A submarine pipeline at a depth of 1,542 meters has been successfully completed at the Lingshui 17-2 gas field in the South China Sea, which could promote the exploitation of deep-water gas resources, according to the Global Times. 

The operational depth of the field, which is also the China National Offshore Oil Corporation’s (CNOOC’s) first self-operated deep water field, is 1,220-1,560 meters with trillions of cubic meters of exploitable gas reserves. The field is expected to be operational by the end of 2020. It will have an annual gas output of 3-5 billion cubic meters (bcm).

Prior to the construction of the Lingshui field, ultra deep water submarine pipelines were the product of foreign investors.