CNOOC Limited has started production from the Xijiang Oilfields 24 Block Development Project, a shallow-water offshore oil development in the Pearl River Mouth Basin, the company said.

The project ties into existing infrastructure from the nearby Huixi Oilfields and includes a newly installed unmanned wellhead platform, Xijiang 24-7. Development plans call for the drilling of 10 production wells, with output expected to ramp up to a plateau of about 18,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2026.

The field produces light crude oil, in line with CNOOC’s strategy of prioritizing higher-quality barrels from mature offshore basins while maintaining stable production growth.

A key feature of the development is the Xijiang 24-7 platform, which CNOOC described as China’s first unmanned offshore platform equipped with high-temperature fluid cooling and export capabilities. The temperature control system is designed to reduce the impact of elevated fluid temperatures on subsea pipelines, helping to support long-term production stability and lower operational risks.

CNOOC holds a 100% interest in the Xijiang 24 Block project and is the operator.