Wushi 23-5, an environmentally friendly oilfield cluster in the Beibu Gulf of South China, officially commenced operations on Monday, marking a significant advancement in sustainable practices within the energy sector, according to the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC).

The cluster, which comprises 46 production wells located in eastern waters of the Beibu Gulf, is projected to achieve a peak daily crude oil output exceeding 2,000 tonnes.

"From design and construction through to production, the oilfield cluster integrates environmentally friendly and low-carbon technologies throughout its entire operational cycle. We have successfully implemented zero discharge and zero pollution for the water utilized in production," stated Dai Yi, general manager of CNOOC's Wushi oilfield operation company.

"Notably, this is the first oilfield in the Beibu Gulf to obtain electricity from shore, which has facilitated a reduction in annual offshore gas consumption equivalent to 20,000 tonnes of standard coal," Dai added.

The operational model of the Wushi 23-5 cluster is comprehensive, encompassing oil and gas extraction alongside gathering, processing, and sales. The processing technology efficiently converts associated natural gas into liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which are suitable for storage, loading, and transportation.

"Utilizing the development of the Wushi 23-5 oilfield cluster as a strategic opportunity, we have encouraged local green industries, including projects that synthesize fishing and photovoltaic energy as well as the advancement of offshore wind resource development," remarked Deng Yong, deputy general manager of the CNOOC Zhanjiang Branch.

"This initiative serves as a model for the low-carbon transformation of offshore oil exploration and production," he emphasized, highlighting the project's broader environmental impact.