Author：EqualOcean News Updated 2 hours ago (GMT+8)

Offshore Oil Engineering Co., Ltd.（COOEC，海油工程）began steel fabrication for QatarEnergy’s（卡塔尔能源）Bul Hanine offshore redevelopment project at its Qingdao manufacturing base on September 15. The two engineering packages have a combined contract value of approximately US$4 billion, making the project China’s largest international offshore oil and gas engineering contract by value, according to COOEC.

COOEC

The scope covers more than 60 offshore facilities and 40 subsea pipelines and cables, alongside modifications to operating platforms and the removal of obsolete installations. More than 130,000 tonnes of steel will be processed. COOEC’s responsibilities extend from engineering and procurement through fabrication, transportation, offshore installation and commissioning, placing the company in charge of coordinating delivery across the project’s major stages.

The fabrication start follows the award and contracting process in 2025. COOEC disclosed winning the BH-EPIC1 and BH-EPIC2 packages in August that year and announced the signing of the contracts in October. The Qingdao milestone moves execution into physical construction after engineering, procurement and preparation. The company says it will use 3D digital modelling and engineering simulation to support construction and coordination.

COOEC, a Shanghai-listed subsidiary of China National Offshore Oil Corporation（CNOOC，中国海油）, has made overseas contracting a larger part of its business. Its 2025 annual report recorded CNY48.85 billion in new orders, including CNY30.84 billion from overseas markets. The company describes its development as a progression from engineering subcontracting toward comprehensive international project delivery.

Bul Hanine gives that shift a concrete operating test. Fabricating structures is one part of the assignment; coordinating new facilities with operating assets, subsea connections and decommissioning introduces additional scheduling and engineering demands. As prime contractor, COOEC must manage the interfaces between equipment suppliers, fabrication work and offshore campaigns through commissioning.

For Chinese offshore engineering suppliers, contracts of this scope can also create opportunities beyond the lead contractor. Equipment, materials and specialist services may reach international projects through an established Chinese procurement network, subject to the customer’s specifications and qualification requirements.

The commercial significance will depend on execution over the life of the contracts. Coordinating procurement, vessel availability and offshore work while controlling cost and protecting operating facilities will determine whether the award translates into profitable delivery. A successful outcome would strengthen COOEC’s credentials for further Gulf projects and give its suppliers a broader reference base for international work.

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