Enhancements to the Liwan 3-1 deep-sea oil and gas platform were activated Dec 1 marking a new stage in the safe and stable production of clean energy, says operator China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) Deep Sea Development at the Gaolan Port Economic Zone.

The largest facility its kind in Asia, the rig is said to give stronger and more-lasting green momentum to providing clean energy for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Liwan 3-1 deep-sea oil and gas platform [Photo by Zhang Junshan to Guanhai App]

The latest work involved lowering the platform pressure of two 22-inch deep-water submarine pipelines to 2500Kpa to facilitate dual-pipeline production. Moreover, three wet gas compressors and three condensate pumps were added for first-level boosting of wet gas. The gas is then dehydrated using triethylene glycol, sent to four dry-gas compressors for second-level boosting, and then transited to 30-inch deep-water submarine pipelines.

Liwan 3-1 sits above the first deep-water gas field discovered by CNOOC and Husky Energy about 325 km (202 miles) southeast of Hong Kong. The field is 1,300 to 1,500 m (1,422 to 1,640 yd) deep in the South China Sea.

China's sole offshore deep-water oil and gas platform was located there to process natural gas, support deep-water production, and provide living facilities. The first phase has generated more than 20 billion cubic m of gas since being put into use in 2014.