Bohai Bay Oilfield Output to Double

CNOOC reportedly plans to more than double production at the Bohai Bay field to more than 27 million metric tons, or about 542,000 barrels a day, in five to six years as new fields come on stream, according to a report in the Herald Tribune. China is said to be encouraging its oil and gas producers to step up production to meet rising consumption spurred by an economy that rose 11.9 percent in the second quarter. Chinese oil demand will likely increase 5.9 percent to 7.6 million barrels a day this year, the International Energy Agency said in its September forecast. (Source: The International Herald Tribune)