CNOOC launches production at Bozhong 26-6 oilfield in Bohai Sea

CNOOC Limited has announced the start of production for Phase I of the Bozhong 26-6 oilfield development project, located in Bohai Bay. With an expected production capacity of 22,300 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2025, this strategic project strengthens China's energy supply.

Share:

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90$/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90$/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 $/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99$/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 $/year from the second year.

The Bozhong 26-6 oilfield development project, operated by CNOOC Limited, has officially commenced production. Located in central Bohai Bay, this offshore site has an average depth of 20 meters and serves as a key infrastructure for the region’s energy supply.

A large-scale project in Bohai Sea

The oilfield development relies on a new central processing platform and an unmanned wellhead platform. The entire project consists of 33 development wells, including 22 production wells, 10 gas injection wells, and one water source well. This configuration aims to maximize oil extraction while ensuring optimal energy efficiency.

Bozhong 26-6 is recognized as the world’s largest metamorphic buried hill oilfield, with cumulative proven hydrocarbon reserves exceeding 200 million cubic meters. Thanks to standardized engineering, the time from discovery to production was reduced to three years, a notably short period for this type of infrastructure.

Production targets and outlook

According to forecasts, the project will reach a production capacity of 22,300 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2025. The extracted oil is classified as light crude, a characteristic that facilitates its processing and commercialization.

CNOOC Limited has integrated advanced technologies to enhance project profitability. The Bozhong 26-6 oilfield includes a system for capturing and reinjecting carbon dioxide (COâ‚‚) generated during extraction. This technology optimizes recovery by using COâ‚‚ to improve well efficiency while limiting emissions. The project is expected to store approximately 1.5 million tons of COâ‚‚ over its entire operational cycle.

A key infrastructure for the region

The exploitation of the Bozhong 26-6 field aligns with the strategy of strengthening the energy supply in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the Bohai area. The start of production for Phase I represents a significant milestone in the development of offshore complex reservoirs in China.

Mr. Yan Hongtao, President of CNOOC Limited, highlighted the strategic importance of this project, which demonstrates advances in the extraction of offshore buried reservoirs. The integration of extraction and emissions management technologies could also serve as a model for other developments in the region.

Increased output from Opec+ and non-member producers is expected to create a global oil surplus as early as 2025, putting pressure on crude prices, according to the International Energy Agency.
The Brazilian company expands its African footprint with a new offshore exploration stake, partnering with Shell and Galp to develop São Tomé and Príncipe’s Block 4.
A drone attack on a Bachneft oil facility in Ufa sparked a fire with no casualties, temporarily disrupting activity at one of Russia’s largest refineries.
The divide between the United States and the European Union over regulations on Russian oil exports to India is causing a drop in scheduled deliveries, as negotiation margins tighten between buyers and sellers.
Against market expectations, US commercial crude reserves surged due to a sharp drop in exports, only slightly affecting international prices.
Russia plans to ship 2.1 million barrels per day from its western ports in September, revising exports upward amid lower domestic demand following drone attacks on key refineries.
QatarEnergy obtained a 35% stake in the Nzombo block, located in deep waters off Congo, under a production sharing contract signed with the Congolese government.
Phillips 66 acquires Cenovus Energy’s remaining 50% in WRB Refining, strengthening its US market position with two major sites totalling 495,000 barrels per day.
Nigeria’s two main oil unions have halted loadings at the Dangote refinery, contesting the rollout of a private logistics fleet that could reshape the sector’s balance.
Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. enters Gabonese offshore with a strategic contract on the Ngulu block, expanding its portfolio with immediate production potential and long-term development opportunities.
BW Energy has finalised a $365mn financing for the conversion of the Maromba FPSO offshore Brazil and signed a short-term lease for a drilling rig with Minsheng Financial Leasing.
Vantage Drilling has finalised a major commercial agreement for the deployment of the Platinum Explorer, with a 260-day offshore mission starting in Q1 2026.
Permex Petroleum has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Chisos Ltd. for potential funding of up to $25mn to develop its oil assets in the Permian Basin.
OPEC+ begins a new phase of gradual production increases, starting to lift 1.65 million barrels/day of voluntary cuts after the early conclusion of a 2.2 million barrels/day phaseout.
Imperial Petroleum expanded its fleet to 19 vessels in the second quarter of 2025, while reporting a decline in revenue due to lower rates in the maritime oil market.
Eight OPEC+ members will meet to adjust their quotas as forecasts point to a global surplus of 3 million barrels per day by year-end.
Greek shipping companies are gradually withdrawing from transporting Russian crude as the European Union tightens compliance conditions on price caps.
A key station on the Stalnoy Kon pipeline, essential for transporting petroleum products between Belarus and Russia, was targeted in a drone strike carried out by Ukrainian forces in Bryansk Oblast.
SOMO is negotiating with ExxonMobil to secure storage and refining access in Singapore, aiming to strengthen Iraq’s position in expanding Asian markets.
The European Union’s new import standard forces the United Kingdom to make major adjustments to its oil and gas exports, impacting competitiveness and trade flows between the two markets.

Log in to read this article

You'll also have access to a selection of our best content.