China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has announced the commissioning of an offshore carbon capture and storage (CCS) project.
The development marks China’s first CCS project and is part of the Enping 15-1 oilfield development.
The oilfield is in the Pearl River Mouth Basin, roughly 190km south-west of Hong Kong.
The Enping 15-1 project, which is said to have high carbon dioxide (CO₂) content, began production in December 2022.
CNOOC owns a 100% stake in the project and is its operator.
The CO₂ produced from the oilfield will be captured and processed before being injected into the saline water layer under the seabed at a depth of around 800m.
According to CNOOC, the initiative fills the gap in China's offshore CO₂ storage technology.
The project has the capacity to store about 1.5 million tonnes of CO₂, equivalent to planting around 14 million trees.
CNOOC CEO Zhou Xinhuai said: “The successful commissioning of the Enping 15-1 oilfield CCS demonstration project will strongly support the company’s efforts in increasing reserves and production and pursuing green and low-carbon development.
“CNOOC will continue to gear up its R&D activities, to promote the green development of offshore oilfields, and explore 'offshore storage of onshore carbon' to provide a new solution of carbon reduction for the high-emitting enterprises in the coastal areas.”
Earlier this week, the Chinese company announced that the Buzios5 well in the Santos Basin offshore Brazil has commenced production.
