China offers 18 offshore blocks

A total of 18 blocks are up for bid for exploration in 2016 to international oil and gas companies wanting to partner with operator China National Offshore Oil Co. (CNOOC).

Map of blocks up for bid, from CNOOC.

Covering 52,257sq km the blocks are in five different basins: Bohai Bay, South Yellow Sea, Yinggehai, Qiong Dongnan, and the Pearl River Mouth basin (East), which holds the majority of the blocks up for bid.

Preconditions for the bids include that CNOOC act as the operator, and the investment from the contractors can be guaranteed.

A data room will open until 30 June, and companies or consortia will need to submit offers by 31 October.

Of the blocks up for bid, the Pearl River Mouth East basin holds the most with nine blocks:

• Block 26/18 at 6104sq km, 100-200m water depth, and has six wells drilled;
• Block 28/06 at 1213sq km, 90-100m water depth, with three wells drilled;
• Block 14/21 at 5271sq km, 50-90m water depth, with two wells drilled;
• Block 29/24 at 4645sq km, 700-1500m water depth, with two wells drilled;
• Block 41/24 at 3503sq km, 500-1500m water depth;
• Block 43/08 at 7413sq km, 1500-3000m water depth, with one well drilled;
• Block 44/07 at 5240sq km, at 1500-3000m water depth;
• Block 55/05 at 6508sq km, 1000-3000m water depth; and
• Block 42/12 at 353sq km, 500-1200m water depth, with one well drilled.

The Quiong Dongnan basin has four blocks up for bid:

• Block 53/23 at 2440sq km, 300-2200m water depth;
• Block 53/54 at 980sq km, 2000-2100m water depth, with one well drilled;
• Block 53/36 at 1053sq km, 2400-2550m water depth; and
• Block 64/03 at 1400sq km, 200-1300m water depth, with one well drilled.

The Bohai Bay basin has three blocks up for bid:

• Block 11//03 at 242sq km, 20-30m water depth, with one well drilled;
• Block 11/09 at 401sq km, 20-30m water depth; and
• Block 06/36 at 1192sq km, 20-30m water depth, with one well drilled.

The South Yellow Sea basin has one block up for bid: Blcok 24/17 at 2669sq km, at 15-35m water depth, with three wells drilled.

The Yinggehai basin also only has one block up for bid: Block 50/13 at 1630sq km, 70-90m water depth, with one well drilled.