China National Offshore Oil Corporation(CNOOC)has commenced production at the Weizhou 11-4 oilfield adjustment and satellite fields development project in the Beibu Gulf Basin,located in the South China Sea off the coast of China.CNOOC serves as the sole owner and operator of the project.

The oilfield produces light crude and operates in waters with an average depth of 43 metres.Development utilises nearby existing infrastructure to optimise efficiency.Key facilities include a new unmanned wellhead platform and a central processing platform linked to an established platform via a trestle bridge.

A total of 35 development wells are scheduled for commissioning,comprising 28 production wells and 7 water injection wells.The project is projected to reach peak output of approximately 16,900 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2026.

"The project has adopted a coordinated development plan of'three offshore processing centers+one onshore terminal,'serving as a gathering and transportation hub to release the resource capacity and ensure stable energy supply in the region,"CNOOC explained.

This successful start-up follows the launch of another CNOOC oilfield project in the Pearl River Mouth Basin just over two months earlier,demonstrating continued progress in expanding offshore production capacity.

By integrating new facilities with established infrastructure,the Weizhou 11-4 project enhances operational efficiency and supports reliable energy delivery to meet regional demand.The development contributes to the sustained growth of domestic hydrocarbon resources in the Beibu Gulf area while maintaining high standards of safety and environmental management throughout the offshore operations.