BEIJING -- The Dongfang 13-2 gas fields project, China's largest offshore high-temperature and high-pressure gas fields project, has been put into operation, its operator said Wednesday.

The project will likely have a peak annual gas output of over 3 billion cubic meters. It can serve 1 million people for 15 years, said China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) Limited.

Natural gas from the project will be supplied directly to regions in south China through subsea pipelines, CNOOC said.

The Dongfang 13-2 gas fields project is located offshore Dongfang city, South China's island province of Hainan.