What Is Deepwater Drilling?

Deep water drilling generally refers to offshore operations with a water depth of more than 900 meters. It is commonly used in industry to distinguish between deep water and extreme water depth. Extreme water depth refers to water depths greater than 1500 meters.

Deepwater drilling

I. Undersea

Just crossed

The withdrawal of Offshore Oil 981 was mainly due to a timely transition. Despite interference from Vietnam and the United States, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has repeatedly emphasized that the above operations are entirely within China's sovereignty. In the future, the probability of large-scale military struggle in the South China Sea will be small, and even if there is war, it will not solve the problem.

Reason: timely transition

First, China has achieved its goal. To a certain extent, this kind of activity is the bottom of the relationship, taking into account the economic feasibility study. This purpose has been achieved, the reason for the transition is good, and the timing is more appropriate. This action made a major breakthrough and changed the status quo.

Second, changes in American attitudes. Unlike other countries' unilateral accusations against China, the United States is actually not standing on the South China Sea. Although the U.S. Senate passed Resolution 412 in July 10th asking China to withdraw the 981 platform, it also stated that the South China Sea issue was not caused solely by China, but also criticized other countries, each hitting 50 boards.

Third, it takes time to obtain oil and gas discoveries. The working block of 981 belongs to CNPC and does not belong to CNOOC. Before the 981 drilling platform entered the South China Sea, it did not do very detailed research and economic calculations. It did not even do three-dimensional earthquakes. This block only has oil and gas display and has not reached the stage of industrial discovery or commercial discovery.

Background: the need for a peaceful environment

China has so far not carried out substantial development in the disputed area of the South China Sea. In 1992, the Chinese government cooperated with the American Kriston Oil Company to plan the exploration and development of oil and gas resources in the Nansha waters. However, due to protests in Vietnam, China evacuated Wan'anbei in 1996. Considering the policy of shelving disputes, co-development, and peaceful rise, the Chinese government has not developed oil and gas resources in the South China Sea. Other countries, including Vietnam, have done a lot of development in disputed areas in the South China Sea. Therefore, from the perspective of oil and gas resources development, China has not made any substantial measures in the disputed areas.

The 981 platform basically has the technical requirements for offshore oil and gas development. China advocates the development of the marine economy, and oil and gas development is an important part of the marine economy. Before China really wants to develop the Nansha Islands and the seas south of the Xisha Islands, we still lack technical measures. As a deepwater drilling platform, 981 has the technical requirements in this regard. Therefore, the operation of the 981 platform in the South China Sea is the first step for the Chinese government to develop and create a substantial presence in the South China Sea oil and gas resources.

The current international situation is complex and maritime disputes are a hot topic. For example, the withdrawal of the 981 drilling platform, the previous Ukrainian incident, and the fishing protection operation in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Maritime sovereignty disputes are sensitive issues related to war. The Second World War, the Civil War, the resistance to the United States, aid to the DPRK, and the Vietnam War were all triggered by sovereignty issues. After the end of World War II, China, as the victor, regained Japan's occupied area in the South China Sea. After the survey by the National Government, the eleven-segment line on the map of the South China Sea was drawn. The subsequent Vietnam War helped Stalin establish the status of the East, but cut off the possibility of normal relations between China and other countries.

Since the 1970s, in view of China's insufficient capacity to develop the South China Sea and its economic interests at that time, Vietnam has been active in the South China Sea, which has caused today's sovereignty disputes.

After China's economy developed and its international status rose, the situation of "you are here with me" appeared, and then it became "I am here with you". After the Second World War, sovereignty is big, disputes need to be resolved through negotiation, and war cannot solve the problem. We have gone through three stages in these decades: I m not here, you are not here, you are with me, I am with you allowable.

From the perspective of Western countries' sanctions on Iran and Russia, this era is not an era of fist solution. Western countries impose financial sanctions on Moscow by taking measures a step further than sanctions on Iran. The most important means of sanctioning Iran is the delivery of banks, which is why Iran will yield.

The sanctions against Russia are not aimed at the country, but against people around Putin, and the results are also ideal. For example, Visa and Master card stopped credit card payments at four Russian banks. As a result, an entrepreneur in Russia could not pay with a credit card while a relative was undergoing surgery. Putin stepped up and accused Western countries of financial sanctions for being inhumane, and it was unfair to bring the political economy into the market economy. Later, Visa and Master card quickly lifted the blockade of the two banks. Therefore, in an age where military can not do whatever they want, the means of war are no longer applicable in a society where network globalization, financial globalization, and capital globalization are in progress. Blockades and sanctions in the financial field have far greater impact than bombs.

influences

The central government has its own comprehensive consideration of the mode of struggle. Military struggle is not advisable, and economic struggles can cause both defeats. We need to innovate in the future.

The possibility of a large-scale military struggle in the future situation in the South China Sea is very small. In the future, the South China Sea will either form a peace mechanism, jointly manage and develop, or clarify the issue of sovereignty ownership. The situation in the South China Sea will be in repeated struggles and games for a long time, and it will even intensify to a certain extent. But the possibility of a large-scale military struggle is slim. ^[2]