By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Oct. 11 -- ROC Oil Ltd., Sydney, said gross production from C and D oil fields on Zhao Dong Block in China's Bohai Bay was reduced to 22,000 b/d from 30,000 b/d based upon government-approved 2006 production levels.
"The government's requirement that all production rates should strictly adhere to the approved development plan has resulted in both fields being temporarily subject to constrained production rates," said ROC, operator of the block with 24.5% interest that it acquired from Apache Corp. (OGJ, July 3, 2006, p. 37).
Other partners in the block are PetroChina Co. Ltd., 51% interest, and New XCL-China LLC, 24.5% interest. ROC and its partners are discussing the 2007 production forecast and preparing a proposal for the government to consider expanding production capacity.
ROC said its net production from Zhao Dong will be reduced by almost 2,000 b/d, possibly until Dec. 31. But ROC's overall production only will be reduced by about 1,000 b/d because of increased production at Cliff Head oil field off Western Australia.
"Western oil companies don't often come across the concept that oil production may need to be temporarily reduced because a field has out-performed expectations," said ROC Chief Executive Officer John Doran. "In fact, we are much more familiar with situations where production is reduced because a field has under-performed."
