Oil firms told to go offshore

The country should look increasingly offshore to shore up dwindling onshore production, oil companies were told yesterday.

"The current offshore oil and gas exploration and production should focus on the Bohai Bay basin and the Pearl River estuary as the top priority," Pan Jiping, a senior researcher with the Ministry of Land and Resources, said at China Offshore Summit 2007.

"As for deep-sea exploration, the firms should invest more in blocks in the northern part of the South China Sea," Pan said.