CNOOC to increase crude, gas production

China's top offshore oil and gas producer CNOOC Ltd plans to lift its 2009 crude and gas production by 16 to 18 percent, as some significant projects are expected to come online this year.

Total production will be 225 million to 231 million barrels of oil equivalent (BOE), compared with the estimated production of 194 million to 196 million BOE for 2008, the Beijing-based company said in a statement yesterday.

The company, which is the listed arm of China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC), said 10 new projects are expected to come on stream this year, eight in offshore China, one in Nigeria and one in Indonesia.