China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has commenced production at the Wenchang 16-2 oilfield development project in the western Pearl River Mouth Basin of the South China Sea.
The independent oil and gas exploration and production company expects the offshore project to reach a peak output of around 11,200 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) by 2027.
Located in waters averaging 150 metres deep, Wenchang 16-2 leverages existing facilities from nearby Wenchang oilfields and features a newly built jacket platform.
The platform integrates oil and gas production, drilling, well completion and accommodation facilities.
The development includes plans for 15 wells targeting light crude oil.
CNOOC is both the operator and sole stakeholder in the project.
Wenchang 16-2 follows a string of recent offshore developments brought online by CNOOC in the South China Sea this year.
In April 2025, the company achieved first oil at the Wenchang 9-7 project nearby, which incorporates a new production and drilling platform, along with enhanced recovery solutions such as miscible gas flooding.
Two months later, CNOOC commenced output from the Weizhou 5-3 oilfield development in the Beibu Gulf Basin.
That project, located in shallower waters of about 35 metres, is designed to reach around 10,000boepd in peak production by 2026.
CNOOC is the largest producer of offshore crude oil and natural gas in China.
Its activities span exploration, development, production and sales of oil and gas across domestic and international assets.
