Overview

• The China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) announced the discovery of the Huizhou 19-6 oil field, with over 100 million tonnes of proven reserves.
• The field is located approximately 170 kilometers off the coast of Shenzhen in an uncontested area of the South China Sea.
• Test drilling at Huizhou 19-6 achieved daily production of 413 barrels of crude oil and 68,000 cubic meters of natural gas.
• The South China Sea remains largely underexplored due to territorial disputes, though many known deposits are located in uncontested regions.
• This discovery aligns with China's strategy to secure domestic energy resources and reduce reliance on imports, emphasizing the region's strategic importance.