It is reported that with the upper block weighing more than 16,000 tonnes and the conduit rack accurately in place, the centre platform of the Phase I development project of the world's largest metamorphic oil field, Bohaizhong 26-6 oil field, has completed the installation of the floating bracket in the southern waters of the Bohai Sea, and the construction of the project has made significant progress.

The first phase of the Bohong 26-6 oil field development project mainly includes the construction of a new central processing platform and an unmanned wellhead platform. The central platform installed this time is a 3-storey 8-legged multifunctional integrated offshore oil and gas platform integrating production and life, with a length of 86.3 metres, a width of 69.1 metres and a height of 22.8 metres, including more than 160 sets of production equipments and a living building that can accommodate 60 people.

The designed floating weight of the upper block of the platform is about 16,326 tonnes, which exceeds the capacity limit of domestic offshore floating cranes, and the floating method is adopted for offshore installation.

Bohai Bay has variable weather and harsh sea conditions in winter. The construction area is located in a dense platform area, and the submarine pipelines are as intricate as a ‘spider's web’, so the operators need to take advantage of the tidal force on the rough sea, transferring loads by barge to achieve accurate docking of 10,000-tonne blocks and conduit racks, with the docking precision of millimetre level.

It is understood that the project upgraded the main operating vessel in advance, applied digital tools to accurately develop the floating support programme, carried out simulation exercises, and strengthened the monitoring of ship transport status and tidal dynamics. During the floatation process, the project achieved one-time accurate floatation of the upper block in place through multiple tugboat linkage ship control and other measures.

Bohong 26-6 oil field is located in the southern Bohai Sea, about 170 kilometres away from Tianjin, with an average water depth of about 22 metres, and its reservoir is buried in the submerged mountain thousands of metamorphic rocks on the seafloor. 2024, the new oil and gas proved geological reserves exceeded 40 million cubic metres, and the field's cumulative proved geological reserves exceeded 200 million cubic metres, which makes it the world's largest metamorphic rock oil field.