Haiyang Shiyou 696, China’s first large ship dedicated to offshore well stimulation, has entered sea trials. The WS25000-class unit in the Tuna Offshore Series is designed for large-scale offshore fracturing campaigns and can also perform both fracturing and proppant-filling operations.
With an overall length of 99.8 m and a breadth of 22 m, Haiyang Shiyou 696 is outfitted with a full spread of well stimulation equipment, including fluid supply, blending and sand-mixing systems. Its design focuses on a high level of system integration and intelligent control, combining high displacement and power with large storage capacity and enhanced operational safety. These features enable efficient, high-volume fracturing work in offshore fields. The vessel is the first integrated large well stimulation ship to be built in China.
The vessel was independently developed as part of the Tuna Offshore Series by Shanghai Ship Research and Design Institute (SDARI) and constructed by Wuhu Shipyard for CNOOC (China) Limited.
Construction of Haiyang Shiyou 696 started in early 2024. The keel was laid on 21 November 2024, and the ship was launched on 3 April 2025. Wuhu Shipyard held the sea-trial departure ceremony on 26 December 2025, marking the official start of sea trials.
