China discovers first large, ultra-shallow gas field in South China Sea

It has a capacity of 100 billion cubic metres.

China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has announced that Chinese authorities have approved the gas in-place at the Lingshui 36-1 gas field at over 100 billion cubic metres.

In a statement, CNOOC said this is the world’s first large-size, ultra-shallow gas field in ultra-deep water.

Lingshui 36-1 gas field is located in the southern portion of the Central Sag, Qiongdongnan Basin. It has a water depth of approximately 1,500 metres, and the burial depth of 210 metres. 

“The field has been tested to produce over 10 million cubic metres per day of absolute open flow natural gas,” CNOOC said.

Prior to this discovery, CNOOC has also discovered other large-size gas fields in Yinggehai, Qiongdongnan and Pearl River Mouth basins, namely Dongfang 1-1, Liwan 3-1, Lingshui 17-2, and Baodao 21-1. 

According to CNOOC, the total proved gas in-place in the region has exceeded 1 trillion cubic metres.