China's first offshore carbon storage project achieves major progress, exceeding 100 million cubic meters

On September 10, China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) announced that the cumulative carbon dioxide storage volume of the Enping 15-1 oilfield carbon storage project—China’s first offshore CO₂ storage demonstration project located in the Pearl River Mouth Basin—has exceeded 100 million cubic meters. This achievement is equivalent to reducing carbon emissions by planting 2.2 million trees, marking the maturity of China’s offshore carbon dioxide storage technology, equipment, and engineering capabilities. It holds significant importance for accelerating the realization of the country’s "dual carbon" goals and promoting green, low-carbon economic and social transformation.

As the first high-carbon dioxide oilfield in the eastern South China Sea, the Enping 15-1 oilfield would, if developed using conventional methods, produce carbon dioxide along with crude oil. This would not only corrode offshore platform facilities and subsea pipelines but also increase carbon dioxide emissions, contradicting the principles of green development.

After four years of research, CNOOC has pioneered the deployment of China's first offshore CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) project at this oilfield, with an annual CO₂ storage capacity of over 100,000 tons. In May this year, China’s first offshore CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage) project was launched on the platform of the same oilfield, achieving a comprehensive upgrade in equipment, technology, and engineering for offshore CCUS. By using technological means to both enhance crude oil production and sequester CO₂, the project has established a new model of marine energy recycling characterized by "using CO₂ to drive oil extraction and trapping carbon through oil production." Over the next decade, the oilfield is expected to inject more than one million tons of CO₂, boosting crude oil production by up to 200,000 tons.

Xu Xiaohu, Deputy General Manager of the Enping Operations Company under CNOOC Shenzhen Branch, stated: "Since its official commissioning, the project has been operating safely for over 15,000 hours, with a peak daily CO₂ injection capacity of 210,000 cubic meters. By adopting an innovative model that integrates ecological protection with energy development, it provides a replicable and scalable new pathway for the green and low-carbon exploitation of China’s offshore oil and gas fields. This initiative stands as a major practical achievement in China’s efforts to realize its carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals."

CNOOC is actively leading the trend in offshore CCUS development, driving its evolution from standalone demonstration projects toward clustered expansion. The company has launched China’s first ten-million-ton carbon capture and storage cluster project in Huizhou, Guangdong, which will precisely capture carbon dioxide emissions from enterprises in the Daya Bay area and transport them for storage in the Pearl River Mouth Basin. This initiative aims to establish a complete and internationally competitive offshore CCUS industry chain.

At the same time, CNOOC is fully leveraging the significant potential of carbon dioxide in enhancing oil and gas recovery. Plans are underway to establish a northern CO₂-enhanced oil recovery center centered on the Bozhong 19-6 gas field, and a southern CO₂-enhanced gas recovery hub leveraging the trillion-cubic-meter natural gas region in the South China Sea.

Wu Yiming, Manager of the Production Department at CNOOC Shenzhen Branch, stated: "The steady development of CCUS technology will provide technical support for China to achieve its 'dual carbon' goals, drive the transition of the energy industry toward green, low-carbon, and sustainable development, and contribute China’s solutions and strength to global climate governance."

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