CNOOC Limited Announces its 2015 Business Strategy and Development Plan

HONG KONG, Feb. 3, 2015 /CNW/ -- CNOOC Limited (the "Company", NYSE: CEO, SEHK: 00883, TSX: CNU) today announced its business strategy and development plan for the year 2015.

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The Company's net production target for 2015 is in the range of 475 to 495 million barrels of oil equivalent (BOE), of which production from China and overseas accounts for approximately 67% and 33% respectively. The net production targets set for 2016 and 2017 are around 509 and 513 million BOE respectively. The estimated net production for 2014 is approximately 432 million BOE.

There will be 7 new projects coming on stream, including the Jinzhou 9-3 comprehensive adjustment project which already commenced production. Both the Kenli 10-1 project and the Bozhong 28/34 comprehensive adjustment project located in Bohai are expected to reach peak production of around 36 and 30 thousand BOE per day respectively.

Within the year, we plan to drill around 162 exploration wells and acquire approximately 36 thousand kilometers of 2-Dimensional (2D) seismic data as well as approximately 14 thousand square kilometers of 3-Dimensional (3D) seismic data. The reserve replacement ratio (RRR) is targeted at over 100%.

The total capital expenditure budget is in the range of RMB70 billion to 80 billion in 2015 with a decrease of 26-35% over the estimated realized capital expenditure for 2014, among which the capital expenditures for exploration, development and production account for around 21%, 67% and 10% respectively. The Company expects to achieve all of its annual targets by cost control and efficiency enhancement despite the lower capital expenditure.

Mr. Zhong Hua, CFO of the Company, commented, "In response to challenges from falling oil prices, we will control our costs and strive for the effective implementation of our capital expenditure plan in order to improve the overall performance of the Company."

Mr. Li Fanrong, CEO of the Company, commented, "Facing the complicated and highly volatile macro environment in 2015, the Company will continue to strengthen the management of internal operations and make efforts to meet annual operational targets. Meanwhile, the Company will ensure an appropriate balance between short-term return and long-term development, and implement prudent capital investment plan in order to continuously carry out its 'New Leap Forward' strategy."

Notes to Editors:

More information about the Company is available at http://www.cnoocltd.com.

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding expected future events, business prospectus or financial results. The words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "objective", "ongoing", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors the Company believes are appropriate under the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will meet the expectations and predictions of the Company depends on a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause the actual results, performance and financial condition to differ materially from the Company's expectations, including those associated with fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas prices, the exploration or development activities, the capital expenditure requirements, the business strategy, whether the transactions entered into by the Group can complete on schedule pursuant to its terms and timetable or at all, the highly competitive nature of the oil and natural gas industries, the foreign operations, environmental liabilities and compliance requirements, and economic and political conditions in the People's Republic of China. For a description of these and other risks and uncertainties, please see the documents the Company files from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including the 2013 Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on April 17, 2014.

Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. The Company cannot assure that the results or developments anticipated will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected effect on the Company, its business or operations.

For further enquiries, please contact:

Ms. Michelle Zhang
Deputy Manager, Media / Public Relations
CNOOC Limited
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]

Ms. Cathy Zhang
Hill+Knowlton Strategies Asia
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE CNOOC Limited