CNOOC grants Empyrean 12-month extension for first phase drilling at Block 29/11

June 3, 2020
China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) has granted a 12-month extension to Empyrean Energy for the first phase of exploration drilling in Block 29/11, offshore China, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant global control policies.

China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) has granted a 12-month extension to Empyrean Energy for the first phase of exploration drilling in Block 29/11, offshore China, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant global control policies.

While the first phase of the exploration period has been extended to June 12, 2022, Empyrean remains committed to safely drilling its first well as soon as practicable, it said in a release June 3.

Block 29/11 lies in the Pearl River Mouth basin, some 200 km southeast of Hong Kong. Empyrean is operator with 100% of the exploration rights during the exploration phase (OGJ Online, Oct. 2, 2018). In the event of a commercial discovery, CNOOC has a back in right to 51%.