AN oilfield was discovered by a Shenzhen-based technology team in the South China Sea on Friday, and it has proven oil and gas reserves reaching 102 million tons of oil equivalent, according to the China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC).

The Kaiping South oilfield, featuring light crude oil, is located in the eastern part of the South China Sea, approximately 300 kilometers from Shenzhen. The average depth of the ocean at the oilfield is about 500 meters and the deepest hole drilled is 4,831 meters deep.

The Kaiping Depression presents complex geological challenges for exploration due to intersecting faults. The technology team of CNOOC Shenzhen Branch conducted intensive drilling since 2023. Four wells confirmed substantial industrial oil flows, leading to the discovery of the oil field in Kaiping South.

(Xinhua)