CNOOC Limited announced that its subsidiary, CNOOC China Limited, has signed a Petroleum Contract with PetroChina Company Limited for Beibu Gulf 23/29 Block and Beibu Gulf 24/11 Block (“Contract Area”).

Beibu Gulf 23/29 Block and Beibu Gulf 24/11 Block are located in the Fushan sag and Leidong sag of Beibu Gulf Basin in South China Sea respectively. Beibu Gulf 23/29 Block covers a total area of 980 square kilometers with a water depth of 0-85 meters. Beibu Gulf 24/11 Block covers a total area of 464 square kilometers with a water depth of 20-40 meters.

According to terms of the Petroleum Contract, PetroChina shall act as the operator during the exploration period in the Contract Area and bear 70% of direct exploration expenditures; CNOOC China Limited bears the other 30% of direct exploration expenditures. The other exploration expenditures shall be borne by each party separately and shall not be credited to the relevant joint account. Once entering into the development and production phase, the two parties, each with 50% participating interests of the Contract Area, shall set up a joint operation organization to act as joint operators.

About CNOOC

China National Offshore Oil Corporation (SEHK: 00883, NYSE: CEO, TSX: CNU), the largest offshore oil and gas producer in China, is a mega government owned company operating directly under the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council of the People's Republic of China.

About PetroChina

PetroChina Company Limited (“PetroChina”) is China’s largest oil and gas producer and distributor, playing a dominant role in the oil and gas industry in China. It is not only one of the companies with the biggest sales revenue in China, but also one of the largest oil companies in the world. The American Depositary Shares (ADS) and H shares of PetroChina were listed on the New York Stock Exchange on April 6, 2000 (stock code: PTR) and the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited on April 7, 2000 (stock code: 857) respectively. It was listed on Shanghai Stock Exchange on November 5, 2007 (stock code: 601857).