Oil company CNOOC Ltd has announced the start of production at the Xijiang 24 block development project, located in the Pearl River Mouth Basin in the South China Sea. This project is the ninth brought online by the company in this maritime zone in 2025. The site is expected to reach a capacity of around 18,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) in 2026. The field produces light crude oil.
A model based on existing infrastructure integration
The development of the oilfield is based on adjacent facilities from the Huixi fields and includes the addition of a new unmanned wellhead platform. According to CNOOC Ltd, this platform, named Xijiang 24-7, is the first offshore structure in China designed for high-temperature fluid cooling. The aim is to reduce thermal impacts on subsea pipelines to ensure production stability.
The project, fully owned by CNOOC Ltd, involves the drilling of 10 wells. This approach supports the group’s strategy to optimise existing assets while controlling development costs in complex offshore environments.
Multiple regional startups in 2025
CNOOC Ltd recently launched production at the Weizhou 11-4 adjustment project and its satellite fields in the Beibu Gulf Basin. The site is designed to reach a peak output of around 16,900 boe/d in 2026. Other projects launched this year in the South China Sea include the Dongfang 1-1, Dongfang 29-1, Panyu 11-12/10-1/10-2, Weizhou 5-3, Wenchang 9-7, Wenchang 16-2 and phase II of Wenchang 19-1.
Last year, the South China Sea accounted for nearly 600,000 boe/d of the company’s 1.93 million boe/d in net production. These developments support growth in domestic output while aligning with the country’s energy security goals.
Stronger positioning in international markets
Alongside its operations in China, CNOOC Ltd has also reinforced its international presence in 2025. The company brought online the Yellowtail project offshore Guyana, where it holds a 25% stake in the Stabroek block. In Brazil, it is a partner in the offshore Buzios7 and Mero4 projects, holding 7.34% and 9.65% stakes respectively.
During the first nine months of 2025, CNOOC Ltd’s net production reached 578.3 million barrels of oil equivalent, up 6.7% year-on-year. Domestic production increased by 8.6%, while international growth stood at 2.6%. Natural gas production rose by 11.6% over the period.
