CNOOC Limited has confirmed a major oilfield discovery at Qinhuangdao 29-6 in the shallow Neogene formations of the Bohai Sea, with proved in-place volumes exceeding 100 million tons of oil equivalent.
The Qinhuangdao 29-6 Oilfield is situated in the central Bohai Sea. The main oil-bearing interval is the Neogene Minghuazhen Formation, characterized by shallow burial depth. The crude oil is classified as medium-heavy.
The discovery well was drilled and completed to a depth of 1,688 m. It encountered 66.7 m of oil pay zones and tested at approximately 2,560 barrels of crude oil per day. Continued exploration has confirmed that the proved in-place volume of the Qinhuangdao 29-6 Oilfield exceeds 100 million tons of oil equivalent.
According to Xu Changgui, Chief Geologist of CNOOC Limited, the discovery resulted from enhanced research into hydrocarbon migration and accumulation models in shallow Neogene slope zones, combined with technological innovation. He noted that the finding challenges the conventional view that slope areas primarily serve as migration pathways rather than sites of significant accumulation, and highlights the exploration potential of uplifted peripheral slopes influenced by intense extensional–strike-slip faulting.
Qinhuangdao 29-6 marks the second one-hundred-million-ton-class lithological oilfield identified in the mature exploration area of the Shijiutuo Uplift. The discovery underscores the role of detailed geological evaluation in sustaining reserves growth and supporting future production.
