On June 23, China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) announced that China's largest independently operated offshore oilfield, Suizhong 36-1 Oilfield, has produced a total of over 100 million tons of crude oil, making it the first offshore oilfield in China to achieve this milestone.
According to the deputy general manager of CNOOC's Tianjin branch, 100 million tons of crude oil is equivalent to half of China's crude oil production in 2023, which can meet the needs of a large city with millions of residents for about 20 years. This achievement plays a crucial role in ensuring national energy security, driving economic development, and meeting people's living needs.
Suizhong 36-1 Oilfield, located in the northern part of Bohai Bay, commenced production in 1993. At the peak time, it produced over five million tons of crude oil annually and has proven geological oil reserves exceeding 300 million tons. Currently, it boasts 24 offshore platforms and 545 oil wells, with a daily crude oil output exceeding 8,900 tons. It is the main oilfield in Bohai Oilfield, China’s largest crude oil production base.
Situated in the icy region at 40 degrees north latitude, Suizhong 36-1 is a heavy oil field, facing the dual challenges of freezing conditions and poor oil fluidity. It was once described by foreign experts as "a challenge to 21st-century technology." CNOOC pioneered the technique of water injection and high-efficiency heavy oil extraction, introducing and innovating technologies in processes and sand control to overcome the technical difficulties of offshore heavy oil development.
After more than 30 years of development and production, the Suizhong 36-1 Oilfield has achieved a recovery factor of 33.9 percent in developed blocks and an overall water content of over 91.8 percent. Analysis of current production data reveals that substantial remaining oil reserves are still distributed within the reservoir.
To further tap into the oilfield's potential, the Suizhong 36-1 Oilfield secondary adjustment project, which includes the construction of one new central processing platform, two wellhead platforms, and the planned deployment of 81 development wells, has been implemented. It is the largest secondary adjustment project ever undertaken offshore in China. It began construction in July 2022 and commenced production in February 2024.
To date, it has contributed more than 200,000 tons of crude oil and is expected to realize an annual capacity of one million tons, providing valuable experience for achieving stable and increased production in mature oilfields.
Suizhong 36-1 Oilfield is China's largest independently operated offshore oilfield. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Suizhong 36-1 Oilfield, located in the northern part of Bohai Bay, commences production in 1993. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Workers at Suizhong 36-1 Oilfield conduct maintenance operations. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Situated in the icy region at 40 degrees north latitude, Suizhong 36-1 is a heavy oil field, facing the dual challenges of freezing conditions and poor oil fluidity. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
(Executive editor: Zhu Zeya)
