Operators test remote-controlled gas production workflow of the Shenhai-1 deep-sea gas platform in Sanya City, south China's Hainan Province. Zhou Yu/CNOOC
China's offshore oil giant, China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), announced on Monday that it has achieved full remote control operations of Shenhai-1, the first deep-sea gas platform operated by a Chinese company. The upgraded platform is capable of working in extreme weather conditions, such as typhoons, with no human intervention needed.
The Shenhai-1 deep-sea gas platform. Xie Jixiao/CNOOC
According to a CNOOC manager, the Shenhai-1 is the world's first semi-submersible deep-sea gas platform to operate successfully in a typhoon while being operated by remote control.
This groundbreaking development is a "key step" towards CNOOC's goal of smart gas fields and a key breakthrough for China's energy security, the company said.
Engineers evacuate from the Shenhai-1 deep-sea gas platform before a typhoon strike. Tang Shuai/CNOOC
Located in the South China Sea, southeast of Hainan Island, the Shenhai-1 gas field is the world's first 100,000-tonne-level semi-submersible deep-sea gas platform with an annual production capacity of 3 billion cubic meters. It began operations in June 2021, and its remote control upgrade marks a significant milestone in China's efforts to expand its offshore energy production capabilities.