BEIJING -- China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) announced the full operation of the second phase of its flagship gas field in the South China Sea on Wednesday. This milestone marks the completion of what is now recognized as the country's largest offshore natural gas development.

With this advancement, the gas field, known as Shenhai Yihao or Deep Sea No. 1, reaches its designed production capacity of 4.5 billion cubic meters annually. CNOOC, the largest offshore oil and gas producer in China, highlighted this achievement as a significant boost for the nation’s energy security and sustainability.

The Shenhai Yihao gas field is noted for its proven geological reserves exceeding 150 billion cubic meters of natural gas. The project initiated its first phase of production in June 2021, which set the groundwork for this expansive development.

Natural gas extracted from this field is transported to key coastal terminals located in Hong Kong, Sanya in Hainan, and Zhuhai in Guangdong. This infrastructure effectively supplies major economic regions and integrates seamlessly into the national gas pipeline network.

The second phase of the project represents a remarkable feat in deepwater gas development, operating under the most extreme temperatures and pressures ever encountered in domestic offshore exploration. It also marks China's deepest gas development effort, functioning at water depths exceeding 1,500 meters and well depths surpassing 5,000 meters.

According to project manager Liu Kang, the production infrastructure and technical expertise cultivated through the execution of this project will significantly aid future complex deepwater oil and gas exploration efforts. This advancement is expected to enhance the role of marine resources in bolstering national energy supply.