South China Sea Photo: VCG

Asia's first 300-meter deep-water jacket Haiji One, designed and built independently by a Chinese team, was successfully deployed into water and accurately positioned in the eastern part of the South China Sea on Monday, which will help increase offshore oil and gas production.

The deep-water jacket serves as a pedestal holding a massive offshore oil drilling platform, which are the most widely used in offshore oil and gas production. 

The jacket developed by China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) sets a new record for the offshore installation of deep-water jackets in Asia, which proves that China's marine drilling technology and installation capability has reached the world's leading level.

Haiji One is 302 meters tall, close to the height of the Eiffel Tower, ranking in the top 10 of the kind in the world. Its total weight reaches 30,000 tons, and the steel used can make a medium-sized aircraft carrier.

Zhang Wei, a representative from the CNOOC, said that the jacket is the country's first attempt to develop a 300-meter deep-water jacket platform, which is more economical and safe, and it can significantly reduce the cost of drilling well and subsequent production operations.

Its successful application has opened up a new path for China's economic and effective development of oil and gas resources in 200 to 400-meter waters, Zhang noted. It will be put into service at Lufeng 15-1 Oilfield located in the South China Sea.

The annual crude oil production of Lufeng Oilfield Group is equal to 1.85 million tons, and the new jacket will inject new impetus to the economic and social development of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and improve China's energy security.

Global Times