affiliated to China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), the Lvda 5-2 oil field has the highest viscosity of proved oil fields in the Bohai Sea.

An integrated injection-production tubular pile was used for the first time in the injection pump in the project. It saves more than 1 million yuan ($143,400) for each round of oil injection and production of a single well compared to traditional separated injection and production pipes.

It means that more than 200 million yuan can be saved in operation in the eight oil injection and production proceedings of 26 wells, which efficiently lowers the economic threshold of extremely-viscous crude development.

The Bohai Sea is home to rich extremely-viscous crude resources. Its development is an indispensable part of guaranteeing national energy security.

Sound development of the Lvda 5-2 oil field is expected to be a precious experience of a practical, safe, reliable and economical method in offshore extremely-viscous crude development.

(Executive editor: Wang Ruoting)