China confirms the discovery of a major natural gas field in the South China Sea
- The location, in waters southeast of Hainan, is estimated to contain more than 100 billion cubic metres of natural gas
China has confirmed the discovery of a major gas field in the South China Sea, state media reported on Wednesday.
Called Lingshui 36-1, the field is estimated to contain more than 100 billion cubic metres of natural gas and is the world’s first “ultra-shallow gas field in ultra-deep waters”, China’s official Xinhua News Agency reported.
The latest “major exploration breakthrough” was announced by the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) in June, and the discovery was reviewed and registered by state authorities on Wednesday.
The report did not specify the exact location of the field, only saying it is in waters southeast of Hainan, China’s southernmost island province.
China claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea with a “nine-dash line”, while Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan all have overlapping claims. Disputes and tensions often rise over each other’s oil and gas exploration and development attempts in the contested waters.
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China confirms discovery of major natural gas field in South China Sea
The field adds to China’s detected geological reserves of natural gas in the resource-rich South China Sea and in basins offshore Hainan island and the Pearl River mouth, topping the trillion-cubic-metres level.
