China's first deep-sea rig commences drilling

The sixth-generation semi-submersible CNOOC 981, China's first deep-water oil rig, began operations at a depth of 1,500 meters in the South China Sea this morning, reported China Central Television.

The CNOOC 981, which was started in April 2008 and inaugurated in May 2011, is an advanced new oil platform designed to tap deep-sea petroleum resources.

According to the China State Shipbuilding Corp, which built the CNOOC 981, the rig can drill to a depth up to 10,000 meters (32,800 feet).