China's CNOOC Launches First Large-Scale Offshore Drone Network

(MENAFN) China's state-owned energy giant China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has launched the country's first large-scale offshore drone operation project in the Beibu Gulf, signaling a landmark convergence of marine energy production and low-altitude aviation technology.

The initiative spans 41 offshore platforms and two onshore terminal facilities across the Beibu Gulf, establishing an integrated drone network capable of handling subsea pipeline inspections, logistics delivery, and emergency response operations, Science and Technology Daily reported Monday.

The deployed drones are now conducting rapid aerial surveillance of more than 500 kilometers of subsea pipelines, enabling real-time detection of anomalies including leaks, triggering emergency protocols, and supporting search and rescue missions for vessels adrift or personnel lost overboard.

Meng Wenbo, coordination manager at CNOOC's Zhanjiang branch in south China's Guangdong Province, confirmed the program has already logged over 3,600 kilometers of drone patrol and small-item logistics operations since its rollout.

The financial and environmental dividends are substantial. By replacing conventional tugboats and helicopters with an aerial courier system, CNOOC stands to save nearly 15 million yuan — approximately $2.17 million — annually in vessel rental and fuel expenditures, while simultaneously cutting carbon emissions by 25,000 tonnes. Meng noted the system "effectively lowers costs, improves efficiency, and supports the intelligent upgrade of offshore oil operations."

To power the initiative, CNOOC developed a bespoke "air-sea integrated" intelligent operations platform alongside standardized drone management protocols. The corporation also collaborated with industry partners to engineer drones specifically hardened against the harsh realities of offshore environments — including limited communications coverage and the corrosive impact of extreme heat, salinity, and humidity.

The project positions CNOOC, one of China's foremost offshore oil and gas exploration enterprises, at the forefront of autonomous energy infrastructure management on a national scale.

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