China becomes first country to achieve large-scale thermal recovery of offshore heavy oil

A CNOOC offshore oil platform in the Bohai Sea. File photo:Courtesy of CNOOC

China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) on Saturday announced that the cumulative production from offshore heavy oil thermal recovery has exceeded 5 million tons, making China the first country globally to achieve large-scale thermal recovery of offshore heavy oil.

The milestone represents a key breakthrough in the large-scale application of offshore heavy oil thermal recovery technology systems and core equipment, according to the state-owned oil major.

Heavy oil is a type of crude oil characterized by high viscosity, density, poor fluidity, and a tendency to solidify, making it difficult to extract, according to the CNOOC. Compared to onshore oilfields, offshore platforms have limited operational space and higher costs.

The large-scale development of heavy oil thermal recovery faces dual challenges in terms of technical equipment and economic efficiency, making it a globally recognized industry challenge.

In 2024, CNOOC announced the delivery of the “Recai No.1” or “Thermal Recovery No.1”, the mobile thermal-injection platform developed and built by China, filling the gap in China’s offshore heavy oil thermal recovery equipment sector.

China’s offshore heavy oil thermal recovery operations are primarily concentrated in the Bohai Sea.

In the Bohai Sea area with which East China’s Shandong Province has a coastline, heavy-oil reserves account for nearly half of the total proven crude oil reserves in the area, Xinhua reported.