ConocoPhillips China Inc and CNOOC Limited announced the commencement of the Penglai offshore windfarm pilot project on Sunday during the fifth China International Import Expo held in Shanghai.

As a joint low carbon energy development effort, the project will harness wind energy to supply power to the Penglai oilfield, China's largest offshore oil and gas production base under a production-sharing contract, located in Bohai Bay, Northeast China.

"This pilot project represents a first-of-its-kind integration of offshore wind power being harnessed solely for offshore oil and gas facilities in China," said Bill Arnold, President of ConocoPhillips China Inc.

"We believe it will become a benchmark for future low carbon emission offshore oilfield developments".

The newly launched wind farm project offers an optimal solution in meeting the Penglai oilfield's power demand, which is expected to increase year by year as development continues, said the company.

Featuring four wind turbines with a total installed capacity of 34 MW, the wind farm will have the potential to cover over 30 percent of the power needed for the Penglai oilfield's operations at full capacity and achieve tens of thousands of tons of annual carbon dioxide reductions, it said.

In addition to offshore wind power, the two companies are closely evaluating opportunities in power from the shore, as well as carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS).

If proven to be technically and economically viable, these low carbon energy solutions will help transform Penglai into a net-zero offshore oilfield, in line with China's energy, sustainable development and carbon neutrality goals, said ConocoPhillips China Inc.