China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) announced on Sunday the successful completion of the float-over installation of the central processing platform for Phase I of the Kenli 10-2 oilfield, marking a milestone in offshore oil and gas infrastructure in the Bohai region.
The platform, a three-deck, eight-legged multifunctional structure integrating production and living facilities, stands 22.8 meters tall and weighs over 20,000 tonnes. It is now the largest and heaviest offshore oil and gas platform ever installed in the Bohai Sea.
Advanced technology played a crucial role in the operation. The project team utilized three BeiDou positioning systems enhanced with artificial intelligence algorithms aboard the main installation vessel, delivering millimeter-precision anti-collision radar capabilities. Coordinated tugboats maneuvered the vessel to position the platform accurately on the first attempt, achieving a record-setting float-over installation under challenging sea conditions.
Situated approximately 245 kilometers from Tianjin in the southern Bohai Sea, the Kenli 10-2 oilfield lies in waters averaging 20 meters deep. It is recognized as the largest lithologic oilfield discovered in China’s offshore territory, boasting proven geological reserves exceeding 100 million tonnes.
China has completed 50 float-over installations for large offshore platforms to date, with the maximum float-over capacity reaching 32,000 tonnes and a cumulative installed weight surpassing 600,000 tonnes. The country’s mastery of diverse float-over techniques and operational complexity places it at the forefront of global offshore platform installation technology.
