COOEC Constructs Giant Oil and Gas Platform for Saudi Aramco
China Offshore Oil Engineering Company (COOEC) has finished work on the construction of a massive offshore oil and gas collection and transportation platform.
Designed for Saudi Aramco, the Marjan oil and gas collection and transportation platform is set to boost Saudi Arabia's oil and gas production.
The platform was built in the eastern port of Qingdao by COOEC and will be transported to the Marjan oil field in the Gulf by the end of the month.
COOEC is the offshore engineering and construction company that is a subsidiary of China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), whilst Saudi Aramco the world's largest crude export company based in Saudi Arabia and one of the world's largest integrated energy firms.
Historically dominated by Western companies like McDermott and Saipem, the offshore oil and gas sector is witnessing a shift, as Chinese firms take on more prominent roles in major international projects.
COOEC’s offshore marvel
Standing 24 storeys high and weighing over 17,000 tonnes, the platforms deck spans an area equivalent to 15 basketball courts.
It is designed to collect and transport oil and gas from the offshore Marjan field, with an annual capacity of 24 million tonnes of crude oil and 7.4 billion cubic metres of gas.
The successful delivery of this facility marks a turning point for Chinese marine engineering firms, potentially opening doors for more roles as general contractors in large international projects.
According to CNOOC, the platform's size, pipeline length and system complexity have all set international records for similar platforms.
The platform, which took 34 months to build, is a testament to China's and COOEC’s growing prowess in advanced manufacturing.
COOEC, Saudi Aramco and offshore platforms: global impacts and future prospects
The giant platform will play a pivotal role in developing offshore oil and gas platforms in Saudi waters, including major projects like the Marjan field expansion, to enhance the kingdom's energy production capabilities.
According to Offshore Technology, a London-based industry news source, the platform is a crucial component of Saudi Aramco's US$12bn Marjan crude increment programme, aimed at expanding the field's capacity by 300,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
It will also process an extra 2.5 billion standard cubic feet per day, generating 360,000 barrels of ethane and natural gas liquids.
This expansion aligns with Saudi Arabia's broader strategy to maintain its position as a global energy leader.
For China, this project showcases its ability to compete on the world stage in high-tech manufacturing.
It also demonstrates the country's commitment to moving up the industrial chain, a key goal in its economic development strategy.
The completion of this platform not only strengthens economic ties between China and Saudi Arabia, but also signals China's growing influence in the global energy sector.
According to the Global Times, the Chinese state-run newspaper: “Experts have said that bilateral cooperation such as the Marjan project highlights the high-level complementarity between China and Saudi Arabia amid enhanced and deepened cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.”
The Global Times also reports that, Aramco’s CEO, Amin Nasser as saying Aramco is “looking to invest in more chemical plants in China over the near term”.
Aramco is also targeting additional facilities that can transform oil into chemicals to leverage growing demand from China's emerging green industries.
China's state broadcaster, CCTV, says the project is a "breakthrough in China's technology for large-scale offshore oil and gas equipment construction".
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