New CNOOC oil fields start production

China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) Ltd., China's largest offshore oil producer, said Thursday that production has begun at two of the company's newest oil fields in the South China Sea.

One of the fields is Wenchang 19-1, located to the west of the Pearl River Estuary basin. It has an average water depth of 120 to 130 meters.

Wenchang 19-1 has three wells in operation and CNOOC wholly owns and operates the field.

The other field is Weizhou 12-8 situated at the Gulf of Tonkin with an average water depth of 34 meters. It has five wells in operation.

CNOOC holds a 51 percent stake and operates the field.

Both are expected to reach their daily output peak this year, CNOOC said in a statement, without giving the specific amount.