Hey amigos! Big news splashing in from the South China Sea! China's first ultra-deepwater gas field, Shenhai-1 (yep, that's \"Deep Sea No. 1\"), just scored a major win. All three of its subsea production facilities have been successfully installed for Phase II of the project. 🎉
According to the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), this homegrown deep-sea giant is all about tapping into those deepwater oil and gas reservoirs that chill under high temperatures and pressures. Sounds intense, right? 😲
Underwater \"Hubs\" Making Waves
So what's the big deal with these newly-installed underwater gizmos? They're called underwater manifold centers, but think of them as the deep-sea \"hubs\" that collect and transport oil and gas from underwater wells. They're super important—like the heart pumping life into the entire system. 💓
But here's the kicker: these three systems weigh over 540 tonnes combined! That's like stacking up dozens of blue whales! 🐋🐋🐋 The installation wasn't a walk in the park either. The team tackled extreme hydrostatic pressure, unpredictable ocean currents, and pitch-black seabed conditions. Talk about a deep-sea adventure!
Tackling Typhoons and Setting Records
Gao Xuanpeng, the deputy general manager of the Phase II project, spilled the tea on the challenges: \"We're installing during typhoon season, with wild weather and sea conditions making things tricky. But our crew crushed it, overcoming technical hurdles like wire rope twisting, and even set a new record for deep double-rope hoisting in China's marine engineering.\" 🚀
Located about 130 kilometers off the coast of Sanya City in Hainan Province, the Shenhai-1 Phase II project is situated in the western part of the northern South China Sea. It's not just a win for China's energy scene but also a testament to pushing boundaries and diving deep (literally!). 🌏
Stay tuned, adventurers! Who knows what other depths we'll explore next?
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
