COOEC starts work on Qatar project

China's largest and most complex international offshore oil and gas engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) project officially commenced construction in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province, on Tuesday, injecting fresh momentum into the high-quality joint development of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Undertaken by China Offshore Oil Engineering Co Ltd (COOEC), a specialized subsidiary of China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC), the Qatar BH EPIC project is located in the Bul Hanine oilfield off the coast of Qatar.

Backed by QatarEnergy with a total contract value of approximately $4 billion, the project marks a significant leap in the global competitiveness of China's high-end marine equipment manufacturing.

The massive energy endeavor encompasses the construction of more than 60 individual offshore oil and gas facilities and the laying of 40 subsea pipelines and cables. It also involves the complex modification of in-service platforms and the dismantling of retired ones, it said.

Xie Qinbao, general manager of the Qatar BH EPIC project at COOEC, noted that the project requires over 130,000 metric tons of steel, covering the entire industry chain, including engineering design, procurement, construction, transportation, installation and commissioning.

Its immense volume, broad business scope and rigorous technical standards set a new historical record for Chinese enterprises in similar overseas markets, Xie said.

To ensure world-class delivery, the project heavily leverages China's comprehensive offshore engineering supply chain and recent digital transformation achievements. Builders are employing advanced 3D digital modeling and full-process simulation technologies to create a benchmark project for international oil and gas cooperation, according to Liu Peng, the project's construction manager.

Industry experts view the project as a watershed moment for China's offshore engineering sector.

"Securing and executing a project of this magnitude demonstrates that Chinese offshore engineering firms have successfully transitioned from traditional subcontractors to top-tier, comprehensive EPC providers on the global stage," said Lin Boqiang, head of the China Institute for Studies in Energy Policy at Xiamen University.

In recent years, COOEC has accelerated its expansion into the global high-end marine energy market.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), the company secured over 170 overseas projects across Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Uganda and Thailand, successfully delivering internationally influential engineering feats such as the LNG Canada project, the Penguins FPSO and the Saudi Marjan project.

zhengxin@chinadaily.com.cn