China’s first in‑situ expansion platform for offshore oil and gas at 100‑metre water depth enters operation

According to CCTV News, on 9 September, China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has brought the country’s first in‑situ expansion platform for offshore oil‑and‑gas operations at the 100‑metre water‑depth tier into service, following the successful commissioning of the first adjustment well for expansion at the Enping 24‑2 oilfield. This opens up fresh approaches for tapping potential and raising output from ageing offshore oilfields.

Positioned roughly 200 kilometres to the south‑west of Shenzhen within the Pearl River Mouth Basin, the newly‑launched platform works at an operating water depth of nearly 100 metres. The project adopts an innovative solution of fitting new modules onto the existing offshore installation. 

Without halting ongoing field production or reconstructing the original production system, the newly‑attached facility adds twelve well slots, which can accommodate up to sixteen adjustment wells. It directly tackles operational constraints caused by fully occupied well positions and restricted output capacity on the older platform.

Enping 24‑2 stands as one of the core producing fields in the Pearl River Mouth Basin. Since it came on stream back in October 2014, this oilfield has delivered more than 12 million tonnes of crude oil in total.

Domestic offshore hydrocarbon development in China pursues parallel progress on new‑build projects and upgrading existing assets. Operators are shifting focus towards performance enhancement for mature fields, whose improved productivity now forms a key underpinning for stable offshore output. 

The deployment of this in‑situ expansion technology for waters around 100 metres deep will further refine the domestic technical framework for offshore oil‑and‑gas exploitation. It will deliver practical demonstration value for sustaining stable marine hydrocarbon output and reinforcing the nation’s self‑sufficiency in energy supply.