On October 24, a representative from China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) in Shenzhen shared exciting news about a significant milestone in China’s deepwater oil and gas development. The “Beihai Kaituo” oil tanker, fully loaded with over 30,000 tons of qualified crude oil, has smoothly departed from its berth. This marks the successful completion of the first oil export operation for the “Hai Kui No. 1,” Asia’s first independently designed and built cylindrical FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading unit), showcasing China’s advancements in this sector.
In an interview, Wu Xiaolu, the Deputy General Manager of CNOOC’s Liuhua Oilfield, explained the challenges faced during this operation. It coincided with Typhoon Tanmei, which brought strong winds and turbulent seas. Despite the adverse conditions, the Liuhua oilfield management team seized the operational window, safely exporting 200,000 barrels of qualified crude oil over a span of 17 hours.
Further insights came from Zhai Chengyuan, the director of “Hai Kui No. 1.” He highlighted the thorough risk analysis conducted by the management team to ensure a safe and smooth operation. This included a series of preparatory actions such as connecting submerged hoses, testing emergency releases of the oil-lifting cable, and conducting trial berthing of the “Beihai Kaituo.” The team implemented stringent risk control measures and emergency plans, and they conducted multiple simulation drills to ensure that all personnel were well-versed in the operational procedures.
To provide context, “Hai Kui No. 1” is located 240 kilometers southeast of Shenzhen and functions as a comprehensive offshore oil and gas processing facility. It comprises nearly 600,000 components, stands as tall as a 30-story building, and has a maximum oil storage capacity of up to 60,000 tons.
Since the launch of “Hai Kui No. 1” and “Hai Ji No. 2” a little over a month ago, the secondary development project at the Liuhua 11-1/4-1 oilfield has maintained a stable production output. This achievement underscores China’s growing capabilities in deepwater oil exploration and production.
