Chinese offshore operator CNOOC Ltd is moving fast to execute a major plan to build and deploy a semi-submersible production platform to develop a recent deep-water discovery in the South China Sea’s Qiongdongnan basin.

CNOOC Ltd Hainan, which is in charge of hydrocarbon exploration and development of the Yinggehai and Qiongdongnan basins, has put together a task force to spearhead deployment of the semisub Deepwater 2 to exploit the Lingshui 25-1 gas discovery, said Li Li, a CNOOC Ltd Hainan vice president.