China's first offshore carbon capture, utilization and storage project put into operation

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🗞️ Driving the news: China has officially launched its first offshore carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) project at the Enping 15-1 oil platform, operated by the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC)
• Located 200 km southwest of Shenzhen, the project captures CO₂ from oil production, injects it into sub-sea reservoirs, and enhances oil recovery — representing Asia’s first large-scale offshore CCUS deployment

🔭 The context: The project builds on China's 2020 pledge to peak carbon emissions before 2030 and reach carbon neutrality before 2060
• While most global CCUS operations remain land-based, Enping 15-1 marks a rare offshore initiative
• Its development also helps address challenges unique to offshore oilfields, such as high CO₂ content in extracted crude, which can corrode infrastructure and escalate emissions

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: This project demonstrates how fossil fuel infrastructure can be adapted to support carbon mitigation
• Offshore CCUS, though technically complex, offers high storage potential and proximity to industrial CO₂ sources
• The model being pioneered in the Greater Bay Area could help decarbonize major coastal regions and create templates for other marine-based economies transitioning to net zero

⏭️ What's next: CNOOC aims to scale up CO₂ injection to 17 tonnes per hour and increase associated oil production, targeting a cumulative injection of over 1 million tonnes in the next decade
• Further equipment upgrades are planned to expand CCUS capacity, while the success of Enping 15-1 may spur additional offshore CCUS projects in China and across Asia, aligned with regional decarbonization targets.

💬 One quote: “This project is a milestone in offshore carbon management and a key step in safeguarding energy security while advancing national climate goals,” — Wan Nianhui, General Manager, Enping Oilfield Operations, CNOOC

📈 One stat: To date, the Enping 15-1 project has injected nearly 200,000 tonnes of CO₂, with a target of over 1 million tonnes by the mid-2030s

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