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Esso to explore Bohai Sea block

Aug. 12, 1996

Bohai Block [27836 bytes] An Exxon Corp. unit has acquired a large exploration block in China's Bohai Sea. Esso China Upstream Ltd. agreed to explore Block 2/16 in Liaodong Bay, 400 km northeast of Beijing in the northern Bohai Sea. Esso holds a 100% interest in the block, which covers about 2,625 sq km in 10-25 m of water. The acreage was offered for foreign competition by state owned China National Offshore Oil Co. (Cnooc) with bids due May 31, 1995. After the contract is approved by

Bohai Block [27836 bytes]

An Exxon Corp. unit has acquired a large exploration block in China's Bohai Sea.

Esso China Upstream Ltd. agreed to explore Block 2/16 in Liaodong Bay, 400 km northeast of Beijing in the northern Bohai Sea.

Esso holds a 100% interest in the block, which covers about 2,625 sq km in 10-25 m of water.

The acreage was offered for foreign competition by state owned China National Offshore Oil Co. (Cnooc) with bids due May 31, 1995.

After the contract is approved by government agencies, Esso plans to begin a 3D seismic survey and then commence exploratory drilling.

A Cnooc unit operates nearby Jinzhou 20-2 oil and gas field and Suizhong 36-1 oil field in the northern Bohai Sea. In the southern Bohai Sea, a Japanese group together with Cnooc produces oil from three fields. A number of exploration blocks have been awarded foreign oil and gas companies in the Bohai Sea region in recent years.