China announces the discovery of a major offshore oil field

As China continues its sustained efforts to develop offshore oil production, a major deposit has been discovered in the South China Sea, estimated at 100 million tonnes.

Share:

Mer Chine découverte pétrole

China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) recently identified a new oil field, named Kaiping South, in the South China Sea. This discovery adds to the region’s known reserves, without prejudging its future impact on overall production. The Kaiping South field exceeds 100 million metric tons in proven oil equivalent volume. The KP18-1-1d exploration well averaged 7,680 barrels of crude oil and 520 Mcf of natural gas per day.

Role of Guangdong Province

With the recent discovery of the nearby Kaiping South oil field, Guangdong province saw its crude oil production increase by 6% in 2023, reaching 401,000 barrels per day. This increase in production underlines not only the province’s strategic importance in China’s energy supply, but also its potential role in the future exploitation of offshore resources. As a major economic and industrial center, Guangdong continues to assert its importance in the country’s sustainable development and energy innovation.

Offshore Exploration Strategies

CNOOC’s initiative to step up exploration in the South China Sea is part of its ongoing activities. The company relies on the use of advanced technologies to evaluate and exploit offshore deposits, in line with industry practices. According to CNOOC’s Institute of Energy Economics, peak offshore production is expected around 2045. Between 70 and 80 million metric tons could be produced, marking a turning point. After this peak, a gradual decline is expected. However, the importance of offshore generation in the energy mix is set to grow, from less than 25% in 2020 to over 40% in 2060.

The discovery of the Kaiping South field adds to CNOOC’s portfolio of explored deposits. It highlights the ongoing exploration efforts aimed at identifying new reserves, essential to meeting energy demands. The discovery of the Kaiping South field represents an addition to current knowledge of offshore energy resources. This discovery enables us to continue assessing the energy potential of the South China Sea in a context of growing demand for resources.

BP revised upwards its production forecast for the second quarter of 2025, citing stronger-than-expected results from its US shale unit. However, lower oil prices and refinery maintenance shutdowns weighed on overall results.
Belgrade is engaged in complex negotiations with Washington to obtain a fifth extension of sanctions relief for the Serbian oil company NIS, which is majority-owned by Russian groups.
European Union ambassadors are close to reaching an agreement on a new sanctions package aimed at reducing the Russian oil price cap, with measures impacting several energy and financial sectors.
Backbone Infrastructure Nigeria Limited is investing $15bn to develop a 500,000-barrel-per-day oil refinery in Ondo State, a major project aimed at boosting Nigeria’s refining capacity.
The Central Energy Fund’s takeover of the Sapref refinery introduces major financial risks for South Africa, with the facility still offline and no clear restart strategy released so far.
PetroTal Corp. records production growth in the second quarter of 2025, improves its cash position and continues replacing key equipment at its main oil sites in Peru.
An explosion caused by a homemade explosive device in northeastern Colombia has forced Cenit, a subsidiary of Ecopetrol, to temporarily suspend operations on the strategic Caño Limón-Coveñas pipeline, crucial to the country's oil supply.
Occidental Petroleum announces a decrease in its production in the Gulf of Mexico in the second quarter, citing third-party constraints, extended maintenance, and scheduling delays.
U.S. legislation eases access to federal lands for oil production, but fluctuations in crude prices may limit concrete impacts on investment and medium-term production, according to industry experts.
Permex Petroleum Corporation has completed a US$2mn fundraising by issuing convertible debentures, aimed at strengthening its cash position, without using intermediaries, and targeting a single institutional investor.
Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA) recorded $17.52bn in export sales in 2024, benefiting from increased volumes due to U.S. licences granted to foreign partners, according to an internal document seen by Reuters.
The detection of zinc in Mars crude extracted off the coast of Louisiana forced the US government to draw on its strategic reserves to support Gulf Coast refineries.
Commissioning of a 1.2-million-ton hydrocracking unit at the TANECO site confirms the industrial expansion of the complex and its ability to diversify refined fuel production.
Oil stocks in the United States saw an unexpected rise of 7.1 million barrels as of July 4, defying analyst expectations of a decline, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Petro-Victory Energy announces the completion of drilling operations for the AND-5 well in the Andorinha field, Brazil, with positive reservoir results and next steps for production.
The Colombian prosecutor’s office has seized two offices belonging to the oil company Perenco in Bogotá. The company is accused of financing the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) in exchange for security services between 1997 and 2005.
Indonesia has signed a memorandum of understanding with the United States to increase its energy imports. This deal, involving Pertamina, aims to diversify the country's energy supply sources.
VAALCO Energy continues to operate the Baobab field by renovating its floating platform, despite modest production. This strategy aims to maintain stable profitability at low cost.
An empty reservoir exploded at a Lukoil-Perm oil facility in Russia, causing no injuries according to initial assessments pointing to a chemical reaction with oxygen as the cause of the accident.
The British Lindsey refinery has resumed fuel deliveries after reaching a temporary agreement to continue operations, while the future of this strategic site remains under insolvency proceedings.