CNOOC made a significant oil and gas discovery in the South China Sea, marking the first find in metamorphic buried hills off China’s coast. The Weizhou 10-5 South Field in the Beibu Gulf revealed reserves with a 211m pay zone at a total depth of 3,362m. Production testing showed capabilities of 165,000ft³ of natural gas and 400 barrels of oil per day.

CNOOC’s CEO and chief geologist highlighted the breakthrough in buried hills exploration, emphasizing the company’s commitment to technological innovation. The discovery underscores the vast exploration potential in the Beibu Gulf Basin, paving the way for further deep plays and mature area exploration.

The recent discovery follows CNOOC’s start of production at the Weizhou 5-3 oilfield project in the Beibu Gulf Basin, with peak production of 10,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day expected by 2026. This development adds to the company’s previous oilfield discovery in the eastern South China Sea, showing its ongoing success in offshore exploration.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: CNOOC achieves breakthrough in South China Sea exploration